TEAM HYPOCRISY - RAH RAH RAH!

by Ruth Sheets

Alabama has passed an ultra anti-immigrant law.  This law calls on citizens to report suspected undocumented immigrants. The children of these immigrants can’t attend school since they don't have a US birth certificate.  No one is allowed to hire any of these people and police officers can pick up anyone whom they feel just might be undocumented.

This law essentially turns neighbors into informants.  It is not necessary to “know” that someone is undocumented if one simply suspects it. 

Police officers become immigration officials.  One wonders how they “know” who is undocumented.  The suspect must just look like someone who is undocumented.  In other settings, that might be called racial profiling

Supporters of this law would shy away from any comparisons to life in Hitler’s Germany or Communist Russia, but this type of turning in a targeted group is not so far removed from those earlier periods in history.

It seems easy to target people whom one considers illegal, who didn’t follow proscribed rules for entering America. However, how many of these supporters come from families whose forebears came here without papers? 

In their attempt to “balance” news coverage, both sides must be represented.  Supporters of the law appear on every show.  I find it interesting how many of these supporters have names that clearly mark them as descendents of immigrants to the US during the last century.  Their parents may have struggled, but did well enough here to give their children significant opportunities they would not have had if they’d remained in their countries of origin.

Why are these 2nd and 3rd generation Americans so unwilling to offer the same opportunities to this century’s immigrants?  Hypocrisy, of course. 

And, to be sure to get other citizens on their side, they accuse immigrants of draining welfare, coming here just to have American citizen children, essentially , stealing America’s bounty.  Why does this apply only to the immigrants of today?  Hypocrisy, of course.

Team Hypocrisy has members all over America, trying to turn Americans into spying, stingy racists, yelling “freedom” and "democracy” but unwilling to extend the blessings of either to others.

"Illegal alien” is the term most often used.  Such terms make those so labeled seem different, deserving of being uprooted and deported even if they have lived here, contributing to  the American dream for many years.

When we deport people, what are we sending them back to?  Do we really care?  Are we so comfortable with ourselves in our righteousness that it doesn’t matter as long as they are gone?

We are a country of immigrants.  Immigrants have made us a great nation and will continue to do so if we step back and see that we can do better.  Our immigrant parents and grandparents would not be pleased to see us doing to a new generation of immigrants what was done to them.

Fellow citizens, let’s take up the challenge to stand bravely against Team Hypocrisy and fight for a more humane immigrant policy.  Let us ignore the calls to act badly toward our immigrant neighbors.  Let us fight against the un-American laws so eagerly being passed and stand with our neighbors who want to live an American dream too.

PSEUDO CHRISTIANS?

by Ruth Sheets

As a Christian minister, I am appalled with the way Christianity is being tossed around by the Republicans these days.  It seems that claiming Christianity as the center of one’s life is all one needs to prove one is a “real American.” 

The candidates stand before the American public and declare that they believe in the Bible word for word and “know” that creation is just as described in Genesis (although which creation story, they are not always sure since there are two quite different accounts).  These candidates are also sure there is a “Second Coming” as described in psychedelic dream that is  the Book of Revelation.  In between, they also are committed to the one verse in Leviticus that condemns homosexuality.  So, we know they accept Genesis, Revelation and a verse of Leviticus, but what about the rest of the Bible? 

If one looks at the “deal” the Congressional Tea Partiers proposed and examine their plans for the future of America, it is hard to see that the gospels, for example, are any part of their public considerations and actions.  (I cannot speak for their personal lives.)

The conservative Republican proposals support the wealthiest Americans, yet, Jesus says that it will be harder for a rich person to enter heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.  He also told the rich young man in Mark, to sell all he has and give it to the poor and follow Jesus.  That doesn’t exactly sound like it meshes very well with what is happening among these professed believers and their relationship with the top 1 percent of American earners.

It is the “Good Samaritan” who stops to help the man along the road in Luke, not the wealthy religious travelers, and the Samaritan was of a hated race.  Jesus said “Go and do likewise. " I see no evidence of Tea Party support of anyone who is in need.  And, their attitude toward non-Christians is not particularly Christ-like.”

Jesus spent a lot of time teaching people, yet, education is certainly not a priority of the Republicans.  Well, sometimes it is, if they can introduce privatization, vouchers, and other destructive elements to “public” schools.  Who benefits?  It is rarely the children.

Jesus said “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  I don’t see the Republican representatives offering Americans the same kind of health care and pensions that Congress enjoys.  In fact, Republicans are doing everything they can to be sure American citizens never do.

Jesus fed the 5,000, yet the Tea Partiers would cut the programs that help to feed their fellow Americans who are not as privileged or lucky as they are.  Jesus never mentioned homosexuality, yet many Republicans across the country have eliminating gay rights as a centerpiece of their platforms, along with abortion which is also not seen as important enough for Jesus to mention either.

Instead of the gospel of love and caring, they read and understand a “Gospel of Prosperity” which tells them that they are receiving all the good things that America offers because they are God’s favored ones.  They pray loud and long in public so that everyone can see how pious they are.  It seems to me that if anyone chooses to claim Christ as their Savior, they must remember the saying of the Civil Rights Movement:  “You can’t just talk the talk, you have to walk the walk.”  We’ve all been hearing a lot of the “Christian” talk, but where is the walk?

American Fascists

By Ruth Sheets

I just finished reading the book American Fascists:  The Christian Right and the War on America by Chris Hedges.  This is one of the scariest books I have read in a long time. 

Mr. Hedges describes a group of Evangelical Fundamentalist Christians who preach and practice a “Gospel of Prosperity and rule of God’s law.”  If one is wealthy, God must have provided that as a reward.  If one lives God’s law, one too, might become wealthy.  Surrendering all to God (through God’s male representatives on earth) will lead to a life of peace and order.  And, surrender is required.  He convincingly compares this movement to those active in Germany during the 1930’s.

If the followers of this Gospel kept it within its narrow sphere one could say “let them do whatever they want.  It doesn’t affect the rest of us.  America is a free country.” 

But, this “Gospel of God’s law” has a political power component which is even more substantial.  You see, they want to control all aspects of government to make this nation fully “Christian.”  In their way of thinking, as a “Christian” nation, those  who do not confess Christ cannot be permitted to drain America’s resources.

This brand of Fundamentalists co-opts the language of freedom and Civil Rights, even quoting such figures as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  But civil rights and pluralism in any form are not part of their theology. 

Male absolute control in the name of God trumps freedom of speech, religion, press, or anything else that our founders stood for.  The strong, white, macho male as the ideal.  Women must be relegated to the home and spheres of limited influence.  The few exceptions (people like Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann, attractive and empty-headed) allow conservative women to think they are included.  The token black males can talk the talk, but are not welcome to actually walk the walk.

Right-wing Evangelical Fundamentalists prey on the most vulnerable among us, those whose lives have been difficult through poverty, divorce, unemployment, family dysfunction, etc.  People in personal crisis often value a system where someone else is in control and where there is a promise of something better.  Of course, they believe that “something better” occurs for these pathetic people after THIS life is over.

Mr. Hedges believes that the leaders in this right-wing Fundamentalist movement:  Pat Robertson, George W. Bush, et al, know exactly what they are doing and what they are supporting.  They are focused on their goal of power and there is little they won’t do to achieve it.

The Tea Party arose after this book was published, but I suspect Mr. Hedges would include them in the right-wing movement he described in his 2006 book.  Tea Partiers might resist such inclusion, but their words and actions would place them squarely within that group.  They fought for cutting programs that enable people to live a decent life in the name of lowering the deficit.  Their proposals are designed to help the rich become richer and businesses to do whatever they choose despite environmental problems.  Women’s rights are being challenged at all levels. Their leaders claim their FIRST goal is to remove President Obama from office. They were willing to take America to the brink of economic disaster to prove their political power.  Sounds like they fit right in.

What does Mr. Hedges suggest we do to protect our democracy?  He recommends that we become vigilant.  We must not tolerate the actions of this movement.  We need to stop being so “nice” to them, smiling and giving in to their demands.  We should stop saying “it’s a free country.  They have a right to their beliefs."  They do have a right to their beliefs as long as they don’t force them on the rest of us, and that seems to be what they intend.

Now is the time to stand up.  If we don’t start moving to block their insanity, their garbage, we may not have the free country we cherish.

Against Our Interests?

by Ruth Sheets
 

I have been listening to the returns from the special election in Wisconsin.  The Democrats needed to win three seats and only got two and are facing a challenge next Tuesday.  What amazes me is the fact that Wisconsin Republicans, like Republicans in many states continue to vote against their own interests.

Wisconsin Republicans went into office claiming that their major effort would be to add jobs and lower the state debt.  Their real intention was to bust public unions and cut services.  Voters don’t get it that they might not need governmental help at this moment, but that life throws surprises our way and any of them could be in the position of needing help.

We hear “We need small government.”  That seems to be the popular line with the Tea Partiers these days, but what are they willing to cut?  The programs that serve the most vulnerable, of course.  They are well aware of the reality that those citizens are least able to stand up for their needs, let alone their rights. 

Will the Tea Party willingly cut defense funds?  Probably not; they will more likely want to cut veterans money because that is easy.  Will they cut money for prisons, border patrols, funds for the war on drugs, programs for abstinence education, all programs that are wasteful and not as effective as claimed?  Not likely.  They don’t seem to care about value if the program supports their personal or social beliefs.

Cutting funds for education, food stamps, Medicaid, and other support programs seems a top priority for conservatives, even those who depend on these programs just to stay alive and to provide for their children. 

 

I heard a listing of the Federal monies that Michelle Bachman, a leading presidential candidate, has received throughout her life from the government. Hypocrisy rules even at the highest levels.  She cries “small government” while it is the government that has enabled her to be where she is. 

It is amazing how few Americans have noticed the widening of the gap between the rich and the poor.  The rank and file of the Tea Party and many other Conservative Republicans fall in the group that is moving toward the poor side.  They don’t even seem to realize what is happening.  They don’t see that none of the programs being advocated by their representatives will in any way improve their situation.  They don’t get it that their chances of moving into that higher group diminish with each day.

What is wrong with  us?  Are we hard-wired to be unable to recognize inconsistencies?  Is it part of our make-up that we stand against our own interests?  Is “the American dream” of wealth so strong that we believe we will one day be among the chosen few who are in the top 1 percent, the very wealthy?  Do we delight in the hopeful thought of being able to dictate to the rest of the poor suckers who just couldn’t make it, the ones who just didn’t work hard enough or weren’t lucky enough?

Maybe instead of teaching to tests in our schools, we should be teaching logic, ethics, basic economics, and statistics from very early grades.  That will require money and time for planning, both of which along with many other ideas are being cut.  Maybe what lies behind all the education cuts is that people who don’t know how to think for themselves are so much more easily frightened and manipulated by people who enjoy wielding power. 

Want a Tax Cut? Create a Job

by muon

Here's a simple little plan that all of Washington ought to like.  They won't, though, because the plan doesn't make the other side of the aisle look bad.  That's pretty much all they'll consider these days.

They've now decided that marriage isn't just between one man and one woman, but is now between the truest love match you can find in nature--Congress and tax cuts for the wealthy.  No divorcing one from the other, no matter what the political affiliation.  The Tea Party, in particular, will defend their nests to the death. Tax cuts, they say, are needed to create jobs.

So let's create jobs with them.

Instead of across-the-board tax breaks for all folks who can already afford things like late-night cravings for imported lavender honey, I say let's make tax cuts contingent on whether taxpayers have created jobs in the past year. Create a new job for an American in 2011, get a tax cut in April 2012.  Create 2 new jobs, get 2 tax deductions. Eliminate American jobs, get penalized.  And no cheating: you can't downsize one year, then recreate those jobs the next and claim tax cuts for them.

That simple.  Give an American a job, get a tax cut.  Hoard your money, get squat.

Instead of giving handouts to our deadbeat millionaire brothers, I say, let's make them earn their keep by putting America back to work.

WHAT’S IN A WORD?

by Ruth Sheets
 

Have you noticed that in the past few years, twisting language to fit one’s own agenda has become very popular?  “Experts” are hired to say things in just the right way.  It is a form of deception that often happens without people even realizing that they are being manipulated.  It will be extremely difficult to drive the new language from their minds because of the power of the words used.  Here are some examples:

In the past decade, elected leaders have determined that the wealthiest Americans need protection.  For generations, states and the Federal Government have collected “estate taxes” to help limit family dynasties and to help the haves contribute to the general good.  When tax cuts were being considered for the well off, during the early 2000s, estate taxes were targeted as unfair.  Most Americans approve of such taxes, so they had to be renamed.  Estate taxes became “death taxes.” 

What is the image you get of a death tax?  To start with, it is not a pleasant thought. Our natural fear of death includes our aversion of the word. Tie the word to taxes, and presto, a tax that must be ended because it is abhorrent.  How can we tax a person’s death? If anyone questions this move, actors are hired to portray people of moderate means who complain that they worked so hard and should be able to pass everything they made on to their children, (even if those children earn more than the parents).

Staying with the word “death,” we come to “death panels.”  What image does that conjure? It is certainly not a positive one. This term was the Republican response to the concept that a patient might want to discuss end-of-life issues with their doctor. Because these discussions will take a significant amount of time if done properly and with compassion, it was recommended that doctors be fairly compensated for their time.

If a legislator or candidate has the goal of stopping a plan that makes sense to a lot of people, the language must change to induce the proper amount of fear and/or loathing.  The term “death panel” does that beautifully.  Even though there is no panel involved and the whole process only involves discussion and consultation, it doesn’t matter because death panel sounds so horrific few people will want to analyze it.

Within the past few months a new term has come forward.  It seems that it is no longer acceptable to refer to the wealthy or rich in those terms.  The new Tea Party term is “job creators.”  One can logically put a case forward that the wealthiest people should pay their fair share. But call them "Job Creators"-- imply that they are the only folks who will pull us out of this economic mess --and of course it would be wrong not to give them more money.

The tax cuts in the Bush administration predominantly benefited the top 2% of Americans and we are in the deepest recession since the 1930’s.  The wealthy have been getting tax cuts for nearly a decade now.   Where are the jobs they were supposed to be creating? 

There will always be people out there ready to misdirect us with the words they use.  Our task as thinking human beings is to look behind what they are actually saying and see who benefits from the misdirection.  Maybe instead of worrying so much about how well our students do on standardized tests, we should change our focus to developing effective critical thinking skills. 

Do you think the Tea Party and their friends would like to help fund that? 

Peace,

Ruth