History Repeating Itself? My Rants on Latest Republican Tomfoolery

I'm a parent (No, I'm not. Mainly, I don't want my potential kids raised around these bumkins here.) who succumbs to my child's whims. I take him grocery shopping and he pitches a fit when he sees a cereal he wants. "No, that has too much sugar," I reply. Immediately, he begins screaming his lungs out. "O.k.," responding to shut him up. This is my analogy for yesterday's House Republicans.

The $819 billion economic stimulus package was passed, but all 188 Republicans voted no. Is this script familiar? Every Republican voted against FDR's Social Security proposal. LBJ's Medicare program received the same result. Both historic periods show Republicans began compromising. This time, I'm not so sure about it, particularly after watching how Republican Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor proposed a completely contradictory stance on the bill.

Cantor and fellow Republicans desperately tried to revise the bill. Minority Leader John Boehner opposed the bill before it was even written. We saw numerous Republicans complain this bill has too much going into infrastructure and road work. They said this probably won't create many jobs. Yesterday, Cantor proposed an alternative measure and said only a small percentage is being allocated to roads and funding. It should be doubled. Contradiction?

Now, I think if the name of our President was still George W. Bush, Republicans would've backed this. Accomplished economists on both philosophical spectrums said there isn't enough being spent on this including Paul Krugman. This is a well-balanced bill that gives tax credits to average Americans despite Republicans complaining about that -- i.e. it should go to financial institutions who reward incompetent executives who were responsible for this mess with bonuses. Consumer spending can only begin when wages are raised and jobs are created. This bill opens the door for both.

Some concessions were made for Republicans, most notably withdrawing $200 million for contraceptives and family planning. How does this stimulate the economy? I've heard average dopes asking this question. Well, it provides resources to agencies severely underfunded, educates would-be-parents on safe sex, and most notably reduces health care costs. Sarah Palin's state is a great example of practicing irresponsible sex. We have all these boner ads out now, and I'm still waiting for the birth control ad. You can have a young man and woman high five each other when she learns she's not pregnant after a drunken one-night stand leaving a bar. Besides, how does a parent explain to a child what Cialis is and does?

Personally, I'm not immune from this Depression. Our company is shut down again next week. This is just a month removed after we were all laid off for two weeks after the week of Christmas. All of us are hard workers and don't deserve to receive that pink slip. I realize conditions might get worse before they get better and we could see this crisis last for several more months.