Republicans put business interests ahead of nation's

The corporatists in the United States have been steadily privatizing government institutions since the Reagan administration. Their propaganda includes Ronald Reagan's proclamation, "The nine most feared words in America: "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."

There has been a steady stream of lies ever since.

The Republicans discovered that the a majority of Americans are opposed to privatization of the government, so they changed strategy. The new plan of action is to defund, deregulate and understaff as much of the government as possible, then declare, "Look, government doesn't work. Private business could do a much better job." (At making their donors richer.)

The Department of Veterans Affairs currently has 49,000 job vacancies. The Republication solution is the Choice Program.

Give veterans a "choice" to receive medical care from private entities. Why not hire 49,000 employees?

The Choice Program is already rife with corruption; $90 million absconded with. Privatization will hurt veterans and make a few rich people richer.

The Social Security Administration is also being defunded and understaffed. The Republican lie this time is that the Social Security Administration must submit to funding cuts because it is adding to the national deficit and debt.

The facts are: Social Security funds itself and doesn't add one penny to the deficit or debt. The Republican plan is: Turn over Social Security money (trillions of dollars) to their Wall Street pals and donors to "invest" and make pals richer. Then, when the next Wall Street crash occurs, bankrupt Social Security and abandon the common people.

A similar strategy of defunding, understaffing and deregulation is being employed throughout the government, including the military, the post office, the EPA, Education, Interior, etc.

The crypto-fascists are on the march. Soon, the entire country and world will be transformed into a fascist company town.

James A. McCormick

Lombard