Think on these factoids as the
Republican Convention is now underway:
From Bloomberg, POLITICO , US
Republicans Democrats
Years held Presidency 28 years
22 years
Total jobs created 24
million 42 million
Stock market return
109% 992%
Stock market return
annualized
2.7% 11.0%
Gross Domestic Product 2.7% 4.1%
Income Growth 0.6% 2.2%
Interesting data! Now which is the
party that’s good for business? And the middle class that pursues the
education, technology, new careers, business transformations, household
formation and consumers who build higher standards of living that benefit the
most people?
Anonymous offering found on the
Internet:
“The next time someone tells you
that Obama is destroying the economy, remind them that the stock market and corporate
profits are at all-time highs.
When they tell you that this
hasn’t helped them any, remind them they’ve just admitted Trickle-Down
Economics doesn’t work. Boom!”
Remember trickle down? Didn’t work
in Reagan’s time or Bush I’s era, either. Still doesn’t. What does work is
repairing and replacing aging infrastructure so people have jobs in the
meantime while the operating base provided for corporations is renewed and
allows them more opportunity to do business efficiently and effectively. It
doesn’t take a village in this instance; it takes a nation intent on succeeding
for all of its people. Investment pays off for societies as much as it does
entrepreneurs.
Another issue I’m reminded of: when
he first took office, Obama had a congress controlled by Democrats. Instead of
using that to pass legislation he favored, he used his leadership to build
bipartisanship and compromise. Rather than working with that, Republicans
fought it and frustrated the process. For two years Obama and congressional democrats
gave this reasoned approach a chance to work. Biding their time, republicans
sat out the opportunity to help the nation fix its problems. Mid term elections
swung the House of Representatives to republican control. And that was the end
of bipartisanship. In the Senate, arcane republican led rules require a super
majority to pass anything, while a simple majority defeats just about
everything.
In that moment of opportunity, who
led? Who played politics at the expense of the nation?
This time around, re-elect Obama,
but also give him a congress he can work with!
From the Think Progress website
comes this report:
“Letter to Paul Ryan: ‘…We would
be remiss in our duty to you and our students if we did not challenge your
continuing misuse of Catholic teaching to defend a budget plan that
decimates food programs for struggling families, radically weakens protections
for the elderly and sick, and gives more tax breaks to the wealthiest
few.’
~Georgetown
Now that’s what I call a grounding
statement of principle. Ryan says he holds these principled views but then
espouses public policy for the opposite effect. Politics sure creates strange
bedfellows!
And from the Women Suffragettes
comes this campaign banner from 1872 and 1894:
“No self respecting woman should
wish or work for the success of a party that ignores her sex.” ~Susan B. Anthony
How religious freedom became
entangled in women’s rights and upside down logic is a mystery to me. And why
there are any women still supportive of republicans is a greater mystery.
Watch this week’s convention in Tampa . Will the greatest
surprises be on the floor of the convention hall, or the howling winds
outdoors? Tune in and see!
August 28, 2012
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