So far Latinos are the only group of Hillary's primary voters gravitating en masse to Obama. Clinton is still holding onto a large chunk of her 18 million votes, many of which will vote McCain if she is not slected VP, becuase she represents the center of her party, and working class democrat voters. Whether that number is 10% or 25%, which would be deadly, she is the choice that stops the hemmoraghing and seals the deal for Obama.
The fear of losing radical liberal democrats with her selection is minimal, since that group will definitely not vote McCain, and either stay home or vote some distant third party candidate, so the net effect is still in Hillary's court, and in Obama's best interest.
Given an economy in the tank and the weariness of the war, the Democrat should be up by 18 points at least. Instead he is at a steady 46 to 41, plus or minus the margin of error - a dead heat. That's not good for the Democrat, especially one who has to combat preceptions of inexperience, and an economic agenda many will liken to that of Carter's Presidency.
There is not one candidate mentioned that would stop the disenchantment of Hillary voters, and not one that could guarantee the victory Obama seems to be taking for granted.
David DiBello
Friday, July 25, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
Following Whoopi’s “Logic?”
Why the special treatment for the “n” word? Going forward all married men can now refer to their wife as a “c***sucker” so long as this marital definition is restricted to their wife alone, by them alone, and no one else refers to their wife as one. I am sure the life span of all marriages will significantly decrease if this behavior is adopted, because women will be hard pressed to understand this declaration.
If I as an Italian American refer to a fellow Italian as a Guinea or WHOP, that doesn’t make me a person expressing my anger within my own element, it makes me a classless individual.
There is no reason to use the “n” word, or any other derogatory expression in speaking to one another; it is not a cultural definition, it is animalistic behavior.
Sadly, Whoopi Goldberg is suffering not from a shriveling up of her “punjamba,” or “moonjambo,” or whatever she calls her special place; she is experiencing flashbacks from her years on the street which is now having an effect on her brain pan.
People who grew up in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s worked too hard to get people together, acknowledging we are one, and discarding the hate words, and beliefs, of the past. We lived through the sounds of the O’Jays, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin and the soul sounds of Philadelphia that taught us about peace and love and living together.
There is no acceptable reason, no cultural definition, to restore such degrading and debasing words or images. It simply displays the limitations of the person who cannot express themselves positively, or is simply full of hate.
David DiBello
If I as an Italian American refer to a fellow Italian as a Guinea or WHOP, that doesn’t make me a person expressing my anger within my own element, it makes me a classless individual.
There is no reason to use the “n” word, or any other derogatory expression in speaking to one another; it is not a cultural definition, it is animalistic behavior.
Sadly, Whoopi Goldberg is suffering not from a shriveling up of her “punjamba,” or “moonjambo,” or whatever she calls her special place; she is experiencing flashbacks from her years on the street which is now having an effect on her brain pan.
People who grew up in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s worked too hard to get people together, acknowledging we are one, and discarding the hate words, and beliefs, of the past. We lived through the sounds of the O’Jays, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin and the soul sounds of Philadelphia that taught us about peace and love and living together.
There is no acceptable reason, no cultural definition, to restore such degrading and debasing words or images. It simply displays the limitations of the person who cannot express themselves positively, or is simply full of hate.
David DiBello
Thursday, July 17, 2008
New Yorker Uses Fear As Satire
The New Yorker has attempted to dilute the irrational beliefs of certain segments of the electorate by poking fun at the Obama myths. Although one understands the satire, it doesn't mean we need to see it or proliferate its thoughts or ideologies of critics. Many will interpret it as underscoring their inane beliefs.
Their cover has always been satirical, but they went to a level of stupidity with the last one. In short, it was stupid, but like sex, stupid sells. A look at our current crop of celebrities only confirms this behavior. And judging from magazine sales, the New Yorker needs a whole lot of stupid, which is exactly what has been happening with the circulation sales of this week's edition.
As Bernard McGuirk, Imus' producer said on O'Reilly Wednesday night, had the satire been about McCain regarding his age, or liver spots, or heroism, or short fuse, no one would have said a thing, because we would interpret it as obvious satire, having known McCain for some time now, and having his actions overcome any satire.
With Obama and spouse, we don't know them as long, so many misconceptions already exist, and any satire about them cuts at that fine line between being humorous, or perhaps a bit of the truth. A large part of the electorate still believes he took his oath of office for the Senate on a Koran, while a larger segment believes he is a Muslim in spite of the controversy over Rev Wright and Barack's 25 year association with his Church. Which is it?
Therefore, when satirizing the Obama's, there is sensitivity between the truth and fiction, and any attempt at humor is seen as playing upon people's fears.
David DiBello
The Logical Party
Their cover has always been satirical, but they went to a level of stupidity with the last one. In short, it was stupid, but like sex, stupid sells. A look at our current crop of celebrities only confirms this behavior. And judging from magazine sales, the New Yorker needs a whole lot of stupid, which is exactly what has been happening with the circulation sales of this week's edition.
As Bernard McGuirk, Imus' producer said on O'Reilly Wednesday night, had the satire been about McCain regarding his age, or liver spots, or heroism, or short fuse, no one would have said a thing, because we would interpret it as obvious satire, having known McCain for some time now, and having his actions overcome any satire.
With Obama and spouse, we don't know them as long, so many misconceptions already exist, and any satire about them cuts at that fine line between being humorous, or perhaps a bit of the truth. A large part of the electorate still believes he took his oath of office for the Senate on a Koran, while a larger segment believes he is a Muslim in spite of the controversy over Rev Wright and Barack's 25 year association with his Church. Which is it?
Therefore, when satirizing the Obama's, there is sensitivity between the truth and fiction, and any attempt at humor is seen as playing upon people's fears.
David DiBello
The Logical Party
WALL STREET AND MAIN STREET: THE TWO AMERICAS
(written 4/20/08)
In case one missed the news of the week, it is as follows: Magazine publishers sent reeling in first quarter; Wachovia posts $393 million loss; Blockbuster to buy Circuit City, and Delta and Northwest merge creating potential job losses; Retail chains caught in a wave of bankruptcies, and finally Citigroup posting a $5 Billion loss, declaring they will cut 9,000 jobs.
Wall Street’s response? They finished the week with a 524 point gain. Why not? Lost jobs improve a company’s P&L and balance sheet which investors love. That’s part of the dichotomy of a capitalist country no longer based on work, but wealth. A mere reminder a similar market increase occurred based on a Bear Stearns bailout which secured wealth.
The admonishment of working hard and saving money to become an investor no longer applies. Wages have stagnated and workers fear losing their job. Consumer confidence is disappearing. Costs haven’t stagnated, eating away at salaries and we are now bearing the burden of paying for baby boomers, our own social security in jeopardy. Firms, struggling to find a better balance sheet have terminated defined pension plans and workers now contribute more out of pocket funds towards their retirement, an add on cost. We have a negative .5% savings rate, which means we officially survive on credit. What happens when that dries up?
The “greatest generation” purchased homes that were half of their final salary before retiring. Today if someone buys a modest home for $250,000 somewhere in Timbuktu and earns a salary of $80,000, they will never retire making the same, let alone double the original purchase price of their home.
Add to the problem the disparity that 90% of wealth is held by 5% of the population, and the fact we no longer produce (10% of workforce is in manufacturing – an all time low) but have become a service economy (easily shopped overseas) and Main Street is getting clobbered.
Something will need to be done or prepare for a lollapalooza of a recession, the kind that is a depression for those who lose their jobs.
Possible solutions? Gear tax cuts towards those who need the money and will place it into service, keeping our economic wheel turning, rather than giving tax cuts to the wealthy to become wealthier. This is not an assault on the wealthy, but rather a way for them to share their patriotism, the way low and middle income families do when they send their children to war.
Like the recent tax rebate to workers to stimulate the economy, money must be put in the hands of the masses who need to spend to survive.
Declare outsourcing of American jobs as unpatriotic as flag burning. Solve the healthcare crisis which accounts for 80% of all bankruptcy filings. Spend tax dollars on education as easily as we do on making war, otherwise our future will be catastrophic.
Global competition with no safe guards has resulted in the “dumbing down” of American standards to that of the third world countries we compete against.
Our current generation will be bailed out by the old money of our parents. What will become of our sons and daughters who are already being told they will not have the standard of living as past generations? How will they survive on shrinking income and rising costs for their basic needs?
We have isolated the two Americas John Kerry spoke about. Perhaps we should take a cue from Martin Sheen to his son Charlie in the movie “Wall Street”: Its time you learned to create things rather than live off the buying and selling of others hard work.
David DiBello
In case one missed the news of the week, it is as follows: Magazine publishers sent reeling in first quarter; Wachovia posts $393 million loss; Blockbuster to buy Circuit City, and Delta and Northwest merge creating potential job losses; Retail chains caught in a wave of bankruptcies, and finally Citigroup posting a $5 Billion loss, declaring they will cut 9,000 jobs.
Wall Street’s response? They finished the week with a 524 point gain. Why not? Lost jobs improve a company’s P&L and balance sheet which investors love. That’s part of the dichotomy of a capitalist country no longer based on work, but wealth. A mere reminder a similar market increase occurred based on a Bear Stearns bailout which secured wealth.
The admonishment of working hard and saving money to become an investor no longer applies. Wages have stagnated and workers fear losing their job. Consumer confidence is disappearing. Costs haven’t stagnated, eating away at salaries and we are now bearing the burden of paying for baby boomers, our own social security in jeopardy. Firms, struggling to find a better balance sheet have terminated defined pension plans and workers now contribute more out of pocket funds towards their retirement, an add on cost. We have a negative .5% savings rate, which means we officially survive on credit. What happens when that dries up?
The “greatest generation” purchased homes that were half of their final salary before retiring. Today if someone buys a modest home for $250,000 somewhere in Timbuktu and earns a salary of $80,000, they will never retire making the same, let alone double the original purchase price of their home.
Add to the problem the disparity that 90% of wealth is held by 5% of the population, and the fact we no longer produce (10% of workforce is in manufacturing – an all time low) but have become a service economy (easily shopped overseas) and Main Street is getting clobbered.
Something will need to be done or prepare for a lollapalooza of a recession, the kind that is a depression for those who lose their jobs.
Possible solutions? Gear tax cuts towards those who need the money and will place it into service, keeping our economic wheel turning, rather than giving tax cuts to the wealthy to become wealthier. This is not an assault on the wealthy, but rather a way for them to share their patriotism, the way low and middle income families do when they send their children to war.
Like the recent tax rebate to workers to stimulate the economy, money must be put in the hands of the masses who need to spend to survive.
Declare outsourcing of American jobs as unpatriotic as flag burning. Solve the healthcare crisis which accounts for 80% of all bankruptcy filings. Spend tax dollars on education as easily as we do on making war, otherwise our future will be catastrophic.
Global competition with no safe guards has resulted in the “dumbing down” of American standards to that of the third world countries we compete against.
Our current generation will be bailed out by the old money of our parents. What will become of our sons and daughters who are already being told they will not have the standard of living as past generations? How will they survive on shrinking income and rising costs for their basic needs?
We have isolated the two Americas John Kerry spoke about. Perhaps we should take a cue from Martin Sheen to his son Charlie in the movie “Wall Street”: Its time you learned to create things rather than live off the buying and selling of others hard work.
David DiBello
KILLING US SOFTLY WITH THEIR OIL
Forget Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Hamas ulterior motive or Al Quada’s next plan of attack. The Mid East is tearing apart the fabric of our economy without lifting a finger; simply raise the price of oil. The worst part of this equation is American oil companies are co conspirators in this covert war, catering to the American addiction with no desire to change our fix or harm their revenue stream. OPEC is using America as their puppet in their economic war.
What about those tax subsidies usually granted businesses for capital improvements? What have oil companies done to explore new avenues of energy and eliminate our reliance on oil, other than lip service from our current President? Wouldn’t those subsidies be best given to Detroit to mass produce flex fuel and hybrid cars, the kinds that give us 50 miles per gallon?
Oil companies despise that remedy the way a drug dealer hates hearing when a “client” checks into rehab. Theirs’ isn’t the only greed at fault for putting our country at such risk. Environmentalists have tied the hands of our ability to drill for oil within our regions, a short term fix that continues dependence on oil, just not foreign.
Liberals are equally to blame. If they are so concerned about “no blood for oil” shouldn’t making America less reliant on foreign oil be a priority, even if it means yielding in principle, for the time being, regarding off shore drilling? Wouldn’t baby steps save lives?
Let’s not forget the American consumer now enjoying Santayana’s caveat about forgetting past mistakes. We endured the oil crisis and gas rationing of the late seventies, and what did we learn? Get right back up on that high horse with SUV’s and Hummers, and live like there’s no tomorrow.
Welcome to tomorrow. We are playing right into the hands of our enemies who are killing us from within by virtue of our own greed and fiscal mismanagement. If we think the Mid East is at war with us, wait until China no longer wishes to finance out debt because the value of our dollar has made us an extreme credit risk.
Now we are told Oil companies will use extortion if America wishes to reintroduce the windfall profits tax, a sort of rebate to America for their price gauging. Let them threaten to pass on taxes, because if done, they will feel the wrath of the American public, as will any politician who foolishly tries to justify such blackmail.
After six years of war against terrorism, we still haven’t learned that the biggest bomb we could drop on our enemies is to dry up their source of funds. Instead, and because of American greed, they are doing it to us. We continue to drive whistling off to work, living on credit, and diverting funds meant for living expenses by paying oil companies who pay the Mid East. Are we really winning the war? Better yet, do we know we are in one, and are losing from within?
David DiBello
What about those tax subsidies usually granted businesses for capital improvements? What have oil companies done to explore new avenues of energy and eliminate our reliance on oil, other than lip service from our current President? Wouldn’t those subsidies be best given to Detroit to mass produce flex fuel and hybrid cars, the kinds that give us 50 miles per gallon?
Oil companies despise that remedy the way a drug dealer hates hearing when a “client” checks into rehab. Theirs’ isn’t the only greed at fault for putting our country at such risk. Environmentalists have tied the hands of our ability to drill for oil within our regions, a short term fix that continues dependence on oil, just not foreign.
Liberals are equally to blame. If they are so concerned about “no blood for oil” shouldn’t making America less reliant on foreign oil be a priority, even if it means yielding in principle, for the time being, regarding off shore drilling? Wouldn’t baby steps save lives?
Let’s not forget the American consumer now enjoying Santayana’s caveat about forgetting past mistakes. We endured the oil crisis and gas rationing of the late seventies, and what did we learn? Get right back up on that high horse with SUV’s and Hummers, and live like there’s no tomorrow.
Welcome to tomorrow. We are playing right into the hands of our enemies who are killing us from within by virtue of our own greed and fiscal mismanagement. If we think the Mid East is at war with us, wait until China no longer wishes to finance out debt because the value of our dollar has made us an extreme credit risk.
Now we are told Oil companies will use extortion if America wishes to reintroduce the windfall profits tax, a sort of rebate to America for their price gauging. Let them threaten to pass on taxes, because if done, they will feel the wrath of the American public, as will any politician who foolishly tries to justify such blackmail.
After six years of war against terrorism, we still haven’t learned that the biggest bomb we could drop on our enemies is to dry up their source of funds. Instead, and because of American greed, they are doing it to us. We continue to drive whistling off to work, living on credit, and diverting funds meant for living expenses by paying oil companies who pay the Mid East. Are we really winning the war? Better yet, do we know we are in one, and are losing from within?
David DiBello
INCOME REDISTRIBUTION? FIRST END INCOME MONOPOLY
The right wing wealthy in this country are raising the specter of unfairness in claiming that Democrats are seeking to tax them and give their hard earned money to the lower class of the population. They are waging a Robin Hood defense, skimming over the fact that their class, as in the ‘80’s decade of greed, have benefited overwhelmingly while only representing a small fraction of the country. In actuality the working class is questioning how they got those earnings in the first place.
Bill O’Reilly nightly bemoans taking “his money” but little is mentioned by any of this ilk about hard working people losing health coverage or the victimization of minimum wage workers who haven’t gotten an increase in 16 years and work hard for below poverty wages. No mention is made about unchecked CEO pay, agreed upon via the collusion of non employee board members who themselves are of the same ilk as the candidate CEO – wealthy white males mostly – to the ignorance of the stockholders.
The wealthy have manipulated corporations into not only paying golden parachutes, but golden coffins for those executives who die in office. Not only do CEO’s enjoy higher proceeds from life insurance policies, their estate receives salaries if they die where the working class would be left flailing in the wind, with lower death benefits to boost.
Everything is done to protect the wealth of this class. Not only do they benefit by paying significantly less these past eight years, they have no representation in the military. It’s a win-win; don’t fight and enjoy your money while others do the fighting for you. A kind of income protection at socialized government level wages, with veterans treated as yesterday’s news when fighting ends. Their sacrifice, if any, is limited to the pin of a flag lapel piercing their Armani suit and a hand held over their heart as they recite diatribe they will never live up to.
Thanks to capitalism, the “haves” always have the upper hand. Capitalism, while being the best form of economics, also needs to be tweaked. We created rules to eliminate monopolies, a direct violation of the competition addendum, to the behest of business, which seems to like unfairness when it is to their advantage. They have beaten down the working class by eliminating their defined pension plans and reducing more employee health premiums via payroll deduction.
The nature of capitalism dictates that money makes money, so those with more money watch their nest egg grow multiple times faster than those scrimping to save in a "rich get richer" ponzi scheme. This is why our economy is now based on wealth not work, and old money is dictating the rules over the working class struggling to survive, many times at the expense of their very own children. We have not only rich versus poor, but generations now pitted against one another.
Suppose the working class got wise and boycotted outlandishly priced items like Yankees tickets, or clothing and electronics, or automobiles. If we cancelled our cable and Fox News' revenue decreased, Mr. O'Reilly would eventually find out whose money he does have, after his assistants get laid off first. The haves will threaten layoffs not of their own, management or high priced prima donnas making more money in one year than twenty men in a lifetime, but of the vendors and ticket takers first – high class blackmail termed “negotiation” when done from behind a white collar. Of course with the addiction of wanting one’s son to see a ballgame, the “haves” can revel like drug dealers at the trough. Protection is needed to defend against the inequities and injustices perpetrated by the wealthy.
There’s a solution. Restore Clinton era tax schedules, the ones where the budget was balanced while the economy was humming along, with the exclusion of the first $20,000 of income for all taxpayers in calculating tax obligation. On paper there can be no declaration of unfairness, yet the wealthy will argue that the first $20,000 means nothing to them. They still want the inequity that currently exists on the tail end, the level of income few Americans get to reach thanks to the fact that the purse strings of American firms are held by the “haves,” and they don’t want to see anyone touch their nest egg, no matter how unfair. They rather pit working class against each other, giving them the illusion that they can one day be at their level with hard work, a scam due to current cost of living increases along with our induction into a global economy with no protection for the American worker who currently competes with third world wages.
Let’s forget all that. Here’s an alternative theory perhaps the wealthy could understand – it’s the working class’ turn.
David DiBello
Bill O’Reilly nightly bemoans taking “his money” but little is mentioned by any of this ilk about hard working people losing health coverage or the victimization of minimum wage workers who haven’t gotten an increase in 16 years and work hard for below poverty wages. No mention is made about unchecked CEO pay, agreed upon via the collusion of non employee board members who themselves are of the same ilk as the candidate CEO – wealthy white males mostly – to the ignorance of the stockholders.
The wealthy have manipulated corporations into not only paying golden parachutes, but golden coffins for those executives who die in office. Not only do CEO’s enjoy higher proceeds from life insurance policies, their estate receives salaries if they die where the working class would be left flailing in the wind, with lower death benefits to boost.
Everything is done to protect the wealth of this class. Not only do they benefit by paying significantly less these past eight years, they have no representation in the military. It’s a win-win; don’t fight and enjoy your money while others do the fighting for you. A kind of income protection at socialized government level wages, with veterans treated as yesterday’s news when fighting ends. Their sacrifice, if any, is limited to the pin of a flag lapel piercing their Armani suit and a hand held over their heart as they recite diatribe they will never live up to.
Thanks to capitalism, the “haves” always have the upper hand. Capitalism, while being the best form of economics, also needs to be tweaked. We created rules to eliminate monopolies, a direct violation of the competition addendum, to the behest of business, which seems to like unfairness when it is to their advantage. They have beaten down the working class by eliminating their defined pension plans and reducing more employee health premiums via payroll deduction.
The nature of capitalism dictates that money makes money, so those with more money watch their nest egg grow multiple times faster than those scrimping to save in a "rich get richer" ponzi scheme. This is why our economy is now based on wealth not work, and old money is dictating the rules over the working class struggling to survive, many times at the expense of their very own children. We have not only rich versus poor, but generations now pitted against one another.
Suppose the working class got wise and boycotted outlandishly priced items like Yankees tickets, or clothing and electronics, or automobiles. If we cancelled our cable and Fox News' revenue decreased, Mr. O'Reilly would eventually find out whose money he does have, after his assistants get laid off first. The haves will threaten layoffs not of their own, management or high priced prima donnas making more money in one year than twenty men in a lifetime, but of the vendors and ticket takers first – high class blackmail termed “negotiation” when done from behind a white collar. Of course with the addiction of wanting one’s son to see a ballgame, the “haves” can revel like drug dealers at the trough. Protection is needed to defend against the inequities and injustices perpetrated by the wealthy.
There’s a solution. Restore Clinton era tax schedules, the ones where the budget was balanced while the economy was humming along, with the exclusion of the first $20,000 of income for all taxpayers in calculating tax obligation. On paper there can be no declaration of unfairness, yet the wealthy will argue that the first $20,000 means nothing to them. They still want the inequity that currently exists on the tail end, the level of income few Americans get to reach thanks to the fact that the purse strings of American firms are held by the “haves,” and they don’t want to see anyone touch their nest egg, no matter how unfair. They rather pit working class against each other, giving them the illusion that they can one day be at their level with hard work, a scam due to current cost of living increases along with our induction into a global economy with no protection for the American worker who currently competes with third world wages.
Let’s forget all that. Here’s an alternative theory perhaps the wealthy could understand – it’s the working class’ turn.
David DiBello
REPUBLICANS LIVE UP TO STEREOTYPE
Long before the Republican think tank, led by the free talking articulate Phil Gramm, revealed their true mindset, being we workin’ folk are nothing more than a bunch of whining er…witches, the common belief of the GOP is that they stand for big business only. Yet under the rules of “give them another chance” we fell for the big talk of mom and apple pie under the guise of anti flag burning and “save our straight marriages” amendment, and were enthralled with the heavy handed John Wayne / Ronald Reagan cowboy mentality, even if John Wayne and Ronald Reagan only served in the movies. Republicans certainly talk the talk, but are rarely there to do the heavy lifting.
Their new savior, or snake oil salesman, was George W. Bush, a one term governor who seemed to work well with the other side of the aisle (being outnumbered in Texas)and spoke of a conservatism that reached out to the people Phil Gramm has a distaste. We believed the big tent would include us wee folk, the kind that do the daily grind getting those profits for the aristocracy, because candidate Bush spoke of fairness and inclusion in the American dream.
First we had to stand lock step for a big tax cut, the kind we saw during Reaganomics which was great for awhile, then ended in a Black Monday overdose in 1987. A funny thing happened on the way to supply side heaven this time: we weren’t getting trickled on. The Global Economy panacea worked against the American wage earner, the little guy with eyes glowing and hands held out in anticipation. The big guy got the first slice of the pie – a big slice – but this time there were no crumbs leftover.
The remedy? We tightened restrictions on the filing of bankruptcies by irresponsible people, the 80% who ran up credit debt to cover medical bills under our current healthcare arrangement that needed to be reined in. What about the usury of lending institutions? Nothing. When it comes to big business and interest – the sky is the limit.
There was some light. We munchkins were awarded a Medicare prescription program because George suddenly could feel our pain, that and he couldn’t get the Republicans in Congress to block Americans from buying overseas drugs.
When big business is at risk, no amount of Government intervention, the kind that causes an enormous overdraft of the nations’ checking account, is unwarranted. Why not, with the current tax cut plan, the wealthy won’t foot the bill, at least not in proportion to what they should. They want a flat rate tax with no sacrifice of paying extra on behalf of the country, although they talk of sacrifice regarding military service – where they are also AWOL. A win-win for the big guys!
A Bear Stearns bailout? No problem. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – come on down! It seems Government intervention is only bad for the little guy, like with Katrina, or stagnant Pell Grants and Minimum Wage, or the 47 million uninsured, or people who lose their pensions due to corporate malfeasance, or when jobs are shipped overseas and there is no relief for the American worker.
When Thailand was ravaged with a typhoon, it seems America was lagging in a response until some bad press. What was the rush; there were no oil wells there, no threats of nuclear proliferation, no need for regime change?
Whenever government bails out big business with taxpayer money, the little people are used as a dangling carrot, threatened with their own financial demise if they do not support such an effort. One can say extortion. If business is failing, as with Citigroup and numerous financial institutions, who gets laid off first, the CEO or those far below?
We are at the end of another supply side movie, the part that holds the morale of the whole story. Only this time we had a stingy con artist in the lead role, one who forgot you have to give a little to get a lot. We are currently in a stock market free fall, and the fluid in our half full economic glass is shrinking. We have a future consisting of energy, healthcare and tuition crisis totally ignored for eight years. We have a war that has gone on for too long because instead of addressing it with the right troop level in the beginning, Republicans went for simultaneous tax cuts, limiting our fighting resources. Makes one wonder exactly who bore the sacrifice of this war the past seven years?
Really, we weren’t expecting a kinder, gentler conservatism now, were we? Sen. Gramm is right on one accord. We tend to whine and complain, but there is only one glaring reality - We voted for them.
Now go ahead…vote McCain. He offers the same.
David DiBello
The Logical Party
Their new savior, or snake oil salesman, was George W. Bush, a one term governor who seemed to work well with the other side of the aisle (being outnumbered in Texas)and spoke of a conservatism that reached out to the people Phil Gramm has a distaste. We believed the big tent would include us wee folk, the kind that do the daily grind getting those profits for the aristocracy, because candidate Bush spoke of fairness and inclusion in the American dream.
First we had to stand lock step for a big tax cut, the kind we saw during Reaganomics which was great for awhile, then ended in a Black Monday overdose in 1987. A funny thing happened on the way to supply side heaven this time: we weren’t getting trickled on. The Global Economy panacea worked against the American wage earner, the little guy with eyes glowing and hands held out in anticipation. The big guy got the first slice of the pie – a big slice – but this time there were no crumbs leftover.
The remedy? We tightened restrictions on the filing of bankruptcies by irresponsible people, the 80% who ran up credit debt to cover medical bills under our current healthcare arrangement that needed to be reined in. What about the usury of lending institutions? Nothing. When it comes to big business and interest – the sky is the limit.
There was some light. We munchkins were awarded a Medicare prescription program because George suddenly could feel our pain, that and he couldn’t get the Republicans in Congress to block Americans from buying overseas drugs.
When big business is at risk, no amount of Government intervention, the kind that causes an enormous overdraft of the nations’ checking account, is unwarranted. Why not, with the current tax cut plan, the wealthy won’t foot the bill, at least not in proportion to what they should. They want a flat rate tax with no sacrifice of paying extra on behalf of the country, although they talk of sacrifice regarding military service – where they are also AWOL. A win-win for the big guys!
A Bear Stearns bailout? No problem. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – come on down! It seems Government intervention is only bad for the little guy, like with Katrina, or stagnant Pell Grants and Minimum Wage, or the 47 million uninsured, or people who lose their pensions due to corporate malfeasance, or when jobs are shipped overseas and there is no relief for the American worker.
When Thailand was ravaged with a typhoon, it seems America was lagging in a response until some bad press. What was the rush; there were no oil wells there, no threats of nuclear proliferation, no need for regime change?
Whenever government bails out big business with taxpayer money, the little people are used as a dangling carrot, threatened with their own financial demise if they do not support such an effort. One can say extortion. If business is failing, as with Citigroup and numerous financial institutions, who gets laid off first, the CEO or those far below?
We are at the end of another supply side movie, the part that holds the morale of the whole story. Only this time we had a stingy con artist in the lead role, one who forgot you have to give a little to get a lot. We are currently in a stock market free fall, and the fluid in our half full economic glass is shrinking. We have a future consisting of energy, healthcare and tuition crisis totally ignored for eight years. We have a war that has gone on for too long because instead of addressing it with the right troop level in the beginning, Republicans went for simultaneous tax cuts, limiting our fighting resources. Makes one wonder exactly who bore the sacrifice of this war the past seven years?
Really, we weren’t expecting a kinder, gentler conservatism now, were we? Sen. Gramm is right on one accord. We tend to whine and complain, but there is only one glaring reality - We voted for them.
Now go ahead…vote McCain. He offers the same.
David DiBello
The Logical Party
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