In case you haven't figured it out yet, Congress has taken a page from the Mafia playbook. For years, one of the main sources of income for the Mafia has been the protection racket. They come in to a business and offer to provide protection from unforseen accidents like a burglary or fire. If the business owner refuses, he has a burglary or fire. The Mafia comes back and asks whether the business owner is ready to do business. This process repeats until the business owner capitulates.
The way this works in Congress is a senator or representative proposes a bill which will be detrimental to certain people. Sure enough, lobbyists come running with briefcases full of cash to persuade the sponsor to withdraw his legislation or to persuade others to vote and campaign against it. This is the point of this exercise. The sponsor never intended for the proposal to become law. He merely wanted to scare those who would be harmed by it into coughing up protection money. Judging from the amount of money raised by this tactic, it seems to work pretty well.
The opposite of this is to find a controversial cause that people are passionate about. You then propose amendments to unrelated legislation which these people will support. Again, those favoring your proposal will come running with briefcases full of cash to support their champion. Opponents of your proposal will also come running to persuade you to drop your proposal. They will also bring plenty of money to enhance their argument. Your fellow legislators might also offer you influential appointments if you will see the logic of their arguments.
Our government has now devolved into nothing more than a legalized protection racket. The point is not to serve the electorate. The point is to generate money and the power to generate more money. The only time the electorate gets any attention is when the legislator tells them his actions were driven by his concern for them. In reality, the last thing a legislator cares about is the voters. Unless they bring cash, of course.
Do you know who has bought your legislator? Do you care? You should.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Sociophobia
A recent presentation from the Republican National Committee's fundraising organization states that the RNC plans to raise funds by using fear of socialism to scare donors into opening their wallets. I will believe the Republicans are serious about combatting socialism when I see bills introduced in Congress to repeal the following programs:
Medicaid-This single payer system provides health care for about 100 million people, according to a recent USA Today article. Since these people did not contribute to the program and are too poor to contribute, this is a classic example of "spreading the wealth". Many, if not most, of these people do not work because of their health conditions. Since they can not provide labor for our corporations, their death and discomfort would not worsen economic conditions. Republicans should advocate getting these deadbeats off the public dole.
CHIP-The Childrens' Health Insurance Program (another single payer system) provides health care services for children from low-income families. Since Children can not vote, removing their services would pose no political danger to the Republicans. Why have they not taken action against this "socialist" menace?
Earned Income Tax Credit-Every year, the Internal Revenue Service sends out billions of dollars in tax refunds to the working poor. For many of these people, these checks represent a significant part of their annual income. Many recipients paid nothing in income tax withholdings but get thousands of dollars to help them provide food, housing and other necessities for their families. This is another classic example of "spreading the wealth". If Republicans are serious about fighting socialism, they should demand an immediate end to this program by presenting legislation.
Social Security Disability-People get this money because they are permanently and totally disabled. Since they can not contribute to the economy, why are we wasting money on them? Let's see legislation to get rid of this wasteful spending on those who are unable to keep the wheels of commerce turning.
Of course there is one minor little problem to presenting such legislation. The working poor, the disabled and low-income parents all vote. Presenting such legislation would produce a flood of recall petitions resulting in the Republicans joining the ranks of the Whigs, the Bull Moose Party and other defunct political organizations. In fact, the voters probably would not wait for a legal recourse. They would march on Washington by the millions with torches and pitchforks like the villagers in "Frankenstein".
I have proposed a package of initiatives known as the Campaign to Restore American Prominence (http://barnes4prez.com/crap.html), commonly known as the CRAP. It seems the Republicans are better at spreading the CRAP than I am.
Medicaid-This single payer system provides health care for about 100 million people, according to a recent USA Today article. Since these people did not contribute to the program and are too poor to contribute, this is a classic example of "spreading the wealth". Many, if not most, of these people do not work because of their health conditions. Since they can not provide labor for our corporations, their death and discomfort would not worsen economic conditions. Republicans should advocate getting these deadbeats off the public dole.
CHIP-The Childrens' Health Insurance Program (another single payer system) provides health care services for children from low-income families. Since Children can not vote, removing their services would pose no political danger to the Republicans. Why have they not taken action against this "socialist" menace?
Earned Income Tax Credit-Every year, the Internal Revenue Service sends out billions of dollars in tax refunds to the working poor. For many of these people, these checks represent a significant part of their annual income. Many recipients paid nothing in income tax withholdings but get thousands of dollars to help them provide food, housing and other necessities for their families. This is another classic example of "spreading the wealth". If Republicans are serious about fighting socialism, they should demand an immediate end to this program by presenting legislation.
Social Security Disability-People get this money because they are permanently and totally disabled. Since they can not contribute to the economy, why are we wasting money on them? Let's see legislation to get rid of this wasteful spending on those who are unable to keep the wheels of commerce turning.
Of course there is one minor little problem to presenting such legislation. The working poor, the disabled and low-income parents all vote. Presenting such legislation would produce a flood of recall petitions resulting in the Republicans joining the ranks of the Whigs, the Bull Moose Party and other defunct political organizations. In fact, the voters probably would not wait for a legal recourse. They would march on Washington by the millions with torches and pitchforks like the villagers in "Frankenstein".
I have proposed a package of initiatives known as the Campaign to Restore American Prominence (http://barnes4prez.com/crap.html), commonly known as the CRAP. It seems the Republicans are better at spreading the CRAP than I am.
Courtophobia
Why are we so afraid of the courts? The Eighth Amendment to the Constitution clearly states, "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence."
This amendment has served us well for over two hundred years. Now all of a sudden, it's not good enough. The Obama administration is on the verge of backing down from its commitment to try Khalid Sheik Mohammed and four co-defendents in civilian court. The reasons given are the cost of security and the threat of terrorist reprisals. The real reason is the political pressure caused by fear-mongering from self-serving politicians. If the Obama administration caves on this, it will be a public relations victory for the terrorists.
The original idea was to use the trial to show that we are a nation under law. Trying these people in a military court would send the opposite message. It would show the world that we do not trust our legal system to prosecute offenders. It would also show that we do not trust those entrusted with protecting us to do their job. And the terrorists would use this decision to proclaim that Muslims can not get a fair trial in America. This is not true but when did a silly little thing like the truth ever stop politicians?
I repeat my call to our President, which I make with the deepest respect to the man and his office-GROW A PAIR! Show the world that we respect our Constitution. Show the world that we practice equal treatment for all, no matter how heinous their crimes. Show the world that we have faith in our police and military to keep us safe. Show the world we are still the home of the brave, not the home of snivelling cowards who buckle under pressure. Otherwise, the people who want us to live in fear have won.
This amendment has served us well for over two hundred years. Now all of a sudden, it's not good enough. The Obama administration is on the verge of backing down from its commitment to try Khalid Sheik Mohammed and four co-defendents in civilian court. The reasons given are the cost of security and the threat of terrorist reprisals. The real reason is the political pressure caused by fear-mongering from self-serving politicians. If the Obama administration caves on this, it will be a public relations victory for the terrorists.
The original idea was to use the trial to show that we are a nation under law. Trying these people in a military court would send the opposite message. It would show the world that we do not trust our legal system to prosecute offenders. It would also show that we do not trust those entrusted with protecting us to do their job. And the terrorists would use this decision to proclaim that Muslims can not get a fair trial in America. This is not true but when did a silly little thing like the truth ever stop politicians?
I repeat my call to our President, which I make with the deepest respect to the man and his office-GROW A PAIR! Show the world that we respect our Constitution. Show the world that we practice equal treatment for all, no matter how heinous their crimes. Show the world that we have faith in our police and military to keep us safe. Show the world we are still the home of the brave, not the home of snivelling cowards who buckle under pressure. Otherwise, the people who want us to live in fear have won.
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