Are You Part of the 47 percent? And the Scoop on this Week’s eTown on the Air:
By Helen ~ September 25, 2012
It’s part two this week, of eTown ‘on the road’ . . . We’re back at the Flynn Center in Burlington, Vermont in this encore airing with three great musical guests: Steve Earle, Allison Moorer, and Anais Mitchell. Also with us: author Woody Tasch (last week in part one we featured E-Chievement award winner Will Raap).
Steve Earle is an American treasure: great songwriter, outspoken, wise, smart as a whip societal watchdog, and brilliant performer. This week, he’s back with more of his original songs. And you’re in for a special treat as well: In part two, Steve is accompanied by his wonderful spouse, a hugely successful artist in her own right, Allison Moorer (also smart, also speaks her mind and also a really great writer and performer – I’ve said before that she’s one of my top ten favorite American female vocalists). And someone I’m always happy to see and catch up with. She’s also a beautiful redhead – wish you could see her on your radio!.
Also with us for a second week in a row is Vermonter Anais Mitchell, a gifted young artist and composer. And author Woody Tasch is back with us in eTown to speak with Nick about the concept of ‘Slow Money’ (and his book by the same name).
I don’t know about you, but I’m mad. Pissed off (ooh, if my mom were alive she’d gently reprimand me for using that term). How could someone who is running for the office of President of the United States assume that 47% of Americans who don’t pay federal taxes do so because they are a bunch of bums? Supposed freeloaders who think they’re ‘victims’ and expect the government to feed, clothe and house them? There are always people who will work the system and are shady or selfish. But its far from the majority of that 47%.
What about the elderly, who have been contributing members of society in their youth, but in their so called ‘golden years’ are now existing on a modest, fixed income that is below the taxation level? What about the Republicans, both rich and poor, in that group of 47% (a noticeable percentage)? What about the working poor, with two or more minimum wage jobs (because that’s what is available) just to make ends meet? That includes a lot of regular folks like you and me who have been laid off or ‘downsized’ out of a job. They did everything ‘right,’ worked hard at a company for decades and paid into their pension fund, only to see that gutted by some corporation that comes in and buys said company, then gives you your pink slip at age 55?
It’s not like these folks haven’t been looking for work. They’d kill to have a decent job (and by the way, about those huge tax cuts for the uber-wealthy that were established during the Bush Jr. administration . . . where was all the job creation that was supposed to result from giving them those cuts?).
And it’s gonna take time to undo all the shenanigans from Wall Street (largely due to deregulation) and such that have messed things up so much in our economy. You can’t realistically expect the horrible financial mess that developed between 2001 – 2008 to be fixed by now, in just three and a half years (respected economists estimate it to take 10-14 years at least). Especially when one of our political parties has thwarted so many attempts to help (think the jobs bill put forth by the current administration as just one example).
It’s disgusting. Govern for the good of the people, legislate on behalf of this great society as a whole for criminy’s sake.
Makes my blood boil. So out of touch with what is really happening. Shame.
Whew. Thanks for letting me vent. Sorry! Next week I’ll focus on the positive, I promise. But c’mon. We should ALL be angry about this.
Best to you all,
Helen
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