Sunday, August 15, 2010

What things are on the chopping block?

If Republican Steve Stivers, a former bank lobbyist, should win in November, and the Republicans gain control of Congress, there are several government programs and Amendments that will be on the chopping block:

The 17th Amendment: 
Steve Stivers, the Republicans, and their clones, the Tea Partiers, hate the 17th Amendment.  They don't want you to have the right to vote for your own U.S. Senator.  Given how the Republicans have controlled the Ohio General Assembly for many years, a repeal of the 17th Amendment would mean that Ohio might never have Democratic U.S. Senators because the state legislature would choose for us.  Can you imagine more George Voinovich or Mike DeWine type U.S. Senators?  OMG.


Social Security:
Boehner, the Republicans, and former bank lobbyist, Steve Stivers, have all offered their opinions on cutting Social Security. They hate Social Security and seem to prefer having senior citizens homeless and starving. The Republicans would prefer having everyone invest their money in the stock market-- with a group like Kasich's Lehman Brothers.  We know how well that worked out for state pension funds.



Health Care Reform:
The Republicans hate the new Health Care Reform Law.  Just as you'd begin enjoying the benefits provided by the new law, the Republicans hope to yank it, if they win a majority. 

Government:
Here is how Steve Stivers responded when asked which Departments within the federal government he'd eliminate if elected (LINK):

"...you could eliminate the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Interior, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy and other to return to a constitutionally pure government.

One example I would eliminate is the Department of the Interior - The Department of the Interior is responsible for managing land owned by the federal government.... The Interior Department should be abolished, and those lands that have recreational or historical value should be sold or given to private conservation groups......"


Climate Change:
Steve Stivers, Republican and a former bank lobbyist, no longer believes in global warming as a scientific fact. (This must of been part of his conversion to the extreme right wing of the Republican Party.) These right wingers refuse to tie the floods, extreme heat, massive hurricanes, and loss of polar ice to climate change. Why?  The Republicans don't believe that it is politically and financially advantageous for them to embrace this scientific fact. The Republicans are guided by their greed. The GOP doesn't want to interfere with their big business friends and donors who pollute and damage our environment.




Can you honestly say that you were satisfied with the wars and economic disaster that was given to us by the Bush administration? Are you willing to cause yourself more pain by voting Republican?