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In High Gear: The GOP Class War

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Posted by: 97silverlsc

In High Gear: The GOP Class War
By Max J. Castro
Progreso Weekly

17-23 February 2005 Edition

While President Bush tries to sell the American people on a bogus plan to solve a non-existent social security crisis, real and present crises fester unattended or are aggravated by Republican policies.

Health is a prime example. More than 45 million Americans lack insurance coverage today - not in 2042 - and the number keeps rising. Latinos, the fastest growing population in the country, is also the least likely to have coverage. That’s a bad omen for the future. What is Bush proposing to do about this crisis? Nothing.

But the health care problem in this country is more than just the tragedy of tens of millions of people who lack a basic human right. It’s an economic calamity as well - for the nation and for families and individuals. The United States spends a higher percentage of its Gross Domestic Income (GDP) on health care than any other nation, and the result, as translated into indicators such as life expectancy and infant mortality, are mediocre compared to other rich countries. Yet costs here are continuing to rise rapidly.

The problem is not just at the national level either. A recent study found that health costs often spell economic disaster for American families. Half of all bankruptcies in this country result from medical bills. Even more amazing is the finding that points out just how broken the health care system in this country is beyond the issue of having or not having insurance coverage. For many of the people bankrupted by monster medical charges had health insurance coverage.

The study, published in this month’s Health Affairs, estimates two million people annually, including 700,000 dependent children, are affected by medical bankruptcies. "Our study is frightening. Unless you’re Bill Gates you’re just one serious illness away from bankruptcy," said Dr. David Himmelstein of the Harvard Medical School, the lead researcher. Himmelstein said those bankrupted by the high cost of medical care were "average Americans who happened to get sick." Indeed, 75.7 percent of them were insured at the onset of illness. The reality of American health care according to the study is that "even middle-class insured families often fall prey to financial catastrophe when sick."

What are Republicans planning to do to help prevent Americans from suffering a financial catastrophe on top of a serious illness? Worse than nothing: They are getting ready to pass a law to make it harder to declare bankruptcy. Doing the bidding of yet another group of corporate cronies - in this case the credit card companies - Republicans in Congress are hoping to parlay their strengthened dominance in both houses into a victory that consumer advocates say would come at the expense of the public.

Personal bankruptcies increased from less than 800,000 in 1994 to 1.6 million in 2003. Studies have shown that the vast majorities of bankruptcies are caused by personal crises resulting from job loss, illness, and divorce. While credit card companies claim there is widespread abuse of bankruptcy laws, the American Bankruptcy Institute says only about 3 percent of bankruptcy filers could afford to repay even a part of their debts.

The bill supported by Republican leaders in Congress would place additional burdens on already-strapped American families and individuals while letting the wealthy off the hook. The Washington Post ("Tighter Bankruptcy Law Favored," Feb. 11, 2005) reports that "consumer advocates say it would allow some rich debtors to continue to hide wealth through homeownership while bankruptcy relief would be denied to many people with low or moderate incomes who have fallen on hard times..."

Thus the Republican solution for people devastated by serious illness and financial disaster is to deny the worst off among them what scant relief bankruptcy offers in order to maximize the profits of the credit card companies.

But squeezing Americans who have been devastated by illness and ruinous medical charges or who have lost their jobs in today’s unstable labor market is hardly the only way the GOP is planning to reward its big business allies. The Washington Post also reported last week that "with prodding from President Bush," Republicans in Congress are resurrecting energy legislation they have been trying to pass for four years. Amy Myers Jaffe, associate director of the energy program of the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University, said the proposal "would just line the pockets of special-interest groups and do virtually nothing to enhance the energy security of our country."

The epitome of the immoral values reflected in Bush-GOP policies is the 2006 budget proposal, which Princeton economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman rightly describes as "Bush’s Class-War Budget." The proposed budget would severely cut programs serving human needs like health and education while making the tax cuts for the rich passed in the first Bush term permanent. "It may sound shrill to describe President Bush as someone who takes food from the mouths of babes and gives the proceeds to his millionaire friends," writes Krugman. But, he adds, "the budget proposal really does take food from the mouths of babes... One of the proposed spending cuts would make it harder for working families with children to receive food stamps, terminating aid to about 300,000 people." At the same time, the Bush budget proposal contains a provision that would eliminate two little-known provisions of the tax code. The beneficiaries? Fully 97 percent make more than $200,000 a year and half more than $1 million. The average annual benefit to the latter group: $19,000.

There has been a lot of talk about obscenity and indecency lately, especially on the anniversary of Janet Jackson’s famous Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction. Yet is there anything that the worst purveyors of smut have ever come up with that rivals the obscenity, indecency and perversity of the policies advocated by the rulers of our new one-party government?

Posted by: barry2952

Nice to have you back Phil. Where have you been?

Posted by: 97silverlsc

Hi Barry,
Good to be back. I moved, and we have someone out at work, so between that and the snow storm in January I have over 100 hours of OT in about 3 & 1/2 weeks. Basically to and from work and trying to get my new place together, no time for much else. Hope all is well with you and everyone else here.
Phil

Posted by: Joeychgo

I was wondering where you've been

Posted by: FreeFaller

Listen...socialism is, has and always will be a colossal failure. The 70 year experiment in the collectivist ideal has proven clearly and irrefutably that when private property was nationalized and market competition eliminated, economic irrationality would result.

This article reeks of the same Bolshevik propaganda that led so many nations down the path of decline.

Some may say this is a rather extremist way to look at things but history has show on countless occasions that when a nations people begin to rely on their governing body politic to provide for them it opens the door to totalitarian rule.

These believers in a "perfect social society" would grant great power to the government of our daily lives and then rob us our right to practice the ideals represented in the Declaration of Independence.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

By every individual doing his own duty, a free citizen in a free country takes on the responsibility to plan and care for his own life. He associates with his fellow free men on the basis of mutual, voluntary agreement and never expects others to bare the consequences or the costs of his own actions through use of the power of the state.

Posted by: Kbob

Quote:

Originally Posted by 97silverlsc

Good to be back. I moved, and we have someone out at work, so between that and the snow storm in January I have over 100 hours of OT in about 3 & 1/2 weeks. Basically to and from work and trying to get my new place together, no time for much else. Hope all is well with you and everyone else here.
Phil

I was wondering where you had been as well. All is good here. I hope that we can keep our political differences from making a$$es out of ourselves in the future. This is another goodwill gesture on my part and I hope it is respected as just that. Good luck with your new home.

Posted by: 97silverlsc

Thanks Ken,
I've got a lot of work to do on the place, previous owner was a wannabe fix it man and failed miserably! I've got the living room pretty much done (42" plasma and nice sound system, painted, carpeted), but the rest of the place needs an overhaul. So much for free time!
Phil

Posted by: Kbob

Quote:

Originally Posted by 97silverlsc

Thanks Ken,
I've got a lot of work to do on the place, previous owner was a wannabe fix it man and failed miserably! I've got the living room pretty much done (42" plasma . . . .

(In my best Homer Simpson voice): "mmmm . . . plasma . . . ."

Posted by: MrWilson

Quote:

Originally Posted by 97silverlsc

In High Gear: The GOP Class War
By Max J. Castro
Progreso Weekly

17-23 February 2005 Edition

While President Bush tries to sell the American people on a bogus plan to solve a non-existent social security crisis, real and present crises fester unattended or are aggravated by Republican policies.

i obviously do not need to read beyond this. If you claim there is no social security crisis...you dont diserve to have an oppinion that is voiced to thousands of people.

Posted by: JohnnyBz00LS

So you'd prefer......

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrWilson

i obviously do not need to read beyond this.

... ignorance, and........

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrWilson

...you dont diserve to have an oppinion that is voiced to thousands of people.

.... censorship? Spoken like a true (self)right(ious)-winged conservative.

Posted by: barry2952

I'm really glad you're back.

Posted by: mespock

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry2952

I'm really glad you're back.

Sure Barry, Bryan's team seemed to be getting bigger!!!

How you have your strong support!

But remember Bryan is down with Jeb right now planning his new line of attack LOL.

Posted by: crazyman

Though my responses are most often smart-a**ed. I've been impressed by some (Barry's) people's logical, clear thinking views of our (american's) present situation. I'd be happy to represent the team, even if my views are sometimes seen as cyinical at best.

BTW, how do you spell cyinical?

Posted by: barry2952

We really do need a spellchecker on this site. Then some may not look like such idiots.

Two more words to add to cynical:

hypocrite

panderer

hypocrite + panderer = GWB

"Worst President Ever"

Posted by: Kbob

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry2952

We really do need a spellchecker on this site. Then some may not look like such idiots.

Two more words to add to cynical:

hypocrite

panderer

hypocrite + panderer = GWB

"Worst President Ever"

I reluctantly do this. But if anyone insults someone who is opposed to their own ideology and/or politics based on the other persons grammar, and does not insult someone else who is not opposed to their own ideology and/or politics, even though their grammar is equally horrid, then that person is also a hypocrite and a panderer.

Posted by: 97silverlsc

In response to FreeFaller, although I'm an atheist, I seem to recall that Jeebus( couldn't resist a Homerism) said that you should help the sick and the poor, so he was espousing socialism to an extent. Bush ran on christian/moral values, yet his new budget seems to cater to the rich to the detriment of the sick and poor, cutting funding or eliminating programs that help the people who need it most. HMMM, says one thing-but does the opposite. What would that make him?

Posted by: Kbob

Quote:

Originally Posted by 97silverlsc

In response to FreeFaller, although I'm an atheist, I seem to recall that Jeebus( couldn't resist a Homerism) said that you should help the sick and the poor, so he was espousing socialism to an extent. Bush ran on christian/moral values, yet his new budget seems to cater to the rich to the detriment of the sick and poor, cutting funding or eliminating programs that help the people who need it most. HMMM, says one thing-but does the opposite. What would that make him?

Bush has never said we shouldn't help the sick and the poor. He just wants to put more money into our economy so that there will be less sick and poor.

Posted by: JohnnyBz00LS

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kbob

Bush has never said we shouldn't help the sick and the poor. He just wants to put more money into our economy so that there will be less sick and poor.

NO Doubt! Under GW's grand plan, all the sick and poor people will DEFINATELY have a few more crumbs to fight over, while the well-to-do no longer have to worry about which to buy, that new Land Rover or the Lambo SUV!!! They'll just buy both!

Posted by: Kbob

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyBz00LS

Ah, yes, Bush's evil Final Solution for the elderly problem.

Posted by: Joeychgo

Gee - Republicans caring about business alot more then people? Wow, im shocked

Posted by: JohnnyBz00LS

Posted on Fri, Feb. 25, 2005

Big Business rules under Bush, GOP

Watching the 109th Congress, one would be forgiven for thinking our Constitution was the blueprint for a government of Big Business, by Big Business and for Big Business. Forget the people – this is Robin Hood in reverse.

Here’s the agenda, as laid out by the president and the Republicans who control Congress: First, limit people’s power to right wrongs done to them by corporations. Next, force people to repay usurious loans to credit card companies that make gazillions off the fine print. Then, for the coup de grace, hand over history’s most successful public safety net to Wall Street.

Of course, the GOP and the White House use slightly different language for this corporate-lobbyist trifecta: “Tort reform,” “eliminating abuse of bankruptcy” and “keeping Social Security solvent” are the preferred Beltway phrasings for messing with the little guy.

The first installment came last week with the passage of a law that will make it more difficult for consumers to win class-action lawsuits against private companies. Because state courts, which are closer to the people, have proved sympathetic to the liability claims of ordinary folks, the new legislation puts many class-action suits in federal courts, which turn out decisions more attuned to the heartfelt pleas of corporate attorneys.

What is so phony about the much ballyhooed tort reform is that it aims not at overzealous lawyers but only at those who happen to represent poorer plaintiffs. Corporate lawyers are very much in play in writing this new legislation.

Which is why we should expect severe limits on the amount of damages that can be collected by those harmed by asbestos exposure or by medical malpractice. Memo to would-be Erin Brockoviches: Don’t give up your day job.

Next on the corporate wish list is savaging Chapter 7 bankruptcy relief, which is offered to individuals who can’t pay their debts. It allows them to give up non-essential assets in exchange for a fresh start. Chapter 7 has been a tool for family and societal stability for decades; torquing it in the favor of credit card companies has been a fantasy of the industry for almost as long.

Never mind that it is obvious to everybody who gets junk mail that lenders should be far more responsible about how they hand out credit cards. The credit industry’s sleazy come-ons, onerous interest rates and frantic marketing to teenagers go unaddressed by Congress; it is only consumers who are expected to be conscientious.

Is “onerous” too strong? Hardly. It’s way beyond onerous when a struggling parent puts back-to-school expenses on an “introductory rate” credit card and then sees the interest rate surge toward 30 percent when she’s two days late with her payment. Now $500 in books and clothes are going to cost her thousands by the time she can afford to finish paying for them. Ironically, considering the number of senators and representatives who love to quote Scripture, such outrageous usury was explicitly condemned in the Old Testament as what it is, “extortion.”

And while the story of Jesus in the temple is also being roundly ignored, so is that other once-sacred pillar of the Republican philosophy, states’ rights. Nearly all states have reasonable limits on interest rates, which have been trumped by D.C. politicians in the thrall of corporate lobbies. Sure, business interests deserve some clout in a democracy, but this is ridiculous.

In fact, the GOP’s legislative calendar looks like a wish list sent over to the White House from the Chamber of Commerce across the street. Senate Republican Majority Leader Bill Frist dropped in there the other day after a breakfast meeting with the president to assure the Chamber that its wishes would soon be law. After all, the Chamber spent $168 million to push the anti-class-action lawsuit bill along. Still to come this session: raising allowable emissions standards on major pollutants, oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the granddaddy of all corporate payouts, privatization of Social Security.

So what’s the big revelation? That, almost 2,000 years after Jesus routed those scoundrels, the money changers have not merely re-entered the temple – they are the temple.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert Scheer writes a weekly column for the Los Angeles Times.

Posted by: MonsterMark

Quote:

Originally Posted by mespock

But remember Bryan is down with Jeb right now planning his new line of attack LOL.

You're closer to the truth than you realize. A true conservative Republican finds a way to mix business with pleasure so he can write off the adventure. Correct?

Posted by: MonsterMark

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyBz00LS

First, limit people’s power to right wrongs done to them by corporations.

Your right. I woman who pours hot coffee on herself in her car should get $10,000,000 from McDonalds.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyBz00LS

Next, force people to repay usurious loans to credit card companies that make gazillions off the fine print.

Right again. People should get money for free. I'm mean, why budget at all? Just borrow all you can from the credit card companies and leave the public (stock holders and investors in these companies) holding the bag. Seems fair.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyBz00LS

Then, for the coup de grace, hand over history’s most successful public safety net to Wall Street.

Sure. Give me back my money with a crappy return forcing me to continue to work at Walmart until I am dead to maintain a modest standard of living because the paltry sum Social Security will give back to me will only allow me to buy breadcrumbs at best.

Posted by: JohnnyBz00LS

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonsterMark

Your right. I woman who pours hot coffee on herself in her car should get $10,000,000 from McDonalds.

I agree that that particular case was truly a frivolous lawsuit. However, the new legislation just passed (that was referred to in the article) applied to CLASS ACTION lawsuits and would not have prevented this partular lawsuit anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonsterMark

Come on Bryan, you have to admit that the credit card companies these days use predatory tactics on those people who are barely making it by financially. I get 4-5 offers EACH FRIGGEN DAY in the mail, some from companies I already have a credit line with. EVERY ONE of these are laced with "traps" in the fine print, so for those without the personal financial capitol to avoid those traps, they are destined to get snookered into a rediculously high interest rate. What ever happened to the day where one had to go into the bank and talk to a loan officer to get a loan? Instead we have literally legalized "loan sharks" pounding down our doors, tempting us with deals that are truly too good to be true. You think it's bad now? Once the C-C companies have the increased protection you seek, the risk (RISK is part of the INVESTMENT EQUATION, BTW) on their part is reduced to nearly zero and things will be much worse. Sorry, but I have no sympathy for any C-C company who gets stuck w/ a balance in a Chpt.7 bankruptcy. I've got a better idea, delete the protection for big buisness and let the market stabilize ITSELF. If personal credit accounts are SOOO G-Damn risky for these big companies, then why don't they back OFF?? Why should the government get involved w/ protecting big buisness? They need to take care of their OWN DAMN BUISNESS! Isn't the GOP all about less government involvement in buisness?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonsterMark

I suppose that in your spare time from working 60-hr weeks at WallyMart you are helping w/ the financing of the SBVT-ish add campaigns against the AARP, no? Where's that emotiocon w/ the smiley rubbing his fingers together playing the world's smallest violin?

Posted by: MonsterMark

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyBz00LS

My hands are so full today being out of town for a week and a half that all I have time for is so witty-smartalicky comments. I know all about class action suits. I buy and sell retail products. I used to buy bungee cords made in the US until a class action suit chased everyone overseas. I could probably name hundreds, if not thousands of products that are no longer manufactured here due to the lack of tort reform dealing with class action and other frivilous lawsuits. Best I can do at this time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyBz00LS

Show a little restraint and tear up those card offers Johnny. Or, if you do take them up on their offers, at least read the fine print or find someone to read the fine print to you.

. But I agree, if you are in the business of making unsecured loans, take your lumps like a big boy. Which is why the rates are as high as they are in the first place.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyBz00LS

Financing? Heck, I'm running the Swift Boat type ads you are talking about. It's me and my kids against my Mom and Dad and Gramps and Granny. Easter and Thanksgiving are going to be a blast in the MonsterMark household.

Posted by: evillally

My experiences;
The rich get richer because they continue to do what they do; make money and invest it wisely.

The poor get poorer because they keep doing what they're doing; getting high off of crack, getting knocked-up at age 15, and ignoring education.

How do I know this? I grew-up in a working-class, low-income area, and saw these things first hand. I took the advise of those who have learned from their mistakes and got an education, a good job, moved away from the projects, and started a new and better life (and of course, bought a bad-ass all-American V8 luxo-barge rice-eating vehicle

) .

Class War is the left's excuse for lazyness...

Posted by: JohnnyBz00LS

Quote:

Originally Posted by evillally

My experiences;
The rich get richer because they continue to do what they do; make money and invest it wisely.

The poor get poorer because they keep doing what they're doing; getting high off of crack, getting knocked-up at age 15, and ignoring education.

How do I know this? I grew-up in a working-class, low-income area, and saw these things first hand. I took the advise of those who have learned from their mistakes and got an education, a good job, moved away from the projects, and started a new and better life (and of course, bought a bad-ass all-American V8 luxo-barge rice-eating vehicle

) .

Class War is the left's excuse for lazyness...

While I commend your conviction for getting ahead in life, you have a very narrow-minded view of people living in poverty. Since you claim to have witnessed "the slums" firsthand, you should know that for every family stricken w/ the "crack trap", there are 2 other poor families un-affected by the "crack trap" who are struggling to:

A) Get a higher education (college isn't free)
B) Keep a job to keep clothes on their children's backs and food on the table (tough to do when the biggest employers are outsourcing to Mexico or wherever)

And what about this "crack trap"? Does it help the poor when the same government who claims to "protect Americans" are covertly involved with trafficking drugs into the slums? How do you convince your 15 y/o son to work 40 hrs at McDonalds for $220/week when he can deal crack and make $220 in an HOUR? Sure, people should be capable of lifting themselves out of this trap (as you apparently have), but why should the struggle be more difficult than it has to be? No one is being helped when the deck is stacked against them.

Posted by: MonsterMark

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyBz00LS

How do you convince your 15 y/o son to work 40 hrs at McDonalds for $220/week when he can deal crack and make $220 in an HOUR?

I guess this is a stupid question but here goes. What is a person who makes $220/hr doing living in a slum?

Posted by: JohnnyBz00LS

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonsterMark

I guess this is a stupid question but here goes. What is a person who makes $220/hr doing living in a slum?

Most likely "shopping" for some guns to increase his odds of living past the age of 18.

Posted by: barry2952

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonsterMark

I guess this is a stupid question but here goes. What is a person who makes $220/hr doing living in a slum?

Proximity to their customer base.

Posted by: Kbob

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyBz00LS

While I commend your conviction for getting ahead in life, you have a very narrow-minded view of people living in poverty.

I think the misunderstanding is the definition of "poverty". Some define it as a $ amount. Others define it as a lifestyle and/or living arrangement. I think Johnny is talking about the dollars, and evillally is talking about the lifestyle. I've had experience with both and I know what you're both trying to say, and they are both correct to a certain degree.