voting for them in the November midterm elections. Pollsters are predicting the GOP
could regain control of the House and maybe even the Senate if enough voters can be
"wooed". What are these regressive architects using to seduce the average American
voter to go over to the dark side? NOTHING. The Journal says Republicans are looking
for a way they can make promises to voters without providing any details. (You can't make
this stuff up.) The plan is to take advantage of voter anger over high unemployment, massive
deficits, a sluggish economy, and the bailout of Wall Street while ignoring Main Street. At no
time, however, does the GOP want to say what they will actually do to reduce spending, create
jobs, cut the deficit, or solve any other of the nation's ills. Former GOP leader, Representative
Vin Weber says: "There's a pretty powerful argument that says why take a big risk with an
affirmative agenda when we've come such a long way; and let's not screw this up...by details
about where we would go going forward." In other words, vote for us and we will tell you
later how we will fix things. It might work.
If you are not one of the great unwashed, easily wooed by over-promising and under-
performing, and would actually like to glimpse what the Republican agenda will be under
Speaker John Boehner; there are hints if you dig a little. Some of the Republican young Turks
are on the record and their agenda is clear. Representative Eric Cantor, second ranking
Republican in the House, is on the record supporting the privatization of Social Security by
creating private investment accounts. How much you receive upon retirement would depend
on how well Wall Street performs. Imagine being sixty years old with all your money in the
market in 2007. What would your nest egg look like today?
In a book Mr. Cantor co-authored, he supports not only privatizing Social Security, but
also supports his co-author's, Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, proposal to turn
Medicare into a voucher program (anyone want to guess what the vouchers would be worth?);
and eliminating the home mortgage interest deduction among other proposals. A number of
Republican candidates for the Senate believe unemployment insurance is unconstitutional.
They all support more military spending and support extending tax cuts for the richest 1% of
American taxpayers. So it appears the regressive agenda, if given back control of Congress,
would be to privatize Social Security, gut Medicare, eliminate one of the largest tax deductions
middle America uses, while cutting taxes for the rich and increasing the military budget. Now
maybe you understand why former Congressman Weber wishes they would all shut up.
Seventy-five percent of the federal budget is composed of Social Security, Medicare,
interest on the debt, and the military budget. In the past, Ronald Reagan and his neo-con
acolytes have suggested ending Social Security and Medicare as we know it, while cutting taxes
for the rich and pumping up the Pentagon. It would appear Representative Cantor and his
buddies are singing the same old song; only this time they won't post the lyrics until after
voters have been "wooed".
The confidence and faith regressives have in their ideas is shown by their refusal to talk
specifics. While President Obama proposed and passed a healthcare reform, Wall Street
overhaul, and economic stimulus package (which independent experts say prevented a much
deeper and devastating depression), and currently is trying to jump start the Middle East
peace process; the loyal opposition says vote for us and we won't do what he does. Vote for us
and we will solve the nation's ills; you just have to wait awhile to find out the rich will be
richer, jobs will pay one-half of what they used to, and Social Security and Medicare will be
figments of your imagination. Have you been sufficiently "wooed"? What do you think?
I welcome your comments and rebuttals. Please send them to lionoftheleft@gmail.com
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