Pickpocket Republicans

Yesterday, I wrote about an ad by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy for America supporting workers in Wisconsin against Governor Scott Walker's union busting. At the time, I said it was a good, compelling ad, akin to a documentary film. As of this writing, that ad has generated more that $200,000 to keep it on the air.

Those numbers come from across the nation, as many see the fight in Wisconsin as their own. Americans seem to be tired of watching Republicans grab what the middle class has, then turning around and giving it away to wealthy donors and corporations. Nationally, Republicans push for deep, wounding cuts to everything from PBS to Medicare, but leave giveaways to the wealthy untouched. For example, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives recently voted unanimously to extend tens of billions of dollars in subsidies to big oil, while telling workers that we're broke. This comes after demanding that $36 billion be added to the deficit in order to fund tax cuts for the top 2% of income earners. Every time a taxpayer turns around, he finds a Republican's hand in his pocket and some Wall Street type with their hand out.

That Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid money? That's yours. You paid for it. Likewise PBS, Planned Parenthood, a decent educational system, public highways, etc. All yours. And all being cut -- i.e., taken away from you -- so some oil cartel can keep getting corporate welfare or a handful of paper-shufflers and money resellers can hold on to their tax cut. At the very least, if these programs and institutions absolutely must be sold off, you should get the money. But this isn't the case. From you, to them. And here I thought Republicans were against the redistribution of wealth. Silly me.

But we're starting to wake up. A new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll puts up what one GOP analyst describes as a "huge flashing yellow sign to Republicans."


In the poll, eight in 10 respondents say they are concerned about the growing federal deficit and the national debt, but more than 60 percent -- including key swing-voter groups -- are concerned that major cuts from Congress could impact their lives and their families.

What's more, while Americans find some budget cuts acceptable, they are adamantly opposed to cuts in Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and K-12 education.

And although a combined 22 percent of poll-takers name the deficit/government spending as the top issue the federal government should address, 37 percent believe job creation/economic growth is the No. 1 issue.


In a multiple choice question, 37% is huge. And buried within the polling data we see that teachers are viewed positively at 73%-10%, state and local government employees 47%-24%, federal government employees 42%-22%, teachers unions 47%-30%, public employee unions 38%-34%, and labor unions 38%-36%

And, when asked if "government should do more to solve problems and help meet the needs of people" or whether "government is doing too many things better left to businesses and individual," 50% chose the former and 46% chose the latter.

As I said, people are already getting tired of pickpocket Republicanism. This bass-ackward welfare culture where everything is taken from those in need to give to those with plenty has got to stop.

Because, if it doesn't, most people won't have anything at all.

-Wisco