The last few weeks I have whipped myself into a complete state over the US Presidential race. It’s made my blood boil and at times whilst walking my dog I’ve found myself in imaginary conversations with members of the “anti Obama” brigade. Of course I always like to be aware of what’s happening in the world, but now more than ever I have seemed to overdose on the injustices and down right lies of the Republican party. I blame facebook for this. I grew up in the deep south, in the heart of the bible belt, in a town adjacent to one of the largest military bases in the world. Not only was Jesus shoved down your throat, but the army was as well. And this was during Reagan’s 80s. I never subscribed to any of that ideology and as soon as I could leave, I did. And since then have been in a lefty bubble. I’m not a democrat, I’m Green Party. I don’t know anyone who is right wing here. My friends and I are anti death penalty, pro gay marriage and adoption, anti war, we go on protests and marches. This is what I have surrounded myself with for over 22 years. But with the advent of Facebook I have been in contact with family and friends from my past and have been bombarded with Pro Life pix ( a girl in my class in on the board of directors!), Pro Ryan pix, Pro Reagan pix, Pro Romney Flyers, Pro Chick Fil A pix, Anti Welfare pix, and of course loads of Anti Obama pix. It’s horrified me how many people I know feel this way. Some say just hide them and get over it, and trust me, I’m doing that, but everyday it seems some right wing image pops up into my view and I feel violated.
I, like many others read all the blogs and info about the flip floppers Romney & Ryan. They’re pro life, pro choice, rape is wrong, rape is conception, It’s Obama’s fault the Ford plant closed, I didn’t say it was Obama’s fault and so on… I’ve read about Mitt’s gay bashing, animal abuse and Anne’s animal abuse as well. Mitt’s huge record of moving jobs overseas. And of course the very shady question over his hiding millions of dollars in off shore havens. It’s all pretty murky stuff. But when I read this article by Matt Taibbi in Rolling Stone Magazine, it actually gave me chills.
It’s all about Bain Capital and how they made most of their millions and it’s a harrowing tale of greed. This man that many Americans are planning on voting for because they think he will create jobs and save the economy, made the bulk of his fortune by creating millions in debt and running hundreds of business’ into the ground leaving thousands jobless. Their business model was nothing more than financial piracy, where they would put a small percent down to buy a company and borrow the rest from a bank. They would then make the company liable for the bank loans and on top of that charge millions in consultancy fees. They would then float the stocks and sell the shares for profit leaving the company saddled with debt. Pensions were raided to try and pay back the millions these business’s owed, forcing many into bankruptcy. It wasn’t just a couple of companies folding, this was a systematic way for the sharks at the top to profit.
A lot of republicans fury is aimed at welfare recipients and how dare my taxes go to those cretins! But it’s sharks like Mitt Romney who have cost the American tax payer – “$1.5 billion in aid he siphoned out of the U.S. Treasury as head of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake – a sum greater than all federal spending for the previous seven U.S. Olympic games combined!” And that’s just one instance he has used many tricks of the trade to double cross the system. He also secured a 10 million dollar govt contract for Bain, where they went in and over charged different govt organizations for “consultancy fees” and you the tax payer funded it. Oh and all the millions and millions he made from his debt creating takeovers, he didn’t have to pay a dime in tax on that profit. And we all know he has stored his vast profits in other countries where the grubby IRS can’t touch it. Even more dirt is coming up like his dealings with criminals (also in the article). And for someone who is a strong Pro Lifer, he doesn’t seem to mind taking money for chucking out fetus’s with his medical waste disposal company – Stericycle.
There are many more sharks like Romney charging the govt millions like Halliburton for one, which you the taxpayer are paying much more for than the people on food stamps who so anger you!
So I ask the friends and family members who are planning to vote for this guy to please take some time and read this article. Is this the guy you think will make America better? He’s the guy who only cares about profiteering for himself and those at the top, leaving no regard for people below and he justifies his immorality by going to church. Pure greed and nothing else. Not what America needs. Click the pic. GD
