The Republicans’ hostile agenda is clear

I did not realize how far the “conservative” movement had come until I started reading the propaganda written in The Examiner, my hometown newspaper. I decided to outline where this has put this country after the better part of 35 years. Let’s look at the Republican record:

The economy: In 2010, the Republican congressional mantra was “jobs, jobs, jobs.” How many jobs have you seen since they took the majority? How many tax breaks have they provided for people making $10,000 to $60,000? Have they obstructed every idea, every piece of legislation put forth by this president to mitigate this terrible economic downturn? You decide.

In my view, they have no intention of helping anyone who makes less than $1 million a year. Since 1980 the average American has lost 40 percent of his/her net worth thanks to 401(k) plans and other stock-market-driven plans. The companies entrusted with these funds were allowed to gamble due to repeal of vital protections, such as the Glass/Steagall Act of 1933 and other laws passed under FDR to protect the average guy. Also, there are virtually no company pension plans anymore.

Ask yourself this: How many times did you hear conservatives talk about deficits, national debt and stealing our children’s future while George W. Bush was president?

Unions and jobs: Since President Reagan broke the air traffic controllers union, all unions have been fair game. President Clinton signed the NAFTA agreement, which basically pitted a well-trained American workforce against women and children living in cardboard boxes in foreign countries. This has not worked out well for the working man. This is very sad indeed.

What about these so-called job creators? What kind of jobs? Can these new jobs support my family? Do they come with benefits? In my 33 years at the Department of Defense, the only jobs that I saw created by the Republicans were food service, food service management, day labor and low-paying manufacturing jobs, with no union support or health-care benefits. You and I are simply a means to an end for the wealthiest Americans. Wake up and be smarter – this is not your father’s Republican Party.

Taxes: They have cut taxes on the richest 2 percent of Americans to levels not seen since 1950. The wealthiest Americans have it pretty well, but the vast majority of those out of work are suffering terribly. Who do you think is most responsible for these mistakes over the past 30 years?

Our laws: The Citizens United ruling enables multinational corporations to pour millions into our political system. This ruling edges out your average American citizen. Do you think this is right?

Safety nets: Americans making $1 million or more pay Social Security tax on only the first $160,000 of income. Have you heard either party talk about taking this cap off so the rich can pay into the system like everyone else? Both parties have failed on this issue. But, none of these systems – Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid – are broke, as the Republicans would have you believe.

I am not against taxes. I just believe everyone who has benefited from our free enterprise system should have to put some back in for future generations. Unfortunately, that is not the conservative way.

Harry Truman would roll over in his grave if he saw how far our country had regressed. I hope the electorate will finally get smart and remove these Republicans from Congress, from our statehouses and from our national conscience. If we re-elect President Obama and a Congress to match, the conservative movement will fall apart, in my view.

I want stability in Washington and a government that cares for its people. I do not believe in “I got mine, you get yours,” as most conservatives do. I still hope a greater America can and will prevail, not just the few of us who have done well but all of us. The All Americans.