Examine states where Republicans are in power, and you see a war waged on the middle class. The minimum wage, living wages, overtime pay and public and private employee unions are under attack. Health care benefits, retirement pensions and collective bargaining rights are being legislated away. Public employees are being privatized and public entities are being robbed of their funding.

Republicans in these states are following the GOP national agenda, dictated by groups such as the American Legislative Exchange Council, the Koch brothers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Besides attacking the items listed above, Republicans want to cripple or eliminate Social Security and Medicare and shift costs from businesses and the wealthy to middle-class taxpayers.

President Obama has stood up for the working man and the sake of all Americans. He has brought the country back from deep recession. The U.S. has had 25 months of job growth and equitable pay for women thanks to the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Obama’s Affordable Care Act also allows 50 million Americans access to health care that were “forgotten” under Republican rule. 401Ks have risen more than 50 percent.

The choice is yours this November! Vote for plutocracy under Romney and his wealthy cronies or for democracy under President Obama.

Bob Bird, Holland, Mich. resident