This is in response to the letter from Thomas Shields (Dec. 30) with the headline “Give thanks to Republicans.”

Why should I be thankful for Republicans? Republicans got the nation into the mess it is in. They demanded the same tax breaks for the rich that the middle class has. Those tax breaks, given to the rich, will put this country into further debt that it already is. The middle class will suffer in the end because of that. Just because the Republicans need their coffers filled.

Shields was way off base when he talked about class warfare. Republicans declared war on middle-class America when they held unemployment benefits hostage, and only agreed to pass that if tax breaks were extended to the rich. Where is the fairness in that?

The Americans who are unemployed because of the economy are in that position because of Republican policies.

When you come down to it, the rich make more money than the rest of us, therefore they can afford to pay higher taxes. If you make more, you should pay more.

End of story.

Nicholas St. Hilaire, Auburn