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Follow the Money
Apr. 20th, 2005 02:42 pmPolitical blogging ahoy.
OK. I'm going to track some big things the GOP has done, at the federal level, and where the money goes for these. You might notice a pattern here, or you might not. I'm starting at January 20, 2001 - right now I'm leaving the Supreme Court alone, as I think they regret what they did in Dec 2000. Today, just five examples - there are plenty more.
President Bush pulled the US out of the Kyoto treaty. Kyoto has goals to reduce polluting emissions. Who gains or saves money? Power companies who do not have to reduce their emissions, which would cost money in replacement and retrofitting. Auto manufacturers, same thing but for cars.
Does this do anything to help the average American? No. Dirty air means dirty lungs. Dirty lungs means more illness and cancer.
Tom DeLay gave Washington lobbyists an ultimatum: hire Republicans and give money to Republicans, or be frozen out from access to politicians. K Street (the common term for Washington lobbyists) complied. Who gains or saves money? The Republican party and party loyalists.
Does this do anything to help the average American? No.
President Bush pushed the Clear Skies Act, which would replace the Clean Air Act. Side by side comparison, Clear Skies would dramatically slow down how fast we clear our skies. Who gains or saves money? Polluters, who would pay lower fines for polluting and would have less incentive to reduce harmful emissions.
Does this do anything to help the average American? No. Same reason as Kyoto.
Republicans in Congress pushed through the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, making it much harder for consumers to file bankruptcy and shield their assets. Who gains or saves money? Loopholes for the rich were maintained, while all exemptions for the poor, people in the military, victims of identity theft and people with crushing medical debts were denied.
Does this do anything to help the average American? No.
President Bush has been pushing tolootchange Social Security, both for private accounts to replace much or all of Social Security and to change how increases in payments are calculated. He claims that the system is in crisis and will be broke by 2042. The private accounts would cost trillions of dollars to implement, more in fact than the amount President Bush projects in debt, and would not do anything to ameliorate the debt Mr. Bush claims would be the case. Mr. Bush's numbers do not match with official projections.
Who gains or saves money? The Federal government would pay out less if the benefits were recalculated the way Mr. Bush wants, significantly less. Also, if private accounts were put in, the stock market would make significant money from brokerage and account management fees.
Does this do anything to help the average American? No. Can you say even harder to keep up a household? I knew you could.
Tell me how the GOP is fighting for the average American? I don't see it.
OK. I'm going to track some big things the GOP has done, at the federal level, and where the money goes for these. You might notice a pattern here, or you might not. I'm starting at January 20, 2001 - right now I'm leaving the Supreme Court alone, as I think they regret what they did in Dec 2000. Today, just five examples - there are plenty more.
President Bush pulled the US out of the Kyoto treaty. Kyoto has goals to reduce polluting emissions. Who gains or saves money? Power companies who do not have to reduce their emissions, which would cost money in replacement and retrofitting. Auto manufacturers, same thing but for cars.
Does this do anything to help the average American? No. Dirty air means dirty lungs. Dirty lungs means more illness and cancer.
Tom DeLay gave Washington lobbyists an ultimatum: hire Republicans and give money to Republicans, or be frozen out from access to politicians. K Street (the common term for Washington lobbyists) complied. Who gains or saves money? The Republican party and party loyalists.
Does this do anything to help the average American? No.
President Bush pushed the Clear Skies Act, which would replace the Clean Air Act. Side by side comparison, Clear Skies would dramatically slow down how fast we clear our skies. Who gains or saves money? Polluters, who would pay lower fines for polluting and would have less incentive to reduce harmful emissions.
Does this do anything to help the average American? No. Same reason as Kyoto.
Republicans in Congress pushed through the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, making it much harder for consumers to file bankruptcy and shield their assets. Who gains or saves money? Loopholes for the rich were maintained, while all exemptions for the poor, people in the military, victims of identity theft and people with crushing medical debts were denied.
Does this do anything to help the average American? No.
President Bush has been pushing to
Who gains or saves money? The Federal government would pay out less if the benefits were recalculated the way Mr. Bush wants, significantly less. Also, if private accounts were put in, the stock market would make significant money from brokerage and account management fees.
Does this do anything to help the average American? No. Can you say even harder to keep up a household? I knew you could.
Tell me how the GOP is fighting for the average American? I don't see it.
