During the Great Depression, the Democrats mostly advocated for the average American who, at that time, was a hard-working, largely unrepresented, responsible individual. Since then, however, the Democrats have mostly abandoned the average worker and become advocates for various special interests.

In this role, they routinely put the interests of environmentalists, welfare recipients, minority advocacy groups and labor unions ahead of the interests of the average American. This, in turn, increases taxes, hampers business with regulations and lawsuits, decreases investment and generally leads to greater unemployment among the silent majority.

Like most members of Congress, I, too, lacked the time to actually read the 1,000-plus pages of the so-called “stimulus package.” From what I understand from media coverage, however, it provides funds for things like Food Stamps and “free” health care; “tax cuts” for people who don’t pay income taxes (i.e., disguised welfare checks); environmental studies; automakers (which, ironically, are themselves largely victims of other special interests); governmental unions, and various projects that benefit private-sector unions.

Besides a measly check worth about $8 per week, however, the average American isn’t being stimulated at all. In fact, he may now have a better chance of losing his private-sector job instead.

Organized labor put up over $450 million to help elect Democrats during the last election cycle. And as big-labor leader Andy Stern said in a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, “We just won an election.” He went on to say of President Obama, “I expect nothing less than what he said he was going to do, and we should hold him accountable.”

Given the so-called “stimulus package,” Mr. Stern’s union and other special interests whose money helped get Democrats elected should have no complaints.

As for the average American? Maybe it is time for him to find a new party.

STEPHEN J. DiGIANFILIPPO

East Greenwich