Politicians must end war on middle class

The repeal of collective bargaining rights in Wisconsin was an outrageous political stunt that had nothing whatsoever to do with that state’s financial crisis — a crisis that Gov. Scott Walker created by giving large tax cuts to his cronies almost the minute he took office. Let’s be honest. If politicians were serious about tackling the deficit, they wouldn’t be handing out tax breaks to the same CEOs who got our economy into this mess in the first place. These same CEOs continue to undermine our economy by shipping jobs overseas so that they themselves can collect another couple of million dollars in bonuses.

Now is the time for politicians and CEOs to do their part to get our economy back on track. Unfortunately, Republican officials, using their mouthpieces at Fox “News,” prefer to use misdirection and finger-pointing in order to keep the majority of Americans fighting among themselves over social wedge issues such as abortion, gay marriage, gun control and now unions. In the meantime, they and their superrich backers laugh all the way to the bank.

Our elected officials should stop the partisan rhetoric and end this war against the middle class. They should focus on the issues that matter to everyday Americans: restoring balance to our economy and creating secure, well-paying jobs. A healthy middle class makes for a healthy American economy.

Ellen Hill

Buffalo Grove