I am a member of a group nearing extinction. I am a moderate Republican. Our country is being taken over by extreme right-wing powers with vast wealth and the power wealth entails. This power base has enlisted the support of the very people who will suffer the most under the control of the super rich.
The United States is on the brink of returning to conditions we experienced 100 years ago. We will return to a time without clean air or water, a time without consumer protection or workplace safety. We will have religious and ethnic intolerance.
Because of school vouchers, we will see underfunding of public schools in order to divert funding to private schools. Private schools are the realm of the upper class, which can afford to pay for private education. Because of this undereducated population, we will experience a long-term downward spiral.
This is not the Republican Party I joined 50 years ago.
Ronald Shipley
Kansas City, Kan.
Note from KBJ: There's always the Democrat Party, Ron. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
