A LIBERAL VIEW OF THINGS: No end to the outrage

We’ve seen outrageous performances in disinformation, partisan bickering and outright character assassination extending from the 2008 presidential campaign to the present. Some of the stuff we see, hear and read is astounding in its imagination, depths of depravity and abject cynicism.

A few highlights — OK, lowlights — of this, our season of most serious discontent, begin with Sen. Paul Ryan’s plan to “end Medicare as we know it.”  What Ryan, R-Wisconsin, really meant to say, after reading the details, is Medicare will end and we will use vouchers to pay for our health care via his good friends in the medical-insurance industry. While the rest of the world enjoys significantly healthier people due, in major part, to a single-payer, universal, government-sponsored health-care program, we founder in the swamp of for-profit health care.

The Republican Party campaigned mightily on a “jobs, jobs, jobs” mantra that too many people believed in 2010. Additionally, the GOP embraced the fledgling tea party movement because they were desperate for votes from the radical fringe of American politics. So far, not a single jobs bill sponsored by any Republican in either house of Congress has been forthcoming. Instead, we get screaming partisanship about debt ceilings and balanced budgets.

All this continues while corporations get virtually interest-free money from banks that were saved by the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP. Few jobs, however, because of market “uncertainty." So, trillions of dollars sit idle while unemployed workers watch their representatives go about cutting their support systems while ensuring the rich retain their tax favorability.

The two paragons of vacuousness, GOP presidential candidates Michele Bachmann and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, tell us 47 percent of Americans pay no taxes and the tax base should be broadened to include these deadbeats. What they don’t tell you is that 90 percent of those not paying taxes earn less than $40,000 per year and are currently exempt while corporations like G.E., eBay, Verizon and Exxon-Mobil pay no taxes or get refunds.

How can anyone still able to sip tea not see what is going on?

Hurricane Irene tattooed the Eastern seaboard with serious wind and water damage.  Eric Cantor, the U.S. representative from Virginia whose district also experienced a significant earthquake, said something remarkably inane by suggesting disaster assistance should be paid for by cuts to other programs. Where has this guy been the last 235 years? We always, always have aided other countries that experienced natural disasters without hesitation and without question.

Cantor thinks aid to Americans injured and made homeless by natural events should be a fiscal issue instead of a humanitarian one.

It gets worse.

A widely read right-wing blog has recently published an article about helping poorer Americans register to vote, then helping them get to the polls. This article assumes these new, poor voters will immediately try to vote for more free handouts from the government. Worse, this piece goes on to accuse President Barack Obama (again) of being complicit with this scheme that they thought up. They say helping the poor to vote or get registered to vote is un-American because it promotes the welfare-state agenda.

Now, that takes some gall to attack voters’ rights because they might vote for more welfare.

Many of my friends and acquaintances from both sides of the political spectrum are outraged at these vicious displays of hubris, selfishness and outright hostility to those less fortunate. Personally, I am disgusted and appalled things have come this far.

It’s bad enough former Vice President Dick Cheney keeps trying to take credit for catching and killing al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden while accusing the current president of being “ineffective” despite the 18-month job growth in our stumbling economy.

While facing outright Republican obstructionism, this administration has managed to retain dignity and move the country forward, whereas the opponents have lost not only their dignity, but their credibility as well.

There can be no end to outrage at these things from people who actually care about others, are true to their faith and are proud to help their fellow American. Some of us still are getting over our outrage from the previous administration’s debacle. Now we have to endure more of it with this batch of Republicans.

Turner is a retired teacher and industrial engineer who lives near Marble Falls. He is an independent columnist, not a staff member, and his views do not necessarily reflect those of The Tribune or its parent company. "The Voter’s Guide to National Salvation" is a newly published e-book from Turner. You can find it at www.barnesandnoble.com/ebooks. He can be reached by email at vtgolf@zeecon.com