For the majority of time the Democrats controlled, the 1930s-70s, for the most part, people were gainfully employed and the workers and unions were profitable.

In the 1980s, jobs started to disappear. NAFTA, created by Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, was the beginning of America’s downfall. That bill benefited only 5 percent of the people and hurt, in one way or another, 50 million to 60 million other Americans.

The people spoke out against this bill, but the Republican Party pushed it through.

As I look back over the last 30 years, I see one thing clearly: The Republican Party has hurt the working class people, in turn hurting the country. Tax revenue is down because people are not working, and people are losing their homes. Factory jobs and others disappear every year.

We’ve heard Republican candidates taking potshots at President Barack Obama for all the vacation he has taken, while he’s been going out to address average working class people. Talking to people in one state or another is not wrong. This is what the people need from the president to find ways to fix the problems people are experiencing. It’s going to take time to straighten out what has been screwed up over the last 30 years.

I ask that all elected officials, Democrat and Republican, look at the people they represent and see what’s going on in the people’s lives, rich or poor. Then agree that doing what’s right for all of the people is the most important thing. If they do this and put the people back to work this means gainful employment, not creating jobs that pay $8 per hour.

NAFTA allowed and paid business to leave America. The country will prosper when people are put first.

When will the Republicans fix this? Or is this what they consider representing the people? Cutting taxes is not the fix, giving rebates to people is not the fix. Putting people and their lives first is.

Why don’t Democrats stand up and point this out? It’s not lying or throwing mud. It’s the truth.

Cecil M. Bryar Sr.

Benton