Bob Herbert wrote a very good column today about what he calls the "campaign disconnect" between Democrats, Republicans, and average Americans. I highly recommend reading the whole thing, but essentially Herbert makes the argument that neither party has adequately addressed the economic desperation of citizens. Democrats have decided to humor the disastrous idea of austerity measures, while Republicans behave as though they've "lost their minds completely," an assessment that I think is way too generous on Herbert's part.
I prefer his latter description when he accuses Republicans of "peddling a fantasy that has already damaged the country profoundly." That definition contains the acerbity needed to fully grasp how poisonous the GOP's philosophy is these days.
Yesterday, I briefly recapped the blatant hypocrisy displayed by certain Republicans in regards to the stimulus. Bobby Jindal and Jeb Bush, two "stalwart Conservatives" both greedily gobbled up stimulus cash before returning to their roots: bashing any recovery plan the Democratic administration proposes.
But hypocrisy aside, the GOP, and the elite in general, have genuine disdain for the underclass. The truly sad part is that they've brainwashed poor Republicans into going along with their scheme to permanently quarantine the undesirables. That's when you get elderly people showing up at healthcare reform town hall meetings, screaming that they want the government to keep its hands off their Medicare. Sigh.
Senator Orrin Hatch proposed an amendment that would demand mandatory drug tests for welfare and unemployment beneficiaries because, as we all know, the only people out of work these days are worthless drug addicts. Sharron Angle implied unemployment benefits make people lazy, and that there are lots of jobs out there, but workers just refuse to buckle down and find them, and Rand Paul told them to quit being cry babies and go flip fries at McDonald's so they can feed their children.
Tea Party favorite Carl Paladino expressed his desire to transform some New York prisons into dormitories for welfare recipients where they would receive lessons in "personal hygiene" because, obviously, poor people are poor because they don't know how to use a loofah. Let's not forget South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, who ran for the Republican nomination for governor (and lost,) and compared giving people government assistance to "feeding stray animals."
Meanwhile, Rep. Eric Cantor told an uninsured woman with growing tumors that she should seek "existing government programs" or find charity instead of hoping for healthcare reform. And this summer, we saw some shameless class-bashing when Congress dangled unemployment benefits in front of jobless Americans' faces before nixing aid for over 1 million laid-off workers.
But this, we're told, is largely rantings from the lunatic fringe of the right. Meanwhile, "responsible Conservatives" like Meg Whitman and Chris Christie have implemented planned, and/or already implemented draconian budget cuts that have completely gutted the public sector. Whitman has promised to slash $15 billion in spending and reduce the state government work force by 40,000, while Christie declared war on teachers, and then vetoed $7.5 million for family planning centers, causing one facility to close its doors, while at least two more are expected to close by the end of November.
This isn't a campaign disconnect. It's a morality disconnect, or a reality disconnect. Beyond muddled messaging, these elite leaders simply have no understanding of the impact their policy initiatives have on normal people.
There is a very real financial disconnect, too. In 2008, the average per capita income for American citizens was $21,587. The current 2010 salary for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $174,000 per year, and that's without factoring in family inheritances and private corporate salaries. For example, John Kerry is worth $188.6 million. Of the 50 richest representatives in Congress, 27 are Democrats, while 23 are Republicans, so the financial disconnect is nonpartisan.
Herbert earnestly points to the fact that more than 300 economists have signed onto a statement urging policy makers not to undercut the change of recovery by focusing overzealously on deficit reduction. But facts are always observed through the prism of subjectivity.
To the rich elite, there is no real suffering. To average Americans, the strain (and the fear) are all too real. To the GOP elite, and their centrist Democrat facilitators, taxpayers can always sacrifice a little more. After all, they skipped that vacation to the Hamptons, which is on par with skipping a meal. Everyone sacrifices in their own way.
Cross-posted from allisonkilkenny.com
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In refering to past ancient failed republics Roosevelt also said in part: "The death-knell of the republic had rung as soon as the active power became lodged in the hands of those who sought, not to do justice to all citizens, rich and poor alike, but to stand for one special class and for its interests as opposed to the interests of others."
Does this speach make anyone think of Trickle Down Economics, and the republicans of today? Of unfair laws that are slanted to help he rich gain undue ammounts of power, and rob the working class of their meager gains. It is amazing to me. History repeats itsself.
We are widening the gap in wealth in recent history. They are still striving to undo all our country has done to allow to bridge those gaps.
They want 'The Power' so they can fill their pockets.
Trying to understand income inequality, the most profound change in American society in your lifetime.
by Timothy Noah
http://www.slate.com/id/2267157/
U.S. Income Inequality Grows—Public Thinks It’s Not So Big
by Tula Connell
http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/09/28/u-s-income-inequality-growspublic-thinks-its-not-so-big/
One cannot point out enough Republican hypocracy when it comes to governent funds. They speak out of both sides of their mouths so often that I bet anything there is a recording somewhere of a prominant Republican bragging about getting federal funds and then critizing the Obama "stimulus" money in two consecutive sentences. The GOP are really much more like an organized crime syndicate then a political party.
The only thing I take issue with, and the what is a continuing problem amongst non-GOP people, is the idea that all or most of the citizens that are registered or aligned with the GOP are somehow tricked, fooled, or hoodwinked into believing Republican lies and that Democrat leaning people are somehow smarter or better able to see through GOP smokesceens. That is an elitest argument.
I believe the GOP offers up something that is more appealing or attractive and more powerful to U.S. citizens than decent jobs, fair wages, affordable healthcare, decent schools, fair housing practices, and even an ethical distribution of wealth.
Put simply, the Republican party makes hate, and hating one's neighbor, and fighting tooth and nail over every penny socially acceptable. The GOP tells citizens every day in code: It's okay to be rotten. Stripped of all the hyperbole that is exactly the GOP's function and why they are loved by millions upon millions of Americans.
Added to that is the deliberate dumming down of the public by systematic gutting of "liberal" education which means "useless" skills such as logic and critical thinking skills, along with the loss of awareness of our history and culture. The reason we have free schools and libraries in the constitutional amendments (and the former post office book rate where there was the almost free sharing of books that has now been eliminated for a "media" rate that is almost the same as standard rate) was that only an educated electorate could support a democracy adequately.
This is especially true in support for higher education, although it is not just Republican legislatures but elites and wealthy corporate boardmembers directing most of the money to grand buildings, sports programs, and.science programs where government funding pays for discoveries that corporations obtain the patents for.
Or is there free choice involved? I believe 99% of GOP ignorance is willful. That people choose to do the wrong thing and Repubicanism (as it has been over the last half century) gives these individuals talking points (however the logic is twisted) or you could call them excuses to do thing wrong thing willingly and feel okay about it.
** See Knudsen's comment below as an example of a more truthful display of how a Republican thinks.
Which of these three Republican gods do you worship the most (i'm taking a survey): Money, power or hate? Sorry, but if you are truly a hard core Republican, those are the only choices.
"The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters" F Goya