I loathe having to write this, but is it just me that is disgusted by President Bushs pleas for "private donations" to the tsunami victims?
Bush waited nearly 72 hours before even responding to the tragedy and then pledged an obscenely low amount, only upping the ante after widespread criticism. His "right-wing Christian compassionate conservative" lackeys have not done any better, with some even celebrating the death of gays from the tsunami!
This seems to fit into his plan for a "privatized economy" --- one in which the wealthy stay wealthy (and become even more so) and the middle/lower classes are left with the tab.
We, the citizens of the US, are told we have to pay over double the prices for medicine than anyone else in the world to support "pharmaceutical research," (which Peter Rost, a drug marketing executive at Pfizer, debunked this morning on Air America's Morning Sedition). We are told we must pay high taxes to support an illegal war, pay off our outrageous debt [or rather just the interest on that debt] and support an unwieldy and unjust prison system, though we get hardly anything in return from the government (think universal healthcare, affordable housing, a good education). We are even told for good service at restaurants we should tip 20%, mainly because it allows employers to pay less than minimum wage.
Now, before you think I am totally heartless, I have already donated to the relief funds and I almost always tip 20%. However, why do these monetary burdens always hit working classes the hardest?
Update: Well, Bush donated $10,000 personally, what a sham...
http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/05/bush.donation/index.html
