Class Payoff Doesn't Create Jobs, Either

I read with interest the statement from Joe DeSantis, communications director for Newt Gingrich, that "class warfare does not create jobs." I know what he means. Any suggestion that the wealthiest Americans should contribute the highest revenue to maintain our nation is "warfare" against America's nobility.

Well, how has coddling the rich paid off?

It doesn't, it hasn't, and it won't. Indulging the upper class with subsidies and tax breaks and exclusions and deductions has gotten us nothing, zippo, nada. How many jobs does an account with Tiffany's create?

You seriously want to end the deficit? Pay up, you cheap *********.

President Obama: Declare a War on Unemployment

We have seen U.S. Presidents declare a "War on Poverty," a "War on Drugs" and a "War on Terror." President Obama needs to declare a War on Unemployment. Except in times of plenty or actual war, the economy is the issue uppermost in the minds of the people. It shows up in every poll taken, and rightly so. The American people are concerned about the lack of jobs to support themselves and their families.

Compared to this, the Republican "War on the Deficit" is a laughable abstraction. Having a deficit doesn't mean people can't eat. Being unemployed does mean people can't eat. Which of these has more immediate impact on you?
a. The government is spending more money than it takes in; or
b. You don't have a job and there are none out there.
I would pick "b." I think every American who needs a job to survive -- the vast majority -- would agree.

So, Mr. President, you can stop with this "Win the Future" slogan. No one knows what it means, anyway. Declare war on unemployment with the same vigor and determination you showed in the pursuit of Usama bin Laden. That we can understand.

Observations of a Townhall Tea Party

My Republican Congressman recently held a Townhall Meeting, and, for the first time, I decided to show up. So did about 100 other people. I did not know what to expect, but I probably should have. I live in a congressional district where Republicans constitute the largest political party. It would figure that Republicans would dominate the meeting, but I was still surprised by some of the things I saw and didn’t see.

Although the population in our district is roughly 10% Hispanic and 6% African-American, the Townhall audience was almost entirely Caucasian and elderly. From what I could see, there was only one gentleman with a dark complexion.

Several candidates for office were present and handing out literature. All of them were Republicans. I was struck by the fact that their literature now prominently mentioned their sympathy for the Tea Party, whereas they used to highlight the fact that they were Christians.

During the meeting, the usual Republican talking points were made about the deficit, immigration, prosecution of alleged terrorists and Guantanamo. But I was most impressed by the extent to which members of the audience brought up the Constitution. A gentleman with an “Oath Keeper” patch ran around handing out political cards. I discovered later that Oath Keepers say they will refuse to obey any orders which they believe contravene the Constitution. Another gentleman held up a sign telling the congressman to vote “Constitutionally always.” And a lady announced to the congressman that she was taking an online course regarding the Constitution, and she was upset by a Supreme Court decision in the 1930's that had something to do with taxation. I suspect that Tea Party Republicans believe the Federal government should have no more responsibility, power or authority than it did when the U.S. Constitution was ratified Forget history. Forget that the language of the Constitution is sometimes vague and open to interpretation. Forget the decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court over the centuries. The USA of the 1700's is the utopia for modern conservatives.

What I did not see were signs that other Democrats were present. Maybe they knew it would turn into a Republican pep rally. I left the townhall meeting early, out of disgust with the rhetoric. But I also went away with a greater resolve to link up with other progressives in the area, for the purpose of political activities.

Saluting Our Veterans

Today is the day we honor our military veterans, for the sacrifices they made of their blood, lives and sanity in response to our nation's call.

We do not honor them for acts of selfishness and personal profit. We do not honor them for refusal to consider the welfare of their countrymen. We honor them because they made sacrifices for the common good of all their fellow citizens.

There will never be a national day of honor for Fox Republicans.

Five Years Ago

Five years ago, George W. Bush was re-elected President of the United States. Republicans gloated. Bush had political capital, and he intended to use it. He set out to partially privatize Social Security. He vowed to stay the course in Iraq. He didn't worry about balancing the budget. He wasn't concerned about the economic impact of cutting taxes while pursuing two wars. Invading the privacy of U.S. citizens was just a necessary part of the "War on Terror." And Fox Republicans cheered him on at every step, damning his critics as traitors, alarmists and defeatists.

Five years later, George W. Bush is a pariah. When he leaves the U.S. he still meets demonstrators protesting his foreign policies. Social Security has not changed. By popular demand, the Iraq War is winding down, and there are questions now about the Afghan War. We have been through the worst recession since the Great Depression, and only now do we see signs of recovery. But Bush has no regrets.

Neither do Fox Republicans. They refuse to acknowledge that their beliefs and ideas lead to disasters. However, now that Obama and the Democrats have the upper hand, Fox Republicans are suddenly very concerned about government spending, government intrusion, government bureaucrats, and changes in government programs.

What a difference five years can make.