GOP budget will dismantle America

Newt Gingrich was right when he said that Republican Congressman Paul Ryan’s budget plan that was supported by nearly every Republican in Congress is right wing social engineering. Newt upset the GOP establishment because he told the truth.

This isn’t new, the “trickle down economics” of Reagan. The efforts of Bush to “privatize” Social Security, the Bush “tax cuts for the rich” all lead to the same place. Given the choice, Republicans always side with the rich/elite over the middle class.

Republicans continue saying we have a “spending problem,” not a revenue problem; this is code for these huge tax breaks given to the rich to be left off the table when they talk about “fixing” the economy.

Why does the GOP cling to these outrageous tax cuts? They’re starving the beast. The “beast” to them is government, specifically, the entitlement programs, i.e., Social Security and Medicare. The Republican party opposes these programs. Job 1 of the GOP is to do the bidding of their corporate masters to the detriment of the American people.

Republicans don’t care that these entitlement programs are the sole means of support for millions of American seniors. Changes in how these programs work will be devastating to millions of seniors. That’s heartless and cruel, but so is the greed that allows corporations to move American jobs to other countries; to take advantage of cheap labor; as is the thinking that causes them to vote not to extend unemployment insurance to those out of work; as is denying workers the right to collective bargaining.

The Ryan budget is neither brave nor courageous. It’s the latest attempt to dismantle the safety net that millions in this country depend upon. These social programs are the staples that hold this economy and most importantly, people’s lives together.

Entitlements are not the problem. Corporate greed that kills new jobs and the politics of the elite is the enemy. This is a much bigger threat to our future than any terrorist. This dagger is aimed at the heart of America. Until we declare war on this enemy, from within, we will continue to be in real danger of losing our freedoms, our liberty and our lives. It’s time to get serious about this real threat.

Bill Sarto

Carpentersville