For those of you out there who are not billionaires, millionaires, or at the very least a One Percenter, it is high time that you pay attention and wise up.  Big money has recently been the benefactor and subsequently the beneficiary of a major Supreme Court decision (i.e. Citizens United) and is systematically working to eliminate its competition, which is organized labor.

Unions have slowly but surely been losing members and ground under the relentless attack of corporations and other big money interest.  Although big banks and other corporations have come back strong and thrived since The Great Recession, wages have remained virtually stagnant and in some cases even fallen.

With the Citizens United ruling allowing for unparalleled amounts of dark money to be pumped into elections the only major players capable of operating in that arena have been big money and the labor unions.  Now, a major effort to wipe out unions is underway in many states around the country.  This effort is being led by lawmakers and most of the states involved in this effort are red states.  The majority of the legislatures in these states are either heavily controlled by Republicans or completely controlled by them.

The Republican agenda and that of big money are the same and they are working together to totally eliminate the middle class – whether by accident, as a result of collateral damage, or on purpose just as long as they can assure an increase in the bottom line for corporate interest.  It matters not whether you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent; if you are not among the rich, this agenda will have a negative impact on you.

It is not a coincidence that lawmakers, at the behest of big money, are working so hard to get rid of unions.  Unions have long been the major check and balance against all large corporations and other forms of big money.  We have become accustom to having a livable wage, worthwhile worker benefits and weekends off but we have forgotten why we have all of those things.  It is because of the unions.  Large companies certainly did not grant workers these things out of the goodness of their hearts!

Large corporations and other big money interest are for the greatest part supported by the Republican Party.  After the 2010 midterm elections Republicans said that they would build a larger and more inclusive tent.  So far, that effort has failed.  So instead of focusing on a continuation to build that larger and more inclusive tent, they decided to focus on making it harder for eligible voters to vote.  The obvious assumption is that by reducing the number of those voting they would reduce the ability of those who are opposed to their agenda to have an impact on it.

Republicans and Independent voters who fall into the middle class need to step back and take a serious look at what Republicans in Washington and in many of the red states around the country are doing.  No matter how staunch a Republican or Independent you might be you would likely agree that the middle class is the backbone of America and must not be destroyed.  You would probably also agree that if the middle class is allowed to be destroyed that although there might not be an immediate impact on America the impact will come; and it will be negative.

Even if irreparable damage is not done and the middle class is able to be restored, restoration will likely be a long and hard road to travel and our country will be worse for having allowed this tragedy to occur.  Boilerplate statements like the one RNC spokesman Michael Short made recently about 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton are meaningless when it comes to standing up for the middle class.

Based on an article in the Associated Press by Julie Pace – entitled ‘AP sources: Middle-class economics a focus of Clinton’s bid’, Mr. Short said “All Hillary Clinton is offering is a continuation of the same big government ideas that have grown Washington instead of the middle class.  That’s why voters want fresh leadership and a new direction, not four more years of Obama failed policies.”

Apparently the only support that Republican Senators and Representatives in Washington are willing to offer middle-class Americans is worn-out talking points and lip service.  And one can only hope that the fresh leadership that RNC spokesman Michael Short alluded to is not the kind that these leaders have exemplified since they became the majority governing Party in congress and that the new direction is not that which they are currently flaunting to the world based on how we are handling the Israel, Iran and Cuba situation.

Under the circumstances, responsible middle class Democrats, Republicans and Independents must band together and step up to defeat this irresponsible act by corporations and big money and any of those who stand with them.  What our Republican leaders in Washington are doing right now in openly fostering partisan bickering in congress by purposely attacking the integrity of the Obama administration and trying to destroy this President is doing much more to hurt America than it is to help her.

While it is not understandable to me that they are so eager and willing to take this approach, if it is something that they feel that they must do to save this country from a President whom they obviously deem unworthy to hold the office, then they must find a way or at least make a reasonable effort to do it without tarnishing the Office and the country.  I believe that there are many One Percenters and many in congress who agree with me.  If that is indeed the case then they should use their influence in an effort to help stop this sideshow that we are presenting and the world is currently witnessing.

Eulus Dennis