One Nation

Friday evening, my husband and I boarded a bus bound for Washington, DC. Our destination: the Lincoln Memorial. Our cause: the One Nation march and rally. As the bus departed from Chicago, I received a call from the organizers asking me to speak with Van Jones.

Due to a series of traffic jams, overcrowded streets, etc., I missed the opportunity to speak. My message, however, was too important not to be shared.

Question: Does the intentional gridlock in Washington, DC indicate a war on the middle class?

Two years ago, my husband and I were typical middle class Americans. We had a little money in the bank and paid off our credit cards monthly. We were not wealthy, but we were comfortable. Everything seemed stable.

Our worlds was shaken when Hodgkin's lymphoma attacked Ted's uninsured daughter. We didn't know what to do. Would we have to sell the house to get her treatment? Then we learned the property values had dropped. Praise God that a charity stepped in and arranged for her care and Amy is alive and well today.

As she recovered, the stock market crashed, virtually wiping out Ted's IRA. Thank God, Ted had a job. If he could work three more years, he'd get full retirement benefits from Teachers Retirement and Social Security.

Illinois became insolvent. It's budgets for public schools was slashed. Thousands of teachers throughout the state lost their jobs. Ted was among them. He's competing with fresh, young teachers who will be paid much less than he made last year. Now, this special education teacher is considering paraprofessional (teachers' aide) positions.

Republicans have repeatedly voted against the middle class on health care, Lilly Ledbetter, finance reform, extended unemployment benefits, and funding for teachers, police, and fire fighters.

Why should we even consider voting republican this year? I can find no incentive when they have consistently voted against the middle class.