2004-09-17

 

Taking Care of Business, But Whose Business?

 

from Jack Dalton

 

Budget deficits as far as the eye can see; Balance of Trade deficits growing by $45-$50 billion per month; an unprecedented national health care crisis; Households below the poverty level increasing almost exponentially; A decreasing Veterans Administration budget that can’t come close to filling the needs of the increasing numbers of veterans seeking care—including the over 25,000 veterans of the Bush/Cheney war of choice in Iraq.

 

The list of this nations financial woes is seemingly endless. Rising prices with decreasing wages. Corporate tax dodgers and cheats coupled with $200 billion off budget money already plowed into Iraq are breaking the “national piggy bank.” This is putting even more downward economic pressure on a rapidly vanishing middle-class, with no end in sight.

 

Over 1,000 dead U.S. troops in Iraq and thousands more wounded, maimed in body and mind. Thousands more contaminated and poisoned by depleted uranium—while BushCo continues to deny DU’s negative health impact (this is the same thing that was done to us that served in the Vietnam war and were contaminated by Agent Orange—Depleted Uranium will be worse, much, much worse).

 

So what’s my point with all of this? Just this: Our economy, contrary to the Bush/Cheney team of “creative accountants,” is headed for a serious and significant “downturn”—crash is the term I keep seeing.

 

With all we are faced with, what is the answer we see and hear from Congress? Yep, its pay raise time! At a time of endless deficits; rising prices; decreasing wages, etc., the “hard” working, “trustworthy,” “ethical” and “honorable” members of congress will be getting a $4,000 per year pay raise!

 

This will be the 6th and 7th consecutive pay raise for the House and Senate members in as many years.

 

There isn’t enough money in the national treasury to give those on disability income (V.A. or Social Security) but a 1.3% cost of living increase—most of which will be negated by the 17% increase in Medicare payments, the largest increase in the history of Medicare. At the same time, our esteemed members of congress will walk away with another $4,000 per year.

 

The troops in Iraq, we are constantly told, need our support. Yes, they do, but why do they still lack proper equipment? Why do they still lack proper logistical support form Halliburton which has been paid billions? Why do so many families of those serving in Iraq have to apply for food stamps? Why do they have to buy so much of their own equipment before going to Iraq?

 

Why do those that are in congress that have allowed these things to take place feel they deserve a pay raise? What is wrong with this picture?

 

 Not enough money, and the social safety net is being slowly eliminated—cut spending is the neo-con mantra. These are the same people that cut un-employment insurance and yet they will gladly accept this new pay raise.

 

This will put the House and Senate above $162,000 per year—which does not include the massive amounts they get for expenses, staff, etc. Dick Cheney, as the head of the Senate, Dennis Hassert-Speaker of the House and Chief Justice Wm Rehnquist will jump to over $203,000 per year. 

 

It’s not the salaries that I object to; I object to their getting another pay raise on the backs of the nation’s taxpayers at a time when the people of this nation cannot make ends meet. Bankruptcies this past year were the highest in the countries history. This year is stacking up to be much worse. I object due to the fact so many of our troops, Reservists and National Guard personnel have not only been decimated financially due to having been sent to Iraq, but they and their families are literally paying the bill for the war they were sent to by the Bush/Cheney cabal.

 

The simple fact is this current Republican controlled congress with all its “arm-chair” warriors have deliberately created this economic disaster—“Starve the Beast” is the term they use, ala Newt Gingrich.

 

The “Beast” being what at one time was the societal “safety net” that was created out of the “Great Depression.”

 

It is so very clear to this writer that the only interests they are serving are their own, and the corporate interests that help keep them in office. There is definitely a re-distribution of wealth going on—and it’s all upward. Even those sent into the “Heart of Darkness” that is war are suffering because of this.

 

These are the very same people that keep telling us we are at war and sacrifices must be made. Why is it the only people that seem to be doing the “sacrificing” are the American taxpayers (at least the ones that work for a living) and the very people that have been sent to war?

 

 

Sources and additional references:

 

Beyond The Baseline: 10 Year Deficit Projections

http://www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/2390/1/2/?TopicID=3

 

House Votes to Give Itself Pay Raise

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/09/15/congress.payraise.ap/index.html

 

Operation Truth

http://optruth.com/main.cfm

 

Income and Inequality: Millions Left Behind

http://www.adaction.org/Income2004.pdf

 

Paying the Price: The Mounting Costs of the Iraq War

http://www.ccmep.org/2004_articles/iraq/062604_paying.htm

 

Windfalls of War

http://www.publicintegrity.org/wow/

 

Iraq Veterans Against War

http://www.ivaw.net/news.htm

 

Scientific Studies of Depleted Uranium Suppressed

http://www.mindfully.org/Nucs/2004/DU-WHO-Suppressed22feb04.htm

 

Jack Dalton is a disabled Vietnam veteran and freelance writer that lives in Portland, Oregon. He may be contacted thru his web site at www.ommp.org  thru his blog at http://jackdalton.bluelemur.com  His email address is Jack_dalton@ommp.org  He accepts all comments good or bad; not all are answered but all are read.