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Oct. 16th, 2008 06:44 pmThe novelist Jon Talton (aka, in his blogging capacity, The Rogue Columnist) has produced an article so blasted good that it's difficult to know how on earth I can quote representative extracts rather than the whole damn' thing. But here's my best try:
Things that can't be said in presidential debates
[. . .] It will be interesting to see who this "Joe the Plumber" really is, (or really even a plumber) if it still matters. He seems to be a right-winger, if not an outright plant. Apparently he opposes Social Security, among other "socialist" outrages. If so, he fits a type of small-businessman or woman who is never envisioned as politicians sing their hosannas to small business. Ones like the woman in Phoenix, also owner of a very successful plumbing business, who testified before a sympathetic legislative committee of the Kookocracy. "Why should I pay taxes for schools?" was among her complaints.
The ugly small-business owner is one of the backbones of the conservative movement, believing he or she has no common obligations to society, but is a victim. Their grievances are legion. These owners rarely offer healthcare or decent wages to their employees. They employ illegal immigrants, even as they rage against the "brown hordes." They envy those who dodge taxes, if they're not doing it themselves. Why should we celebrate them? If you're making more than $250,000 a year, you owe the society that allowed you to do so. If you can't hack it, go out of business and get a job. See how all too many employees are treated in America governed by Republicans, the party that wrecked America.
The ugly small-business owner is one of the backbones of the conservative movement, believing he or she has no common obligations to society, but is a victim. Their grievances are legion. These owners rarely offer healthcare or decent wages to their employees. They employ illegal immigrants, even as they rage against the "brown hordes." They envy those who dodge taxes, if they're not doing it themselves. Why should we celebrate them? If you're making more than $250,000 a year, you owe the society that allowed you to do so. If you can't hack it, go out of business and get a job. See how all too many employees are treated in America governed by Republicans, the party that wrecked America.
Among the silly fixations of the corporate media is demanding that the presidential candidates say how they will pay for their programs. I'm reminded of a speech Bobby Kennedy gave. After hearing of Kennedy's plans, someone stood and asked, "Who's going to pay for all this, senator?" Replied Kennedy: "You are." Specifically, the rich need to pay higher taxes again. And corporations -- McCain used the right-wing talking point about "high" U.S. tax rates, but in fact with all the loopholes, most large corporations pay no U.S. taxes. Got that? But all Americans are going to have to pitch in. The elixir of tax cuts has been successful politics and disastrous policy, and it has bred a dangerous sense of entitlement in American voters. There's no free lunch. [. . .]
McCain was cute in saying he wasn't George W. Bush and Obama should have run four years ago. In fact, McCain fully embraces not only the policies but the philosophy of today's "conservatives." From deregulation, to tax cuts for the rich, to corporate oligarchy, to imperial wars -- McCain is with them. And as president he would bring in train all the Republican operatives, including his many lobbyists, that wrecked America. Chief among them is the odious Phil Gramm, but we would also get Carly Fiorina, the woman who nearly wrecked Hewlett-Packard before being fired (and walking away with a $45 million golden parachute). And the Supreme Court. [. . .']
Obama knows better than me, but I wish he would have needled McCain more about the total disaster that is [McCain's] home state, which could have used a little federal money to deal with urban transportation and indigent healthcare -- which McCain always refused to provide. Arizona has been the laboratory of McCainonomics, and it's a calamity of low incomes, poor educational outcomes, a huge gap between rich and poor, and complete inability to address pressing issues. It's a hotbed of nutcase extremists -- and they're elected officials like Joe Arpaio and the Legislature. The environment is shockingly bad and the state is marching off the cliff on water supplies. Its only major industry is building houses. Want that for America?
McCain was cute in saying he wasn't George W. Bush and Obama should have run four years ago. In fact, McCain fully embraces not only the policies but the philosophy of today's "conservatives." From deregulation, to tax cuts for the rich, to corporate oligarchy, to imperial wars -- McCain is with them. And as president he would bring in train all the Republican operatives, including his many lobbyists, that wrecked America. Chief among them is the odious Phil Gramm, but we would also get Carly Fiorina, the woman who nearly wrecked Hewlett-Packard before being fired (and walking away with a $45 million golden parachute). And the Supreme Court. [. . .']
Obama knows better than me, but I wish he would have needled McCain more about the total disaster that is [McCain's] home state, which could have used a little federal money to deal with urban transportation and indigent healthcare -- which McCain always refused to provide. Arizona has been the laboratory of McCainonomics, and it's a calamity of low incomes, poor educational outcomes, a huge gap between rich and poor, and complete inability to address pressing issues. It's a hotbed of nutcase extremists -- and they're elected officials like Joe Arpaio and the Legislature. The environment is shockingly bad and the state is marching off the cliff on water supplies. Its only major industry is building houses. Want that for America?
And his state's abysmal, shameful charter-school program, which is basically a giveaway for politically connected businessmen and religious groups. They get tax money that would otherwise go to real public schools -- and those schools, already funded 49th nationally, suffer as a result. [. . .]
So all this can be our little secret. No need to trouble the duhs and ignos with it, as long as the polls are tending Obama's way. Now we must get ready to play offense against Republican efforts to steal the election. Or gin up an international crisis. They are capable of anything. Their leaders aren't just looking at the prospect of losing power. Some are looking at the prospect of jail time.
