Saturday, May 19, 2012

Different Rules for Oligarchs

The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich and the poor alike to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread. ~ Anatole France
The newest fad among Republicans is forcing welfare recipients to take drug tests for their $134 checks. You just know when millionaire ex-ballplayer Curt Shilling got a $75 million subsidy from Rhode Island for his changing his PO Box address from Massachusetts he didn't have to pee in a cup. Not that he would have passed if he had.

Cargill is a big backer of anti-government Republican candidates. They profit from billions in ag subsidies. Their team of "small government" Republicans write scores of laws designed to force family farms to sell out cheap to Cargill.

When billionaire Jerry Jones wanted to build a new rumpus room (for his pro football team) the City of Arlington ponied up $325 million ($1,000 for every man, woman, and child in the city) to help him build it. When a regular person adds a room to his house the city increases his property taxes.

When bankers lose at roulette (derivative trading) the government bails them out to the tune of $600 billion. When a man falls behind on his bills because he lost his job and his child got sick, the very same government who wrote those big checks to the bank sends a sheriff to steal the man's home and give it to the bank.

Steal a loaf of bread to feed a starving child and you will go to prison. Buy enough politicians and judges and you can defraud thousands, not just with impunity but with honors.

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