Part 1: Introduction — The Illusion of Prosperity For decades, the Republican Party has branded itself as the party of prosperity, business, and "fiscal responsibility." They promise to lower taxes, shrink government, and unleash the power of the free market. On the surface, this sounds appealing — especially to working Americans who want to keep more of what they earn and see the economy thrive. But beneath that branding lies a hard truth: Republican economic policy consistently prioritizes the wealthy and corporations while leaving everyday people behind. Their policies create massive wealth gaps, gut essential public services, and funnel taxpayer dollars upward — all while selling the illusion that it's helping the middle class. This lecture will deconstruct that illusion. We’ll walk through the GOP’s economic playbook, expose its impact on working families, and explain how rhetoric is used to justify policies that benefit the few at the expense of the many. I. The C...