"What Republicans want to preserve isn't freedom, it's powe," writes Reich. "The power to impose their narrow ideology on everyone else, no matter who suffers." (Image: Inequality Media)
Republicans Don't Believe in Freedom--Only Power
The GOP agenda centers on taking away freedom, not defending it.
Republicans love to claim they're the party of freedom. Bulls**t.
In reality, the Republican agenda centers on taking away freedom.
They're chipping away your freedom to choose when, how, and with whom you start a family by passing ever more restrictive abortion bans.
They're chipping away the freedom to discuss sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom.
Many are chipping away the freedom of trans people to receive life-saving, gender-affirming care.
Many are chipping away students' freedom to learn about America's history of racism and discrimination.
They're also chipping away at the most fundamental freedom of all: the right to vote - restricting everything from mail-in voting to ballot dropboxes.
But their chipping away at freedom is even bigger than all this.
Can you really be free if you're saddled with medical debt and have to routinely pay outrageous health care costs?
Can you really be free if you have no voice in your workplace and your employer refuses to let you organize with your coworkers for the right to collectively bargain?
Can you really be free if you're not paid a living wage and have to choose between feeding your family or keeping your lights on?
A living wage, the right to join a union, guaranteed healthcare, the right to vote - these are the foundations of real freedom.
Yet Republicans oppose all of these.
There's a reason the historic 1963 rally was called The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Because freedom also means the ability to work in a job that pays enough to provide food, clothing, shelter, and medical care.
What Republicans want to preserve isn't freedom, it's power. The power to impose their narrow ideology on everyone else, no matter who suffers. Don't let their propaganda convince you otherwise.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Republicans love to claim they're the party of freedom. Bulls**t.
In reality, the Republican agenda centers on taking away freedom.
They're chipping away your freedom to choose when, how, and with whom you start a family by passing ever more restrictive abortion bans.
They're chipping away the freedom to discuss sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom.
Many are chipping away the freedom of trans people to receive life-saving, gender-affirming care.
Many are chipping away students' freedom to learn about America's history of racism and discrimination.
They're also chipping away at the most fundamental freedom of all: the right to vote - restricting everything from mail-in voting to ballot dropboxes.
But their chipping away at freedom is even bigger than all this.
Can you really be free if you're saddled with medical debt and have to routinely pay outrageous health care costs?
Can you really be free if you have no voice in your workplace and your employer refuses to let you organize with your coworkers for the right to collectively bargain?
Can you really be free if you're not paid a living wage and have to choose between feeding your family or keeping your lights on?
A living wage, the right to join a union, guaranteed healthcare, the right to vote - these are the foundations of real freedom.
Yet Republicans oppose all of these.
There's a reason the historic 1963 rally was called The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Because freedom also means the ability to work in a job that pays enough to provide food, clothing, shelter, and medical care.
What Republicans want to preserve isn't freedom, it's power. The power to impose their narrow ideology on everyone else, no matter who suffers. Don't let their propaganda convince you otherwise.
Republicans love to claim they're the party of freedom. Bulls**t.
In reality, the Republican agenda centers on taking away freedom.
They're chipping away your freedom to choose when, how, and with whom you start a family by passing ever more restrictive abortion bans.
They're chipping away the freedom to discuss sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom.
Many are chipping away the freedom of trans people to receive life-saving, gender-affirming care.
Many are chipping away students' freedom to learn about America's history of racism and discrimination.
They're also chipping away at the most fundamental freedom of all: the right to vote - restricting everything from mail-in voting to ballot dropboxes.
But their chipping away at freedom is even bigger than all this.
Can you really be free if you're saddled with medical debt and have to routinely pay outrageous health care costs?
Can you really be free if you have no voice in your workplace and your employer refuses to let you organize with your coworkers for the right to collectively bargain?
Can you really be free if you're not paid a living wage and have to choose between feeding your family or keeping your lights on?
A living wage, the right to join a union, guaranteed healthcare, the right to vote - these are the foundations of real freedom.
Yet Republicans oppose all of these.
There's a reason the historic 1963 rally was called The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Because freedom also means the ability to work in a job that pays enough to provide food, clothing, shelter, and medical care.
What Republicans want to preserve isn't freedom, it's power. The power to impose their narrow ideology on everyone else, no matter who suffers. Don't let their propaganda convince you otherwise.