Streak's Blog: ticked off this morning: "Well, the govenment got involved. Now, all God's people are kicking in $2 billion of their $9.5 billion in income, or 21% -- just at the Federal level. Figure an additional 5 to 10 percent to their State governments and you can see that a household must be run on about 65% or 70% of earnings. Of course, individual cases will be better or worse than this calculation but the squeeze is on and the Church is stuck raising money for a new roof on the Church house."
Never mind that I don't buy their numbers. I would if those tax cuts had been aimed at the people on the bottom of the economic scale, but most of it went to people who spend their extra money on second homes and European vacations. Meanwhile, Bush cuts veteran benefits and reduces access to college education. After all, he didn't need a Pell grant or assistance, did he?
The more I think about this, the more angry I become. Repubs enact irresponsible tax cuts and then say "hey, we have to make some cuts. Sorry about the poor and the environment--screw the veterans. But we have to make some cuts." That's right, you have to make cuts because you purposely starved the government of income at the same time saddling us with a war of choice. Oh, and remember, that budget that Bush sent to Congress doesn't include any increased money to Iraq or Afghanistan.
You want to reduce government? You want to reduce spending? How about we start with those who need government largesse the least? Sugar manufacturers? Or perhaps the huge agribusiness conglomerates who profit off America's misguided adoration of the family farm? How about Dick's friends at Haliburton who could stand to pay their taxes rather than weasel out?
I am a pragmatist at heart. I like a strong military and like spending money on security. I have no problem with that. But keep this in mind, all of these cuts simply shift costs elsewhere. Nothing is really saved. The poor become a bigger burden on our already burdened health care system. Environmental cleanup is delayed and people's health (mostly poor and non-white) are endangered by existing and future pollution. Those tax cuts? How much are they going to help when your local fees and taxes go up. They will have to. This assholish administration doesn't even want to pay for Homeland Security at the local level. Firehouses are hurting, but hey, they are only part of our vaunted first-responders. Who needs them when we can have $300 more dollars! To say nothing of all these families with their paltry tax break saving to send their 3.5 kids to colleges with skyrocketing tuition. But they can apply for grants and ..... oops.
Oh, and God's people? They are flocking in huge numbers to churches like Joel Osteen's new Compaq Center "church." They continue to buy SUVs because they think that there is no connection between terrorism and oil, and they think that pollution and environmental problems are a product of the recent past. God's people are buying Rick Warren and Tim Lahaye's schlock in huge numbers.
I know I am exceptionally angry today. Probably even less reasonable. But I don't want to hear one more Repub ever lecture me on moral values again.
Ok, I am done. Unless I find the energy to post a new President Jesus post. This budget is just calling for one!
Peace
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