It's old news ... but the only reason it's old is that George W. Bush rushed to release the figures a month earlier than usual, hoping that you would forget by about this time. They thought that you'd be dazzled by the elections in Afghanistan and completely forget about what is happening right here in America.
The number of Americans living in poverty and without health insurance rose for the third straight year in 2003. That would be: each and every year that Bush has been in office. That's two full years after the official end of the recession. And yet even now Bush insists that, "the economy is strong and growing stronger," and that Americans are finding jobs, cleverly neglecting to mention that many of those who do get jobs are faced with lower wages, scaled-back benefits and few or no pension plans.
But it gets worse: one out of eight Americans is living in poverty. That's 35.8 million Americans, or an additional 1.3 million more Americans who slipped into the clutches of poverty during the most recent year of Bush's reign.
But the figure which ought to cause all of us to hide in shame is this: one out of every six American children is now living in poverty.
Come to thing of it, maybe there's a different reason why they'd rather talk about Afghanistan and Iraq: if you'd like an idea of what life in America will look like after a second term of George W. Bush, look at Baghdad.
Guardian (UK) - Ranks of Poor, Uninsured Rose in 2003
5 comments:
Since when is the president responsible for someone in poverty. When did America give the responsibility to the president to provide health care to anyone? Hate Bush or love him, the president does not create jobs. It is up to the individual to go out and get a job; a job created by the private business sector. Health care is a privilege, not a right. As a citizen, I pay enough for my own and my fmailies health care. I do not care to pay for everyone else's. Thanks anyway.
Actually, dear boy, you're wrong. "The private business sector" does not create jobs. Consumers create jobs.
It's a cherished Repbulican fantasy that if only we'd eliminate taxes and regulation businesses would create jobs. They won't, not unless there are consumers to buy the goods and services they produce.
So, you see, it's all linked together: if more Americans are well educated, healthy and happy they'll consume more and that will fuel the economy creating even more jobs.
And, yes, I do hold the President accountable for his utter failure to seriously address any domestic issues at all other than to chirp (as he did in the second debate) that "tax relief" and "tort reform" are the answers to all of our ills.
The idea of a business is to sell its goods and services. Without viable products, a business will fail. That is why there is marketing and research. Find out what goods and services for which the consumers are willing to pay that are not currently in the market, then produce them. When that busiess targets the wants and needs of the consumer, it sells it goods and services, then hopefully expands. Expansion creates jobs. So in essence, which comes first: a consumer want or need or an entrepreneur that creates that want or need in the consumer? This is not a fantasy, its just business. And, the only way a consumer can bring about an increase in jobs is if they SPEND MONEY. The more money in their pocket, the more they will spend. Less taxes means motre money for the consumer...do you understand where I'm going with this? It's only logic.
Well then we're in agreement: without consumers there is no job growth. So then you'll be joining me in supporting John Kerry's plan to increase taxes on the wealthy (who won't spend their tax savings), right? In fact, perhaps you'll sign my petition to eliminate personal income taxes for anyone making under $100,000 a year and instead increase capital gains, corporate income, estate, and corporate dividend taxes, becasue you understand that putting money in consumers' poskets is what fuels the economy.
You are as nuanced as your candidate. Without businesses there are no jobs. I think all income taxes as well as all payroll taxes should be eliminated. If you delve deeply into it, I think you will find the Fair Tax Plan appealing. You can go to my blog and read about it, www.uncivilrights.blogspot.com. Of course, with the Fair Tax Plan, the liberals will be unable to use their class warfare strategy.
So you want to increase taxes on businesses? Is that right? And what do you think businesses will do if their taxes are increased? Hmmm...let me think...Oh I know; they will increase the selling price of their goods and services, thereby passing the tax increases on to the consumer. But that's OK since you've cut the consumer's taxes, and now they have more to spend.
Post a Comment