archy

Eat the rich
In congress, during the wee hours of this morning, Zach Wamp (where do they get these names? It looks like a cartoon sound effect) had a good laugh over sabotaging the minimum wage bill by bundling it with a permanent repeal of the estate tax. "I know why you're mad," he said. "You've seen us really outfox you." Good one, Zach!

"This is beyond cynical. This is disgraceful," said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA). I’d like to add cruel, disgusting, craven, and un-American to that. The Republicans don't care whether or not the bill passes; in either case they get to tell voters they tried to do something for the poor. If it fails, they get to claim the Democrats prevented their kind-hearted attempt to help the poor. If it passes, they get to give a big present to their non-working campaign contributors. It's a win-win situation for the Republicans congress.

Of, course, as soon as a Democrat complains about making the repeal of the estate tax their price for helping the working poor, the Republicans will get the vapors over the specter of class warfare. "Gaylord, prepare the smelling salts. I do believe those Yankees are going to engage in--dare I even breathe the words?--class warfare."

Class warfare? We have been involved in a one sided war against the working poor for the last ten years. What else do you call refusing to give a raise to people who try to do honest work for living and see their earnings eroded by a decade of inflation and rising healthcare costs? What do you call giving yourself thirty thousand dollars in raises during that same time? What do you call cutting the taxes of those who do not work, but instead live off of the investments of their parents?

America needs a lot more class warfare against the haves, the have mores, and their hired guns in congress.