Republican Morality - Show Me the Money

"A pundit once described Velveeta cheese spread as, "the triumph of technology over taste." The same wit might depict America's ruling Republican elite as, "the triumph of greed over morality." Early in the morning of November 18th, the Republican majority in the House passed a budget reconciliation bill that graphically illustrates the extent of their depravity. The legislation contains budget cuts of $50 billion. Reductions that drastically impact programs for America's neediest citizens, particularly Medicaid and food stamps. A companion act features $70 billion in tax cuts for America's wealthy. Before the strictly party-line vote on the reconciliation bill, the National Council of Churches pled with every member of Congress. "The role of the government is to protect its people and work for the common good. This is not the time for a budget reconciliation process. To do so is not only unjust, it's a sin. It violates all the fundamental Christian principles of loving thy neighbor, caring for the poor and showing mercy. How is it that we show mercy for oil millionaires and not hurricane survivors?"(http://www.ncccusa.org/news/051020BudgetCutPlans.html) The last few days brought a new series of revelations about misdeeds on Capitol Hill. Monday, Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham, a California Republican, resigned after pleading guilty to taking $2.4 million in bribes for helping secure Defense Department contracts. The previous week, lobbyist Michael Scanlon, a pal of Congressman Tom Delay and a colleague of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, pled guilty to federal conspiracy and promised to work with the Feds. Many feel that Scanlon will be the key witness in the biggest Congressional scandal in over 100 years. These events confirm what many of us have suspected all along. The Republican Party is all about money. Simply stated, the reason why rich folks continue to get tax cuts is that they are able to make huge political contributions to powerful Republicans. Poor folks get the shaft because they can't play the game.