It's time for Republicans to do some real work.
By Thom Hartmann A...
Congress is back from vacation, but that doesn't mean Republicans are ready to get to work. Senate Democrats have already scheduled a test vote to restore unemployment insurance, but Republicans say they won't approve an extension without something in return. As of December 28th, 1.3 million Americans lost their long-term unemployment benefits, but Senate Republicans want more spending cuts or other concessions before passing another emergency extension.
As if that wasn't bad enough, Republicans in the House of Representatives plan to focus again on repealing Obamacare, rather than on helping to restore this financial lifeline for more than one million Americans. On Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said, “Republicans in Congress have to get away from being a Republican in Congress. They are just out of touch with what's going on in America today.” In other words, Republican lawmakers are worried more about facing a primary challenger than about doing what's right for the American public and our economy.
There should be nothing more important to our elected leaders than ensuring Americans aren't going hungry or ending up in the street. We must make it clear to our lawmakers that if they don't do what's right for Americans – and restore unemployment benefits now – than we will elect new leaders who will.
Comments
#2
I am so tired of hearing of People and there children going hungery. For what ? This is not what this country stands for around the world but it's okay here at home. Blows my mind this is not what the people think we are made of we are much beeter than this. Time for a change has come and gone. Hope the voters wake up. Sure could use a change!
#3
Have these brain-dead repubicans given any thought to what 1.3 million angry Americans could do to them if they were to get armed and organized? (Hint! Hint!) Sometimes, mob violence works.
#4
Government employees like Rand Paul insist on more cuts to working class programs before passing an extension on unemployment insurance...and the corpse media has no problem trumpeting his marginal extremist views.
One populous truth the same media won't mention is the fact that as a percentage of GDP our public spending is far less than the countries that have polled as the happiest in the world. As a percentage of GDP, our spending has been flat for decades with the exception of the 2008 billionaire bailouts.
While citizens in the happiest countries in the world have cradle to grave non profit healthcare, financial safety nets, affordable higher education, four times more vacation time, good wages, good retirement benefits, etc.......we in the United States spend most of our money on the military industrial complex. When you add all taxes and fees, most of us working people pay as a percentage of our income the same amount the happy citizens in the Democratic Socialist countries spend. We get bombs and drones they get things like healthcare and career education.
So Rand Paul and his Teabillionaires are just plain whip silly wrong, spending is not out of control. We are simply spending on the wrong things....a military industrial spy complex and a military industrial oil war complex. What is out of control though is revenue loss. With tax loopholes, off shore bank accounts, and the Reagan/Bush rich man tax cuts, it's in the trillions. Meet the Republican Press will never mention facts like these, facts that would make a positive difference to 99.9% of us.
#5
Quote Aliceinwonderland:How much more do these low-wattage FOX fans need to get screwed before they change the channel, and start rejecting the fascists at the polls?!
Aliceinwonderland ~ There you go again making my day. "Low-wattage FOX fans..." It's been a while since I've had such a nice belly laugh. Your cliches are both hilarious and accurate. Yet I digress.
Your opinion is spot on. I've met many of these "low-wattage" appliances myself and can tell you that they run the gamut in real intelligence. Some are simply stupid and weak minded as charged. Many others are relatively quite bright. I think isolationism is their main malfunction. Isolationism breeds apathy and a psychological dependence on dismissive misinformation. The same way Kend flocks to any story that might support his need to be reassured that the petroleum industry is going to remain solvent. They have good paying jobs and a vested interest in maintaining the status quo; and have situated themselves in their own comfy little world where they don't have to hear, see, or speak any evil. When you are that comfortable the human thing to do is denial. Pink Floyd said it best, "Comfortably Numb." Some of these people avoid me like I had the plague.
It's easy to swallow BS when that BS makes your comfy lifestyle guilt free. That is what I think the problem is. I don't think these people are necessarily bad or stupid--they're just busy and happy. I wish I knew of a way to break down that barrier and wake these people up. That is what really has to happen. Karma might do it. If it doesn't the greedy bastards running this economy into the ground might do it. Unlike the "low-wattage FOX fans," you and I know that this type of greed knows no satisfaction. They will consume until there is nothing left; and, no one is safe. That is the main message we should be sending. First they came for the Jews, then the Liberals, next they come for you! Care about your fellow Americans; for the ass you save might be your own. In the end, it is the Reich wingers who will have to wake themselves up. True change comes from within. Like the song said, "Put a little love in your heart." There is nothing like personal hardship to make people aware of the suffering of others. Ask anyone who ever lived on the street. Unfortunately, most of the people who lived through the Great Depression are gone. All we have to look toward for help is a new crop of ignorant, spoiled brats. Opening their eyes won't be easy.
#6
Like all ideologues (left and right) the Republicans see a one-dimensional world & mistake it for reality. Their world is not a very pleasant one & the utopia of free markets & bath-tub sized government they strive to establish has no semblance of humanity to it. Will they wake up? I doubt it. We have come to a point where a profound catastrophe is quickly coming upon us. The Democratic party hides behind "pragmatism", which is no more than a cloak for going along with the oligarchic powers while spouting worn out phrases from the New Deal. People are left with little or no choice in the electoral realm, where reactionaries are touted as revolutionaries.
In 1876, Walt Whitman published an essay, :Democratic Vistas", in which he, sadly I think, suggested that if nothing is done to counter the commercial materialism that was refashioning the country around him, then "we are on the road to a destiny, a status, equivalent, in its real world, to that of the fabled damned."
#7
I have already seen the sad results of food stamp cuts and unemployment benefits. My husband and I were approached by a young man begging for gas money in a Barnes & Nobel parking lot. He approached our vehicel on my side and startled me as I was getting out. He said that his car was at the gas station and that he was the only person in his family that could drive. We didn't have any cash to give him. He was very polite and his face haunted me all night.
#8
I became 'Independent' (away from the 'dumb-o-crats') many years ago. The only thing the democratic party can do is propose legislation and try to move that legislation forward. And they HAVE been doing that. The republicans HAVE been blocking EVERYTHING!
There are 'talk show hosts' for the old conservative party they DO NOT REALIZE that the last 'real conservative ideology' was back in the 'Eisenhower era'. I listened to a (radio) speech (via Thom Hartman) by the republican candidate (forget his name) running against FDRs' third term. He bragged about that conservatives were all for strengthening social security; about supporting labor unions; and about increasing the minimum wage. If that man and Eisenhower were alive today, the gop/tea party would destroy them. The point being is that "the conservative party" disappeared, when that radical creep, Reagan came on the scene. Reagan began the war on the American middle class and they (the gop/tea party creeps) have seriously hurt the American people.
What I propose is an "American National Congress". In our national congress, each representative represents about 750,000 people. We need a representative for every 250,000 people. This 'ANC' would be an internet organization and be inclusive of all political parties. The national census could be used to draw demographic districts to elect (with run off voting) an 'internet representative' in the ANC. The job of the ANC representative would be to read and vote on every piece of legislation brought before our national congress. Via the internet, the people in each district could see how and why (with a 1 or 2 paragraph explanation as to why they voted the way they did) they cast their (internet) vote.
The 'ANC' would be about 1500 representatives. The American people could compare the 'ANC' votes with a regular congressional representatives' votes. It would bee a simple matter to replace a "bought-and-paid-for" regular congressional representative by having three 250,000 member districts select a candidate from the ANC to replace the regular congressional member by placing the ANC name on the ballots. All three 250,000 members of the 'internet' ANC would know that name and vote for that person. No amount of advertising or corporate money could defeat the ANC candidate. We could then have a congress composed of representatives "of the people", and FOR the American people.
#9
Sounds good to me, in fact if I'm understanding the internet concept correctly, the ANC idea sounds like a great way to subvert the mass deception of the corp. media and communicate truth to the populous. The ANC would be both a peaceful and affordable revolution.
#10
Regarding my reply #5...... I got thinking more about the taxes we working class citzens here in the U.S. pay and how that amount stacks up against how much citzens in the democratic socialist countries pay in.. In addition to income tax, property tax, gas and sales tax, city tax, village tax, fees of all kinds,etc....... I totally forgot about the huge amount of money we pay for health insurance. That's a huge expense already covered by the enlightened countries. So most of us actually contribute more as a percentage to the public coffers than our happy foreign counterparts. Like I said, they get healthcare in return and we get drones.
#11
I like "horsetrotter's" idea... thumbs up!
"10-K's" comparison of our lot as taxpayers to those of other "more enlightened" countries rings my bell. "They get healthcare and we get drones" pretty much says it all. They get life while we get death; not only of innocent foreigners pulverized by Obomba's drones, but of Americans deprived of health care. - AIW
#12
Quote 2950-10K: Like I said, they get healthcare in return and we get drones.
2950-10K ~ Very well said, and very well reasoned. It is so true. When you factor health care into the equation we are paying well over 50% of our incomes for what other counties working class get simply for their income and sales taxes. I happen to know that some countries, like Mexico, manage to cover the health care costs of everyone with just income and sales tax. There is no property tax. Say what you want, one thing is certain, the American people are grossly ripped off by their government, and the reason is our grossly opulent military industrial complex. It has to go.
#13
Elioflight: #8: I wouldn't let it bother you rtoo much. While there may be, and most likely are, some people in such predicaments..ie: running out of gas with no money for gas...this is usually a scam. And it is certainly not a new one. There really are a lot of people out there that are not as they pretend...ie: out of gas with no money to buy gas. This is happening at filling stations...malls...just about everywhere. I sure don't want to risk being seen as a care less and selfish person but unless you realize that there are people that are taking advantage of you then you will most likely risk eventually putting your own family in poverty...by being suckered by scammers. If you have a lot on money then you can afford to be generous and risk being taken for a fool by someone scamming you. Some of these people make quite a bit of money doing these "pity poor me and my family" scams.
One time I went to a bank ATM and this man was standing real close.. about a foot or two away...and trying to peek over my shoulder as I keyed in my pin number. As I got my money...he said in a kind of retarded and meek voice: "Would you buy me a Snickers candy bar?" I thought either he really was retarded and/or hungry, and didn't know that he was suppose to keep a distance at ATMs so after I left I bought him a Snickers candy bar right around the corner at the grocery store. As I left the store and approached the bank, I could see he was looking over the shoulder of some very nervous woman. I called to the man and gave him the candy bar. Then the man went right back to look over the shoulder of the woman...then when that woman left he did the same thing to others. Well, it was obvious that what he really wanted was one or more of those $20.00s from the ATM and not just a candy bar.
I called the cops on the man when I got home. I told the police that he was suspicious and that he probably should be watched. I don't know what happened...maybe the man eventually left...maybe the cops never even saw anyone later...maybe they just ignored my call. I don't know. I certainly hope they didn't shoot the man...but I would have heard about it in the news.
I have also noticed that some of these beggars at street corners have been leaving all kinds of trash...like banana peels along with other trash. These people are health hazards and they are also endangering themselves and maybe others by hanging out in a place where they could easily get hit by a car. There are places these people can go for food and shelter but many choose to make pests of themselves and risk being hit by cars.
#14
Not only are we ripped off for the military industrial complex, but billionaire welfare queens in general. Takes a whole lot of money to subsidize their gluttonous, opulant lifestyles. If you work for a franchise or big corporation, that's what your sweat is supporting: not you, not your family, but some no-count aristocrap, more commonly known as the 1%. The same goes for those $1000-a-month health insurance premiums, paying millions to CEO pirates while the "insured" still get bankrupted, by doctor & hospital bills! They are nothing but parasites and they've got to go... the sooner the better! - AIW
#15
horsetrotter: Of course Reagan was not always a right wing Republican before he began to be taken in by the rich greedy people...before he began to develop a disease that made him easy to manipulate. His wife came from a wealthy family that, I believe, took advantage of his malady. They changed him from a Union supporting decent person into a right wing fascist out to destroy Unions. I remember a scene of a speech Reagan was giving and Donald Regan (former Merrill Lynch CEO, White House Chief ofo Staff and advocate of Reagonomics) commanded that Reagan "Speed it up".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTcL6Xc_eMM
That pretty much indicated who was really in charge! Maybe instead of calling it Reaganomics we should be calling it Reganomics.
I believe that Reagan was just an automaton for the fascist corporate right-wing monsters that took over our government.
And I believe that they are using Obama for the same purpose. No, Obama doesn't have a debilitating disease that affects memory like Reagan had. Nor does he have a wife that comes from as wealthy a family as Reagan had. But I believe they used the fact that Obama was young, charismatic, black and preached Change.... it convinced a lot of people that he really would make a big change in government...in the country. But, aside from the mind games he's played on the country, the reality is that he was just used by the ruling elite.
I really don't think any person one votes into the Presidency, especially if Democrat or Republican, is going to matter.... nor will it help change things for the better. A shake up..breaking up the entrenched good old boy corrupt 2 party system...might help to change things...especially if Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders were elected President. But the powers that be would resort to the same ruthless deeds that they did against JFK, RFK, MLK and all the others.
So, maybe the only thing that really would change things is for the people to go beyond the effete and corrupt democratic system and do the only real thing that has ever really changed things for the better throughout history. Until that happens, nothing will change.
#16
Palindromedary: Thanks for the sympathy and sage advice.
Horsetrotter has a really wonderful idea, but I think we need to use public money. Or else the wealthy dogs would find a way to get their juicy bone anyway. They need to be locked out of the process totally, except with a vote--one person (real human being) one vote--like the rest of us.
#17
Quote Aliceinwonderland: The same goes for those $1000-a-month health insurance premiums, paying millions to CEO pirates while the "insured" still get bankrupted, by doctor & hospital bills! They are nothing but parasites and they've got to go... the sooner the better! -Very well said! I agree most whole brainedly...or maybe, it is only the part of the brain that deals with reason and logic? ;-}
And, as per my comment yesterday about my friends in California and their problems with Covered California...could this be a scam or just a mistake...or maybe it's just too early to tell yet...but then how much time is one allowed before they can "cancel a check" that they sent to Blue Shield of California? The last letter they got from this insurance company doesn't mention the name of the wife who is the one who applied for ACA to begin with. It only has the name of the husband who isn't applying for ACA..he's covered by medicare.
Could it have been a very sneaky way to get someone who is covered by medicare already but who has decided not to get supplemental insurance suckered into getting supplemental insurance?
I'm sure the insurance company would much rather get paid the subsidized part of an ACA from the government than just the couple of hundred dollars they'd charge someone for supplemental insurance. And that person on medicare would still be paying the government for the medicare premiums. The majority of costs would be shuffled onto medicare and the insurance company would not only get the few hundred dollars in premiums from the person insured but collect the many more hundreds of dollars of subsidy from ACA.
All the while, the wife isn't covered at all? She only has until July anyway before she can get medicare. My friends are quite worried and upset because the insurance company letter didn't specifically say anything about the wife being covered. And they have been unable to contact the insurance company by phone or internet to see if they have covered the right person. My friend said that the stress of these problems is very great and it may kill him before his wife even gets covered. But, maybe that's part of their plan to reduce the population of older people! Soylent Green is people!
#18
Try doing a search on "American National Congress" and even if you omit the many search terms like -Afrikan or -latin ...and there are many more....you still don't get much that is relevant. It sounds a lot like Americans Elect that was founded by Michael Milkin's "right hand man", Peter Ackerman*, of the Savings and Loans scandals. A right winger who either founded or was associated with various right wing organizations with left-wing sounding names.
North American National Congress?
Problem is that all of these so-called movements are not going to do anything but keep people from doing the one thing that will elicit real change. The right wingers know this and that's why they come up with all of these schemes to delay the inevitable.
*Who is Peter Ackerman?
http://gowans.wordpress.com/2009/08/06/overthrow-inc-peter-ackerman%E2%8...
#19
DAnneMarc: We taxpayers can no longer afford to serve as a global police force for big oil and governments we disagree with. If Iran wants nuclear weapons and most of the rest of the world including Israel doesn't for good reason trust Iran to have them, then there needs to be a joint sharing of the related expense and talks to police such situations. It's shouldn't be... ... let the citizens of the U.S. go without single payer while a few capitalists get rich off a crap load of bombing and killing that need not take place to begin with.
#20
Aliceinwonderland: Glad you mentioned the billionaire welfare queens. I'm pretty sure I've seen a reliable stat that indicates corp. welfare equals all other so called welfare progams added together..... In other words those who don't need the welfare suck up as much taxpayer money as the ones, guys like, Paul Ryan, Romney, and Rand Paul constantly cry about receiving "government handouts." Republicans think looting a hard working citizens pension fund is somehow more acceptable than someone in need of food stamps or unemployment benefits.
#21
Yes, a billionaires vote counts no more than mine and his money shouldn't be allowed to be a factor in deciding the outcome of that vote!
#22
Right on, my friends! It's always uplifting to see that at least some people know what time it is... We're not ALL asleep at the wheel!
#23
2950-10K ~ I couldn't agree more. We need a complete overhaul in our foreign policy. The current approach makes me feel far less safe and secure. Screw Iran. Let them have the bomb. The only reason they are an issue is because of Israel and Saudi Arabia. Personally, I'm tired of being their little attack dog.
#24
Quote Palindromedary:One time I went to a bank ATM and this man was standing real close.. about a foot or two away...and trying to peek over my shoulder as I keyed in my pin number. As I got my money...he said in a kind of retarded and meek voice: "Would you buy me a Snickers candy bar?"
Palindromedary ~ This just in. Homeless retarded man shot to death by police when he drew a loaded Snickers bar from his pocket as officers approached him in front of an ATM. Just kidding.
Your concerns are well taken. Personally, living knee deep in homeless people I have found there to be four categories. There are the mentally ill. They are not capable of making logic decisions and will often fit many of the criteria you described. There are substance abusers. They cannot be trusted and also cannot make logic decisions. Both of these groups are the responsibility of the government; for, only the government has the resources to properly tend to their needs. The fact that the government has abandoned them is a crime against humanity.
The third group are the con artists. They are the most reprehensible and easy to spot group of all. Mostly they telegraph their secret by how they dress, their shoes, their hair, their clean face and hands. Homeless people don't wash or press their clothes, or clean their faces. I don't even acknowledge these people. They are disgusting.
The fourth group is the fastest growing group. Legitimate homeless people who don't want to be there. They are easy to spot. I have found that anything helps these people, however, the greatest aid one can provide them is simple information. Sometimes information is more valuable than any hand out. Many times I've been approached asking for directions to the nearest homeless shelter or soup kitchen. A little pre prep can go a long way. Simply bookmark some resources in you mobile device like this:
http://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/
Keep it with you and share the information when you can. You can do a lot of good that way; and, just might save someone's life.
#25
Holy Toledo, DAnneMarc, thanks for that link to the homelss shelters! One day maybe I will need one myself. But I was so amazed at just how many shelters there are around the country. Really amazing! I suspect, though, that many of these homeless already know where shelters are and either prefer not to use them or are using them yet they still stand out on highway divides at intersections begging for money. There may be some who don't know about these homeless shelters but I'm sure that they do pass the word around within their circles.
Quote DAnneMarc:This just in. Homeless retarded man shot to death by police when he drew a loaded Snickers bar from his pocket as officers approached him in front of an ATM. Just kidding.Yes, I know, that thought did cross my mind...knowing how police often over react to situations. That would have been really bad.
#26
Palindromedary ~ Before you presume anything look closely at the fine print in all the Homeless Shelters. They state, "Please call first because most shelters are already full." Be ready to call for anyone and insure that the shelter is available before you send someone there. Also, many shelters are several miles from city center.
It is also possible that a very lucrative potential exists for confortable people and an easy non profit for people in the means is to create Homeless Shelters. Just an idea I would like to toss out there. Peace!
#27
too bad its not as simple as laying them off and putting them on unemployment then, CUTTING IT OFF.
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It's time to fire the bastards. Way past that time, in fact. The question is, how many of our fellow voters are ready to take the plunge and dump those deadbeats? My hopes were dashed last midterm election when the Repugs kept the House. Next November I won't be holding my breath... but I'd sure like to be surprised, for once! How much more do these low-wattage FOX fans need to get screwed before they change the channel, and start rejecting the fascists at the polls?! If only they were the only ones paying the consequences... - Aliceinwonderland