We’re Not Begging — We’re Demanding What’s Ours

Let’s get one thing straight: We are not asking for favors. We are demanding what we paid for. What we earned. What we’ve been pouring into our whole lives. If you’ve ever worked a job—any job—you’ve seen that little deduction on your paycheck called Social Security. Another chunk goes to healthcare. That’s our money. Not a loan. Not a gift to the government. It’s an investment. A lifetime of hard work and sacrifice, from sunup to sundown, from age 12 for many of us, to the breaking of our bodies in our later years. And now what? We have a president proudly stomping on those benefits. Attacking Social Security, slashing VA care, tearing apart the very healthcare systems that our taxes built. And let’s not forget—the same president who waves flags of “supporting the troops” while gutting the programs veterans depend on. They love to say, “You’re paying into the system to help the next generation.” Excuse me? Then where’s our help? Where’s our security? Where’s our return? We’re not talking about some measly check. This isn’t about $2,000 here or there. No—we’ve paid tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands collectively. And we’re told to shut up while the government plays Monopoly with our future? Absolutely not. If someone came into a wealthy person’s bank account and pulled out ten grand, signed it off to themselves, what would we call it? Theft. So why is it not theft when it happens to the middle class and lower income folks? Because we’re too busy working three jobs and trying to survive to fight back? Let me tell you something: We see through the lies. We’re done being quiet. We are the working class. The backbone of this country. The ones who raised the buildings, fought the wars, cared for the sick, cleaned the schools, stocked the shelves, raised families, and still showed up to vote—hoping for change, and getting slapped in the face instead. And now they mock us. Call it “handouts.” No sir. No ma’am. These aren’t handouts—these are paybacks. We don’t owe anyone an explanation for being angry. We don’t have to explain why we’re marching, protesting, writing, speaking up, showing up. If anything, the wealthy elite—the ones cashing in on our backs—should take a seat, open their ears, and listen. Maybe they’ll learn what it feels like to live on crumbs while they feast on our labor. To the president who dares to destroy what isn’t his—this message is for you: You’re not dismantling a program. You’re robbing real people. And we, the people? We are wide awake now. We’ve been patient. We've been silent. But no more. So to everyone reading this—middle class, working class, lower income, veterans, seniors, single parents, disabled folks, caretakers—this is your reminder: You have a voice. You have value. You have a right to fight back. Don’t let anyone shame you into silence. Don’t let them redefine your dignity. And don’t forget: What was stolen can be reclaimed. But only if we stand together and make sure they hear us loud and clear. We are not begging. We are demanding what is rightfully ours. 📢✊🏽💪🏽💥 © 2025 Santiago D.C. Maria. All Rights Reserved Independent Free Press. Speaking truth, no matter who it offends.