During the last 2 years (and similar periods in the past of my voting life), the Republicans haven't ceased to blame Democrats for all the ills they perceived in government in America. Now, with Republicans holding the strength they do, they are NOW saying they can't be held responsible for the ills that may come from their extreme stands. Tonight, as I listened to Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, as a Democrat pointed out that the Republicans had blocked effort after effort to help the ailing economy, the Republican guest responded by saying extreme stands were necessary, and the no one could hold Republicans accountable for the ills that could come from those stands. So, apparently for the Republicans, what is good for the goose is NOT good for the gander. Hmm! I wonder how the elections of 2012 might appear if the Republicans get their way over the next 2 years, and even the pundits are raising this concern.
The conversation was about raising the national debt ceiling, and, yes, that is a major concern to us all, especially in these trouble economic times - but perhaps we should look first at the multinational corporations and their percentage of profit, their multimillion dollar salaries for CEOs and directors, their lack of tax dollars paid to the government and their efforts NOT to pay benefits, NOT to care for their workers. Perhaps we should be looking at the amount paid to congressional leaders who are already millionaires. Perhaps we should listen to someone like Steve Forbes, and his proposal for a flat tax - no deductions, not exceptions. Everyone pays 10% of income as federal taxes. Think about how the corporations would start pumping millions into the national treasury, how the multi-millionaires and billionaires would start pumping dollars into the treasury currently being support and carried on the backs of the most heavily taxed group in America - the working class!
Who has been responsible for more harm to this picture? Republican benefits for the richest of the rich in America - at the expense of the working stiffs of this country. Democrats have raised taxes, yes, and through those paid down national debt on more than one occasion, They have provided services to Americans that Republicans don't want offered to those who pay their salaries.
Perhaps it's time to adopt my father's attitude late in his voting life - not voting for an incumbent, so the channels of influence and graft in Washington can't become ingrained. Oh, I realize we have some who go to Washington looking to get in on that system as soon as possible, so they can become part of the rich elite of the nation, but if enough elections went this way, perhaps congressional representatives would start to remember they are there to represent our interests, not to get rich.
Anger is there and expressed on the right, but it is there on the left as well. We need to stop being the quiet progressives, and start raising our voices to counter the right - understanding when we do that we may encounter those rightists who are willing to use violence to quiet our voices. There is no reasonable argument against this nation not doing better for its citizens in light of how much many other industrialized nations are doing for their citizens. We simply are becoming the story line of many science fiction stories of a future where corporations control life.
Think about it, raise your voice, and be proudly progressive!
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