Beauchamp letter: Trump and GOP

Pundits say Donald Trump’s campaign success comes from tapping into his supporters’ anger toward the “establishment.” If they mean “Republican establishment” they should be angry. Considering the destructive results of Republican governance we should all be angry.

Republicans started two unpaid-for wars costing us $2.4 trillion; shut down the government costing us $24 billion; caused the 2008 recession costing many homeowners and small investors their equity and hard-earned nest eggs.

Republican economic policies channel wealth to millionaires/billionaires while working-class wages have remained stagnant for decades. Republicans protect businesses that ship jobs out of the country and/or cut benefits for their remaining workers while corporate earnings and corporate officers’ compensation packages soar.

Republicans set back civil rights, voting rights and women’s rights 50 years. Republicans crushed public unions, ignore climate science, won’t pass a decent minimum wage law and refuse to expand Medicaid, etc. Getting the picture?

Yet Trump, the master manipulator, self-promoter, hate monger, racist and bigot has convinced his rabid followers that only he … another Republican … can ease their pain. That’s about as logical as putting a fox in charge of the hen house. Republican leaders don’t solve problems … they are the problem.

This story was originally published March 28, 2016 at 11:03 PM with the headline "Beauchamp letter: Trump and GOP."