Long before Trump became their illegitimate president, Republicans had a number of goals to alter our nation from remaining a ‘democratic republic,’ and change it to a plutocracy. With Trump in the West Wing, Republicans not only protect their failed and immoral leader, they have an opportunity to achieve goals they have drooled about for approximately 25 years.

Trump is assisting them with their wars on multiple groups of Americans while supporting the wealthy and large corporations.

For decades GOP politicians sought to end Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare. When the Affordable Care Act was passed, they added it to their list of social programs they sought to repeal.

Shortly after Trump’s inauguration, Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell hastily prepared a “healthcare” bill without the contribution of a single Democrat. This piece of legislation was garbage. It would harm millions of Americans by removing their access to any form of healthcare. It soon became evident that their only goal was to repeal Obamacare. They would also succeed in greatly reducing Medicaid payments to low income Americans.

Trumpcare barely failed in the Senate. Next, onto the budget and “tax reform.”

Once again this destructive piece of junk will harm the majority and be a gift to Trump and other wealthy Americans. In addition, it will add at least $1.9 trillion to the deficit over the next ten years. It was passed by Republicans, who have proven that they are not true conservatives, and rejected by Democrats. Republicans currently control both houses of congress, but we can change that by the end of this year.

Republicans have waged war on women for a generation. With their unconstitutional support of the Christian religious right, they deny a woman’s right to decide the health and fate of their own bodies. Republicans have voted against equal pay in the workplace. Some continue to claim that women do not want the same pay as men, and others continue to say that they don’t deserve it. On January 21, 2017, when the Women’s March on Washington was held, Republicans ignored them. In November GOP politicians may suffer from shunning the largest group of Americans.

Another group under attack at the insistence of the Christian religious right is the LGBTQ community. They are attempting to remove their 14^th amendment rights, in a display of what can only be termed as ‘ignorant hatred.’ Their interpretation of the bible supersedes the words and teachings of Jesus Christ.

The greatest victory for Republicans is the fact that they have a white supremacist living in the White House. The GOP has been the party of racists for at least three decades. Adding to their joy was the Senate’s confirmation of Beauregard Jeffrey Sessions as Attorney General. Like his boss, he is a white supremacist. He is in a position to remove regulations passed by the Obama administration to insure that our Department of Justice treats all Americans equally, regardless of race, color of skin, or religious affiliation. He has already succeeded in some areas in a direct intent to arrest more African Americans and incarcerate them for lengthier periods of time.

Republican’s longest war has been against the working class. Protections for worker’s rights have been erased in multiple red states. In support of their wealthy owners, GOP politicians refuse to raise the federal minimum wage as the number of men, women, and children living under the poverty line continues to grow. It is the Republican Party which is responsible for a widening gap in income inequality in America.

Two other wars being waged by the Republican Party are focused on undocumented immigrants, and Muslims.

Much has been discussed in the last few months about DACA, as it should be. However, we cannot forget the nearly 12 million men, women, and children who have been living and working in our nation for decades.

I had some hope that a path to legal residence was possible , until Trump was gifted the presidency by the Electoral College. He has ordered ICE to round up these innocent families like cattle and deport them without any compassion. His hatred of all persons of color is abominable and unforgivable. Sadly, his party agrees with him as they continue to prove that they are Republicans In Name Only; RINO’s. The entire right wing is now the “Trump Party.”

The hypocrisy shown by Republicans has no boundaries. When Muslim extremists were allowed to attack our nation on September 11, 2001, Republican politicians began a war on all Muslims; it continues today. The truth is that this is an effort to establish a failing religion as our nation’s one true religion.

Finally; organized religions have been the impetus behind more wars, more deaths of innocent men and women than any other force or cause in the history of mankind. Leading these massacres are Christians and Muslims. Extremists from both ‘cults’ are the evil which threatens world peace forever.

The truth is that Republicans are our greatest enemy. They would deny the majority equal treatment and equal protection under the law. Their campaign promises have been hollow for decades.

Your country needs you; vote and encourage everyone you know to do the same on November 6^th. Without Republican control of congress, Trump will be reduced to a whimpering simpleton.

Op-ed by James Turnage

Image courtesy of DonkeyHotey

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