If Republicans want to take the high ground they should be bold and put corporate welfare on the table
By: Ed Farnan | Published Monday, December 17, 2012, 6:02 PM | Updated Monday, December 17, 2012, 6:02 PM
Obama has maneuvered the narrative of the fiscal cliff talks as being a war between the rich and the middle class. Obama claims to be on the side of the middle class and the GOP, the party of the “rich."
The mainstream media of course, always on the look out for a simplistic headline to rally around, can carry this message forward to further marginalize the Republican Party.
It’s time for the party to be bold and call Obamas bluff. Instead of going through the death of a thousand cuts, come out and put something on the table that all Americans can get behind: Call for the end of all corporate welfare. These “entitlements” are costing taxpayers an estimated 100 billion dollars per year. See Cato
report
Entitlement programs/the welfare state is the driver behind the huge debt of America... Corporate welfare IS an entitlement.
If the Republicans can be bold enough to put this on the table, they can then demand from Obama, cuts to other entitlement programs. This will deflate the class warfare meme that has worked so well against the Republicans.
After all, why should the American middle class be paying for huge subsidies to corporations that hire thousands of lobbyists who shower politicians of both parties to vote more corporate loopholes?
At the same time all of the billions of dollars in “green subsidies” can be ended, including the subsidies for the rich who buy expensive electric cars. Why should the middle class pay for the rich when they buy their toys? Average income for an electric car buyer is $174,000. Why should a middle class taxpayer put up 7,500 per car to entice a wealthy person to buy an electric car?
Why should the middle class by paying 26.00 per gallon for “green” fuel supplied to the military when they can get that same fuel for 3.50 per gallon?
The giant retailer Wal-Mart has more workers enrolled in many state Medicaid programs—which are supposed to be reserved for poor people—than any other employer. Why should the middle class be subsidizing Wal-Mart?
Instantly the Republicans will gain credibility with Americans. They can stand toe to toe with Obama, look him straight in the eye and say: “We are willing to put Americas future first are you?”
Nothing short of boldness will work now, otherwise it will be another kick the can down the road and Americans will be more disillusioned than ever with their leaders in Washington.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.EdinCali | Nov 30, 2012, 10:14 PM EST
Seanmelb-I am not up to speed on Oz and what makes its economy tick, except for what I said about the mining/raw materials. If Australia is a successful socialist country then it is the exception, not the rule.
seanomelb | Nov 30, 2012, 06:18 PM EST
Ed it was always illegal to carry firearms in Oz except for those with a license and nothing has changed. The feds had an amnesty and people could hand in their firearms and be paid market value.Gun laws wrer toughened but are still available. Australia has had a universal health scheme for over thirty years a long time before the mining boom.Your reply is rude and condescending!! and why not? when you're short on facts that's understandable.
olovely | Nov 30, 2012, 12:57 AM EST
Change nothing and wait for rest of country to come to its senses. That GOP winning formula again.
EdinCali | Nov 29, 2012, 10:32 PM EST
Seanmelb: I know little abt OZ except that they banned guns and had a huge uptick in crime. I do know know all of nanny state/socialist europe is in an economic debt spiral and is in the midst of cannibalization. I do know Canadians, when given the chance, come to America to get their healthcare, while they still can before we get obamacare. Perhaps OZ can afford social programs because it is blessed w/an inexhaustible supply of raw materials it can sell and doesn't have to pay for it's own defense America does that for her?
seanomelb | Nov 29, 2012, 06:06 PM EST
The Republicans sang that song ED before the election and they were trounced. Tell me ED why do countries like Canada,Germany,Australia and others who have universal medical cover and good social programmes are not going broke. Maybe you cannot see the forest for the trees
Monsoonman | Nov 29, 2012, 05:00 PM EST
It goes for all of them, let them all have to live under obamacare, no special medical care for them...and end their pensions as well. We don't need lifers in office, it was never intended
olovely | Nov 29, 2012, 04:54 PM EST
Here's a cut for John Boehner. How about he and all the other GOP gajillionaires in congress pay for their own healthcare?