Today is the 242^nd year we celebrate our Independence. This single event has always been one of the most important occasions in world history. A relatively small group of rebels stood up to King George III, the ruler of the mighty English Empire and stated that they would no longer accept his rule. Although we have several other holidays designed to celebrate our nation’s people, this is the one day when an entire nation revels in a single ideal which is pure Americana; freedom. So how do the American people view their country today?

A survey reveals that less than 50 percent of all our nation’s people are extremely proud to be American today; a 20 year low. When liberals were asked this question, the number was under 25 percent. This is of course based on the un-American policies of Donald J. Trump. His beliefs in white supremacy and xenophobia are diametrically opposed to the principles of our founding fathers.

However, the truth is that the entire Republican Party is to blame for the high level of displeasure expressed by the majority. It begins and ends with the economy. Nearly half of our nation’s people live in the low-income range or below the poverty line. More than 500,000 men, women, and children are homeless. If the 4^th of July is about ‘freedom,’ it is not celebrated by many of these groups who struggle to survive daily. Many of these Americans are forced to work today rather than celebrate.

Led by traitors to the American people, Republican leadership including John Boehner, Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, and others, GOP politicians have focused on destroying social programs for Americans who need them the most. Although Social Security was designed to be self-sustaining, government has stolen money from the program for their personal pet projects. In danger today are Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps, ‘Meals on Wheels,’ children’s healthcare programs, and multiple educational programs designed to help millions of Americans increase their quality of life.

In America ‘freedom’ has become a synonym for ‘wealth.’ The one-percent live the American dream while most Americans simply ‘get by.’ My wife and I join tens-of-million other Americans who are one paycheck away from poverty; and we are 72 and 68 years old.

Has the dream vanished? Under Donald Trump it is nearly extinct. The dream is only attainable by the wealthy.

Maxine Waters suggested that when real Americans encounter a member of Trump’s administration in public they should verbally berate them for their fascist policies. I believe this should be extended to all Republicans.

Change your future; vote all hypocritical Republicans out of office on November 6^th.

Please tell others about my blog; we need the truth more now than ever. Thank you.

Op-ed by James Turnage

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Image courtesy of DonkeyHotey

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