The Best Money Can Buy?
Some claim that, both the Republican and Democratic parties are bought and paid for by corporate America and special interests. By claiming that neither party gives a damn about the middle class, these skeptics ferment distrust of all politicians. This results in many voters staying at home on election day or voting for a third party candidate. In national elections third party candidates are seldom elected and if elected usually end up being ineffectual.
In 2004, Kerry and Edwards campaigned on the slogan; “Help is on the way for the middle class”. Democrats led by Ted Kennedy were able to get a majority in both the Senate and House to vote in favor of an increase in the minimum wage. Republican leadership never let the minimum wage bill come to a vote, because they packaged it to the repeal of the inheritance tax, thereby forcing Democrats to either vote against increasing the minimum wage, or give a tax cut to 7,500 very rich people at a cost of $753 billion dollars. (see post of 8/7/06)
If voters don’t make wise choices on election day the middle class may not survive the policies, which the Republican party has unleashed against it.
Congressional Republicans can’t argue that lobbyists are bad for America, because they need money to get their last ditch propaganda across to the voters. If viscous propaganda, two week before the election permit you to make up your mind as to who to vote for, you’re part of the problem.
According to the nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity, from 1998 through 2004, lobbyists spent nearly $12 billion to influence legislation, and in many cases to write the language of the laws and regulations. Drug companies and energy lobbyist push through tax cuts and tax credits worth billions for the wealthy corporate elite. The IRS estimates that offshore subsidiaries and tax havens cost our treasury $70 billion a year.
A record $2.14 billion was spent on lobbying members of Congress and 220 federal agencies in 2004, which is nearly $6 million a day spent to influence our leaders. We really do have the best government money can buy.
In 2004, Kerry and Edwards campaigned on the slogan; “Help is on the way for the middle class”. Democrats led by Ted Kennedy were able to get a majority in both the Senate and House to vote in favor of an increase in the minimum wage. Republican leadership never let the minimum wage bill come to a vote, because they packaged it to the repeal of the inheritance tax, thereby forcing Democrats to either vote against increasing the minimum wage, or give a tax cut to 7,500 very rich people at a cost of $753 billion dollars. (see post of 8/7/06)
If voters don’t make wise choices on election day the middle class may not survive the policies, which the Republican party has unleashed against it.
Congressional Republicans can’t argue that lobbyists are bad for America, because they need money to get their last ditch propaganda across to the voters. If viscous propaganda, two week before the election permit you to make up your mind as to who to vote for, you’re part of the problem.
According to the nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity, from 1998 through 2004, lobbyists spent nearly $12 billion to influence legislation, and in many cases to write the language of the laws and regulations. Drug companies and energy lobbyist push through tax cuts and tax credits worth billions for the wealthy corporate elite. The IRS estimates that offshore subsidiaries and tax havens cost our treasury $70 billion a year.
A record $2.14 billion was spent on lobbying members of Congress and 220 federal agencies in 2004, which is nearly $6 million a day spent to influence our leaders. We really do have the best government money can buy.
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