I don't get Republicans
I mean, I get that the who fiscal responsibility/small government thing. At least, I believe that they really believe in that, even though they're completely ignoring the facts. I'm sure at least half of them honestly believe stripping funding for government programs and giving huge tax breaks is the right thing to do. Even though, again, they're ignoring the facts.
But what I don't get is the extremes to which they take deregulation.
I mean, in what universe is it going to be for the greater good to strip the EPA of its ability to regulate carbon emissions? And, again, this is a case where perhaps they really believe because they're wilfully ignorant - because they won't objectively look at the science which shows that hikes in carbon dioxide correlate with hikes in global temperatures. Maybe they just don't get how global warming can actually cause harsher winters, and that's why they say the stupid things they do.
But even if you don't believe global climate change is happening, or that it's man-made, is it really worth it to bargain with the health of our planet just so businesses can save a few bucks?
And perhaps that's the real problem with the GoP - it's always money with them. For example, I wrote to my Congresswoman to express my severe displeasure with her vote against the bill providing healthcare for 9/11 first responders. Her excuse? The bill would "raise taxes."
Now, a) I think most Americans would be willing to pay a bit more to support the people who came to the rescue on one of our darkest days. I'd hate to find out we were really that selfish. And b) from everything I heard, the bill didn't raise taxes at all. It closed a loophole in the tax code that was being used to avoid paying taxes.
So basically, my Congresswoman voted against taking care of ailing heroes just so that people could continue to avoid paying their fair share.
Is that what fiscal responsibility is? Is that in the best interest of the country? It might be in the best interest of those who get to hang onto their money, but it certainly doesn't help the policemen and firefighters who are now dying from cancers and lung diseases contracted from breathing in the rubble.
I guess my point is that justice should be more important than economic benefit. And that makes the people who support the GoP even worse than the politicians themselves. What is wrong with this country that we'd rather have the far-fetched opportunity to make millions of dollars than help one another live comfortably?
Why do we have no sense of community? Of obligation to our fellow man? Oh, we rush to donate when there's a natural disaster in another part of the world, but when people are dying at home because they can't afford medical care, we say, "Too bad. Get a job. I'm not paying higher taxes so that you can have health care. I'm not demanding the government spend its money in smarter ways so that we can have what we need. I'm not demanding that those who are hoarding wealth like dragons give up yachts and private planes so that the people they exploit can educate themselves and be healthy."
The United States began with a revolt against politicians abusing business interests. Oh, we protested being taxed - but when the British Parliament dropped the taxes we opposed to save themselves a few pounds, we protested even more vehemently. Everyone seems to forget that part when the Boston Tea Party comes up. We opposed the abuse of government for the sake of business gains. And we should oppose it today.
I have to believe that we would oppose such abuses today, if we were paying any attention. If we were capable of seeing past the rhetoric that scares the lower class into voluntarily giving up their rights.
I'm going to end with Franklin D. Roosevelt's proposed Second Bill of Rights:
The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;
The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;
The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;
The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;
The right of every family to a decent home;
The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;
The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;
The right to a good education.
FDR must be rolling in his grave.
But what I don't get is the extremes to which they take deregulation.
I mean, in what universe is it going to be for the greater good to strip the EPA of its ability to regulate carbon emissions? And, again, this is a case where perhaps they really believe because they're wilfully ignorant - because they won't objectively look at the science which shows that hikes in carbon dioxide correlate with hikes in global temperatures. Maybe they just don't get how global warming can actually cause harsher winters, and that's why they say the stupid things they do.
But even if you don't believe global climate change is happening, or that it's man-made, is it really worth it to bargain with the health of our planet just so businesses can save a few bucks?
And perhaps that's the real problem with the GoP - it's always money with them. For example, I wrote to my Congresswoman to express my severe displeasure with her vote against the bill providing healthcare for 9/11 first responders. Her excuse? The bill would "raise taxes."
Now, a) I think most Americans would be willing to pay a bit more to support the people who came to the rescue on one of our darkest days. I'd hate to find out we were really that selfish. And b) from everything I heard, the bill didn't raise taxes at all. It closed a loophole in the tax code that was being used to avoid paying taxes.
So basically, my Congresswoman voted against taking care of ailing heroes just so that people could continue to avoid paying their fair share.
Is that what fiscal responsibility is? Is that in the best interest of the country? It might be in the best interest of those who get to hang onto their money, but it certainly doesn't help the policemen and firefighters who are now dying from cancers and lung diseases contracted from breathing in the rubble.
I guess my point is that justice should be more important than economic benefit. And that makes the people who support the GoP even worse than the politicians themselves. What is wrong with this country that we'd rather have the far-fetched opportunity to make millions of dollars than help one another live comfortably?
Why do we have no sense of community? Of obligation to our fellow man? Oh, we rush to donate when there's a natural disaster in another part of the world, but when people are dying at home because they can't afford medical care, we say, "Too bad. Get a job. I'm not paying higher taxes so that you can have health care. I'm not demanding the government spend its money in smarter ways so that we can have what we need. I'm not demanding that those who are hoarding wealth like dragons give up yachts and private planes so that the people they exploit can educate themselves and be healthy."
The United States began with a revolt against politicians abusing business interests. Oh, we protested being taxed - but when the British Parliament dropped the taxes we opposed to save themselves a few pounds, we protested even more vehemently. Everyone seems to forget that part when the Boston Tea Party comes up. We opposed the abuse of government for the sake of business gains. And we should oppose it today.
I have to believe that we would oppose such abuses today, if we were paying any attention. If we were capable of seeing past the rhetoric that scares the lower class into voluntarily giving up their rights.
I'm going to end with Franklin D. Roosevelt's proposed Second Bill of Rights:
The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;
The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;
The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;
The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;
The right of every family to a decent home;
The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;
The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;
The right to a good education.
FDR must be rolling in his grave.