Every Republican wants to steal Social Security

Even Flies know, 
this Guy's Full of Shit

Watch out, slick as shit Republicans have changed their rhetoric every so slightly, calling their plan to swindle Seniors and future Americans out of their Social Security by calling it Spending Reform.  Much of the Republican policy proposals consist entirely of repackaging shit that's become toxic and unfavorable with brand new name.  Hence, Entitlement Reform which polls poorly is now Spending Reform!  

But understand, when it comes to appealing to the American people Republicans don't believe their product needs to change just the way they present it.  And for years Republicans have wanted to eliminate everything which helps the American people because they want you poor, hungry, and desperate.  Ready and willing to accept any and all jobs and with no prospect of retirement.  Republicans want you to work from 18-65 and then die.  (If you really want to understand the rightwing lizard brain when it comes to how much Republicans hate people read the Heritage Link form 2019 about "reforming" Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Just Murderous.)

Will the Corporate Media have the stones to cover this honestly?  I don't think so, since the Corporate Media's job is to massage Republican perfidy into something that seems rational, normal, and acceptable.  Instead of accurately portraying Republican proposal the Corporate Media ties itself into rhetorical knots to make the plain outcome of Republican policies seem to be the opposite of what Republicans earnestly propose.

Republicans have insisted for years that they will eliminate Abortion Nationwide if given the chance.  The Republican Supremacist Court furthered that plan by aborting Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey.  Up to and even after Sammy di Puzzi Alito and Ginni Thomas leaked the opinion the Corporate Media was gainsaying and poo-pooing anyone who pointed out the Republicans always argue in bad faith and are disingenuous with everything they say.  But, the Corporate Media always ignores Republican actions and insists on catapulting the Republican propaganda.  So, Republicans march forward to eliminate Women's reproductive freedom and rights.

Now that Abortion is tantamount illegal in numerous Republican States, Republicans have dropped their bullshit claim that Abortion is a matter best left to States to begin their push to get rid of Abortion everywhere in the United States permanently.  Republicans can advance their nationwide ban with confidence knowing the Media will never cover it until it's a fait accompli and then well I'm certain some phony rightwing outrage over Gay Transgender M&M's or WOKE US Navy aircraft carrier designs will dominate the news cycle.

Human Simulacrum Mike Pence is trying to jump-start his 2024 Presidential ambitions by vowing to steal Social Security,

“I think the day could come when we could replace the New Deal with a better deal. Literally give younger Americans the ability to take a portion of their Social Security withholdings and put that into a private savings account.”

This is lame idea is literally the W(orst POTUS Ever) plan of circa 2004-05, and was fervently what Republicans wanted to have happen in order to stave off the Republican Recession of 2007. Bush et al knew that by stealing social security and funneling it into Wall Street the Republican economic policy which always leads to ruin would have been pushed off for a few more years and fallen square onto a Democratic President's shoulders instead of ruining the last two years off Bush's Evil tenure of murder and mayhem. Instead Republicans crashed the economy as they always do and couldn't convince enough people that it wasn't their fault in 2008.

Now, we are seeing the Republicans pushing forward with the Debt Ceiling brinksmanship in order to get President Joe Biden to agree to cuts to the Social Safety Net, the elimination of Social Security, and the abolishment of another plank of the Progressive Era of the 20th century.

But, Qevin McCarthy has a problem in that Trump already sabotaged the Republican plan to steal Social Security and Republicans can't agree on what GAY WOKE Military budget items they wish to eliminate.  So, the Republicans are left with coming up with cheap lies about work and nebulous spending cuts.

"People come up to me, they actually want to work longer." - Republican Representative Rick Allen of Georgia said in January. Allen was part of craven 2022 Republican coven which proposed raising the retirement age to 70. Because Republicans want you to work and then die. They don't want you to "retire". Retirement is saved for the 1% not the hoi polloi 

Giant Texas asshole Jodey Arrington appealed to the Great Bipartisan Holy Grail of Tip O'Neil and Ronnie Raygun agreeing to devastate Social Security (If you'll recall back in 1981 Ronnie told America Social Security was on the verge of bankruptcy) in 1983 Budget talks and hopes to once again put a steak knife through America.  The New Republican House is primed with Regressive Trolls who think they can win this fight because they've no problems destroying America.  In fact, that's what they want to do.

Governor Bruce Rauner's Turn Around and Screw Working Class Illinois Residents Agenda

Illinois is now facing the prospect of having gone an entire year without a proper state budget as Bruce Rauner (Ruiner) continues his efforts to subjugate and enslave Illinois workers.

For the last week, vehicle emissions test facilities have had lines backed up for miles. Well, I can tell you anyone going to an emissions test station today is going to wait hours and some of the overworked stations are closing because of mechanical problems. When was the last time Ruiner had to go and get his own vehicle registration? When was the last time Ruiner put on his carhartt jacket and drove his truck for a vehicle emissions test?

My job is never "off". I've worked New Year's Eve, St. Patrick's Day, multiple Christmases, and every other holiday you can think of. I don't regularly get normal holidays off. I've had to work overnight shifts and then work parades a couple hours later. I've gone to court at 26th and California on my off days. I don't have luxury time that a man of leisure like Bruce Ruiner does.

Of course, Ruiner doesn't care. He's on a mission to balance the Illinois budget on the backs of the working class. He's on a mission to sabotage the Illinois Government and then proclaim Government doesn't work. He's on a mission to swindle more pension funds from those people he's already stolen so much from. Like all Plutocrats he's on a mission to turn the government into an unresponsive body which only caters to the whims of other Plutocrats.

So, if this screws over working class people, makes them irritated, causes them to miss work, or incur fines from the State, Bruce Rauner chalks that up as a win. Because the more government is hamstrung, the more the Illinois residents believe "government" doesn't work, the more the Chicago Tribune covers for Rauner, the more leverage he has to push through his agenda of turning the Illinois Worker into a Wage Slave.

Cops have been turned into Toll Collectors and Leg-Breakers

Having worked The Job for many years, one of decisions I've seen many Departments adopt is the use of Police Officers as an additional source of revenue for the Village coffers.

While Broken Windows tasked Police Officers with treating everyone living in certain areas, usually People of Color as potential criminals, most Departments also have policies on the books so Officers treat the people, they are ostensibly tasked with protecting and serving, as ATMs.

Jaywalking? $50. Underage drinking? $100. Cannabis smoking pipe? Another $100. DUI arrest? Tack on the administrative tow fee. Left wheel to curb? Overnight Parking? 30 minute parking limit? Ca-ching, ca-ching, ca-ching...

From the small Village of Bull Valley, in McHenry County Illinois comes the story of traffic stops by the BVPD using a non-moving infraction as a revenue generator. BVPD is stopping construction vehicles that do not have proper lettering and signage on the side of the vehicle and issuing a Village Ordinance Citation based on State Law 625 ILCS 5/12-713. The problem is even though Illinois Representative Dan Burke said he crafted the changes in the law to allow application to be handed locally instead of through District Courts, the "loop-hole" discovered by Bull Valley's Chief of Police is not against the letter of the law.

Now, why are Police Departments doing this? The reason is simple, taxes are too low on the wealthy and Corporations therefore various Towns need some way to make up budget shortfalls. Especially in Illinois, where for the privilege of having Boening's Corporate Headquarters in Chicago, Boening pays an effective tax rate of near Zero Percent. Other large "Illinois-based" Corporations similarly benefit from tax code legerdemain.

But, despite the retasking Police Officers haven't been able to generate enough! Thus, enter the automated Red Light and Speed Cameras in the City of Chicago and Suburbs. In 2014, Suburban Red Light Cameras took in $12 million. These fines are of course borne dispropotionately by Working Class people driving to and from work.

Turning Cops into Debt and Dues Collectors has been the most wrongheaded decisions adopted by municipalities across the Nation as Villages struggle to meet financial obligations. But, it's only going to increase as the Rich transfer more and more of the financial burden onto the vanishing Middle Class and beleaguered Working Class.

Republicans and the Rich are supporting Mayor 1%. You should support Chuy Garcia

Republican Mark Kirk, one of the 47 Senate Traitors, who recently compared Liberals to the Southern Racists of the 1850's, said,

"I would worry about the value of the Chicago debt if Rahm was not re-elected. It’s a concern if we have some of the less responsible people running against him."

'Awful nice City you have there... Be a shame if something was to happen to it,' Cheap Gangster rhetoric from Traitor Mark Kirk. Responsibility to Traitor Kirk is kicking poor people into the gutter and ensuring the Mayor uses the power of Government to transfer wealth upwards to the Rich. All you really need to know about the Race for Chicago Mayor is the Rich and Republicans en masse are supporting Rahm Emmanuel.

Rahm is acutely aware of this and has been trying to tout his "Union" Support.

"While you may want to say Ken Griffin or other people, then you have to include all the members of the Unite Here Local 1 (a hospitality worker's group), all the members of the carpenters union, all the members of the electrician workers, all the Teamsters..." Mayor 1% Rahm Emmauel named a bunch more working class groups to show that he knows the little people.

However, this week alone Ken Griffin gave another $500,000 to a Re-elect Rahm PAC. A former Goldman Sachs executive Muneer Satter and his wife has donated another half million to Rahm. Officially Mayor 1% has raised $20 million for re-election.

Griffin and Bruce Rauner have each donated millions to Rahm's Election. Governor Rauner, since being sworn in, has done nothing but try to destroy Unions and screw over Working Class people. So, he sees in Rahm Emmanuel a kindred spirit. Rahm Emmanuel's entire tenure as Mayor has been a steady effort to balance the budget on the backs of the Working Man.

From his illegal Red Light Cameras with their 2 second yellows, closing down half a dozen mental health clinics that help the poor, and his decision to close schools in poor and minority communities while telling the Chicago Teacher's Union to lie back and enjoy it, Rahm has been nothing but a blight upon the Working Class and Neoliberal Hatchet Man.

Of course, the most grievous allegations are Rahm's tacit support(?) for the Chicago Police Black Site at Homan Square. Of course, Rahm's staunch supporters, the Republican Party and the Rich don't care about Homan Square because that abuse is heaped upon poor people and minorities.

Meanwhile, there is a better alternative for Chicago; Jesus "Chuy" Garcia.

Chuy Garcia worked in Mayor Harold Washington's cabinet, has resided and labored in Chicago for decades. The facts surrounding the despicable Rahm Emmanuel are so egregious Chuy forced a run-off during the Democratic Primary, the first time a sitting Chicago Mayor has ever faced such a defeat. But, that defeat galvanized the Rich and the Republicans and they kicked their slime ball tactics and big money smear campaign into high gear.

"Unless they get the crazy lefty money machine going nationally, it’s not going to matter that there’s a resurgent left,” said an adviser to Mr. Emanuel who did not want to speak publicly about strategy. "The liberals at Heartland Cafe in Rogers Park can think great thoughts and read poetry for Chuy, but nothing else will happen."

While, money is key; it is not the key to this election. Rahm, his PAC and his Rich Owners are terrified a slightly liberal moderate like Chuy Garcia will get into the Mayor's Office and disrupt their schemes to destroy the Teacher's Union, institute Charter Schools (funded by regular taxpayers) and end the tax haven Chicago has become so Corporations can funnel Billions of Dollars through the City at an infinitesimal tax rate.

Republican Congressman Aaron Schock's gay olde time on the Taxpayer Dime

So, a name and picture of Aaron Schock's "Luggage Lifter" has been released. Mock, Paper, Scissors uncovered the Link and his name is Jonathon.

Despite not being a staff member (giggity) of Aaron Schock's till September 2014, Jonathon Link has been the unofficial offical videographer/photographer documenting Schock's Rad Time as a Congressman. Schock has been billing the American People, accepting hundred's of thousands of dollars in undeclared gifts, and possibly misappropriating funds from his Generation Y PAC for his and his big staff's (giggity) trips to the Aegean Sea, India, the ski slopes of Colorado and frequent big ticket events.

The revelations keep coming out. In September Schock and 10 members of his staff spent at least $10,000 taxpayer dollars to attend the Global Citizen Festival in New York City. Obviously, this was essential to understanding the lives of the people in his district. And Schock has been billing taxpayers more than a $1000-a-month for travel expenses inside his district alone!

Schock supposedly represents the blue collar downstate Illinois District 18, which includes Bloomington-Normal, Springfield and Peoria. Peoria's median income is $40,000 with a median home value of $127,000. Or basically what Aaron Schock spends on travel for ONE of his fabulous staff getaways and what he spent for the Downton Abbey renovations on his D.C. Office. I doubt the conservatives in Peoria, Illinois care that Schock was living the Cowabunga Dudebro life courtesy of the Illinois and U.S. Taxpayer. It is Always Okay if you are a Republican.

Governor Bruce Rauner's continuing Quest to Impoverish Illinois, Crush Unions, Raise Taxes on the Poor, and Lower Taxes on the Rich

Well I've got a little somethin'
Guaranteed to ease your mind
It's called Snake Oil y'all
It's been around for a long, long time - Snake Oil, Copperhead Road Steve Earle (1988)

Illinois Governor Pharaoh Bruce Rauner was handed an Executive set-back last Friday the 13th when his hand-picked Comptroller Leslie Munger, based on advice from Attorney General Lisa Madigan's Office, ruled Pharaoh Rauner's Imperial Order on Union Dues was not legal.

So, Pharaoh Rauner, in his goal to Impoverish Illinois, simply ignored the ruling of Comptroller Munger and ordered State Agencies to withhold "Fair Share" fees from Unions in escrow accounts. The escrow accounts, in and of themselves are also illegal under Illinois Law but, who cares we've got an Plutocrat here who wants to screw workers and Unions over!

Rauner is constrained by the 1947 Taft-Hartley act which allowed for the creation of Right-to-Work For Less Laws but, specifically enumerated only in States or Territories. Bruce Rauner will never get Right-to-Work For Less passed in the Illinois Legislature so he's trying to set up a Supreme Court fight going by allowing local municipalities break their local Unions themselves.

Rauner is a despicable thief and Vandal Capitalist, therefore he will never be dissuaded from his Quest to crush the power of workers and impoverish regular Illinois citizens.

What's clear is Bruce Rauner wants to impose Austerity on Illinois and make Illinois "favorable" for Business. The details of Rauner's New Budget are still shrouded in secrecy but will be revealed in his Budget Speech on 02/18/15. He gave a closed-door preview to House Speaker Mike Madigan today.

Madigan didn't pull any punches on the so-called "tough medicine" Rauner is peddling,

"I said 10 days ago, I don’t think you can cut your way out of the problem. I think you need some additional revenue, and that’ll be my position tomorrow."

Rauner isn't peddling "tough medicine" but the typical Republican Brew; Snake Oil. 

It's indisputable Rauner's New Illinois Budget will include; Higher Taxes on the Poor, Lower Taxes on the Rich, Taxes on Pensions, new taxes on services, food and medications and dramatic reductions to Social Services for those most in need.

So... Get Ready for Republican Governance, Illinois. Get Ready for Economic Zones in which Corporations pay less than 1/100th of 1% in Taxes while your taxes go up.  Get Ready for Austerity. Get Ready for Pharaoh Rauner's Right-Wing Snake Oil.

New York's Finest, The Thin (Skinned) Blue Line

Now choke yourself. Goddamn it, with MY hand, numb-nuts! Don't pull my fucking hand over there! I said choke yourself; now lean forward and choke yourself! - Marine Corps legend R. Lee Emery and Vincent D'Onofiro famous Boot Camp introduction scene in Full Metal Jacket (1987)

As New York's Whiniest continue their spectacle of entitlement and petulance, the New York Post is reporting Police Union Leaders have convinced the Thin Skinned Blue Line to engage in a work slow down. According to the Post,

overall arrests down 66 percent for the week starting Dec. 22 compared with the same period in 2013, stats show. 

Citations for traffic violations fell by 94 percent, from 10,069 to 587, during that time frame. 

Summonses for low-level offenses like public drinking and urination also plunged 94 percent — from 4,831 to 300. 

Even parking violations are way down, dropping by 92 percent, from 14,699 to 1,241. 

Drug arrests by cops assigned to the NYPD’s Organized Crime Control Bureau — which are part of the overall number — dropped by 84 percent, from 382 to 63.

From invoking the Stab-in-the-Back rhetoric to Disrespectful protesting at Funeral of a fellow Officer, the New York Police Department has put a permanent blemish on their Shields, which will take years of hard work to erase.

It's hard to see whom exactly the NYPD think they hurting with this work stoppage? The reaction to the drop in citations and the declaration Officers are making arrests "only when they have to" has been 'Super! keep up the great work'.

Now, perhaps the Officers are trying to bring Mayor de Blasio to heel by cutting off funding for the City Budget, but such a tacit admission that Police Departments, including the Nation's Largest, have been filling City Budget Holes on the backs of the Working Class probably isn't the message the NYPD wants to be sending.

Of course, the NYPD, as a monolithic organization, probably doesn't care what anyone thinks. But, the interesting phenomenon has been the sudden tack by the American Right back towards unwavering support for "Law & Order". Meanwhile, Right-Wing violence, up to and including murder of Police Officers, is coddled and encouraged in America.

Conservatives, of course, don't give a shit about individual Cops but, what they do love is exerting Power and Authority, especially the type traditionally enforced by Police Departments over their enemies.

Police Departments have always been the guardians of the 1%, the enforcers of the plutocracy, with specific goals of keeping the Working Class in line and incarcerating or killing minorities.

Law books are replete with "crimes" designed to nickel and dime the Poor and Working Class to make them pay for their own incarceration, with "fines, fees and costs".

Besides the constant threat of arrest and imprisonment for minor offenses, the Working Class faces the full power of the American Justice System while the 1% are free to swindle Billions and even escape unscathed because of their Affluenza.

Volkswagen threatened by Republicans. Boeing screws its' Employees. Conservatives hate Unions and Freedom.

Three years ago, I wrote about Boeing turning to the Republican Party to aid them in their quest to destroy their Union.

Chicago* based Boeing, in retaliation against their Union Workers, has decided to move a 787 plant to South Carolina, a so-called Right-to-Work State. This is because South Carolina outlaws Unions. Can't have workers gettin' all Uppity and shit! 

S. Carolina also has Nikki Haley, a Teabagging Governor. Haley had this to say, when the National Labor Relations Board took up the Union complaint to stop this move, "If this is checks and balances, God help our country."

Ever since Ronnie Raygun, the Right-Wing Hero of a Thousand Myths, obliterated PATCO he signaled to Businesses across the Nation that it was Open Season on Unions and they can rely on the Awesome Power of the Government to back them up as they grind the Working Class into dust.

Well, a new struggle in Tennessee is illustrating once again the Republican Plan to obliterate Unions and ensure Americans are reduced to Wage Slavery.

"The members of the Tennessee Senate will not view unionization as in the best interest of Tennessee." Tennessee State Senator Bo Watson said at a news conference. He added that a pro-U.A.W. vote would make it “exponentially more challenging” for the legislature to approve future subsidies. 'That's an awfully nice plant yous got there... Be a shame if somethin' were to happen to it...'

Now we also have an admission by Tennessee Republican Senator Bob Corker that he's gotten special assurances the Union vote will be defeated. Corker didn't further explain if this would be accomplished by importing Pinkerton's to crack Worker's skulls or if Republicans would just make voting illegal.

"I’ve had conversations today and based on those I am assured that should the workers vote against the UAW, Volkswagen will announce in the coming weeks that it will manufacture its new mid-size SUV here in Chattanooga," Senator Corker said, without saying with whom he had the conversations. 

Well, previously Corker has boasted about his deep involvement in VW's hierarchy, "I know [VW Chairman Martin] Winterkorn really really well. We're in constant contact with Volkswagen at every level. Seriously, I don't know a public official that's been more involved with Volkswagen."

Governor Bill Haslam added his concerns about being able to attract other business to Tennessee without the prospect of wage slave labor, "I think that there are some ramifications to the vote in terms of our ability to attract other suppliers..."

Senator Corker, Governor Haslam and other Tennessee Republicans have held multiple special press conferences given several interviews to make their hatred of Unions and the UAW known while reiterating threats to harm Volkswagen and the people of Tennessee whom they ostensibly represent.

In truth, Republicans represent Corporations and are the enemy of Working Class Americans.

The situation is so dire that Grover Norquist, Staunch enemy of Working Class People everywhere, descended upon Chattanooga with his army of plutocrat worshipping acolytes to rent 12 billboards to tell the people of Tennessee that if the UAW unionizes the VW plant, ALEC will work to destroy their State just like they've done in Michigan, Indiana and elsewhere.

Conservatives love this because conservatives ardently believe the Awesome Unique Power of Government should be used to help Corporations exert total dominance and control over Americans. Conservatives hate when the Power of Government is used to help people, especially the poor, women, or minorities.

But, conservatives also hate when regular Americans organize and fight for rights on their own as the Union organization in Tennessee illustrates.

"We are in a battle with Mexico on where this new product goes," said Mike Burton of Southern Momentum, an anti-UAW group, "and it stands to reason that the union will add costs. We need to keep costs down to fight for that new product."

See, anything which helps the Working Man is anathema to Conservatives, who love Wage Slavery and want to shackle Americans with the chains of Corporate Bondage.

Mike Burton's "Keep costs down" equals lowering the wages of Americans and destroying the American Dream.

As such, once Business knew they could rely on the wholly owned Republican Party and Pro-Business Democrats, the American Dream has been brought to the brink of extinction. Over the last 35 years of Neo-Liberal Ultra-Reactionary Republican leadership the Middle Class has been ground into dust and the Working Class has been driven into near penury.

Briefly back to Boeing, who succeeded in dividing the Machinist's Union this year. Boeing threatened its' employees that without an end to a defined pension benefit they would move operations out of the area as they had previously done in 2011 with the threat to move to South Carolina. Well, the Machinists caved to the pressure from Boeing, Washington State Politicians and the Media and despite having a contract through 2016 agreed to end defined pensions, which will be frozen in 2016 and allow all new hires to be shafted under 401(k) non-retirement plans.

The vast majority of Boeing contracts come from the US Government. They also routinely receive special tax-payer funded welfare from Washington State, Kansas, Illinois and DC. Last November, Olympia agreed to let Boeing flout paying their fair share of taxes for 30 years, Boeing was given a package of $8.7 Billion in taxpayer assistance.

Boeing is a Corporation which would collapse without Government contracts and tax assistance. Boeing also engages in routine criminal overcharging of the Government (acts which would be called stealing if you, I or former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell did it) for all the contracts they sign, while flagrantly reneging on their side of the bargains with workers whenever they feel like it.

One of the goals of the Republican Party and Pro-Business Democrats is to make the Working Class understand that they have no friend in Government. They represent Corporations.

All across America we've seen defeat after defeat of Unions as Republicans advance the cause of the Plutocracy and and with it the Rise of a Billionaire Class, a group of 400 people which controls more wealth than over 150 million Americans. As Unions retreat so does the Middle Class and the American Dream.

Already we've seen Generation X and the Millenials, the children and grandchildren of the Baby Boomers, deal with a lower standard of living than their parents, soon their children and grandchildren will wake up and see Republicans and Conservatives have sold them into Corporate Bondage and they've lost the Freedoms past generations fought and died to win.

Governor Candidate Bruce Rauner has a message for Illinois, I Plan to Crush Workers and give Taxpayer welfare to Corporations

Bruce Rauner has reported incomes of $27 million in 2010, $28 million in 2011 and $53 million in 2012 has concluded that the minimum wage in Illinois is too high.

"Capitalism is the greatest poverty-fighting machine in the history of mankind, and I’m proud of the role I’ve played in it," Bruce Rauner.  

Rauner "worked" for 30 years at GTCR which has "managed money" for decades for the Illinois Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) and the Illinois State Board of Investment, the largest and third-largest state pension funds, respectively, in Illinois.

Of course, like all modern "wealth managment" millionaires, Rauner made his money by accounting gimmicks and legerdemain. He's charged extorbinant consultation fees and clipped money from Pensioners, while mismanaging public pension funds.

Just like Mitt Romney and other so-called Capitalists, Rauner made his money the old-fashioned way... He Stole It. Now that he's skimmed off millions he's quick to lambast Illinois' underfunded pension liability.

"When those excess benefits are being paid out to government employees, taxpayers lose." Bruce Rauner

Yeah, lazy Teachers! Working for 30 years and then expecting a pension, whereas Rauner's Role as a Rentier, extracting $100 million from the Pensions over the last 3 years alone, is beautiful capitalism at work of which he's "proud".

GTCR has raised the largest percentage portion of its money from public pension funds. Pensions supplied half to two-thirds of the firms funds according to Rauner's own estimate. His former partners decline to comment, citing a state prohibition on asset managers who receive public money from trying to influence elections.

A month ago, Bruce Rauner pledged at a Downstate candidates’ forum that if elected governor he would reduce the state’s minimum wage by $1 to make it equal to the federal rate in an effort to make Illinois more economically competitive.

"I made a mistake. I was flippant and I was quick. I should have said, 'Tie the Illinois minimum wage to the national wage and, in that context, with other changes in being pro-business, I support raising the national minimum wage.' I’m OK with that," said the Republican from Winnetka.

Key words to remember are to make Illinois "Pro-Business", that means crushing labor. Modern day Capitalists view labor as an unnecessary expense. One of the long sought after goals of the 1%, in pursuit of a Wage Slave State, has been the total defeat of Labor. 

Here in Illinois we've seen many times business try and strong-arm the Governor and Legislature (Sears Inc., CME Group and Office Max) in Pay-to-Play and the Race-to-the-Bottom schemes.

In fact, Illinois Residents overwhelmingly want Fair Tax Legislation passed in which Corporations and Millionaires, like Rauner, pay their fair share of taxes instead of receiving Illinois taxpayer welfare so we can be privileged by their scores of minimum wage jobs. A Better Illinois points out that over 75% of Illinois residents want a Fair Progressive Tax.

Billionaires and Corporate Thieves are so opposed to shouldering their burden of the Taxes that spearheaded by the Koch Brothers, conservative think tanks are planning a non stop propaganda blitz to poison this effort.

Bruce Rauner has unequivocally stated he intends to use the Awesome Power of Government to crush labor, reduce wages, impoverish workers, eliminate Unions, and place further unfair burdens on the over-taxed working class and shrinking middle class. Like all Republicans, a Rauner Governorship would be an implacable foe of the Working Class and would he align himself with the Koch Brothers.

Veterans, the Post Office, and the Right-Wing's efforts to eliminate both

Veteran's Day.

R. V. Burgin, a famous Marine who fought at Peleliu and Okinawa, joined the US Post Office after the War in The Pacific.

My regular postman is a Veteran. My mother works for the Post Office. Many Veterans have worked and do work for the Post Office after their military careers.

In 2006, the Republican Party hatched a plan to cripple the US Postal Office. The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 mandated the agency “pre-pay” into a fund that covers 75 years of health care costs for future retired employees. Under the mandate, the USPS is required to make an annual $5.5 billion payment over ten years.

In 2011, former Congressman Joe Walsh took time out of his busy schedule not paying child support to scream at Melissa Rakestraw, a postal worker and constituent, when she met Joe at a Coffee house to voice her concerns that a 2011 Republican Bill would destroy the Post Office,

"If the Postal Service can't compete in the marketplace," then Congressman Walsh shouted. "I am tired of propping it up!"

Of course, that's not true, the taxpayers are not "propping it up". Since reforms to the Postal Service in 1971, 1982 and 1984 the Post Office is not funded by Taxpayer welfare in contrast to Darrell Issa's lavish pension under the FERS and the free health care Walsh received to "prop" himself up and $350,000 dollars that Joe Walsh earned for his two years of "work" in Congress.

After video of the ignorant puerile Walsh came to light, Rakestraw told interviewers, "[E]arlier I had told him if he supports Darrell Issa‘s bill to reform the Post Office that 200,000 jobs could be lost. 20% of those employees are veterans. Mr. Walsh came up to me and said, ‘I do not care about the loss of public sector jobs.’"

As it specifically relates to the USPS the Plutocracy wants is a Rump Post Office. Lucrative routes will be privitazed (i.e. Manhattan, Hawaii to CONUS) while cost ineffective routes, the South Dakota Bad Lands or the wide open plains of rural Wyoming, will be run by the Post Office.

Issa, Joe Walsh, Peter Roskam and the Republicans goal is the desire of the Plutocracy; to eliminate what the US Post Service offers and represents; a living wage, reliable benefits, and a defined pension, a stable retirement. A chance to create a solid future for oneself and their family. 

The Republican Party are adamantly opposed to the Americans Middle Class and have been working for 35 years to grind them into dust,

"Who does Barack talk about all the time? The middle class. Since when in America do we have classes? Since when in America are people stuck in areas, or defined places called a class? That’s Marxism talk. When Republicans get up and talk about middle class we’re buying into their rhetoric of dividing America. Stop it." Republican Rick Santorum, former Senator and Presidential Candidate.

Getting rid of the Post Office will go along way towards destroying the Middle Class and driving 99% of Americans into Penury and Corporate Bondage.

Mayor 1% to balance the Chicago Budget on the backs of the Working Class

So Mayor Rahm Emmanuel is back at enforcing Neoliberal economic Austerity on Chicago.

Besides shutting down mental health clinics for poor people, eliminating CPS buildings used by minorities and working class families, and then giving hundreds of millions of welfare dollars to private contractors to build a casino in McCormick Place, a basketball stadium for DePaul University, and for bizzare Navy Pier upgrades like a pool-szed "Giant Civic Hot Tub"; Rahm Emmanuel has earned his moniker Mayor 1%.

Now, Rahm has proposed a novel way of balancing the budget, by squeezing more and more money from working class Chicago families and collar county residents.

Mayor 1% is counting on $120 million in fines from red-light and speed cameras and $10 million more from higher parking fines and impounded vehicle storage fees. Additionally, along with other so-called "sin" taxes, the price of cigarettes is going to go up by 75 cents, making the purchase of a pack of smokes in Chicago the most expensive in the US.

Rahm likes to brag about not raising taxes but like all neoliberals his tax hikes are firmly targeted at those who don't have his ear and aren't rubbing elbows with him. Like, all "Capitalists" in America, Mayor 1% friends make their money by getting government stooges to funnel taxpayer money to them.

Previously, Rahm gave $15 million plus of taxpayer monies to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange right after CME blackmailed Governor Quinn with ransom demand for $100 million in Corporate Welfare from the State of Illinois or else.

When Mayor 1% closed 6 of 12 mental health clinics in Chicago he did so at the behest of his owners. Rahm is a tool of the Rich and powerful. His Plutocratic owners will make huge profits from mental healthcare now that the clinics are closed and people have less options. In fact, Rahm had to give at least $500,000 in government funds to private mental healthcare immediately upon closing the 6 clinics, slashing a third off the so-called budget savings back in 2012.

Mayor 1% tax hikes are set at working class people who can't afford to rent limos and have to drive and park in the city and each day are subjected to a fine for that turn on red or a fee for parking to close to that hydrant.