upwards of 60 million lives to get rid of the Axis. We thought we put anti-Semitism to sleep with systematic de-Nazification, the Marshall Plan and here in the United States, the Fairness Doctrine, so that someone like Joseph Goebbels couldn't spout lie after lie after lie and sow hate and fear. But, gosh, Ronald Reagan killed the Fairness Doctrine in '87. So we saw the metastisizing of AM hate-talk radio, and the birth of Fox 'news' as well as a constant push on college campuses and in K-12 to 'balance' curriculum with conservative (corporate-funded) nonsense like creationism. And, let's not forget billionaire-parasite-funded think tanks like ALEC and the Heritage Foundation.
Republicans courted these people, made them their base. Trump is a symptom, the actual pustule that arose from years of Nixon's 'southern strategy.'
This whole thing is about corporate profits, and the systematic draining of our treasury through misguided and irresponsible tax cuts, and massive government spending on 'defense'. This year's war budget was $1.64 trillion. Did you know? That and the money to the prison-industrial complex and other government contracts boost shareholder PROFITS and line the pockets of billionaire parasites.
This imbalance must be opposed. I actually looked at the latest federal income tax revenue numbers and corporations pay in only 9% of the federal government's tax revenue, while individuals pay in 54% through income taxes and another 30% in Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes. Think about that in light of what Lincoln said at Gettysburg - that this government of, by and for the people should not perish from the earth.
Well, so, if this really IS a government of, by and for the people, WHY are they wasting trillions on war death-toys instead of spending OUR tax money that WE pay in on programs that materially benefit us and our families?
Like healthcare. Bernie has the right idea with Medicare for all Americans. These Part C and Part D 'supplemental health' programs are a boondogle designed by the Bush administration to increase shareholder PROFITS for publicly held insurance companies and medical providers. A number of them are under investigation for overbilling. Gosh, what a surprise! They are diagnosing elderly people (for which the government pays $2,500 a head) and then not treating them. Just pocketing the money. OVER HALF OF MEDICARE HAS BEEN PRIVATIZED in this way. Did you know?
Like a safe, secure and well funded Social Security - Congress has 'borrowed' $2.9 trillion from the Social Security Trust Fund and NEVER PAID IT BACK. Did you know? And now Republicans are making mouth noises about how we 'can't afford it.'
And what about student debt? It is in the trillions, and minority groups are getting the short end of this stick, for sure. I looked at US Department of Education data - they looked at several longitudinal cohorts one year, five years and ten years from the program they initially had to take out a student loan for, and BLACK AND HISPANIC borrowers actually owed MORE than they had borrowed ten years later.
WHY are we allowing our government to do this to our children and grandchildren? Why?
And now the Republicans are opening the gates for anti-Semitism (I have Jewish friends who are talking about where they can flee - think about THAT for a minute), racism, homo- and transphobia, xenophobia and climate denial. Why? Because these WEDGES are designed to make us hate and mistrust each other so we don't notice the real enemies who are ripping off the treasury - the billionaire parasites and corporations lined up at the public trough.
It's disgusting.
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