Marc YachtWhen those who make it rain suddenly give out umbrellas, we can only shake our head and look skyward. The Republicans have decided to take on income disparities. Jeb Bush, a GOP presidential hopeful railed about income equality. “The opportunity gap is the defining issue of our time….”
Of course as expected, President Barack Obama received the blame. One prominent Republican claimed Obama’s policies “have exacerbated inequality.” One allegation, that the rich got richer and the poor got poorer during the current administration is credible. And the guilty party is….???
President Obama said he appreciated the Republican concern and then went on the attack. Other Democrats laughed up their sleeve at the sudden Republican concern regarding income inequities.
The R party that opposes any tax fairness, protects corporate tax breaks, fights any effort to raise minimum wage, attacks women’s right and has made 52 efforts to derail Obamacare suddenly expresses concerns about the underserved and shrinking middle class? Why?
It’s what the public wants to hear. No party can top the GOP in adjusting its message to the audience. They are master message marketers. Truth has never been an issue. All that said, this “Born Again” message from the party of excess and protectors of the rich must be appreciated. The 1 percent-or-die party might have seen the light. No sane person could be upset with The GOP epiphany. Maybe they mean it. Recommended are platforms that the GOP leadership can institute to reduce disparity.
• Medicare for all to replace Obamacare: A giant step forward would be to provide health care for every American family. We stand alone as an industrialized nation that has not accomplished such a policy. Although Obamacare has reached out to 11 million people, 33 million still lack insurance. Millions more have inadequate health care policies. Universal health coverage would significantly decrease disparities.
• Demand the rich and corporations pay their fair share of taxes: Corporate loopholes cost $150 billion in revenue annually. Tax breaks for the rich cost billions more. Propose a platform to undo this inequity. Dollars generated could be used to expand jobs, address infrastructure problems and shore up public education.
• Support a federal minimum wage hike: A $10.10 minimum wage would elevate 4.6 million from poverty.
• Support full time employment with benefits: Clamp down on part-time employment in lieu of providing full-time jobs. Although unemployment rates have decreased, it must be put in context with decreasing numbers of full-time jobs and increasing poorly paid part-time employment.
• Get serious about U.S. poverty: End residential discrimination, support public education, better fund early childhood and pre-K programs.
• Weaken the dollar: Such action will allow a more equitable distribution of wealth and make our exports more competitive. The result will be expanded jobs in the private sector. Place high tariffs on imports from countries with low paid workers.
• Push for passage of the Employee Free Choice Act: A sure way to address worker inequality and stop “union busting.”
• Significantly decrease the military budget: The military has too much power and money. The ongoing wars have broken the U.S. treasury. It is time to shift attention to America’s infrastructure, roads, bridges, old municipal systems, education and public safety. Eisenhower’s noted Military-Industrial complex has bled this country dry at the expense of population needs.
There are other concerns: gender equality at the workplace, protecting Social Security, the list is long. If the Republicans are serious about ending disparities, let the nation see a platform that addresses the issue. I’ll be the first one to the polls.
Dr. Marc Yacht is a semi-retired physician. Column courtesy of Context Florida.
