About Our Democracy

"We can have democracy in this country or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both."  You can see who said this before he died in 1941 by going to Upworthy:

http://www.upworthy.com/america-loves-rich-people-but-rich-people-are-single-handedly-ruining-our-politi?c=bl3

 

On a related subject (stay with me, you'll see), there's the Exxon oil spill—tar sands oil—in Arkansas. A short piece about the spill and cleanup at Addicting Information is worth reading.   Being Liberal (Facebook) posted it, saying: "I've been boycotting BP for years, but now I will also be boycotting Exxon and their affiliates." http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/04/05/its-a-dirty-job-but-exxons-not-gonna-pay-for-it-because-they-dont-feel-like-it/

 

I'm furious that Congressional Republicans remain mule-headed under all circumstances when it comes to  protecting the wealthiest Americans; that is, protecting them from paying a fairer share of taxes.  I'm talking multi-millionaires and billionaires.  Proposals during the Obama administration have recommended taxing individual income over $250,000 a year at a little higher rate.  Then I believe they  considered or proposed as a compromise income threshold figures that were much higher than $250,000.  No dice.

 

 Republicans would rather Americans depending on social security for all or the majority of their incomes simply manage on less.  (Would you love to see an experiment where John Boehner lives for a year on only a monthly social security check? I'd like to oversee that one.)  They have no qualms about children being deprived of Head Start—the same Republicans who pull every stunt possible to eliminate abortion and, in some instances, birth control.  They forget to be "pro life" or pro child once a child is in the world and living in poverty.  They say "no" to increasing the minimum wage and have opposed extending unemployment benefits.  Republicans believe Americans who receive unemployment checks are enjoying the good life; one such believer said something about people "sitting on their porches" instead of getting up and looking for jobs.  Obviously the view of American life, seen from high in their Ivory Towers,  is anything but clear.  It's the "Let them eat cake" attitude that gets me, day in and day out.  That, and wondering how anyone with even an ounce of compassion and a grain of sense can vote for Republicans.  

 

 The GOP also protects the big oil companies, in many cases protecting their campaign donors.  Lawmakers get into their mule-headed stance and won't budge in continuing to give the petroleum industry subsidies during a time when they're making record profits.  Unconscionable.  And they berate the President for not approving construction of the Canadian Keystone Pipeline (for tar sands oil) instantly, without examining the situation and making sure it would be a safe thing to do.  They argued that the pipeline would bring jobs.  They don't give a damn about jobs.  None except their own.  They care about wealth and the wealthy. Period. (They don't care about jobs because they've said NO to measures, proposed by the President, that would have created jobs.   I had hoped the obstructionism would relax a little when President Obama's won a second term— despite the sole Republican agenda for four years having been his defeat.  I was sadly mistaken.)

 

Truth is, big business has the work force between a rock and a hard place.  Those who remain in the work force now are doing the jobs of two and three people (for the same pay in many cases), knowing they're unlikely to find work if they tell the boss to "take this job and shove it." Do you think these bottom-line companies are likely to hire more workers when they can get the job done by overworking employees who are stuck in their jobs and grateful to have them because of the slim pickings in the job market?  Republicans use the absurd argument that business can't create jobs if they have somewhat higher taxes:  They didn't create jobs after the Bush tax cuts went into effect, did they?  Despite tremendous profits.

 

 Once again, the President—through his budget proposal—is asking Congress to eliminate oil subsidies and place a little more tax burden on the wealthiest Americans. (That is, taxing whatever money isn't hiding in offshore tax shelters.)  I heard last night that Boehner has said NO to the administration's latest effort, sight unseen, even though it includes a big controversial "give" on the President's part:  cuts to social security benefits.  

 

Yep, there's wisdom and truth in this statement:

"We can have democracy in this country or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both." -  Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis

 I'm unwilling to be totally disheartened over the state of our democracy on the first warm, sunny Saturday in way too long.  Maybe spring will work its magic on Boehner and McConnell and all Congressional Republicans.  May the scales fall from their eyes and the ice in their hearts melt away.   It's doubtful, but I always hope. 

 

And, while hoping for miracles,  I work:  Let's agree to keep our eyes open and make our voices heard, so the wealth isn't forever concentrated in the hands of the few.  And of course let's do everything in our power to see that good Lefties take charge of Congress in 2014!