By William Crandell, South County Democratic Club   

Tuesday will be one of the most important elections in the history of our state. Voters will be asked to choose between two very different political agendas that will impact the future of Michigan for many years to come.

The big question that voters face is do we want to be a society that attacks the middle class to give away tax breaks for the wealthy? Do we want to be represented by politicians who will vote to cut unemployment and welfare benefits when joblessness remains high and recipients need them the most? Do we want elected officials that will callously cut education funding and place our school districts in financial jeopardy? For instance, the recent controversy over the Niles teachers’ contract, perhaps there wouldn’t have been an issue if the GOP hadn’t made such deep cuts to per pupil spending in the governor’s budget of 2010. Are we willing to put an additional tax burden upon the shoulders of our families and the elderly by cutting the homestead tax and instituting a pension tax? All of these cuts have been made to pay for 1.8 billion dollars in tax breaks to corporations that have failed to have any affect upon our economy and have not brought down unemployment. The theory of trickle down economics has never worked and is nothing more than a way for the wealthy to become richer. I don’t believe we can afford to continue to elect politicians who only serve the needs of special interests and not the people.

Many Republican politicians have also embraced a philosophy they call personal responsibility, but I believe its roots are in social Darwinism and goes against the grain of one of the fundamental values of Christianity and our nation and that is compassion for the less fortunate. I believe America is better than that. The Michigan House GOP have proven it cares nothing for the poor and middle class and lack an understanding it was middle class that built and made this country great and will again if we have the right leadership. Democrats need to take back our state government and rebuild Michigan.

Next week, I’ll be voting Democrat, and I will be voting in favor of the proposals that will work to make us a state that is investing in its middle class and environmental future. It’s time that we had some new faces representing the people who are not beholden to wealthy campaign contributors. I’m through with the mean spiritedness of the Tea Party in Lansing and in Washington. They have very little regard for  average Americans who are willing to work hard to provide a better life for their families. All they are doing is stealing from the people to give to the wealthy, and I think that we have given enough. Cast your vote for a Democrat and invest in our future.