Daniel TilsonUnless you’re one of the infamously rich and reactionary Koch Brothers or top dog of some other profits-over-people multinational corporate empire, or a hardcore right-wing politician, or a conservative media gun-for-hire, or just an Old School Scrooge…
Chances are that at this time of year you’re feeling genuine sympathy for poor men and women who toil away for 40, 50 or more hours a week but still struggle to support their families.
And come Christmastime, maybe those right-wing CEOs, politicians and media hired hands (but probably not out-and-out Scrooges) are also feeling some measure of sympathy for these working poor families.
But I can’t help laughing a “You’re such a freaking hypocrite!” laugh every holiday season when I see conservative politicians fanning out in poor neighborhoods all across Florida and the rest of the country, giving away turkeys or handing out toys to tots as they smile for the cameras.
Or talking with seeming sincerity about things like healthcare for all, or increased economic equality and opportunities; as FL House Speaker Will Weatherford did recently at a Broward County event.
No elected official should be allowed to get away with leading a successful effort to deny healthcare to more than a million Floridians the way Weatherford did in the Legislature this year, then make speeches about helping insure uninsured citizens.
Imagine the pain and suffering that so many of those poor bodies and souls are experiencing this holiday season, due in large part to Weatherford’s ideology-driven “leadership”.
Then there are all the Republicans in the Legislature who this year blocked legislation that would have allowed local governments to help the working poor with things like a few paid sick-leave days or a slightly higher minimum wage.
The maddening thing is that it’s the same middle class conservatives and moderates who keep voting these Republicans into office again and again who would benefit greatly from the initiatives those officeholders keep blocking again and again.
More jobs, lower healthcare costs, lower taxes, increased social stability and better quality of life in our communities and state.
But handing out turkeys and toys and claiming to be a defender of the middle class against the working poor wolves at the door has a funny-sad way of putting a thick candy coating on some very mean-spirited, unfair and dysfunctional public policy.
It’s not just politicians who do it, of course.
CEOs of giant corporations doing a ton of business in Florida — Disney, Darden Restaurants, Carnival Cruise Lines, etc. — also pull charity stunts and try saying the right things while giving their workers terrible salaries and no benefits, forcing middle class taxpayers to pay for their healthcare, food stamps and more.
Until these corporate and political power players stop spending the rest of the year screwing over and scapegoating the poor, they deserve no credit for temporary Christmastime conversions; just coal in their collective stockings.
We consumers and voters have to break through the candy coating and consider the actual actions of elected officials and corporate kingpins, before casting votes or coins and dollars in their direction.
So along with quitting smoking or losing weight (or finally putting together that entertainment center sitting in the box in the garage like I’ve been promising my wife for years, ouch), or whatever other New Year’s resolutions may be under your consideration this year, also consider telling politicians and CEOs seeking your money and support:
Ya Gotta Have Heart!
