REPUBLICAN WANT WELFARE

Is Joe Scarborough (Morning Joe: MSNBC) a hypocrite or is it that he just does not understand what he is saying? After listening to him this morning’s show, I am entirely confused about this. Like most Republicans, he wants it both ways and reality “be damned”. They want all the government services but do not want to pay for them. We can call this Republican sponsored welfare

The subject was the Ferguson racial focused riots arising out of the shooting of Michal Brown. Like most rightwing radicals, he based what he was saying on his alteration of the fact of the story as he presupposed the facts to be. We the public do not know the facts; therefore, he does not know the facts thus what he was saying was speculation on his part. For example, by calling Brown a criminal, he says the police officer “knew” the “man” he was confronting was involved in a robbery and was taking steps to arrest him when the shooting occurred—a police officer doing his sworn duty. Without hesitation, Joe continues to distort the story to his own tailor made version, which he did to set the stage for awkwardly comparing what happened to Brown to what would have happened to an “innocent” white kid walking down the middle of the street. He rambles on with the usual Republican argument about how there should have been more police on the street supported by National Guard, then continued his rambling about how good lapel cameras are and added, he does not understand why all the police do not wear lapel cameras.

One of Joe’s main themes on his program—something he incessantly brags about—is that he is a small government conservative. We all know the theme, which is to cut taxes, get the government out of our lives, etc. Like all Republicans, he understands that by cutting taxes we make government smaller: therefore, they achieve their aims of making government smaller by cutting government support of sponsored institutions and services. Does he not understand the conflict of cutting taxes and showing a strong counter force or is he lying? Having a strong police intervention and maintaining Nation Guard troops on site is not only very costly in the short term but also requires a long term financial commitment in maintaining trained forces of this nature. Does he not understand that lapel cameras do not fall out of the sky; they cost money that is not there if they do not pay taxes.

The United States is a democracy built on the idea of sharing wealth; exactly what Republicans hate the most about this country. They seem incapable of understanding taxes and salaries are no more than means of sharing wealth. Poor towns and cities depend on rich towns and cities to survive equally. That is why America is as strong and great as it is. It is the America that flag-waving Joe and other Republicans brag while calling for cutting taxes and refusing to raise minimum wage. The same concept that starts with individuals extends to counties and states. Black communities, such as Ferguson, are poor communities. They do not have huge property basis for taxing; therefore, cannot afford large police forces as if he has not idea of the connection between paying taxes and police force. Small government Joe is calling on this poor community on to show great force in the face of rioters; is he an idiot or a hypocrite living in some alien world.

He did not get into it this morning, but the concept of sharing wealth extends to universities and prisons, for two small examples that affect us all. Taxes support these public institutions. If universities do not receive tax-based support they increase tuition; thus, poor children cannot afford to attend and their great America dream is blocked. States close mental health institutions are for lack of government support (Reagan’s tax cutting measures); therefore, mentally ill are on the street or in the prisons. Twenty percent of prisoners in our state prisons are mentally ill. It goes on and on. Republicans want everything handed to them but so not want to pay for it. Where have you heard that before? 

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