I've never been particularly one sided when it comes to politics, I watch the news with an open mind trying, like most Americans, to decide which is the lesser of two evils.  However, in the past few years, the "politics" of daily living has forced me to sit up and pay attention.

One particular issue, that my family and most everyone I know , has been forced to address is the state of our economy.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the average working family is in big trouble.  I've watched with hope and interest as the powers that be fight out what should and should not be done.  The more I watch and research what is and isn't true, the more I realize "The squeeze on the middle class" is, in fact, in play.

I do not put the full responsibility for this at the President and his administrations door, HOWEVER, not NEARLY enough is being done to help, and some things that have been done are just plain counter-productive.

I've listened to the Bush administration tout "the tax cuts are working" like it's some kind of mantra they hope will eventually convince the majority of us who can't see the progress.  I do look forward to that tax return at the end of the year, but that money is needed to offset the rising medical costs, the rise in the cost of higher education, and the hyper-inflation that is taking place in this country.  That's not what I would consider an answer.  That few thousand dollars a year does not come close to making up for the higher property taxes, sales tax, cost of health care or enormous rise in education costs.  Those issues need solutions not a band-aid.

I've heard "our economy is strong and getting stronger".  Is that in reference to the enormous profits the oil companies are seeing? Or the companies who moved their industry elsewhere leaving thousands out of work?  Just exactly WHERE is this big economic boom and WHO is benefiting from it?  I think, not the average working family.

I've heard statistics claiming that jobs are being created by the thousands, however if the full story be known, many of the jobs created come with lower pay and less benefits, then the jobs lost, for the average worker.  The cost of health insurance has reached a point that the average employer has to take less coverage with higher deductibles to be able to afford the premiums.  This leaves middle class families seeing more medical debt then ever before. 

The reason the middle class is feeling the squeeze most harshly is because once you've reached that "middle class" point, you can no longer receive any help with medical costs, higher education, etc.  Even programs that claim middle class eligibility are no longer available. So the middle class feels the full burden of rising costs.  Unable to afford it and unable to get help with it.  This administration is also keen on the idea of cutting funding to help those under what's considered poverty level, needed programs for those without health insurance and families in need of help with rising costs in housing and utilites.

The middle class also pays the highest percentage of income tax.  I've heard Bush say cutting the tax for the wealthy promotes investing, and that these investments yield their own taxes for the government.  This may be true, but try as I might, I was unable to find proof of that.

Thomas Jefferson said that a middle class was necessary to keep it's government honest.  Will our children see a society where this "class" no longer exists?

I've also heard President Bush say time and time again "education is the answer to promoting job growth".  Ok does that mean if you can't afford higher education too bad for you, you deserve a crappy job? Or no job at all?  Middle class American's are quickly feeling the crunch of higher education and it is becoming much harder to save money for our children's education due to higher costs of living and sky rocketing college tuitions. To make matters worse the average wage base is not rising to keep up with these costs. 

It's time to wake up and realize "the American dream" is quickly disappearing, and we will soon be left with simply the "haves and have nots".

What can we do? The only thing in our power to at least TRY to bring about some change is to vote.  I know, many do not believe that their vote counts....well if everyone subscribes to that and doesn't bother, then there will be no CHANCE of change.  At least we can be heard, vote.