Let’s be clear. The fundamental underlying agenda of the Republican Party is to transfer as much wealth as possible from the vast majority of us to the corporate and wealthy elite, the GOP’s paymasters. To impose this agenda, Republicans must convince most of their constituents to vote against their best interests.
Accordingly, for several decades, Republicans have run one of the largest con games in American political history, escalating to dangerous extremes in the last four years.
Assisted by a massive propaganda machine (Fox News, talk radio, social media, etc.) and a steady barrage of false rhetoric, Republicans promote the illusion they’re champions of the people when, instead, their actions prove they serve the wealthy elite. With support from some Democrats in the early years, Republicans have rigged the system to benefit the ultra-rich at our expense, while convincing millions of their constituents the system benefits them.
Consequently, quality of life for many Americans has declined significantly.
Example: The United States has the greatest income and wealth disparities among developed nations and the second highest poverty rate. The middle class has been shrinking since the 1980s. The “American dream,” once achievable for the majority, is now unreachable for many. If the minimum wage paralleled the increase in productivity since 1968, it would exceed $24, yet the median hourly wage for 53 million exploited workers is $10.22 (pre-pandemic). Republicans refuse to increase the minimum wage to $15. Their policies suppress upward mobility.
Example: Unlike all developed nations that have universal health coverage, we pay considerably more for health care while some 530,000 families, most with insurance, declare medical bankruptcy annually and some 40,000 people die from lack of health insurance. Millions are uninsured. Our life expectancy is declining.
Meanwhile, with cruel indifference to human suffering, Republicans oppose improving our healthcare delivery system because it might reduce the profits of their campaign donors.
Whenever Democrats propose legislation that attempts to redistribute the wealth and opportunities of our nation more equitably -- in areas like health care, living wages, jobs, retirement security, poverty abatement, etc. -- Republicans recoil, scream “socialism,” and claim it would destroy America. Their diatribe is calculated to further increase the wealth of their benefactors.
In 2017, without ethical integrity or concern for increasing the national debt, Republicans enacted $1.9 trillion in “socialism for the rich” tax giveaways. More than 80% benefits the wealthy elite. These giveaways followed the Republican sponsored/Democrat opposed Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 which disproportionately benefited the wealthy, failed to stimulate the economy as promised, and cost the U.S. Treasury at least $1.5 trillion in lost revenue (more debt).
Early this year, despite the urgent need to control COVID, relieve the hardship of millions, boost the faltering economy, assist cities, states and businesses impacted by the virus, and more, Republicans railed against the $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill (American Rescue Plan) claiming it’s “socialism” and unaffordable. Unabashed hypocrisy!
Despite 70% public approval, not one Republican voted for the relief bill - typical of Republican obsession to obstruct virtually all Democratic proposals that assist ordinary Americans, even sacrificing our welfare.
Currently, Republicans have stripped the social benefits/provisions from The American Jobs Plan (infrastructure bill) and oppose the American Families Plan, in part because they require the GOP’s wealthy benefactors to pay a fairer share in taxes.
Along with COVID relief, these bills are part of Biden’s bold vision for America that replaces failed GOP trickle-down economics with bottom-up investments that finally provide help where it’s needed. This paradigm shift is vital to unravelling the GOP’s rigged system that has methodically caused our decline.
Worse yet, because a majority of voters are not deceived by the GOP con, Republicans will do virtually anything to maintain power, including subverting our democracy.
With zero evidence of fraud, 147 Republicans refused to certify the results of the 2020 election. Many perpetuate the lie the last election was stolen. Some whitewash Trump’s treasonous attempt to become dictator by violent insurrection at the Capitol.
Despite overwhelming evidence that Trump incited the siege at the Capitol and rioters intended to murder VP Pence and members of Congress, Republicans refused to bar Trump from future office. They blocked a bipartisan commission to investigate the January 6th attack. With cult-blind allegiance (shared psychosis) many still consider Trump their leader.
The GOP assault on our democracy continues. Now that Democrats control Congress and the presidency, Republican state legislators have unleashed a massive effort to suppress voting rights with some 360 passed/proposed laws in 47 states that deliberately target minority and other groups that usually vote Democratic.
Without conscience, and in flagrant violation of their sworn oath of office, most Republicans (including Utah Sen. Mike Lee and Reps. Chris Stewart and Burgess Owens) will destroy 245 years of hard-won democracy to satisfy their lust for greed, power and personal gain. Unless denied, they will trample our democracy and replace it with autocracy and oligarchy. They are the enemy within.
For our democracy to survive, Democrats must bypass the obstructive Senate filibuster and enact the landmark For The People Act that restores constitutionally guaranteed voting rights nationwide and reduces the influence of money in politics.
Andrew Kramer
Andrew Kramer is a Vietnam veteran and retired architect who managed large projects with firms in Boston and Denver.