Our legislators in Washington are corrupt and criminal, any intelligent person knows this is true. They attempt to use everything for their own advantage while putting the screws to the American people. The latest is so despicable that I am now ashamed to be an American citizen who voted for any of them. My social security checks will be labeled a ‘federal benefit.’

I and my employers paid into social security for decades and the facts prove that I will never be able to receive the total amount which we provided. Congress has pilfered money from the program for decades to fund their personal projects.

In 1935 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed social security into law. It would be self-sustaining and no debt to the federal government would ensue. Now the politicos in Washington, who receive extraordinary benefits, want to alter the best program ever established for the American people because they screwed it up.

Words mean a great deal. Labeling my social security a ‘benefit’ implies that it is some sort of welfare or social program which is funded by the federal government. It is not. It is a prepaid program, not funded by government money, which has received multiple actions of embezzlement by corrupt and self-serving politicians.

This ridiculous statement has increased my anger and completes my lack of faith and respect for those we mistakenly elected to office. They receive a ridiculous base salary for the little they do of $174,000 per year, which they voted for themselves, and thanks to illegal donations become millionaires after two terms. They have benefits comparable to Corporate CEOs. They have chosen a ‘profession’ which guarantees them a life of privilege and ease paid for by the American people. They are not required to live on the nation’s median income, or receive social security and Medicare as their retirement and health care programs. And they’re supposed to work for us.

Bernie Sanders is the only candidate on either side who continues to cry out for the working class. The truth is that he is 100 percent correct; capitalism has failed. It has created a greed beyond belief and has forced the working class to accept unfair wages and minimal benefits. While the one-percent experience a life of luxury thanks to bloated profits, the working class has experienced a diminished quality of life often pushing them into the poverty level.

Sadly, Americans equate ‘socialism’ with ‘communism;’ they have little relationship to each other. Canada is a Democratic Socialist country. If you personally know any Canadians, you are aware of how happy they are to live in a country which cares for all of its people, not just a few.

Now, here it comes: “If you like Canada so much, why don’t you move there?” Unlike our politicians, I love my country; and my country is the American people, not the soil beneath my feet, and certainly not my government.

While Ted Cruz, Sarah Palin, Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh and others talk about the real America, what they actually mean is a nation ruled by white extremists whose only concern is profit. The ‘real America’ is the working class of our nation; the great majority who work hard every day for the betterment of themselves and their families, and believe in the ideals of our founding fathers. I love them; the 99 percent.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Photo Courtesy of DonkeyHotey

Author’s Page http://www.amazon.com/By-James-turnage/e/B00LOCJ2Z2