Wake up, the GOP doesn't care about you

A common axiom says that if two different language speakers are stranded together, the smarter one will learn the other’s language. The moral being that intelligence and adaptability are necessary for survival. 

However, this adage has a corollary – some people are either unable or unwilling to learn.

To me, this secondary message perfectly describes working-class GOP voters.  Despite ample evidence that Republicans do not care about them, large numbers of wage earners consistently vote GOP. 

Every single benefit working-class Americans enjoy came from Democrats – Social Security, fair labor standards, workplace health and safety, 40-hour work weeks, paid overtime, sick and vacation time, family leave, the minimum wage, Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, the ACA, consumer protections and more. 

In contrast, Republicans opposed all of these benefits and rolled some back.

Republicans have also been poor custodians; recessions, unnecessary wars, unprecedented wealth inequality, soaring national debt and wage stagnation can all be traced to GOP policies. Republican administrations have been plagued by scandals, dishonesty, cover-ups, corruption and self-dealing. 

To gain office, Richard Nixon sent Anna Chennault to Paris to delay Vietnam War peace talks, Ronald Reagan sent Bill Casey and John Connelly to the Middle East to delay releasing the Iranian hostages and Donald Trump fomented a failed coup d’état.

In a sane world, no Republican would get elected dog-catcher, yet far too many will win this November.  Call it stupidity or willful ignorance, some people never learn.

Joseph Cannisi