This intentional tactical tomfoolery suggests that the Tea Party-Republicans have a very low opinion of Americans’ abilities to decipher the truth, and an even lower opinion of Americans’ abilities to analyze the cause and nature of the real elements creating the separation between the richest Americans and the middle class. So I will try to clarify.
First, regardless of one’s feelings towards social, political, and economic issues in this country, it should be quite clear to most of us that the lion share of the economic, social, and political burdens are being carried on the shoulders of the middle class. The richest class, with bigger, broader, and stronger shoulders, bears far less that they share of the burden.
Second, it should be equally clear to most of us that our richest citizens acquire more benefits than the middle class, while making far less sacrifice to maintain and protect this country. For example, rich Americans are under represented in the armed forces. Their deaths and injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan are minimal, but their benefits from defense contracts, the protections of their overseas companies, and their safety, security, and privileges (defended by middle class children) are enormous.
Finally, it should be noted that war is a hostile conflict. It is a state of antagonism that is aggressive and inhumane in nature. I fought in wars as an American soldier for the sole purpose of killing the enemy. The goal of my fellow soldiers and me was to destroy the enemy as effectively and efficiently violent as possible. Although the Tea Party-Republicans who are making deep drastic cuts to entitlements are not using military weapons against their fellow citizens, the end results of their policies are producing warfare-like results: Americans, especially children, are starving and dying. Our inner cities are looking more like cities in Lebanon and Beirut, and less like vibrant, well-kept, social and economic hubs in a democratic country.
Yes, there is class warfare. The Tea Party-Republicans have invaded our country. And the number of casualties from their invasion is growing every day. Little do they realize, (it seems), that the casualties they are destroying are essential to maintaining the life-line of the United States, including the life-lines of all Tea Party-Republicans. Ultimately, this last point might turn-out to be the biggest irony of the history of the United States.
By
James A. Porter
