Evil Republicans
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
Throughout history the middle class has been the driving force behind social change. United with the working class, the middle class would lead the charge to establish a more just social order while the Upper Class would do everything in their power to keep the social order that allowed them to acquire wealth and power. The Upper class would even enlist support from the churches that also benefited from the social order. But eventually justice would prevail and the middle class and their working class allies would change the order of things. They would allow for more people to benefit from their labor. And the middle class would grow as working class gained a greater share of the wealth they helped create. But throughout all the change on thing has always remained constant, the rich stay rich.
Throughout American history the working class and the middle class have constantly joined forces to bring about social and economic change. Labor laws to protect workers and ensure fair compensation, government programs to assist farmers from the hardships of unpredictable weather and the fickle invisible hand of the market place, and a security net established by Social Security, Medicare, and food stamps to prevent the most vulnerable from being left behind were all the result of the middle class and working class Working together. Those laws and economic programs contributed to the growth of a robust middle class that was the largest in human history.
But then the Reagan Revolution began in the early 80's and the wealthy establishment declared war on the middle class. Using various combinations of racial politics, encouraging unfair labor practices, and tilting the tax system to their favor, the rich in America began to eat away at that middle class. A middle class that the rich see as a threat to their cushy social order of tax breaks, off shore accounting, and exploitation of the American worker. And by using their accumulated wealth to buy elections and legislation, the rich in America rigged the system to the extent that no matter how the economy is doing, the rich grow richer. Meanwhile the deficit grows.
Unfortunately the last two years have been no different. The shrinking American middle class is still under siege, the deficit continues to grow, and the rich grow richer even as the economy struggles to recover from failed GOP economic policies. This fall the GOP will again lead the charge against the middle and working classes. In the last two years the GOP has sided with the big banks, with the big insurance companies, with big oil and big coal, and huge foreign corporations who are now allowed to buy American elections with campaign contributions proving that everything in America is for sale. All this was at the expense of the American worker. But it doesn't end there.
With two expensive wars that we can't afford ongoing, the so-called fiscally responsible GOP wants to extend the Bush tax cuts, which are one of the largest contributing factors to the deficit. And they are willing to deny compensation to the 9/11 first responders, who they hailed as heroes when it was politically expedient for them to do so, because it's too expensive. The GOP now considers those same first responders a special interest group and it won't be long before our current Veterans are treated the same way.
Robert Betances
Warsaw, IN[[In-content Ad]]
Throughout history the middle class has been the driving force behind social change. United with the working class, the middle class would lead the charge to establish a more just social order while the Upper Class would do everything in their power to keep the social order that allowed them to acquire wealth and power. The Upper class would even enlist support from the churches that also benefited from the social order. But eventually justice would prevail and the middle class and their working class allies would change the order of things. They would allow for more people to benefit from their labor. And the middle class would grow as working class gained a greater share of the wealth they helped create. But throughout all the change on thing has always remained constant, the rich stay rich.
Throughout American history the working class and the middle class have constantly joined forces to bring about social and economic change. Labor laws to protect workers and ensure fair compensation, government programs to assist farmers from the hardships of unpredictable weather and the fickle invisible hand of the market place, and a security net established by Social Security, Medicare, and food stamps to prevent the most vulnerable from being left behind were all the result of the middle class and working class Working together. Those laws and economic programs contributed to the growth of a robust middle class that was the largest in human history.
But then the Reagan Revolution began in the early 80's and the wealthy establishment declared war on the middle class. Using various combinations of racial politics, encouraging unfair labor practices, and tilting the tax system to their favor, the rich in America began to eat away at that middle class. A middle class that the rich see as a threat to their cushy social order of tax breaks, off shore accounting, and exploitation of the American worker. And by using their accumulated wealth to buy elections and legislation, the rich in America rigged the system to the extent that no matter how the economy is doing, the rich grow richer. Meanwhile the deficit grows.
Unfortunately the last two years have been no different. The shrinking American middle class is still under siege, the deficit continues to grow, and the rich grow richer even as the economy struggles to recover from failed GOP economic policies. This fall the GOP will again lead the charge against the middle and working classes. In the last two years the GOP has sided with the big banks, with the big insurance companies, with big oil and big coal, and huge foreign corporations who are now allowed to buy American elections with campaign contributions proving that everything in America is for sale. All this was at the expense of the American worker. But it doesn't end there.
With two expensive wars that we can't afford ongoing, the so-called fiscally responsible GOP wants to extend the Bush tax cuts, which are one of the largest contributing factors to the deficit. And they are willing to deny compensation to the 9/11 first responders, who they hailed as heroes when it was politically expedient for them to do so, because it's too expensive. The GOP now considers those same first responders a special interest group and it won't be long before our current Veterans are treated the same way.
Robert Betances
Warsaw, IN[[In-content Ad]]
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