We elect our congressional representatives to protect this country and all of its citizens and to insure that the future is bright -- not only for the current generation, but also for all future generations. But the Republicans are crippling the future of America by concentrating on only two things -- their own re-election and the short-term profits of their rich corporate buddies.
My friend and Arizona blogger cpmaz over at Random Musings has written an excellent post about this. I have shamelessly stolen it and offer it below for your edification. He titled it Why Don't We Build Anything Anymore? Here is what he had to say:
Many public works projects are decried as "pork" or "the government interfering in the free market" by Republicans.
Yet those things, like the interstate highway system, transcontinental rail system, the Hoover Dam, Tennessee Valley Authority, and more all created the infrastructure necessary to encourage and sustain the American economy in ways that short-sighted "free market" theorists (who are usually nothing more than corporate lobbyists with an academic degree) will never admit to.
Those lobbyists would rather not have roads to carry their products/services on than have to pay for those roads.
If the "free market" was left entirely to its own devices, there wouldn't be much electricity or water in Arizona, hence there wouldn't be much Arizona.
However, because of federal projects and spending on things like the Central Arizona Project, Arizona is home to millions of people, as opposed to the thousands (not hundreds of thousands, just thousands) that could or would live here without them.
The Party of No, whether the large-scale version in D.C., the smaller version at the AZ lege, or the street corner variety in places like Scottsdale ("no light rail for us!"), is all about protecting the short-term revenue streams of corporations and the already-wealthy.
Years ago (and now, for that matter), the Rs would rationalize their tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations by saying that "a rising tide lifts all boats." The implication was that by helping the wealthy, the wealthy would help everyone else.
It was and is the era of "trickle down" economics. Yes, I know that this is a very simple, even simplistic, explanation, but tinkle down economics isn't the focus of this post.
What the state and the country should understand is that is backward thinking. The country's real need is long-term thinking, and a realization that the rising tide that lifts working fishing trawlers first also eventually lifts luxury passenger liners as the working class starts spending money.
By sacrificing America's future economic viability in order to bolster corporations' immediate bottom lines, the Party of No is crippling America for decades, possibly ever.
"Years ago (and now, for that matter), the Rs would rationalize their tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations by saying that 'a rising tide lifts all boats.'"
ReplyDeleteIronically, the phrase "a rising tide lifts all boats" is attributed to Democratic President John J. Kennedy, speaking on October 3, 1963 at the dedication of the Greers Ferry Dam in Heber Spring, Arkansas - a public works project decried at the time as "pork."
Here's the source of the attribution.
And here's a link to the full text of the speech.
Check out this very interesting quote:
"So those are some of the reasons why I am here today. But the most significant reason is, of course, because of your distinguished Congressman who is chairman of the most influential committee, the Ways and Means Committee of the House, which just 10 days ago passed through by an overwhelming vote a tax reform and reduction bill which I think can do much for this State and other States in maintaining its steadily expanding economy." [Emphasis added]