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June 4, 2012

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Letter to the Editor:

GOP policies have gutted middle class

Diane Kremser, Las Vegas

Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011 | 2:02 a.m.

Nearly every measure President Barack Obama has put forth to aid the economy has been rejected by Republicans in the House and Senate. And still the president’s poll numbers are down through little fault of his own.

Many Republican governors across the nation sneered at the “failed stimulus plan” and yet got in line to claim those very funds that helped their states make it through a severe recession; they then boasted about securing those funds without giving any credit to the plan that provided those millions.

In addition, the 2010 elections gave Republicans the House and nearly the Senate, effectively bringing the country to its knees not once but twice so far — and they are planning to dismantle the president’s new jobs bill at the expense of the American people. The “Teapublicans” are determined to make Obama a one-term president, rejecting every plan he proposes regardless of its merits.

Nearly 20 years of Republican policies have virtually destroyed the middle class and created immeasurable wealth to the top 2 percent, and yet they insist on keeping tax loopholes and subsidies flowing to major corporations while maintaining that Americans who live below the poverty level should be forced to pay their share. If this isn’t hypocrisy, what is?

Discussion: 26 comments so far…

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  1. By VernosB (vernos branco)
    Sept. 15, 2011
    3:56 a.m.
    Flag

    RingofFire,

    Don't you think it would be better to link to sites that aren't biased to maintain credibility?

  2. By dipstick
    Sept. 15, 2011
    4:39 a.m.
    Flag

    the republicans want to eliminate social security and medicare which the middle class hope to have when they retire. they are also against any job programs that raise taxes and allow our country to get back to work.

  3. By VernosB (vernos branco)
    Sept. 15, 2011
    4:54 a.m.
    Flag

    A good letter Ms. Kremser, thank you.

    What would happen if the GOP/Tea Party won the White House and Congress? Let's speculate a bit.

    First off, we know they WOULD NOT compromise or negotiate if they had the needed 60 in the Senate. Bills leaving the House would already be stamped, passed.

    Taxes for corporations and the wealthy will be lowered to nothingness or done away with completely. The added burden of taxes will be place on the shrinking middle class, seniors and poor. That 45% of working class poor, who don't pay taxes because they live at or below poverty level, will be expected to pay taxes.

    Middle class and working class wages will continue to drop, people will gross less each year.

    Major programs such as education, evironmental protection, food regulation, safety, etc., etc. will be discontinued.

    Jobs falling under unions will disappear by doing away with bargaining.

    Health insurance which is not subject to antitrust laws will continue to increase in price.

    Social Security and Medicare will be privatized, allowing Wall St. to use those funds as their "casino" as they did with the 401k's.

    There is a strong evidence the warhawk faction of the far right will get us involved in an attack on Iran.

    The environment will fall to hazardous pollutents from drilling and mining because big oil/coal still use 80's technology for safety devices or procedures. If there is an accident those companies may not pay for recovery. BP was defended by politicians who thought BP was being extorted when the gulf incident occured.

    Banking will have zero regulations allowing them to do as they please. The very same people who helped cause the crash of September 2008. If you remember correctly, right after the crash, banks jacked their credit card rates to 30%.

    Abortions will be outlawed and women's health programs will be defunded.

    Food stamps and programs aiding children will be defunded.

    Those are just some of the issue being worked on now by the GOP/Tea Party, what is to stop them if they had full control?

  4. By wtplv (Michael Casler)
    Sept. 15, 2011
    5:04 a.m.
    Flag

    Vernos,

    I know that you dislike Fox and Paul Ryan because of his proposals regarding SS and Medicare, but is it impossible for you to look objectively at what you see?

    I sat and watched both Ryan's presentation and the Fox interview. In both, Ryan made a proposal to alter and simplify the tax code and explained how 'he' felt it would be beneficial to the economy. You may disagree with what he proposes and think it won't help the economy and that is fine, but how is it biased?

    We cannot have rational discussions and bridge the huge divide between people when both sides 'label', instead of discuss the merits.

    Please, instead of labeling both links 'bisaed', tell me why you disagree with his proposal and what you would suggest as an alternative.

    Michael

  5. By wtplv (Michael Casler)
    Sept. 15, 2011
    5:15 a.m.
    Flag

    Vernos,

    While I was writing my question for you, the answer came in another letter you wrote. Let's review:

    Vernos says:
    Taxes for corporations and the wealthy will be lowered to nothingness or done away with completely. The added burden of taxes will be place on the shrinking middle class, seniors and poor. That 45% of working class poor, who don't pay taxes because they live at or below poverty level, will be expected to pay taxes.

    So you believe that R's would make all taxes corporations pay be zero or near zero and they would shift all that tax burden to the poor and middle class. Vernos, come on! If they did that they'd be thrown out, never to return. Stop with the hyperbole! And I think your answer is going to scare me but I'll ask anyway: You actually believe that the 45 % of Americans that do not now pay any income tax should noy pay any income tax ---- none at all, zero, nada, nothing? OMG!

    I don't have the space in here to address all the other hyperbole in your letter but it does explain why an R will never get your vote.

    You are as far away from reality as the R supporters are that claim that every D is a socialist. If we cannot drag you R and D supporters kicking and screaming out of la la land and back into reality, we have very little chance of making any progress.

    Michael

  6. By VernosB (vernos branco)
    Sept. 15, 2011
    5:16 a.m.
    Flag

    "Where were the outcries when Obama and other Senate dems refused to approve extensions to the debt ceiling amounts during Bush2 term? Asleep? Comatose?"

    There is a huge diference between a show of policy versus antics. Everyone knew under Bush and all preceeding presidents the debt ceiling would pass with a few just to vote in opposition playing the game.

    The game changed when the Tea Party entered the picture. As a matter of fact, it changed so much it scared the piss out of mainstream Republicans. Those who didn't understand their consequences took us to the brink of self implosion, hence the reason we were down graded.

    Kennedy raised the debt ceiling 4 times for a total increase of 5%.

    Johnson raised the debt ceiling 7 times for a total increase of 18%.

    Nixon raised the debt ceiling 9 times for a total increase of 36%.

    Ford raised the debt ceiling 5 times for a total increase of 41%.

    Carter raised the debt ceiling 9 times for total increase of 59%.

    Reagan raised the debt ceiling 18 times for a total increase of 199%.

    George H.W. Bush raised the debt ceiling 9 times for a total increase of 48%.

    Clinton raised the debt ceiling 4 times for a total increase of 44%.

    George W. Bush raised the debt ceiling 7 times for a total increase of 90%.

  7. By lvfacts101 (Jerry Fink)
    Sept. 15, 2011
    6:01 a.m.
    Flag

    As a lemming, VernosB would leap off a cliff merely because the other lemmings did. Because we put up with the raising of the national debt before has no bearing on our attempt to rein in the bureaucrats in the pig sty known as Washington D.C. today! Back in the "good" old days, the national debt wasn't $14 trillion plus! We're on a sinking ship and "great" thinkers such as VernosB are busy rearranging deck chairs. Just because VernosB is a champion of the parasitic class doesn't mean we have to be! Just because VernosB is greedy and wants "his" now and to hell with future generations doesn't mean we have to be! Just because VernosB has trouble thinking, doing and fending for himself doesn't mean we all do! You want to follow this "great" thinker over a cliff? Be my guest. But we don't all have to!

  8. By Diamonddogg (David Pratt)
    Sept. 15, 2011
    6:25 a.m.
    Flag

    As long as The USA continues to have Foreign Trade imbalances with China and other Asian Countries, our country will continue to sink. Without decent jobs at decent pay, The USA will become a shell of its former self. The GOP will continue to break Unions, and deregulate industry to the detriment of the environment. The GOP cares about power over country! Then they have the audacity to wrap themselves in Ol' Glory.

  9. By SunJon (Jon Becker)
    Sept. 15, 2011
    7:23 a.m.
    Flag

    RingofFire:
    "Again, the Bush tax cut plan originally passed by Republicans benefited mainly lower and middle income wage earners including single mothers and the elderly:"

    This statement is typical of that from a Pathological liar. Nothing could be farther from the truth, so it seems you are a professional - being fed from some subterranean think tank, like the NPRI?

  10. By Judy
    Sept. 15, 2011
    7:41 a.m.
    Flag

    Diane Kremser - thank you for a very well written letter. I agree with your analysis completely. The TeaGOP has only one goal and that is to make President Obama a one term persident. Their goal is not to better America or Americans, not to end the recession, not to work on jobs. Their goal is simple, do whatever it takes to make Obama fail and in turn, America will fail.
    The lies and mistruths spread by the TeaGOP are being bought hook, line and sinker by those that fear and do not have the where with all to think for themselves. The TeaGOP invokes religion as a tool to gain support and those so called faithful follow without thought.
    One of these days it will hit home for those duped by the TeaGOP when they need medical care of financial assistance and its just not there. Karma can be a bit ch.

  11. By ColinFromLasVegas
    Sept. 15, 2011
    8:10 a.m.
    Flag

    Enjoyed the article.

    The buzzword "Teapublican" is very startling, but it is indeed accurate.

    Recently, in the news, a woman who was in charge of some Tea Party group somewhere in Florida basically said the Republican Party will never have the luxury to choose who the Presidential candidate is to be, the Tea Party will have the final choice. In essence, she stated they are in charge and they will pick. They took it over. The moderate Republican Party form of conservatism is gone, baby, gone. Blown away like dust to the four winds.

    The Christian Conservatives are back. And they have went nutball batcrap crazy.

    Guaranteed they'll make up stuff to get votes too. Look at Michele Bachmann throwing something out there that has no validity at all like the recent debacle how a little girl got a vaccination and it caused mental retardation (patently false...and she knew it was false when she said it). Even repeating it from someone is basically criminal because it was only meant to insinuate and fearmonger away from science and safe health practices.

    I, for one, enjoy the Tea Party taking over the Republican Party and shoving them unwillingly further right. Those efforts will effectively kill off whatever remnants of the Republican Party are left. Crazy is cool now. No more compromise ever again. It's only travel this path obediently and if you don't? You will forever burn in the hellfires of brimstone and purgatory for all infinity! The time honored politics of negotiation and discussion are gone from their vocabulary. The Tea Party set in stone stuff MUST and WILL be adhered to. Don't matter if it's right or wrong, DO IT DAMNIT! Right wing insanity is the key and voices of reason should be called out, shouted down, made fun of and eventually ignored.

    They welcome this stance with open arms, sinking themselves further into irrelevance and unelectability.

    Rest in Peace, Republican Party. Nobody to blame but you for destroying what you stand for. The Party of Abe Lincoln is now the Party of Sara Palin. You did it to yourselves.

  12. By VernosB (vernos branco)
    Sept. 15, 2011
    8:23 a.m.
    Flag

    lvfacts101 - "VernosB is a champion of the parasitic class doesn't mean we have to be!"

    I hope you live long enough to see a repeat of the real parasites. Those on Wall St who with no doubt will ask the government for another bailout after they collapse the market. It's a no brainer because over the course of our history they've done it several times and will do it again. Not one recession or depression was caused by the working class poor, elderly or middle class.

    What you deem as parasites are working class people who earn so little income the government realizes taxing them is insane. The thought of an increasing impovershed numbers must be impossible for you to understand. For 30 years the middle class has been taking a beating and people such as yourself refuse to acknowledge that fact, so you classify the growing ranks of the poor as parasites. That's how you rationalize the problem away, ignore the facts and blame others.

    wtplv - "So you believe that R's would make all taxes corporations pay be zero or near zero and they would shift all that tax burden to the poor and middle class."

    Yes, I do think they will try. So far it's been Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann and Herman Caine who all said corporate taxes should be zero. Normally I would blow it off as nonsense, but we are talking about people who don't care about political suicide, the ceiling debate fiasco proved that. Remember these leaders have constituents who feel the same. Others in the GOP/Tea Party want to reduce corporate rates to 15% or below.

  13. By wtplv (Michael Casler)
    Sept. 15, 2011
    8:33 a.m.
    Flag

    SunJon (Jon Becker),

    You really need to go look at the legislation that enacted what are now referred to as the 'Bush' tax cuts in the years 2001 through 2006.

    I can agree that the tax cuts were not paid for and given what we were spending, should not have been enacted, but many people, including you, simply do not know the specifics of those tax cuts and make inaccurate statements regarding them.

    The cuts did provide cuts for the wealthy but they also cut rates for 'all' the brackets, fixed the marriage penalty and even created a new 10 % bracket that was taken from the 15 % bracket.

    In truth, most Americans got a sizable tax cut through these tax cuts. The wealthy saved the most because what they paid was the largest amount to start out with.

    Two things can reasonably be argued by people like you: 1) The tax cuts should not have been enacted because they added to the debt. 2) If tax cuts were enacted, the wealthy (however you choose to define that) should not have been included.

    To say that these tax cuts benefitted nobody but the wealthy defies the facts. If you doubt me, just Google an analysis of the Bush Tax Cuts and read the fcts for yourself.

    Both sides in this country should do more research before they draw conclusions and then insert their foot into their mouth.

    Michael

  14. By ksand99 (Kevin Sandoval)
    Sept. 15, 2011
    8:48 a.m.
    Flag

    Here are the hard facts that some don't want to acknowledge: the bottom 50% of Americans control a whopping 2.5% of American wealth.
    http://static.businessinsider.com/image/...

    Making the bottom 45% of Americans pay more in income tax will not solve our deficit problem, nor help pay down our debt. It's a symbolic act that will backfire... increasing the reliance on social services, increasing the burden on government and impoverishing even more working families and children.

    And who is the bottom 50%? The poor, the working poor... families of 4 who earn less than $22,000 a year. They're derided as being "parasites" by economic elitists who propose making it even harder for these people to escape poverty.

    Those who have called for raising taxes on them, which, based on their share of the wealth, is just a symbolic act, have yet to offer any valid arguments. Raising taxes on the poor and middle class will do nothing to pay down the debt or deficit. It will not increase their interest or put "skin in the game" in paying down the debt or deficit, it will only force them further into poverty, increasing their reliance on social services, which will INCREASE the deficit and debt.

    The GOP trots out that talking point about 50% of Americans having no income tax liability, and some have bought into it, but I don't think they have considered the ramifications and impact of their own proposal. Increasing the tax burden on those who have a mere 2.5% of the wealth in this country is counter intuitive and won't accomplish any meaningful deficit or debt reduction... in fact, it would only accomplish the inverse.

  15. By VernosB (vernos branco)
    Sept. 15, 2011
    9:02 a.m.
    Flag

    anchorbine - "I think by middle class, the liberals mean governmentally employed union workers, heavily subsidized welfare moms, people who have milked unemployment for nearly the full 99 weeks and expect more, and anybody else looking for a handout."

    Here we go again with the Lee Atwater welfare nonsense.

    Unions make up just 12% of the entire workforce, and gov't employees are being canned like crazy, hence unmemployment went up.

    Since you feel so strong about those milking the system, I suggest not taking unemployment checks if you are fired. Else you join the ranks of those low lifes.

    For every job available six people apply. Is it just possible those 99 weekers can't find work? Especially since companies have redefined their hiring practices.

    There is a reason poverty has risen in the country and you are ignoring those facts as others who think like you. Maybe all those poor people should just drop dead like that guy in the coma during the debates. Remember, many of those poor people were once middle class and it can happen to anyone who falls on hard times.

  16. By dipstick
    Sept. 15, 2011
    10:08 a.m.

    Comment removed by moderator. - -

  17. By wtplv (Michael Casler)
    Sept. 15, 2011
    2:49 p.m.
    Flag

    Dipstick and Fosimmons,

    Could you two not resist the temptation to jump in the mud over this claim about Sarah Palin?

    Apparently, the moderator felt you crossed the line in your comments. One would hope all people that write in here would remain out of the mud.

    Michael

  18. By wtplv (Michael Casler)
    Sept. 15, 2011
    3:41 p.m.

    Comment removed by moderator. Nothing wrong with the comment, just off topic.

  19. By wtplv (Michael Casler)
    Sept. 15, 2011
    4:06 p.m.
    Flag

    Moderator,

    It's fine that you removed my comment as it is off the main topic of the initial letter writer. However, it was on point concerning Fosimmons name calling.

    Michael

  20. By boftx
    Sept. 15, 2011
    4:19 p.m.
    Flag

    Civil War re-enactments? I would be inclined to think Revolutionary War re-enactments if our government doesn't do something to stop us from becoming a captive market for China and others.

    If you want to know why the middle class has been "gutted" you need only to consider this: the United States imports more goods and services than the rest of the world combined. Add on top of that the fact that the federal government borrows 40 cents of every dollar it spends.

    How long can this be tolerated?

  21. By Det__Munch
    Sept. 15, 2011
    4:26 p.m.

    Comment removed by moderator. Inappropriate

  22. By its2hot (Tim Wiggin)
    Sept. 15, 2011
    6:25 p.m.
    Flag

    "GOP policies have gutted middle class"

    Middle class have gutted themselves and need to accept the fact that nobody created their destiny but themselves.

    I find amazing how many people these days don't and can't accept responsibility for the choices they made for their career choice and lifestyle they created. If they wanted more money or more money to live a better lifestyle, they should've made a different choice. Stop blaming others for your choices and accept responsibility for where you are today.

    Nobody told you to spend money nor did anyone tell you that economics would change where nobody would want to hire you or keep you under their employment, there are no guarantees in life except for death and taxes.

    Life experiences is a choice you make, nobody else. If you want to be an employee, make that choice, if you want to be a millionaire, make that choice, if you want to be broke, you make that choice. If you can't afford much, you make that choice.

    Here is a suggestion, quit whining, quit blaming and try something new, become responsible for your choices and accept the fact that you are your own boss and you choose life's outcomes.

  23. By gmag39
    Sept. 15, 2011
    6:27 p.m.
    Flag

    "Is control your hidden agenda?"
    Yes, Frank, frankly speaking, yes. You are correct, sir. Very good call...

    Who will buy all the JUNK that keeps the economy "hummin'" when the MIDDLE-CLASS has NO MO' MONEY to BUY IT???
    The TeaPublicans have gone & BITTEN OFF THE HAND that feeds it.
    Now, they're going for the THROAT...
    Go ahead; TAKE IT.
    It's almost worth it just to get you Godforsaken hater's off of our backs!!!
    It must be miserable, wallowing in your mindless ignorance.

  24. By VernosB (vernos branco)
    Sept. 15, 2011
    8:42 p.m.
    Flag

    "All these above benefits are not taxable and are provided by the gov't from taxpaying Americans."

    Not true for unemployment insurance. You need to file a 1099 because it's taxable income, also those checks pale next to earning real income. If you earn about $12 an hour, unemployment will pay you about $800 a month in this state. A family of 4 earning $22k can barely get by even with state help.

    "President Johnson said that it would only cost $1 billion to eliminate poverty in the USA forever. Years and trillions of dollars later, we have more poverty in America than ever before."

    A huge reason being the wealth of the nation has been shifted upward. Trickle economics sure works, for the wealthy, a pipeline that hardly trickles.

    How long will the country survive with tax cuts handed over to the wealthy who aren't creating jobs, and redifining a shrinking middle class as impoverished, who will soon be unable to consume products?

  25. By SunJon (Jon Becker)
    Sept. 16, 2011
    2:21 p.m.
    Flag

    Michael Casler:

    If you understood the Bush tax cuts, you would have explained them but you didn't. What Bush did is increase the size and amount of tax shelters, loopholes.

    These tax dodges reduced the taxable income of many wealthy to only 1% of their gross. At that level, a 90% tax rate means one pays only 0.9% of their income in taxes. This allowed most of the tax savings to go to the wealthy because the middle class cannot take advantage of those loopholes.

    To understand what was in the tax breaks, just look at the outcome, it's that simple.

    The objective of the Republicans is to break the Government financially and then turn the operation of America over to Private Financial Cells that have no obligation to the public. Then they can tear up the land, forests, water supplies and energy and make a bundle for themselves.

    The next step after that is Anarchy - the laws won't mean anything when 20 million people have been cheated out of their retirement pay.

  26. By petef (Peter Fritz)
    Sept. 16, 2011
    5:06 p.m.
    Flag

    Holy crap! read what you have just wrote! >Nearly every measure President Barack Obama has put forth to aid the economy has been rejected by Republicans in the House and Senate.<< Hussein Obama was in complete control of the country when he and his democrats were elected for "change". How can you possibly blame anyone else but him and his party for the miserable life you have had since? The presidents number are down because he is a community organizer and lacked the skills needed to run this country, he is not a president material.. Failed on his own 2 feet with all the help of his own party. He makes Jimmy Carter and GW Bush look good. We need a war hero or business person at the helm, not a dimwit unqualified arrogant person. good bye "O"!

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