It was a Republican Congressman from New York, Peter King, who first branded Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, the Marie Antoinette of the American Senate.
Mr. King was responding to remarks made by the reptilian McConnell that states hardest hit by Covid-19 should simply declare bankrutpcy.
"McConnell's dismissive remark that States devastated by Coronavirus should go bankrupt rather than get the federal assistance they need and deserve is shameful and indefensible," King said. "To say that it is 'free money' to provide funds for cops, firefighters and healthcare workers makes McConnell the Marie Antoinette of the Senate."McConnell had another Marie Antoinette moment when he asked why Congress should respond to what is mainly a "blue state" problem. McConnell's office issued a statement describing the idea as a "Blue State bailout." This drew a quick rebuke from New York governor, Andrew Cuomo.
If it wasn't so deadly serious it would be laughable to watch Trump stand before the White House press corps to spar with America's top medical experts over the pandemic.
Americans celebrate the Boston Tea Party where disaffected colonials rose up to proclaim "no taxation without representation." The Blue States contribute far more to the federal treasury than the Red States yet it is the Red States that are the beneficiaries of Washington's gravy train. Add to this the fact that the heavily populated Blue States with the nation's strongest economies aren't fairly represented in the Senate which is thereby used by McConnell and company as a cudgel against them and one may wonder how frayed America's national unity is becoming?
Let them eat Yellowcake.
ReplyDeleteThat Doctor Osterholm sure lays it out there. 60% to 70% of us will get Covid-19.
ReplyDeleteMcConnell is a waste of breath. It says a lot about his supporters that they keep re-electing him.
The constant negative behavior of the old slave states reinforces my belief that Lincoln made a mistake with his war to prevent the breaking up of the Union. He should have let the seceders go.
It's all part of the neverending Republican war on unions. As the current WH occupant is well aware, bankruptcy allows the voiding of labour contacts. There are few things the GOP likes better than to stick it to public sector unions.
ReplyDeleteCap
The best thing that could happen to the USA is that they re-elect Trump!
ReplyDeleteSometimes you have to reach rock bottom before real change occurs .
At the moment the US has a choice between goofier and goofy.
A change in leadership within the USA will not make a significant difference.
The US is a failed state.
TB
Toby, the case is made out by Chuck Thompson in his eminently enjoyable book, "Better Off Without 'Em."
ReplyDeletehttps://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0061QB16Y/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
ReplyDeleteCap, I'm coming to think they've gone past malevolent to truly evil.
TB, there's plenty of substance for your argument but I'm not yet convinced, perhaps just unwilling to believe, that America is an irredeemably failed state. You may be right but I deeply don't want to believe it.
ReplyDeleteTrailer blazer at some level I'd agree with you but you would have to anticipate the death of millions not only from the virus but from poverty. Many of those dead would be children. They won't have done anything to deserve that.
ReplyDeleteCan a failed state be turned around? yes, it can, but it requires hard work and dedication. there are people in the U.S.A. working hard to feed their neighbours and keep things going.
Although we have seen the protests to open some states up, they're staged. its a play for the base. if the states are opened up too early a million could die. that many body bags really can cause a stink. many Americans have believed the b.s. trump has been shoveling and his friends at fox aren't helping Americans. My expectation is at some point some one is going to die because they followed trump's advise and given the guns there are in the U.S. SOME one is going to get theirs and start shooting politicians.
Gov. Newsom has already referred to California as a nation state and has grouped with Oregon and Washington. N.Y. is part of a 10 state grouping also. My take on it is, those groupings will leave the u.s.a. with their money and leave moscow mitch and kentucy with out a pot to piss in because its states like kentucy which benefit from the wealth the blue states create.
As long as Canada keeps its border to the U.S.A. closed we ought to be O.K. not rich, but alive.
e.a.f. - what would you say if BC sought to join the western states in going it alone? As I've written repeatedly, there's a powerful affinity among BC and the Pacific coast states. We're all the outsiders, divided from the continent by several mountain ranges that, to outsiders, are collectively called the Rockies. Many of us want little to do with Alberta's tantrums and threats. The Pacific states would be happy to have us with them.
ReplyDelete.. might be the most consequential post of our lifetime Mound ..
ReplyDeleteI need to take time to process it ..
Mound, the Cascadia meme is popular along the coast but not so much inland. Those high tech lucrative jobs don't cross the mountains. The likes of Microsoft, Amazon and Intel are not to be found in Walla Walla, Bend or Fresno. Wages in the Okanagan are lower than in Vancouver; we call it the sunshine tax. I can imagine such an alliance split right down the Cascade mountain range right through to the Mexican border. I'm not saying that it would work out that way. The geography runs north <-> south and is a big factor. While it's an enticing thought I'm not holding my breath.
ReplyDeleteYes, there is a 'coastal culture,' Toby.
ReplyDeleteI remember over the years the idea of cascadia has been kicked around a lot. they Premier of B.C. met with the western govenors to discuss a fast rail system. however I'm not keen to join the 3 american western states. I'n Canadian and want to remain part of canada. Its how I was raised and I do believe Canada is one of the best places in the world to live. If we joined the 3 former american states, we would be outvoted. the Americans are different in value and style. I believe various areas of the U.S.A. CAN form their own countries and may do so. More like Europe where countries aren't as large and have their own identify. given the various identities there are in the u.s.a. THEY Might be better off with 3 or 4 different countries, which rule themselves. California has the 5th largest economy in the world bigger than the U.K. if they take the military installations with them, which are based in their state, they're good to go.
ReplyDeleteAny how if B.C. were to leave Canada, what about the maple syrup adn our french language. its part of our identify.