Mysterious voting defections of Democrats Sen. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, forfeit Democrats’ leadership role, permitting Senate Republicans to stall the progressive agenda. These Republican architects of middle class decline, once again, control America’s fragile destiny. For example:

In 1981 to 1988, President Ronald Reagan incrementally reduced the top income tax rate, 70% to 28%. In 1989 to 1992, George H.W. Bush’s war in Iraq, in search of weapons of mass destruction that were never found.

In 2001 to 2008, President George W. Bush invaded Afghanistan, a war that lasted decades. Bush cut the top tax rate below Clinton’s 39.6%.

During the economic crises of 2008, three million jobs were lost. The financial bailout of corrupt Wall Street banks cost taxpayers $1.5 trillion. The housing bubble collapse affected millions of homeowners.

In 2011, Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell halted President Barack Obama’s infrastructure plan, part of a $447 billion jobs bill, to be paid by a 0.07% surcharge on millionaires. Roads and bridges are still broken today.

President Donald Trump slashed the top income tax rate $1.5 trillion. He lowered corporate taxes from 40% to 25%, slated for employee pay hikes. Instead, billions were spent buying back company stock, artificially boosting share prices. Ten percent of Americans eventually controlled the lion’s share of America’s wealth through years of stagnant wages.

In turbulent America today, Trump, the Elephants and the Foxes avoid the truth of matters, while preaching fear, fiction and fascism to gullible Americans.

Gino Mariotti, Butler