THE WIDENING DIVIDE: T-PARTY IMAGINATION

Posted by Wiley,  02/15/2014

He had come to the airport on Saturday morning in June, 2017, to just ride along on a skydiving flight with a friend.  He was early, so he decided to take a short nap in the hanger.  As he was falling asleep, he heard someone say, “Look! look!  They're boarding the plane!"  

"That's good, but we have time", he heard a skydiver say.  "Skydiving opens up a new world to you.  There is a great rush as you head for the ground!"  Soon, it seemed, the voices faded, the airplane took off, and he fell into a deep sleep.

Somewhere down there (on the ground), a television news broadcaster tells the world a Senate Staffer is going along with the skydivers who are trying to set a record for the fastest descent to the ground.  The broadcaster calls in one of the many reporters on the network who excitedly reports that a note has been found in a bathroom at the airport.  The note says, "I am one of the skydivers and I plan to use my leap from the plane to change the world".  

The press thinks it's from the Senate Staffer! Why? Because if he (or she) is a Democrat, the world has already changed!  Long established laws and regulations were revised or repealed by the T-Party after they won control of Congress in 2016 (they also won the Presidency).  The T-Party led the way, absorbing the Republican Party into its ranks with the simple edict: choose us or lose all!  Elections do HAVE CONSEQUENCES! 

The T-Party came in locked and loaded!  Their mission was clear: balance the budget.  They sold Alaska to the Russians, Puerto Rico to the Mexicans, and off shore drilling rights to the Saudis. They downsized every Government agency/department except the Department of Defense (DOD). The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was hit with a 50 percent reduction in force.  The T-Party had buy out, opt out (just leave), and layoff plans for  nearly all Government workers.  They   restructured Homeland Security (e.g., moving border security to DOD);  eliminated the EPA, HUD, and the Departments of Education, Commerce, and Transportation.  Layoff was the word of the day.

The elimination of the Department of Transportation led to the privatization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the 2017 sale of the Interstate Highway System to the Chinese. Signed into law by Republican President, Dwight David Eisenhower, the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956) played a key role in the growth of the American economy. The Chinese upgraded the roads, bridges and railways by setting up tolls at every logical and not so logical location before the year  ended.

The International Space Station shown over Miami, Florida.
                                                           Photo Credit: NASA

In their drive to balance the budget, they sold the Mars Rovers to the Chinese; leased the Weather Service to the Chamber of Commerce, and now have a ”For Sale” sign on the International Space Station.  They considered selling the Global Positioning System (GPS),  but DOD wouldn’t stand for it. Their simple, but hard  nosed challenge to each entity: choose us, or lose all!     

It seemed as if nothing mattered more to the T-Party than balancing the budget.   Shortly after the T-Party President was sworn in, legislation was introduced that revised or repealed all of the remaining policies of Presidents Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson.  Chief among the items revised or repealed: the Social Security Act of 1935, which established Social Security and provided economic security for the elderly and those no longer able to work;  the National Labor Relations Act which established the federal rights of workers to organize unions, to engage in collective bargaining, and to take part in strikes; and, the Fair Labor Standards Act(FLSA) of 1938, which created the minimum wage.  The T-Party called FLSA and all such Acts "Socialism" or "Communism", and they want to raise the eligibility age for Social Security to 70!  

Back at the airport, an unauthorized person has been discovered passed out in one of the hangers.  The on-the-scene reporter rushed out to get this possible “Breaking News”.                         

FORGET President Lyndon Baines Johnson!  The T-Party made Medicare a Voucher Program and Medicaid a Welfare Program.  The Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act also bit the dust. In their eyes, those policies represent THE EVILS OF BIG GOVERNMENT!   The T-Party solution: cut it to the bone! The layoffs in the Government were drastic

To help the T-Party celebrate their victory, the zero point one percent (0.01) wealthiest Americans are offering $100,000 bonuses to any Black or Latino family wishing to immigrate to any place in Africa or South America. 

Surely, there are Republicans around who will oppose these actions...perhaps a silent , but voting minority, (no?).  

Meanwhile, there is a report from the on-the-scene reporter: "I think I’ve found the missing member of the skydiver group.  He appears dazed.  He is looking at me now.  "Sir, are you all right?” 

Man: “I came to take the ride up with the sky divers, but I was early so I decided to take a short nap. Apparently, I slept through the whole thing!   I also had a bad dream, a very bad dream.  Can you tell me who is the president of the United States?”

Reporter: ”The president of the United States is Elizabeth Warren!

Man:! “So, the T-Party is not running the Country!  Thank God!  I still have a job!“

(END)