Joe the selfish American

I was talking to one of my clients today, and the more I spoke to the poor woman the madder I got. Not so much at what she was saying to me, but because I started thinking about the latest rethuglican code words (wealth distribution and socialism) in the middle of our conversation.

This poor woman was in the welfare to work program, was raising three children by herself (two of them teenagers), and she had to scrape out a $9.50 an hour living by cleaning up old people's shit out in the burbs. (I think they call what she does being a CNA, but you and I know that it basically means cleaning up after old people who can't clean up after themselves).

Ahhh come on field, the woman made bad choices, how did she get stuck with three minor children and no husband at home? Nope, not this lady. She was married to the father of all three of her kids, and the poor guy died in a house fire a few years back. Sadly, he was the only bread winner in her family. But this post isn't even about this poor lady.

Here is why I was pissed: For the past few days I have had to listen to Mr. Morton and his minions try to push this new mantra about wealth redistribution on the A-merry-can people, and about Obama being a socialist (I wish). All this when you and I know damn good and well that the biggest redistribution of wealth that ever took place in this country took place a few days ago.

Remember folks? Remember when our government bailed out a bunch of billionaires on Wall Street? Remember when they were (and still are) pushing all kinds of government subsidized programs to save companies that well compensated CEOs f***ed up? Talk about socialized banking system. And I have to listen to the Joe the plumber, dog whistle, bullshit, (yes it's a dog whistle. Hard working blue collar white guy takes his hard earned money and has to give it back to the government to take care of those people.) for the last remaining days of this campaign.

The shit is infuriating. Especially when I know that Joe the plumber's $40,000 a year salary is what some of us pay in taxes every year. Of course, we aren't complaining, but Joe is, because he thinks that his money is going to take care of people like my client. Hey Joe, how is this for a trade off: when you put your mama in the nursing home, because you don't want to be bothered with her anymore, who do you think is going to clean her shit? I know who it won't be. It won't be you, it won't be your wife, and it won't be Sarah f***ing Palin. Nope, it's that poor former "welfare Queen" earning $9.50 an hour, who you don't want to give your "hard earned" money to. So how about helping her make it easier to get on her feet, Joe? How about a little help with child care subsidies, some food stamps, and maybe a little help with her transportation pass? That seems like a small sacrifice to have someone clean your mama's shit, doesn't it Joe?

But this is what happens with politics in A-merry-ca. One candidate makes a statement about fairness, and states the obvious, and he is demonized by his opponent for it. And the demonization works because his opponent's supporters hear all the code words that play on their innermost prejudices and fears. Our hard earned money that we worked to get, has to go back to those people so that they can buy fancy cars, watch color televisions and buy bling.

My client didn't have a car. In fact, she takes two different forms of public transportation to go to her job every morning. Poor Joe, little does he know that most of his tax dollars are going to bullshit pet projects that people he sent to Washington supports. And of course, to fund the army which protects him from those rock throwing Iraqi children in the Middle East. ("Freedom isn't free", Joe). I sure hope you stay healthy Joe, because I am guessing your health insurance policy is pretty f***ed up. And since you want to keep all of your hard earned money and not get government involved in your life, if you ever have a catastrophic health issue, you are pretty much screwed.

Tonight as I sit here watching Sarah Palin's dumb ass, fire up an equally dumb bunch of hicks with this redistribution of wealth and socialism bullshit, I am tempted to throw my now empty bottle of "Ting" right threw the television set. I am in that kind of mood, and my anger has lasted all day. But I think better of it. After all, life ain't so bad. That poor client of mine; she has a right to throw something at her "color television," not me. Now come November 4th, that may be a different story.

[Original Link]