Don't blame me.

I sometimes hear people who make less than $100,000 a year, sometimes far less, talk as if they think tax breaks for the rich and deregulation of corporations will somehow help them. They complain about how hard they work and how taxes are killing them. And they have been convinced that “lazy people”—by which they generally mean minorities, who they imagine are living like royalty on food stamps—are bleeding them dry. They think if it weren’t for these “lazy people,” they could afford to pay off their credit cards and buy boats, RVs and vacation homes.

I know they have been suckered by propaganda designed to play on their bigotry and irrational fears, and they are right to feel swindled. They see that there really isn’t any shortage of material wealth in this country, but they’re working harder and longer hours for less. However, how stupid do you have to be to believe that poor people who buy milk with a coupon are the ones sucking up all the wealth? How hard is it to go online and look up state and federal budgets to see where tax dollars are going? How hard is it to find out that corporations and billionaires are paying less a percentage of their income for taxes than working people? How hard is it to figure out deregulation will help the super rich and not ordinary Americans?

I’m on disability, and most months I don’t have enough money left over to buy a package of new underwear. And I am not lazy. I have health issues that probably would have killed many a long time ago. If you envy my imaginary cushy lifestyle while voting for politicians who will support policies that will eventually line the pockets of the 1% with even more cash, you are a fool.