Sound bites, catch phrases, cliche’s, and platitudes are the language of re-election.
When you hear a politician say, ” no cuts in Social Security and Medicare ” , this is what they have been programmed to say to enhance their re-election. This is usually the Democrats doing the talking. These are sound bites that reap dividends. Likewise, when you hear Republican politicians say, “no tax increases”, they are playing sweet music to their constituency and hoping for converts. Ah, the language of re-election. Politicians must avoid, at all cost, a rational discussion, considering the history and purpose of the policies and values they yell about over the air waves. There can by no meaningful debates or exploration of the truths of what we espouse. Goodness, we might end up with a consensus. Political discourse must be reduced to the most simple language. The language of re-election. Having an opponent and a dogma is safest for re-election. What confusion would be brought to bare if the public were told, in a consensus mode, that Social Security and Medicare were “suppliants”. Meaning, that all your life, you must also make financial preparation for your final years. We simply cannot leave it all to the government. What if the public knew that our revenue(taxes) as a per cent of GDP were at historically low levels. Also, what if they were told, the tax code manipulations, for the past 30 years, have indisputably favored the very wealthiest citizens. And, when the right-wing radio announcers declare that the wealthiest 10% of citizens already pay 50% of the taxes now ! So, why should we pick on them ? They are just trying to be successful and make an honest dollar. The pundits are looking at this data wrong-eyed. Maybe, just maybe, the top 10% are making more money than they should and thereby have to pay more taxes. Is a medical doctor of today worth 3 or 4 times more money than the doctor in 1975. I doubt it. When we correct our debt mess we will cut entitlements and raise revenues. Every serious look at the nations balance sheet has come up with the same answer.
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AuthorBill Bays Archives
April 2016
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