This time we are drowning in foreclosures, layoffs, debt and despair. The Republican Response? Do an aerial drive by, rearrange the deck chairs, pat Brownie on the back and demonize a Democrat. Bill Clinton is past his expiration date, and Obama is too popular so they pick on Nancy Pelosi. They call out the minions of uneducated ditto heads to plug up the phone lines and silence civil discourse. And they're insulted that our new President has taken off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves and started to work. They call it "undignified."
The people that created this mess, what exactly are they doing to help? .....well, they haven't learned a damn thing. The levee's broken. People are standing on roofs waving flags that say "Help." States are laying off cops and teachers. Unemployment is heading towards double digits. They're rioting in the streets of Iceland and Greece. The world is waiting for us to lead. And what are they doing? They're planning there 2010 campaign ads. They're poisoning the well. They're taking their time because they, supposedly, want more discussion. They've got signs visual aids and cute slogans. They're calling investing in American and putting Americans back to work welfare. They think that only Wall Street jobs are "REAL WORK" They call replacing the gas guzzling automobile fleet a spending spree. They call fixing our kids schools "pork."
Remember the news about schools in China and Haiti that crumbled during earthquakes? Remember watching as parents tried to dig their kids out from under the wreckage? How safe are our schools? When we were kids, schools were the safest place in town to be and that's the way it should be. Our schools haven't been updated since Jimmy Carter was President.
The American Society of Civil Engineers issued an infrastructure report card giving a bleak cumulative ranking of D. Our roads, bridges and ports are neglected. Our power grid is a terrorists prime target. We need to invest in alternative energy to free ourselves from domination by the Arab oil kings. This bill will employ and train Americans to rebuild those roads and bridges, to make our schools safe and to bring our country into the new century.
But the old guard just wants to sit it out and see what happens. They refuse to admit their own failures. Instead, they want to give more tax breaks to millionaires because trickle down has worked so well. Aren't these the same people who are holding our financial services hostage? Aren't they the same ones who are threatening to bankrupt the nation if we don't give in to their demands?
Here's the truth of what's happening. It's fend for yourself time. The school my grandson attends is being closed. Funding cuts. It's a great little neighborhood school with an excellent reputation. Teachers are being laid off and his school is being closed. To save money, schools are being consolidated. He will be bused to the other side of town and dumped into huge classrooms with too many children and not enough teachers. He won't learn but will he be able to serve drinks to billionairs? Forget education, they're creating a class of serfs.
I'm disabled and on a fixed income. These services are being cut to the bone. I'm looking at a very austere future. I called the man who cuts my grass and told him that I can't afford him. He said my grandson's teacher just fired him too. The home improvement store where he buys his tools and plants has laid off half the staff. The have announced that they will be closing several stores. Several auto dealerships have gone out of business. The grocery store is shortening it's hours and no longer delivers groceries. Like dominoes they are falling. The dry cleaners, the small restraunts, the bakery, the auto repair....
My landlord just called to say that she either has to raise the rent or declare bankruptcy. I'm wondering if I can live without heat. I told her that the wall plug where my Oxygen concentrator is plugged shorted out in a puff of smoke. She flat out told me that necessary repairs would be put on hold. God help me, they're laying off firemen too.
I will survive. But some version of this story is being repeated in millions and millions and MILLIONS of households across America. As the waters wash in, we are holding on by our fingernails. We are glued to our televisions waiting for an answer.
And what is our "free press" doing in this crisis? They are fighting the last war of course. They are making up for eight years of being a Republicant lap dog by going on the attack against President Obama. They totally ignore the 350 billion in tax cuts, the 350 billion of infastructure and aid to the states to save jobs for cops and teachers and they allow the Republicants to continue to write their copy for them. A tag line of "how do condoms stimulate the economy....te he..te hee......" and they're hooked like junk food junkies. Hey! Wake up! You gotta live here too! Please remember what a free press is and why it's vital to our nation. If this economy fails - who will have enough money to listen to you? Save your customers!!!
What is it that those Republicans- who are all dressed up all nice in their suit and tie - waiting for? Is this just a ceremonial job for them? They like dressing for success but they don't really like the hard work of governing? Or is life for them just one long campaign. They lose interest once we hire them. They're like that "swiffer" commercial. They only want to work at getting hired.
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