Republican Financial Katrina: Banks, Bankrupts and Bailouts
Now we see the result of John McCain’s Republican economic policies for three decades in the Senate, where he proudly, loudly and aggressively proclaimed his contempt for government protecting average Americans. Now, with Republican government on the brink of a trillion dollars of deficits and bailouts, which is socialism for the rich and laissez-unfair Darwinism that punishes the middle and the poor, we know this: McCain can run, McCain can deceive, McCain can pretend, but McCain can’t hide.
Barack Obama is back in the lead. The bounce is gone. The truth will out. The people who pay the price of economic Republicanism will not be fooled by a candidate who runs on the platform of Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, pit bulls with lipstick and bearing false witness against Obama. The Republicans, until 2006, were brilliant at this: They could persuade working-class voters to vote for Republicans against their economic interests, like the chicken voting for Colonel Sanders. No more.
The current crisis is too severe. Too real. Too hard for many Americans. The lies and distractions won’t work. Not this time. Not now.
For eight long years of Republican rule in the presidency, America has been punished by a decadent and failed philosophy that deep down believes that the wealthy are wealthy because they are better. During these long, hard eight years, John McCain was there for Bush, time and again, because he shares Bush’s economic philosophy. He bragged, at Republican fundraiser after Republican fundraiser, how much he stood by Bush. Now he pretends. Now he deceives. It won’t work. Not this time.
For eight long years of the Republicans in the White House, the Republicans in Congress stood with Bush, time and again, year after year. McCain boasted about his great admiration for Bush when times were good, and supported him quietly, while he pretended otherwise when times were bad and ambition required the latest newest John McCain. It won’t work. Not this time. Not now.
Elections matter. There is a planetary difference between Republican and Democratic economic policies and beliefs. That is why the economy was so much stronger under Clinton and so weak under Bush. That is why Democratic presidents are almost always better for workers and the national economy and even the stock market (the data proves this) than Republicans.
If John Kerry or Obama were president four years ago, this financial Katrina would not have happened. Democrats would never tolerate the corruptions in banking, in loaning, or in the markets as the Republicans have, as a matter of their political and economic ideology and religion.
Now: There must be major economic stimulus with 100 percent aimed to help the middle class and the poor. There must aggressive limits of salaries and stock options for ALL executives in the companies benefiting from the bailout and companies that have failed their workers and average shareholders.
Now: There should be a coordinated global interest rate cut from the U.S., European and Asian central banks to help working people and try to prevent the very severe recession that could be imminent.
Now: There should be criminal investigation, prosecution, conviction and incarceration of any white-collar wrongdoing either in the companies abusing their customers or in the market from those who use illegal tactics to accumulate great wealth.
Now: There must be major, historic reforms of the banking and financial systems that throw out, once and for all, the discredited, failed and dying Republican ideologies and end the damage they have done to America throughout the Bush-McCain years.
In the coming days I will repost some columns and relevant Pundits Blogs here, as well as some new ideas. It is time to discuss and enact programs for real change, lasting reform and government that serves all of the people, all of the time.
The chickens will no longer vote for Colonel Sanders. Real change is coming and the age of big lies to nowhere is about to end.
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