I've started canvassing in redder-voting areas, and while I've hardly gotten statistical sample size, I find that I hear the same stories again and again. People hurt. They are losing their business and have only the skin on their teeth to hold onto their house. They are terrified that they'll lose their jobs, or they are already unemployed. Yet, they are set on supporting the party of no.
It was past my understanding why these people think it's okay to use tax money line Halliburton's pockets, or Blackwater's, or General Dynamics' -- but extending unemployment will cause gremlins to empty their cash registers and destroy their businesses. Why is it okay to leak tax revenue to the rich, but obscene to create a program that will help the poor?
Forget that if you give $1000 to an unemployed person, he will spend it on food or housing or coats for his kids. Give $1000 to a wealthy man, and it won't affect his spending habits at all. Dollar for dollar, extending unemployment does stimulate the economy and create domestic jobs better than creating tax breaks. Particularly now.
It's a long time until November. I'm going to Costco to get a big bottle of ibuprofin. We can do better than these GOPy turkeys.
My biggest canvassing irritation today is John Boehner. Rather, it's Dave Reichert sometimes clandistine relationship with John Boehner. Last night, John Boehner, who thinks imposing reform to address the deregulation that caused the deepest financial crisis since The Great Depression is attacking an ant with a nuclear weapon was in town stumping and raising funds for Dave.
Reichert tells us he's in Washington to do good. It appears instead that "Both Ways Dave" is doing well. John Boehner is in town raising funds for Reichert, and at $1000 a plate, he isn't talking to people with dire concerns about the economy.
In 2009, King County reported 10,234 foreclosures, a 201 percent increase from 2007 and a 60 percent increase from 2008. That same year, Pierce County reported 7,321 foreclosures, a 137 percent increase from 2007 and a 10 percent increase from 2008.
About 8300 people in King country are homeless.
About 2000 people in Pierce County are homeless.
From May 2008 to May 2010, King County’s unemployment rate went from 4.1 to 7.7 percent.
From May 2008 to May 2010, Pierce County's unemployment went from 5.3 to 9.6 percent.
So why the fear of the mythical "tax and spend liberal"? A resounding "yes" to the party of "no"? Folks with their fingers chewed to bone were ready to vote for the same Republicans who created the deregulations that caused their trouble. They were more afraid of the Dems. I asked a few of them why.
The folks I'm talking to think that if the government does anything proactive it will run them into poverty. The "no" meme: If the government does anything, it will break your hopes and shatter your dreams -- and then they'll give those dreams to a couch potato. They will tax your small business into the ground. Instead, give money and the power to the corporations that know what to do about a business. Sell the American fallacy: everyone can break into that top 1% if they just work hard enough.
I thought the Republican's talents were for getting people to vote for them and not for governing. I now suspect that they are deliberately incompetent so they can sell their big lie. They aren't the party of "no". They are the party of "stick a rabbit in a hat."
But policies that benefit large corporations do not by fiat benefit small businesses and job seekers. Supporting small business, supporting renewable energy project, and jobs creation for the little guy really make the key to solving our problems.
I'm optimistic that Suzan DelBene will unseat John Boehner's friend, Dave Reichert:
I am phone banking and canvassing for her this year. I think she's the real deal -- she gets it, and she won't forget. Read more about her here.