Millions of Americans lost their jobs through no fault of their own. When their unemployment benefits ended, the Republicans issued their trademark "Hell No" and obstructed an extension of those vital benefits.

However, the Republicans issued their trademark "Hell Yes" to an extension of the Bush Tax Cuts for the rich. Also, while denying money to millions of out of work Americans to feed their children and pay their bills, the Republicans proudly proposed the elimination of the Estate Tax for the upper three tenths of one percent of the rich. This would add a TRILLION dollar debt over the next 10 years. This GOP gift to the rich is above and beyond the Bush Tax Cuts the millionaires and billionaires already enjoy. Again, the bill gets passed on to middle class taxpayers.

I have yet to hear how many of those unemployed Americans that suffered without unemployment checks are Republicans. The bigger question is how many still are? Until politics hit home and you feel the impact of your vote, most Americans do not care to educate themselves on politics. Then, when they do, many decide to trust the half governor of Alaska, who is also one half of the McCain/Palin failure team and recipient of The Liar Of The Year Award, instead of a Professor of Constitutional Law, a Recipient of the Nobel Prize, and winner of the Obama/Biden success team. You betcha!

Presently, the Republicans are now preaching that tax cuts and royalties to the rich help the economy, and if you interfere with that equation, it will be the Seventh Sign of the Apocalypse, and Armageddon. This is simply another branch of the Trickle Down Reaganomics tree. By now, middle class Americans should realize what has trickled its way down.

Our jobs have trickled overseas. Our money is trickling up to the rich. The power of our government has trickled its way to corporate America, and Republicans are trickling the blame onto President Obama. They sure like to trick and trickle don't they?

Consider this: The Democrats succeeded in defeating the Republican obstruction, and now millions of out of work Americans will continue to be able to put food on their tables. While the Republicans endorse feeding and rebuilding the Middle East after devastating their country looking for WMDs, they have denied feeding our own citizens after devastating our country looking for tax breaks and royalties for the rich. Remember that as you trickle your way into the voting booths.

Jimmy Pappas is a Coeur d'Alene resident. "My Turns" are opinion pieces submitted by Press readers and published as space is available.