Lovers of real American history should recall the words uttered by the late, great newsman and newscaster Edward R. Murrow about Senator Joe McCarthy. During the height of the political witch hunts orchestrated and influenced by the late Senator (AKA McCarthyism) Murrow took on McCarthy with his show ‘ See It Now’. At the end of one discourse by Murrow, he quoted from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar: “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars but in our selves.” So this writer says it now, after the utter disgraceful and horrific insurrection at the nation’s Capitol.
Of course, if it was only the goal ( and plan?) to remake our government in the Lord Trump’s image, that alone would be treasonous and of course highly criminal. What really shakes me is how this actual Neo Nazi and white supremacist mindset has been increasingly fermented throughout our nation, especially since Trump took office. Sadly, the anger felt by many of those foolish stooges for Trump has, as usual in many cases of economic and social unrest, been misguided and misplaced. Trump, the quintessential conman/demagogue, for most of his adult life has succeeded through this phony populism. Basically, he is similar to those $2000 suits that stand in front of the altar of packed churches who direct the flock to do their bidding… and send in the cash! In another life Donald Trump would have been the most popular televangelist alive!
One cannot reason with those who support this man and his mantra when it comes to abortion and gays. They will always follow right wing politicos who bang that drum against a woman’s right to choose and a gay person’s right to live as such. As to the others, those who are pissed off at how the government does little to leave them more cash in their pockets, they need to take a breath and ponder. The very people who they support and continually elect to office, Republican and or Democrat, with but few exceptions do not ease their economic pain. Most of those politicos, like Donald Trump, are mega millionaires! You can take Noblesse Oblige and chuck it out the damn window! Many of those ( so called ) leaders won’t even adopt a Universal Basic Income for the hundreds of millions of us who are on thin ice financially, especially due to the pandemic. Yet, they vote to increase the obscene military spending which eats up at least HALF of our federal tax revenue. They agree to continue, as in 2008-09, to bail out the corporate giants on Wall Street and Industry while Mom and Pop America go under.
With Neo liberal President Biden and company taking power, joining with the rich man’s party across the aisle , they will never allow a monthly Universal Basic Income check to keep our wheels moving. Why? Don’t believe the BS by both parties about how fiscally dangerous that would be. Just ask Ellen Brown, expert on public banking and UBI, and she will explain how the UBI is NOT inflationary. On the contrary, it would keep millions of us above water financially, NOT as an elixir, rather a remedy to this ‘ Capitalism on Steroids’ we are enslaved by. For those of my fellow citizens who believe in a God who gave us ‘ Free Will’ , it is time to use it. Isn’t it time for ALL of us, especially the MAGA stalwarts, to see a stimulated economy that satisfies us working stiffs and not just the Fat Cats?
Philip A Farruggio is regular columnist on itstheempirestupid website. He is also frequently posted on Nation of Change and Countercurrents.. He is the son and grandson of Brooklyn NYC longshoremen and a graduate of Brooklyn College, class of 1974. Since the 2000 election debacle Philip has written over 500 columns on the Military Industrial Empire and other facets of life in an upside down America. He is also host of the ‘ It’s the Empire… Stupid ‘ radio show, co produced by Chuck Gregory. Philip can be reached at [email protected].
