With control of the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives, Republicans in Washington have had an opportunity to increase the greatness of America.

Instead, blinded by the anti-government, pro-business ideology of the conservative right, they have squandered the opportunity with payoffs to Wall Street and the immensely wealthy at the sacrifice of benefits to the working wage-earners and the truly needy. No amount of rhetoric can disguise that the current tax bill is a sham.

If they were seriously interested in economic growth, the tax bill would maintain the current level of taxation, which has resulted in strong corporate earning. In addition, carefully crafted tax exemptions and rebates would award pro-growth initiatives such as increased employment, vocational training, full-time employment, increased wages, and benefits including health care and sick leave.

Rather than throwing money at Wall Street in the form of tax reduction, the tax bill could incentivize growth.

Jonathan W. Robbins

Whitefield