Non Sequitor from the Right

Senator Dean Heller's Confusion

by Max Johnson
The Corporate Party took to the airwaves this morning in response to the weekly Presidential Address with a schizophrenic message that only confuses the public.  

“The American public and businesses alike are waiting on a plan that can plant the seeds of economic growth and bolster job creation,” Heller said.

A very good start that we can all agree on.  No problem.  I am thinking, "Great, now everyone is getting on the same page here."  Then Heller goes off the deep end changing the subject dramatically.  CNN characterized it with this: "Among suggested solutions for recovery, Heller advocated a balanced budget amendment, more open rules on energy exploration and a repeal of Obama’s sweeping health care reform."  How is this helpful?  What does a balanced federal budget amendment have to do with getting people to work?  If anything any cut to the federal government will just reduce the federal workforce and increase the number of people looking for jobs.

It is like declaring an emergency at the Tom's River nuclear power plant in New Jersey after it is flooded by hurricane storm surge, and then offering a solution of opening up the Arctic Wildlife Preserve for drilling.  Yes, in 15 years, that drilling will replace the power lost because Tom's River is underwater, but in the interim the area around Atlantic City becomes uninhabitable for a century because of radiation poisoning and thousands die.  The solutions being discussed have nothing to do with the problem.  Working on federal debt while we are still in crisis makes no sense.  Energy exploration is a long term issue that will have no impact on the crisis of a lack of jobs right now.  The health care reform law is fully implemented in 2014, and so why is the party of the rich talking about that now?  It has nothing to do with a small business hiring people today.  If anything if the cost of employee health care were taken off the small businesses in America and given to government there would be a massive number of jobs created.  This is an argument for Universal Health Care and not a retreat from the pathetic reform that was passed two years ago.

These guys do not get it.  They seem to be playing for 2013 with a hope there will be a different president in office.  They don't seem to care that we are suffering now, and need immediate help.  

Good News /Bad News

by Max Johnson

Today is a rough day, but there are bright spots. It is much like the Corporate Party taking over the House--there are some small windows of light. Today, there is tons of snow on the East Side of Cleveland which is symbolic of how we got dumped on with the election. It was a repudiation of government, big cities, and progressive ideals. But the one bright spot for today was the end of Daylight Savings Time. I love getting that extra hour back.

Even though the states are going to be crushed with debt and mental health, pensions, alcohol and drug addiction treatment, housing assistance, and welfare will be cut, there are some bright spots. We have heard a few positives from federal officials about their plan. They include:

1. Reform of the legislative process in the Senate to get rid of the filibuster.
2. There are many corporate party members talking about ending earmarks.
3. Rand Paul and others said that they are willing to cut defense spending.
4. They have pledged to cut the budget to reduce the deficit. This is going to annoy some people. Right now, we have had 30 years of cutting taxes while promising to cut the deficit in the future. The future is today, and people are going to be angry.
   
5. They are going to try to repeal health care, which will make people realize that it is better than going back to the old way of an insurance company run system.
6. They are going to investigate the Federal Reserve, and transparency is always good.
7. The Corporate party is only focused on defeating the President in 2012. This single minded focus will lead to plenty of mistakes.
   

It might not be all bad. The Dems are delusional if they think they can work with the other party. I predict that a few states are going to have to go to the brink of bankruptcy because of budget shortfalls. It is like the easier ride into work in Cleveland as a result of the foreclosure crisis and so many people out of work.