Can Congress be a ...

"DISGUSTED!"

This is how Joe from Ann Arbor put it in the comments section of the NY Times article on Oblimey's cave in to the the Rethugs on tax cuts for the wealthiest americans this morning. A tax cut, remember, NOT passed by Congress, that Bush decreed by fiat as a little parting gift to his rich buddies ONLY because it was "temporary", otherwise it would not exist in the first place cuz it would not have won congressional passage at the time. This is so outrageous as to be unbelievable, as in:

"Unbelievable..$900 bn [added to] to the deficit by virtue of tax cuts to the millionaires !! It seems Republicans only oppose deficit spending when it helps the middle class and the poor."

And the comments just go on from there, nearly all of them outraged that a supposedly gifted public speaker like Oblimey didn't feel he could have made a better bully pulpit argument against welfare for the wealthiest while the rest of the nation endures a gutting of programs to help the less advantaged and a slow spiral into economic limbo. "Hey", demanded one commenter, "what happens to the unemployed at the end of the 13 month extension of benefits that the Repubs refuse to support unless the richest americans get a huge break? " In 13 months there will be no new jobs cause the Treasury has been further looted by the Repugs" – an apparent band of thugs myopically focussed, as they have been since the 80s, on "starving the Beast" that is the Federal Government? OUR GOVERNMENT??!!

Clearly a lot of folks are pissed off, and well they should be. This is the most outrageous slap in the face of American taxpayers since the bank bailout. Maybe it's time to form a "Coffee Party", a counterweight to those lightweight "tea dunker" Knownothings. One that symbolizes informed ALERTNESS and represents the folks who are AWAKE enough to see what the f$@* is going on here! The Republican party has determined that "no government is good government" and that ALL remaining government (what's left after the Bush years) must be organized to advantage the wealthiest citizens and warmongering corporations. Well, that would be fine if the millionaire members of the Senate Club weren't also slurping millions out of the public trough with their government paychecks, pensions and benefits, the very ones they deny to average americans.

Here's my question. These neo-non-cons, if they worked for a corporation, and badmouthed their employer the way they badmouth Uncle Sam, they'd be fired. And furthermore, isn't engaging in the desctruction of the government treasonous? So why are these guys still collecting paychecks from the very public trough they claim to want to dismantle? If the Rethugs meant what they said, that our money belongs in our pockets – they'd say "Here ya go, here's my paycheck (after all I AM a millionaire and don't need it), my health insurance premium, my perks. I'm giving them back to the taxpayers. " But you don't see them doing that, do you?

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Cuz they're hypocrites. Here's my suggestion to the Rethugs in Congress and in state houses across the country: QUIT YOUR CUSHY GOVERNMENT JOBS AND GO RAISE PIGS. IT'S A SMELLY ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH YOU COULD FIND TRUE FULFILLMENT. TIME TO WEAN YOURSELF AND YOUR RICH PALS OFF THE GOVERNMENT TIT YOU'RE SO FOND OF CONDEMNING EVEN AS YOU SUCK SO GREEDILY.

Ever wonder why they think this way? All I can tell you is this is a kind of anti-meritocratic Neo-Calvinism in full bloom that found its voice in the 70s and is now shouted from the rooftops of DC politicos. A kind of religio-socioeconomics – God's favor as a major variable – its basic tenet is this: If you are wealthy it's because you have been chosen by God, because you are deserving in His eyes to thrive and lead. If you are poor it's because you haven't accepted Jesus as your savior, or worked hard enough, are not living a life that pleases God. You are not predestined to be so, so assume the position and smile. The fact that you are chosen implies a certain merit which needs no explanation, one takes it on faith, as should your fellow society members. You are rich, ergo you deserve preferential treatment by your society that verges on canonization. For the Rethugs this translates as tax cuts for the wealthy and sex lives sanctioned by a closet, among other things.

As my momma used to say, "So help me God..."

WHERE IS MY EFFING SHOE!!!!!!

OK – I'm done. How about a laugh to open the mind and free the spirit from the drudgery of thought?

Try this on for laughs. (Like my momma used to say, I never wear it. )