The Political Chase

Money - A Common Denominator for All

The primary items of interest recently have been those, which understandably are deep-seated with personal opinion based upon ideology, faith, moral principle and other human emotional entities. All of these controversial issues, with the exception of specific scientific data which lend support to (or not) the intangible hot topics, are driven by what people believe or feel. They are not issues that rise to the top of debate based solely on their quantitative analysis or scientific data. The tests of the balance of power provided by the Constitution and the focus of personal interests expressed by the public associated with these issues are indeed marvels. Let’s change the issue(s) to those which are quantitative, finite, and are of direct consequence to all, rather than a few. What is the level of public interest, demand and true government interaction on tangible matters that directly effect each American?

Regardless of where one weighs in on the Schiavo case, certainly most recognize the tragedy of the situation. A life - the mortal aspects of a loved one slip away. The reality of the matter is that it only directly effects a very limited few - ten or less. Yes, judicial rulings effect everyone, but there was no precedent set in the Schiavo case beyond the unconstitutional act Congress passed.

The real Bush and how he effects everyone

How many will rise from their Barcalounger after the 6:30 PM news in protest of the President’s record-setting budget deficit of $427 billion? How many emergency Congressional sessions and Acts have there been in response to the disastrous slide from a $5.6 trillion surplus when President Bush assumed the helm to his recently proposed $427 billion deficit? Every single American is effected by the fiduciary malpractice of the Bush Administration and the Republican led Congress.

The Teflon President (double-coated from the Reagan administration) points to the Clinton administration and the war in Iraq as excuses for this huge MasterCard bill. Let’s refine the situation and tweak the numbers a bit. I vehemently disagree with the President as he continues to point his finger at the prior administration. But I’ll cut President Bush a break - initially let’s theoretically put the majority of the blame on Clinton.

If all that is true, just how long can one blame somebody else for current day problems? Let’s get real. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities the series of tax cuts Bush enacted since 2001 that primarily benefit the wealthy account for almost half of the increase in the 2005 budget deficit. Furthermore, the $427 billion deficit omits the war in Iraq and Afghanistan - $100+ billion, the true cost of making the Bush tax cuts permanent - a mere $1.6 trillion, changing the Alternative Minimum Tax which hits squarely in the middle class to the tune of $774 billion, or the $4.5 trillion cost of the his Social Security plan. It begs the question, “Would you manage your personal finances or the finances of your company the same way?” If you are Ken Lay or Bernie Ebbers, the answer might be yes.

I don’t have to say, “A picture…”; a quick glance at the following graph gives the discerning individual plenty of information for contemplation.

Go figure.

Starving many more than Terri

The president’s budget is the Veg-o-Matic and Miracle-Gro all in one. It slices and dices basic necessities but propels growth in lavish rose gardens. The president, Tom Delay, et. al, rise to the occasion (for media coverage) to intervene in the “murderous starvation” of Terri Schiavo, yet at the same time propose:

• $1 billion in food stamp cuts over ten years, which means that 200,000 - 300,000 fewer low-income individuals will receive nutrition assistance.
• Eliminate funding for the Community Food and Nutrition Program and cut $3 million from the Commodity Supplemental Food Program which means a drop in case load of 45,000 people. Proposed caps on discretionary spending will leave WIC , Meals on Wheels and other nutrition programs vulnerable to program cuts in the years beyond FY 2006.

This is just a small representation of the president’s agenda to aid the starving, homeless and otherwise needy people of America. AFSCME provides an excellent summary of the president’s budget cuts - nationally and by impact on individual states.

Where are the interveners?

Starvation exists in mass today and will only increase given the administration’s plans. Where are the protesters, the right-to-life crusaders, the Calvinistic evangelicals, and Tom Delay?

Get your abacus and watch The Evening News with Bryan Williams tonight at 6:30 PM and every night for a week. Tally up how many reports are filed on how much starvation this administration is going to add on top of those that are already starving. Sum up the numbers of times a segment is devoted to groups protesting the overall gross financial negligence the administration plans for the future. Your abacus will be as useful for these calculations as it is for any other calculations done today.

Throw away your abacus and get several Cray computers to calculate the financial damage this administration has caused in a little over four years. Turn the TV channel to C-Span and see if Tom Delay is engaged in vigorous debate against President’s Bush’s plans to literally add thousands to the list of people that die from starvation each year. Ask a veteran confined to a bed or wheelchair for the rest of their life about his/her cuts in benefits the president is putting in place. Ask your children how they feel about footing the bill to make the top one percent of the country wealthier today and them being stuck with the bill when they become adults.