Forgetting about the middle class

Sandra E. Thomas, Las Vegas

Tuesday, July 5, 2011 | 2:04 a.m.

Are there any middle-class people out there who actually believe that Republicans in Congress are looking out for us? If so, can they explain how it is possible for the right to justify not raising taxes on the rich, very rich and the big businesses that make billions in profits and tax breaks, while cutting from the bottom as much as possible?

Cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security are just the start. How about Pell grants to help poor students get a higher education? How about Planned Parenthood that helps women with pap smears, mammograms and free exams? And how about cutting health programs that help the poor?

The Democrats want to take away certain deductions from those making $200,000 or more. Republicans think that would hurt the rich. After all, they are the ones creating the jobs, but the rich have been getting these breaks for 10 years. Where are the jobs? Overseas?

When Republicans stand up and say they won’t sign the debt ceiling increase because they are protecting the people, it is not the middle class they are talking about. If they don’t sign the debt increase (meaning they are reneging on bills they have already incurred), the economy in this country will take a dive, as will the economies of other countries. This is a stupid game of chicken they are willing to play. What happened to common sense?