As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster I've always been a sucker for gangster movies. From "Bonnie and Clyde" and "Paper Moon" when I was a kid, to "Scarface" and "Donnie Brasco", I've always been the kind of guy who rooted for the bad guy, at least where gangster movies are concerned. When life imitates art, of course, it's a different matter entirely.
Much to the chagrin of my intellectual friends, when the topic of 'all-time favorite movie' comes up, my answer is always the same: "Goodfellas". I've watched that movie so many times I could probably bang out the entire screenplay from memory.
That said, it didn't take me long after reading about Eric Cantor's admission that the current goal of the GOP is to 'whack' every social program that made this country great to see a disturbing 'life imitating art' parallel to my favorite movie.
"What we [House Republicans] have said is this: We'll protect today's seniors and those nearing retirement, but for the rest of us, all of us, who are 54 and younger, I know the programs are not going to be there for me when I retire," Cantor told Fox News' Chris Wallace.
That's right, he said plain as day that they expect to "bust the joint out", conveniently protecting the aging base of the Republican Party with the "54 and younger" clause.
In "Goodfellas", Sonny Bunz, owner of the Bamboo Lounge, in fear of his physical and financial survival as a direct result of the gangsters actions, turns to Paulie, the head gangster, for help. Paulie says: "What? You want me to be your partner? What do I know about the restaurant business?......Ok, I'll see what I can do."
In real life, in 2010, enough of the electorate, in physical and financial jeopardy due to the actions of the GOP (Bush), turned to the leaders of the GOP in hopes of 'protection'.
Now the guy's got Paulie as a partner......(SNIP).... But now the guy's got to come up with Paulie's money every week. No matter what. Business bad? Fuck you, pay me. Oh, you had a fire? Fuck you, pay me. The place got hit by lightning, huh? Fuck you, pay me. Also, Paulie could do anything. Especially run up bills on the joint's credit. And why not? Nobody's gonna pay for it anyway. And as soon as the deliveries are made in the front door, you move the stuff out the back and sell it at a discount. You take a two hundred dollar case of booze and you sell it for a hundred. It doesn't matter. It's all profit. And then finally, when there's nothing left, when you can't borrow another buck from the bank or buy another case of booze, you bust the joint out. You light a match.
Yeah, 'Paulie' could do anything. 'Paulie' could take the largest surplus we've ever had, and turn it into the biggest deficit.
'Paulie' could manufacture a 'casus belli' to lead us into a state of endless war. 'Paulie' could privatize the profits and socialize the costs, putting the 'externalities' of the corporate structure onto the backs of the weak and the poor, and those of us who have NO SAY in the matters at hand.
Now, about that 'SNIP' in the blockquote.
Any problems, he goes to Paulie. Trouble with a bill, he can go to Paulie. Trouble with the cops, deliveries, Tommy, he can call Paulie.
You see, in the movie, there was at least a time when Sonny got something out of the deal: a little protection. That didn't happen in real life.
Bank foreclosing on your house? FUCK YOU, PAY ME.
Insurance company denied your claim? FUCK YOU, PAY ME.
Koch brothers sent your job overseas? FUCK YOU, PAY ME.
As I've said before, the 'big fight' is coming with the debt ceiling. I hope we don't have to watch President Obama, with the same look Sonny had on his face, signing the papers that will kill all the progress we've made since the New Deal, and Joe Biden behind him saying "This is a fucking shame!" instead of "This is a big fucking deal!"
It is abundantly clear that the Cantors and Boehnors and Pences of the GOP look upon us with the same worldview Henry Hill expressed in "Goodfellas" :
For us to live any other way was nuts. Uh, to us, those goody-good people who worked shitty jobs for bum paychecks and took the subway to work every day, and worried about their bills, were dead. I mean they were suckers. They had no balls. If we wanted something we just took it. If anyone complained twice they got hit so bad, believe me, they never complained again.
What they're doing is as clear as the nose on my face:
And then finally, when there's nothing left, when you can't borrow another buck from the bank or buy another case of booze, you bust the joint out. You light a match.
In my humble opinion, they have declared true 'class warfare'. They are trying to burn down the protections that were set in place to give dignity to ALL Americans.
They are 'lighting the match' that will 'bust the joint out'.