Opinion: Job-killing Republicans only care about defeating President Obama

Are Republicans doing anything to increase demand? Unfortunately, no. When they took over governorships or state legislatures, they promptly passed legislation that cut employment, reduced workers' salaries and pensions. Then they reduced the time laid-off workers could collect unemployment insurance. More people have less money to spend.

In Congress, Republicans insist that the federal government stay out of the job-creating business. No stimulus money for road repairs, hospitals, schools or new forms of energy, Just cut taxes and eliminate "job killing" regulations and the economy will be working again.

Republicans are certainly bright enough to know that state and federal funds do get people working and earning money. When people have money they spend it, increasing demand; employers hire more people; the economy moves in the right direction. But you wouldn't know it from their debate rhetoric and now their ads.

Just this week it was reported that more than 100,000 jobs were added in the private sector. Good, but not great. However, spearheaded by Republicans, 30,000 government jobs were lost during the same time. We can't afford this "job-killing" in the name of "deficit reduction." (Locally, government jobs have been cut by at least 20 percent over the past few years.)

So why are Republicans fighting to cut government employment? Doesn't this make them job-killers?

I know the Republicans promised to make Barack Obama a one-term president, but if that means the American economy and Americans of all ages, races, and levels of education are made to suffer as Republicans work to fulfill their promise, well that's too big a price to pay.

Beverly B. Chethik
Ann Arbor