You know what's coming in the next couple of days, don't you? Media portrayals of "Joe the Plumber" as the everyman who speaks for regular people, and who just so happens to like McCain's plans better. But take a look at this interview with Joe the Plumber and he has some interesting, Phil Gramm-like economic ideas:
His healthcare plan scares me. You know, I don’t like people going without healthcare, but it’s not my job to pay for everyone else’s healthcare. It’s hard enough paying for my own. I like the idea of deregulation as far as – nationally, you know, you only get insurance companies that can work in this state – if you deregulate that then you have more people competing and then the prices would go lower.
Yeah, that deregulation really worked for the financial system, didn't it?
Not only does Joe the Plumber believe in deregulation, but he also seems to think that the middle class is a welfare-consuming nation of whiners:
You start giving people stuff, and then they start expecting it – and that scares me. A lot of people expect it now. They get upset when their check’s late, they get upset when they don’t get as many benefits as they used to, or when different government agencies are cut or spending is cut here and there for whatever reason – people get upset at that. And that’s because they’re used to getting it and they want more. I mean, everyone’s always gonna want more. People work the system left and right to get more out of welfare, to get more out of state assistance, federal assistance. And if government’s there for them, they’re gonna keep on trying to manipulate it to get more out of it. You got people that come along and say, “Hey, I wanna help you people,” I mean, they’re all ears! They’re like, “Hey, you can help me more, I don’t have to work as hard, I don’t have to do as much, and you’re gonna give me this? Man, that’s great, you’re a good guy.”
Hey, Joe...have you heard of welfare reform? It happened in the 90's. You still think there are Welfare Queens driving around in Cadillac's don't you?
Do you know whose welfare check you are subsidizing? Bailed-out wall street types who thrived under your preferred strategy of deregulation. Some of them just took a nice vacation to a spa on your dime, buddy.
And now that the housing market is weak, do you think as many people will be rehabbing their homes and putting in new bathrooms? Do you think there will be as many new home constructions if the economy goes south? Plumbers like you ain't cheap...and if the economy tanks, people will only call you when they absolutely have to.
If McCain drives the economy into the shitter, people won't be able to pay you to unclog it.