than a campaign contribution to a well-connected republican politician? It's a virtual certainty that it will yield an immense return, through a no-bid contract (without the threat of being subjected to an audit), a cash subsidy or a special tax loophole.
Not to mention, a "contribution" in the millions (or to a candidates brother/brother-in-law) will BUY you a pardon no matter how heinous your crime. Further, if you can get your whole UNION behind a candidate, they'll make sure you're taken care of - even if it means that a whole generation of school children are cheated out of a decent education.
A contribution of an extra $40 to the $60 price of an hour at Oriental Spa & Massage on Airline in Port Allen brings a nice return on the investment... I mean....Or so I've heard.... ;-)
The NT Times ran an article today that states flat out that the drug companies wrote the drug perscription program that was passed on Medicare today. It was the mildest concession to the tidal wave of sentiment among the elderly that wanted a drug program to help them with their bills, but that would still be a financial bonanza to the drug companies. The Republicans could care less if seniors can pay for the drugs they need to keep them alive. The Republican Party is bought and paid for by the drug companies and HMOs. On other issues they are bought and paid for by other special interest groups also. Republican rule is rule by the Fortune 500, the NRA, and the Christian Right. They are free enterprise government all right. Just like Wal-Mart: you pay them and they give you what you want. If you cannot afford to pay them, they don't want to speak to you.
Unions are cheating school children? Oh, I get it, they are anti- voucher - yet another far right effort to transfer wealth to the wealthy and to leave the worker holding the bag - what else is new? Clinton was recently AQUITTED on the Rich pardon - sure beats pardoning a mass murderer, like GEORGE SR DID; or even Gil Dozier, like Ronnie Reagan did.
Speaking of president's brothers, it looks like Neil Bush's new best friends are Jiang Zemin and Jiang Mianheng: http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/11/25/bush.brother.reut/index.html
G.W's success does remind me of Enron. Everything *looks* rosey, but the bill is coming (with interest). What have we spent in Iraq so far - about $150 billion? And keep your checkbook out because the administration is going to ask for more money come summer. We've got a $400 billion dollar bill for Medicare. Now, I support universal coverage, but only $275 billion of this bill is for prescription drugs. The rest is corporate wellfare. We almost had a pork laden energy bill. We've got farm subsidies out the wazoo. We had the one of the biggest increases in the federal government with the dept of Homeland security. Although the money was certainly worth it. What warning level are we now - yellow? (end sarcasm) There was a time when the Republicans were the responsible ones when it came to money. But man, they would make Robert Byrd blush these days. When a Democrat like me is complaining about big government, something is really wrong
Care to cite your sources on this one??? Klinton wasn't acquitted. IT WASN'T PURSUED because GWB ordered that it NOT be pursued. He didn't want Klinton's felonious activity hanging like a cloud over his administration.
WHAT THE F*&(K ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT??? If vouchers are approved, then private schools are going to need a slew of new teachers. Only, these teachers will have to be qualified and will be GRADED as "TEACHERS". So, the best paid "baby sitters" in America which currently occupy our public school system will have to ACTUALLY DO SOME WORK. They will no longer be protected by a Union that could CARE LESS about the kids and education. Better teachers will be paid accordingly - something the Teacher's Union will fight to the bitter end. Should we begin our discussion of the AFL-CIO???
