Sleight of Hand

Suddenly and surprisingly, the GOP has now decided that it cares deeply about economic inequality in America. I’m sure we all remember that the previous position of the right on this subject was that even mentioning economic inequality was waging “class warfare” and was “the politics of envy.”  We’re glad that they have finally ended their See No Evil period, and now seem interested in addressing the issue.

We can’t wait to see their proposals — but anticipate the prescription from the right will be more of the same:  you know, Deregulate Financial Institutions; Lower Taxes for Corporations and the Uber Wealthy; and maybe even throw in Cutting Food Stamps?

None of it makes any sense in today’s environment … but, you know, they’re still following Ronald Reagan’s economic plan that is now 35 years out of date, and is the plan that caused the economic inequality in the first place!

Following the 2008 crash of the economy — which was completely predictable with all the GOP inspired lax financial regulations and tax cuts for the wealthiest among us — there arose a growing concern among the populace about the enormous concentration of wealth and wealth-growth at the top.

According to Wikipedia, “the richest 1 percent in the United States now own more wealth than the bottom 90 percent.”  The gap between the top 10% and the middle class is over 1,000%; that increases another 1000% for the top 1%. The average employee “needs to work more than a month to earn what the CEO earns in one hour.”

The American people have finally caught on to the GOP deception and realize that addressing runaway economic inequality is not “waging class warfare.”  So, the GOP has no choice but to begin to address the issue and abandon the notion of just dismissing and ignoring it.

Paul Ryan, along with a parade of elected Republicans and GOP spokespersons, is now bringing up the subject of economic inequality — and at the same time is creating yet another deception.  While a few of these  statements may be factually true, the asserted conclusions and implications are untrue.

The new GOP party line is that “income inequality increased under Obama.”  Well, yeah it did … however it has also increased every year, beginning with Ronald Reagan and continuing right through every president since then.  Our middle and lower classes have had a 35 year downward slide since Ronald Reagan won the economic argument — which implemented Reaganomics, better known as Trickle-Down Economics.

The GOP’s deceptive implication is that economic inequality started with Obama and is caused by implementing Obamanomics!  Every serious economist states unequivocally that this president saved the country from falling off an economic cliff; more net jobs have been created under Obama than both Bushes combined — over 1 million jobs added in just the last 3 months; the stock market is booming; and the GDP is growing.  America is leading the world economically and our economy is the envy of the world.

Yes, economic inequality is a continuing problem … and one that the Dems have been trying to tackle — with the GOP’s obstinate obstruction thwarting President Obama’s and the Democrats’ efforts every step of the way.

So, we need to be sure that we don’t just listen to the GOP’s words about economic inequality, we need to see what they actually do.  Remember ~ At first the GOP reflected the attitude of, “Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil” about economic inequality.  And when they suddenly switch their message so drastically and suddenly, maybe we should consider the reason why they would do so.

Maybe we should think “Hmmmm, is this just a deceptive Sleight of Hand?”

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