by Japa
We have all been subjected to seeing Republican leaders, from Boehner to Cantor to McConnell to Romney talk about how we need to get the deficit under control. And their rationale is always the same. “Think of what we are doing to our children and our grandchildren. Think of the burden of debt that will be placed on their shoulders. How can we do this to them, our poor babies?”
And guess what? It works. It resonates with people. It hits people in a spot in their hearts, although obviously not their brains, where they respond in a positive manner to that statement. And that is why President Obama does talk about the deficit. He has to folks, whether or not we think it is a big deal, because people want to know he is taking it seriously.
And why is this important? Because people can’t stand the thought that someday in the future, their children and grandchildren will look up and say, “Why did you do this to us? Why did you leave us so burdened with all this debt?” It is an attempt to erase future feelings of guilt. People still want their children to live in a better world than they did.
But guess what? It is all a load of steaming Bulls__t! Not what people want to feel about the future, but how the Republicans manipulate those desires to reach goals that are totally counter to those wishes. And we need to be able to still address those concerns while at the same time undermining the corrupt message the Republicans are sending. We need to show that the Republicans, including Romney, don’t give a rat’s ass about our children or our grandchildren. And we need to show people, that if they really are concerned about the welfare of their children and grandchildren, President Obama and Democrats hold the same concerns and will work to achieve the results of letting the children and grandchildren have a chance at a better life.
Let’s look at what the Republicans say they are concerned about and then compare that to what their agenda is. And as we do this, let us keep in mind a basic Republican (at the party level, not individualized) belief. They believe that people are selfish. And why do they believe this? Because they are selfish and project that onto everybody else.
First off, take the Republican projection that they care about our children and don’t want to leave them saddled with our nation’s debt. There are two aspects of that statement. The first is that they care about the children (something that will be demolished in a little bit) and that they care about the deficit. How do we know they don’t care about the deficit? Forget past history for a moment, when they have come right out and said deficits don’t matter. Forget past history when Republican administrations have added to the nation’s debt far more than Democratic ones.
Look at the here and now. First of all, they want to cut government spending (not really) but they don’t want to increase revenue. Increasing revenue would result in higher taxes for the 1% and their big corporate sponsors and they won’t do that. And they talk a big game of wanting to cut spending but look at what they want to cut. The programs, including Medicaid, education, Pell Grants, and others are all popular with the American people. They actually know they can’t get those through, but they put up the front, as if they were serious but they really aren’t. It is a political shell game, folks, and unfortunately, a lot of people fall for it.
How do we know they really don’t care about the children? Well, the fact they aren’t really serious about reducing the deficit is one way. But there are several others. For example, look at those programs they are looking to cut. Education, Medicaid, repeal the ACA, environmental protections. What do they all have in common. They disproportionally have a negative impact on the young. If they really cared about the next generation, they would look at those programs as being important.
Look at those things they want to spend money on. A pipeline that could ruin the water supply in a large part of the United States for generations to come. Increased tax breaks for the very wealthy, thus reducing further funding available for programs that benefit the young. Financial incentives for the large energy companies as well as reduced regulations, resulting in potential situations where the Gulf oil spill may be looked at as small in comparison. Defunding early weather warning system so that things such as the storms of last weekend can kill far more people than they did.
This is the compassionate Republican Party that is concerned about our children and grandchildren. Action speaks louder than words, and their actions tells us they really don’t give a damn about the next generations, except in the sense that they can find ways to give their kids $100 million tax free.
How do we know that President Obama and the Democrats do care about the children. Well, we can look at what happened during the first two years of his administration. ACA was, to a great degree, all about the children. It was an attempt to make sure that our children and grandchildren can grow up not worrying whether or not a health crisis will cause bankruptcy. I won’t go into all the aspects of the act that impact the future generations. They have been enumerated on this site uncounted number of times.
The administration increased Pell grants and funding for education. It attempted to give states money that would have kept teachers on the job and our children getting a good education. It providing funding for educational infrastructure. It keep our economy from going into a depression that would have impacted in so many negative ways future generations. It put into place regulations so that future generations would not go through the same thing.
That is but a small list of things the administration and the Congress when under Democratic control did. It is too bad too many Democratic candidates didn’t actually get out there and trumpet the accomplishments. 2010 may not have been as bad.
But just as importantly is what the President and most Democrats want to do. It isn’t just to expand on those things I have already mentioned, although they do. But there are three major areas they are at odds with Republicans on that show who really cares about the children.
First and foremost is the whole issue of climate change. The President and the Democrats really do want to do something that can either stop or hopefully reverse what has been happening. And is not for the current generation, it is for future generations. If our children and grandchildren are going to be pissed at us for any reason, it won’t be the deficit. It will be that we left them a world that has passed the tipping point. A world where wars will be fought over decreasing water supplies. A world which will see geography change as water levels rise. The Democrats know this will not be inexpensive, but they also realize that not doing something will be more expensive in terms of both money and lives. Republicans meanwhile fight this mainly on the basis of cost. Which is why they are in denial. To accept the fact of climate change they would have to show they are willing to do something about it, to spend money for the sake of the future generations. But they don’t want to do that because they don’t care about future generations, they only care about themselves.
Alternative energy is another aspect. True, this is somewhat tied into climate change, but not totally. Alternative energy sources will not only result in a cleaner world for future generations, with cleaner air and water, but it will also be lower cost energy. It is a win-win for our children. But Republicans are against it because it pulls money away from the big oil and gas companies. And again, since they figure they won’t be around when the impact of all this comes crashing down on people, they don’t care, specially for the children.
Third is the country’s infrastructure. This may seem weird to talk about in terms of our children, but it is very important. First of all, money will have to spent on the infrastructure now or in the future. And with low interest costs now, it is far less expensive in 2012 then it will be in even just a couple years. If you really care about the debt put on the children’s shoulders, do this now, don’t wait. But even more, a good infrastructure is the necessary base for a thriving economy, specially a manufacturing one. This means our children can have jobs and be able to pursue a good, middle class life style. But the Republicans are against it. Because to pay for it they would have to increase taxes on the wealthy. And that is their priority, not the children.
So whenever you hear somebody talk about what is being left for the children, tell them you care about that too, and that is why you are avoiding the Republicans like a plague and voting for Democrats. Yes, the republicans are waging a war on women, but they are just as equally, though far more subtly waging a war on children.
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