Contract With America
Dec. 7, 2005
Progressive Ponderings
JOE MAYER
In the 1994 Republican Contract With America, the new Republican congressmen were especially proud of this document and their new majority to "reform" America. Now, after eleven years, the last five of which all three branches of government have been controlled by Republicans, it's time to revisit the contract. Consider the following quotations from the contract using the Reagan-type question "Are we better off today than we were at the time of its drafting and partial implementation?"
"To restore accountability to Congress." Today: more secrecy in government; refusal of Congress to investigate itself or the administration; legislation follows "pay-to-play" rules.
"To end its (Congress's) scandal and disgrace." - WOW!
"To make us all proud again of the way free people govern themselves." Consider: Supreme Court tells Florida not to count all the votes. In the 2000 presidential election millions of citizens voted but only five Supreme Court votes counted; electronic voting machines with no paper trail and secretly programmed by corporate America consistently yielded the opposite of normally accurate exit polls; the rest of the world marvels at the hypocrisy in our electoral system.
"Require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply equally to Congress." They've got to be kidding! They've practically made themselves minor kings with all the perks and privileges they've bestowed on themselves but deny to ordinary citizens: first class free health care, generous retirement package, job security through built-in access to corporate money, non-accountability for false campaign pledges (lies), special treatment if indicted or convicted, etc.
"Select a major independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of Congress for waste, fraud or abuse." Unbelievable! This pledge came from the political party of no-bid contracts, one which has just passed the largest pork-laden budget in the history of the U.S.
"The Fiscal responsibility Act: A balanced budget/tax limitation amendment and a legislative line-item veto to restore fiscal responsibility to an out-of-control Congress, requiring them to live under the same budget constraints as families and businesses." Incredible! "Fiscal responsibility" that led to the largest deficits in history; "out-of-control" Congress that now passes trade policy that has led to the largest imbalance of trade in history; "out-of-control" congress which now gives subsidies to move jobs overseas and gives contracts to corporations which re-charter themselves in foreign countries to avoid U.S. taxes. "Out-of-control!"
"The National Security Restoration Act: No U.S. troops under UN command and restoration of the essential parts of our national security funding to strengthen our national defense and maintain our credibility around the world." "Credibility around the world?" Enough said.
"The Job Creation and Wage Enhancement Act: ...mandate reform to create jobs and raise workers' wages." Their programs have done exactly the opposite of what they pledged. Job creation has fallen way behind the Clinton years; wages continue to decline when inflation is considered as a factor.
"The Citizen Legislature Act: A first-ever vote of term limits to replace career politicians with citizen legislators." Things change! The signers are now "career politicians" and have no desire to follow their own self-serving rhetoric.
Are we better off today?
Progressive Ponderings
JOE MAYER
In the 1994 Republican Contract With America, the new Republican congressmen were especially proud of this document and their new majority to "reform" America. Now, after eleven years, the last five of which all three branches of government have been controlled by Republicans, it's time to revisit the contract. Consider the following quotations from the contract using the Reagan-type question "Are we better off today than we were at the time of its drafting and partial implementation?"
"To restore accountability to Congress." Today: more secrecy in government; refusal of Congress to investigate itself or the administration; legislation follows "pay-to-play" rules.
"To end its (Congress's) scandal and disgrace." - WOW!
"To make us all proud again of the way free people govern themselves." Consider: Supreme Court tells Florida not to count all the votes. In the 2000 presidential election millions of citizens voted but only five Supreme Court votes counted; electronic voting machines with no paper trail and secretly programmed by corporate America consistently yielded the opposite of normally accurate exit polls; the rest of the world marvels at the hypocrisy in our electoral system.
"Require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply equally to Congress." They've got to be kidding! They've practically made themselves minor kings with all the perks and privileges they've bestowed on themselves but deny to ordinary citizens: first class free health care, generous retirement package, job security through built-in access to corporate money, non-accountability for false campaign pledges (lies), special treatment if indicted or convicted, etc.
"Select a major independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of Congress for waste, fraud or abuse." Unbelievable! This pledge came from the political party of no-bid contracts, one which has just passed the largest pork-laden budget in the history of the U.S.
"The Fiscal responsibility Act: A balanced budget/tax limitation amendment and a legislative line-item veto to restore fiscal responsibility to an out-of-control Congress, requiring them to live under the same budget constraints as families and businesses." Incredible! "Fiscal responsibility" that led to the largest deficits in history; "out-of-control" Congress that now passes trade policy that has led to the largest imbalance of trade in history; "out-of-control" congress which now gives subsidies to move jobs overseas and gives contracts to corporations which re-charter themselves in foreign countries to avoid U.S. taxes. "Out-of-control!"
"The National Security Restoration Act: No U.S. troops under UN command and restoration of the essential parts of our national security funding to strengthen our national defense and maintain our credibility around the world." "Credibility around the world?" Enough said.
"The Job Creation and Wage Enhancement Act: ...mandate reform to create jobs and raise workers' wages." Their programs have done exactly the opposite of what they pledged. Job creation has fallen way behind the Clinton years; wages continue to decline when inflation is considered as a factor.
"The Citizen Legislature Act: A first-ever vote of term limits to replace career politicians with citizen legislators." Things change! The signers are now "career politicians" and have no desire to follow their own self-serving rhetoric.
Are we better off today?
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