It’s very obvious that many of you are upset over conditions in this country and the direction in which we seem to be going. This has led to a natural desire to throw the bums out of office. That attitude is understandable. What is not understandable is the support for the political party that not only promoted the policies that led us into this mess, but also promises to make things worse for most Americans.
Here are eight initiatives the GOP has in store for America.
1) Privatize SS
Privatizing Social Security has been a longtime goal for Republicans. Current GOP elected officials and candidates that have spoken in support of privatizing Social Security include Eric Cantor R-OH, Paul Ryan R-WI, Michelle Bachman R-MN, Sharron Angle, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio and others. If their plan had been in effect in 2008 then American seniors would have lost 40% of their retirement savings and income. The savings of younger Americans might have never recovered and they would have been doomed to spend their retirement years in poverty.
2) Eliminate Medicare
In 2009, the Entire Republican Leadership Voted to Turn Medicare into a Voucher Program. In 2009, Republican Leader John Boehner, Republican Whip Eric Cantor, Republican Conference Chair Mike Pence, NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions and 133 other Republicans voted to turn Medicare into vouchers that decline in value, ending the program as its presently known. [Roll Call Vote #191, 4/2/09; Associated Press, 4/2/09]
3)Abolish the Minimum Wage
Republicans aren’t satisfied with workers barely earning above the poverty line. They would like to see American workers in a race to the bottom when it comes to wages. Apparently they won’t be satisfied until we have some Americans earning $1 per day. GOP candidates who have spoken in favor of abolishing the minimum wage include: John Raese R-WV, Rand Paul R-KY, Sharron Angle R-UT and others
4) Reduce or eliminate unemployment insurance
GOP candidates in favor of abolishing the minimum wage have also stated their antipathy towards unemployment insurance.
5) Make abortion illegal, including for victims of rape or incest
The list of GOP elected officials and candidates in favor of making abortion illegal in all cases includes among others: Ken Buck R-CO, David Harris R-IL, Rand Paul R-KY, Christine O’Donnell R-DE, Joe Miller R-AK. A recent study showed at least 78 current GOP members of Congress also shared this view.
6) Eliminate capital gains taxes
Not satisfied with a capital gains tax so low that it prompted billionaire Warren Buffet to point out that he was taxed at a lower rate than his secretary, numerous GOP candidates hope to eliminate it altogether. Their goal is to make the middle and lower classes can carry a larger percentage of the total tax burden. In their world view, people who work for a living deserve to pay more taxes while those that inherit their wealth should be tax free. In the words of John Raese West Virginia candidate for the Senate seat of Robert Byrd, “I made my money the old-fashioned way, I inherited it.”
7) Resist any openness or disclosure for foreign funding of American elections
Not satisfied with a recent Supreme Court ruling allowing unlimited corporate political spending, the GOP is actively blocking any attempt to keep foreign companies and governments from participating in our election process. They see nothing wrong with the Kingdom of Bahrain or the communist government of China pouring money into political action groups in this country.
8) Reduce regulations on business – mining safety, osha, environmental, food safety, etc…
The GOP’s love of free markets leads naturally to a dislike of any government regulation of business. Rand Paul, Senate candidate in KY, thinks the government was wrong to outlaw segregation and discrimination. Other GOP candidates oppose mine safety, OSHA, all environmental regulations, food safety, even disease control by the CDC. Hey would like people to believe that the business-centric mindset that brought us child labor, sweatshops, forced labor, contaminated food, poisoned water and air, and working conditions that led directly to illness and death for millions has somehow become a kinder, more compassionate force.
What has been outlined above is only the tip of the iceberg. There is a clear distinction between the two parties. Democrats see the country as a single society that needs to work for all Americans. The GOP sees the country as a dog-eat-dog jungle where those on top have to be constantly on-guard against the have-nots. Whether the GOP recognizes where their plans will lead the country or is just blind to the consequences is irrelevant. The result will be the same either way – a country without a middleclass. One filled with the poor and a tiny minority sitting on top of all of the wealth of the American empire. The choice is clear. The vote in November is either for a country that works for all citizens or one that is ruled by wealthy oligarchs. Your choice, America.
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