In America today, there is a real war being waged against the poor and middle class, by the party of the 1%. The Republican party, through words and deeds have made it very clear who they represent, and it's certainly NOT the interest of 99% of the people in this country. .
A few hours ago, Newt Gingrich, the latest GOP front runner gave a speech in Iowa, where he made a lame attempt to defend his comments on how children should replace Janitors in our schools and do the work. Who cares about violating child labor laws? Put the young bastards to work!
Newt's comments consisted of him saying that poor children have no concept of work. They are surrounded by people who don't work, and the only time they do earn money, it's from illegal activity. Now, am I the only one who see's a problem with these statements? Not only are they prejudicial, they are elitist and demonstrate how Newt has no connection to reality.
One of the greatest misconceptions in America today, is that poor people are lazy and do not want to work. Granted, I am from Bay Shore, New York. I did NOT grow up poor. My parents worked hard to make sure they were able to provide their children with anything that was needed. However, in my adult life, I became a part of the working poor. I remember living in Virginia, being so poor that I my electricity AND water got turned off.. I remember being so poor that all I could do was scrape up 99 cents for discounted Big Mac's at McDonald's as my only meal of the day. No, I did NOT run to my parents for help. It was my responsibility to work it out on my own.
What Newt and so many others in the Republican party fail to realize is that there are millions of people in America, who work hard every day. They work very long hours for little money. They live at or below the poverty line. They have families and do the best they can to provide for their children. It's not a matter of being lazy, and wanting handouts.
There IS a class warfare that has been being waged in America for decades. Over the past 30 years, the top 1%'s wealth has increased by a rate of 300%, while middle class has increased 40-45%, and the poor by 19%. There is a reason for such and incredible disparity in wealth, that has nothing to do with laziness. The GOP criticize the middle class and poor as if there has been or is an equal playing field. The assertion of an equal playing field or equal opportunity is an illusion in 2011. The deck for many years has been stacked to favor the top 1%. Which brings us to the Occupy Wall Street movement.
If you listen to the media or Republicans, they claim the OWS movement is over. I am here to tell you, it is far from over. They tell you, that OWS protesters have no clear message. I am here to tell you, there is a very clear message. Occupy Wall Street is about about how our political process has been corrupted by the money of the 1%. How Corporate greed is destroying our economy. How our elected officials have sold out the people who have elected them, the 99%. How the interest in Washington, DC is to pass legislation that will benefit the top 1%. To take the money out of the hands of the 99%, and direct it toward the top. Government is supposed to represent the interests of all people, not just the wealthiest Americans. Currently, it does not.
The perfect example of the war that is being waged against the middle class, and poor is the debate over taxes. The GOP consistently makes the argument that the UNPAID FOR, Bush tax breaks, become permanent. They say it will stimulate growth and create jobs. Forget the fact that every time the Bush tax breaks are extended it adds trillions to our deficit. Forget the fact that those tax breaks have been in place for over 10 years, and the "job creators" are not creating jobs, except for overseas. Unemployment is at a record high. It has always been the Republican argument that tax breaks do NOT need to be paid for, "they pay for themselves". In reality, we know the GOP is only protecting the top 1%, with their arguments.
In contrast, tonight the Senate is set to vote on extending the payroll tax break. This tax break will mainly help the middle class, and working poor. It is a proposal by President Obama, and just as expected, the GOP opposes an extension. Democrats sought to extend and expand the break, while paying for it with a 3.25 percent surtax on incomes over $1 million. Just one Senate Republican, Maine's Susan Collins, voted for the middle class break, which died 51 to 49 in a filibuster.
Once again, the GOP express there desire to protect the 1%, while screwing over the 99%.
Happy Holidays!
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