If your bills are already exceeding your income it wouldnât be a good time to have your wages cut by two percent, five percent, or any amount, would it?
After President Trump agreed with the Democrats to raise the debt limit for three months, Congress reluctantly passed a bill doing just that. If the federal income was not exceeded by its expenditures this would not be necessary. The debt limit should probably be done away with. Itâs useless anyway.
The far right extremist have expressed their displeasure because President Trump dare talk with the Democratic leadership, let alone reach an agreement with those nasty folks. He agreed with Schumer and Pelosi on extending the debt limit for three months so we can pay our bills and provide hurricane relief. Now, he has reached agreement with the Democrats on approving DACA in exchange for major border security improvements. The right wing went right through the roof.
Ann Coulter said, âI donât know anyone who doesnât want to impeach the president.â The name calling was nasty and universal on right wing radio. Russ Limbaugh was especially nasty. For years the Republicans have made it a âlawâ not to work with the Democrats. It didnât matter if it was the right thing to do; if the Democrats were for it, especially President Obama, the Republicans were against it.
The Republicans didnât want to extend the debt limit unless they could cut spending on programs they hate, like food stamps, and childrenâs healthcare. They didnât want to approve DACA (the dreamers program) unless the Democrats would agree to much more, including funding the worst idea in recent history, that dumb old wall.
Frankly I donât know why Trumpâs supporters are so anxious to have us pay for that wall. It wasnât that long ago Trump repeated at every rally that Mexico was going to pay for the wall, (thatâll be the day). Thatâs what they should be angry about.
Trump just did what everyone on Capitol Hill should be doing, working together. The repeal and replace Trumpcare is a good example of how the Republicans work. It was designed behind closed doors and voted on without a single hearing on the Senate floor. It was this process that prompted John McCain to cast the deciding ânoâ vote. The Graham/Cassidy version is worse and was put together without any Democratic input. At this time I donât know how it will fair, but McCain wonât support it for the same reasons as before. Still, Iâm very nervous.
The very far left also wonât compromise, even for the good of the country. Hence, about 10 percent of Bernie Sandersâ supporters wouldnât support Hillary. There are some things the Democrats would never, and should never, compromise on; a womanâs right to choose, womenâs rights, LGBT rights, civil rights, global warming, tax cuts for the most wealthy, and a healthcare system that works for everybody. They should compromise on the military budget, infrastructure, and reforming a screwed up tax system. Come on everybody, letâs work together on these things at least.
I wished I could say what the Republicans are willing to work on with the Democrats. As long as Ryan and Mitch McConnell are in charge, it wonât happen. The far right just wonât work with the Democrats. I believe the more moderate Republicans want to work with the Democrats on healthcare, the environment, a fair and impartial justice system, the budget, and tax reform. Of course that would drive Trump supporters nuts.
His supporters want that stupid wall and tough talk with North Korea, even if it leads to a nuclear holocaust. They believe white Christians are the most discriminated against, and they think global warming is a hoax. I think they want to eliminate federal income taxes. Thereâs no accounting for what some folks think.
This country has a huge military budget, which gets bigger and bigger every year. Medicare and Medicaid are very expensive, but seniors, the very poor, and the disabled couldnât live without these programs. What we can, and should live without, is Trumpâs stupid wall. Itâll cost billions.
Trumpâs proposed budget has been labeled âmeanâ and âcruelâ to the poor and less fortunate. It also contains cuts in disaster relief. And yet, despite sticking it to the poor, Trumpâs budget will still exceed revenues by billions and billions. Itâs a terrible time to cut federal revenues. So what does Trump propose to do about the deficit? He wants to cut federal revenues by giving huge tax cuts to those whose income exceeds $250 thousand a year. Whatâs new?
Glen McAdoo, a Fallon resident, can be contacted at glynn@honewave.net.