The Republican Party has been the party of the rich and corporations since decades before President Trump was born.  The vast majority of Americans, however, are not wealthy, nor are they significant holders of corporate stocks.  So, is the GOP the party for workers as they sometimes claim?  Hardly.  But wait, there’s more.

Republicans have consistently opposed labor unions that promote higher wages for workers, and they have always called for limited government.  Most of them have consistently voted against increasing the federal minimum wage and federal support for health insurance like Medicaid.  In fact, their 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act cut almost $1 trillion over the next decade from this critical program for low-income Americans.  I believe they would also significantly cut Medicare and Social Security if they could get away with it. 

There is an immutable fact that probably shapes modern society – it takes money to make money.  One either has it or has the means to borrow it.  I believe, however, that Republican policies have helped keep around 80% of Americans from having these prerequisites for accumulating wealth.  Consequently, they are constantly struggling to make ends meet while the news keeps telling them about new stock market highs, flashy new cars that they can’t afford and the rising median cost of a house that they have no way of owning. 

I believe this inequality that Republicans have helped foster is a major reason why many voters have been lured by Trump’s wild promises since 2016, even though many of them are simply lies or impossible for him to achieve.  There is good reason to believe, however, that for the upcoming election many voters have finally learned the truth.

But here’s the thing.  Consumer spending is around 70% of the U.S. economy (GDP), according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).  But instead of promoting policies that put more money in the hands of the middleclass and lower income consumers, Republicans give the larger tax breaks to corporations and the wealthy.  These benefits allow companies to buy back their stock, which mainly enriches their executives and shareholders. It also enables rich people to buy the bonds the government must sell to offset the deficits the tax reductions cause, both of which are economically ludicrous.

Unfortunately, I don’t recall the author of the quote: “Just because something is not happening to you, shouldn’t mean that it doesn’t matter.”  But all Americans, including corporate officials and the wealthy, should take these words as a warning.  Because when Trump extorts money and services from law firms, colleges, media organizations, etc. and when he sends a hoard of federal agents or national guard troops to Democratic-run cities and states, any of us could be next in this president’s crosshairs.  To be sure, his bullying of some of us – is a threat to all of us.

Consequently, it is not just working Americans that must worry about what Trump and most Republicans are doing or want to do.  While Trump’s tariffs hurt lower income people the most, they also damage many corporations, particularly the small business job creators.  To make matters worse, Trump is promoting something called “state capitalism.” It’s as if he considers himself to be the co-chairman of all corporate boards.  And if the directors don’t agree…. well, he has many ways of making them change their minds.

Trump calls Democrats socialists, which he wrongly equates to communists. True socialists seek to control the means and distribution of production, but I haven’t heard or read that any Democrat is calling for that type of economic control.  But as stated in a foreignpolicy.com article, “The level of U.S. government economic intervention under Trump 2.0 is off the charts.”  Are the free-market capitalist conservatives in Congress apoplectic?  Nope.  Whatever Trump wants is just fine with them.

When Trump got personally involved in U.S. Steel business decisions did Republicans cry foul?  Absolutely not!  When he ordered the Defense Department to invest in a rare-earths mining company did they yell, “Stop!”? Negative.  When he negotiated a large government ownership in chip maker Intel did they strongly object? Not a chance. According to the foreignpolicy.com article Trump “picked winners and losers in all the emerging industries that will shape the global economy in the years to come.”  So, farewell limited government.

Alas, there are many reasons to vote against Republicans next week, the murders by untrained ICE agent thugs, the ongoing corruption by Trump’s family and friends, Trump’s weaponization of the Justice Department against his enemies and hundreds more.  But these crimes would not have occurred but for the acquiescence of the cowardly Republicans in Congress.

Although Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly helping Iran target American bases and personnel in the Middle East and is viciously attacking our Ukrainian ally, Trump acts like an agent and pupil of this despot.  Although many Republican politicians abhor Trump’s subservience to Putin, they are complicit in his treachery, and this may be the paramount reason for voting against them.

We all do better when every American does better is a saying that I strongly believe and have written about.  Today, however, we have a president and many Republicans in Congress who want only themselves and their loyal supporters to do better. And this authoritarian attitude is what all citizens should vote against, regardless of party affiliation.