Friday, July 2, 2010

Fifth Highest Standard of Living in the World




Just in time for Independence Day holiday, the Republicans stuck it to the 1.3 million people with yet another threat of filibuster on extension of jobless benefits. While the senators are at home in their districts cooling off with beer at poolside fundraisers, the unemployed will sweat out another week of worry about foreclosure and feeding their children. With an average of six job seekers for each opening, the odds of securing employment are slim. Legions of job seekers are visible through the limo's windows.


Ben Nelson, Democratic senator from Nebraska, joined the Republicans in blocking the much needed relief. In my homage to Margaret Bourke-White, I depict him seated beside one of the architects of the the Republican senatorial strategy. By preventing government from performing its critical functions, Mitch McConnell hopes to return his party to power in the 2010 elections. Republicans rationalize this cynical approach to reclaiming ascendancy by claiming to be deficit hawks. Yet our fiscal decline began when they approved fighting two wars off the books while passing a tax cut for the rich.


Generous donations from industries that should be regulated keep senators living in luxury and out of touch with ordinary Americans. In 1937 when Bourke-White photographed the Bread Line, America boasted having the highest standard of living in the world. However, we have fallen to fifth place overall, with 37th place ranking among health care systems.

1 comment:

  1. Saw the link to your blog at Huffpost...well stated. You might consider checking out the facebook group whose link I will post below. It would be good place to share your views and, employed or not, a place where you could "join grassroots forces with frustrated unemployed people who are trying to do something constructive. Keep up the hard hitting commentary.

    http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=129037753796166

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