It helps to remember some things. First off, this question could have been handled at almost any time up to now, and certainly could have been settled before the election. The rates have been in effect for 10 years, and everyone knew when they were going to expire. Only to get the maximum political theater, they waited until the last possible minute.
The same goes for unemployment benefits. Why did the bill have to come up now? Again, everyone knew from the day the last bill was passed, giving essentially two years - two years - of unemployment benefits, that it was going to expire this month. Clearly if they wanted to, they could have addressed that months ago. The whole purpose of letting it sit until now was to allow those arrogant, pompous buttheads to get photo ops for commercials that will air two years from now. "How could they be so cruel to cut benefits at Christmas??
Never forget - you're being played. Always look for the other hand. Always ask why they're putting on a show. Never accept at face value.
Hmmm... Dems threaten tax hikes right before an election - very unpopular and helps them lose. Then the first thing the freshly elected Repubs threaten to do is pull the rug out from under the unemployed. Again, very unpopular and could help them lose the next go 'round. (without getting into the social/moral implications of the welfare state here) It seems like they're playing the good cop/bad cop game with the populace except that they're both bad. The question is, to what end? Cui bono?
ReplyDeleteI'll have to continue to ponder that one as things progress.