Thursday, February 21, 2008

Trickle up economics













"No, no, give me your money!"

Oh. Your. God. Someone wants to help someone less fortunate!

Let's get him!

It isn't a high-profile bill, but the Global Poverty Act has lit up the conservative blogosphere, and even Rush Limbaugh has gotten into the act.
Once they found out it wasn't about increasing global poverty, then yeah, they were all pretty pissed off. Can you blame them? The third world is rich with jungles full of fresh fruits and vegetables and many tasty tigers and giraffes and hippopotamuses. They certainly don't need a handout.
Quietly approved by the House of Representatives last fall with bipartisan support, the bill, sponsored by Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., would require the president to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to help reduce extreme global poverty.
Mark it down, kids. The first -- and last -- time that a gaggle of wingnuts publicly came out against anything associated with an 'Adam Smith.' But what has their collective panties in a not-at-all sensual Gordian knot?
Conservative critics, including Limbaugh, Tony Perkins — who heads the Family Research Council — and others, claim that the measure would cost U.S. taxpayers $845 billion over the next dozen or so years. They also charge that it would tie the United States to the United Nations Millennium Declaration, which, among others things, calls for banning "small arms and light weapons" and ratifying the Kyoto global-warming treaty, the International Criminal Court Treaty and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Preach on, Brother Perkins. Nothing says pro-family like small arms in every set of small arms, more monsoons and typhoons and environmental degradation destroying livelihoods thereby precipitating a surge -- yeah! surge! -- in the usage of said small arms that will lead to no charges whatsoever.

What? The lack of punishment is only reserved for white, Western warmongers? My bad. Sorry.
"This is how the Washington game of spending more of your money works," he [Cliff Kincaid, Accuracy In Media columnist] wrote. "This is a budget buster that siphons your hard-earned tax dollars to the U.N. and the rest of the world."
Damn right. Everyone knows your hard-earned tax dollars should be siphoned off to the likes of Halliburton, KBR and Blackwater.

And Obama was a Senate sponsor, so he eats Snowflake babies, or something equally horrid. Use your imagination.

19 comments:

La Belette Rouge said...

When Rush Limbaugh talks my head hurts--maybe this happens to him too and hence the need for strong pain relievers. ;-)

Randal Graves said...

HA! Now that might be the funniest thing I've heard in a long time. ;-)

Dean Wormer said...

Once they found out it wasn't about increasing global poverty, then yeah, they were all pretty pissed off. Can you blame them? The third world is rich with jungles full of fresh fruits and vegetables and many tasty tigers and giraffes and hippopotamuses.

You forgot sand. It's crunchy and delicious and part of a well-balance daily breakfast.

Of course if we feed the third world they might not be as eager to farm their daughters out to fat conservative radio talk show hosts looking for a little fun on the weekend.

Jess Wundrun said...

I brought my snark, and then I saw what Dean Wormer said.

--what dean wormer said. (I won't say d*tto)

Randal Graves said...

jess, dean's comment was quite comical, but dean, I'm sorry, I must issue a correction:

Of course if we feed the third world they might not be as eager to farm their sons out to fat conservative radio talk show hosts looking for a little fun on the weekend.

Mauigirl said...

Great post, Randal - the hypocrisy of these people knows no bounds. Does it ever occur to them that reducing global poverty might prevent more and more people from hating America and being prey to terrorist recruiters if they're so worried about terrorism? To say nothing of the actual morality of helping mitigate misery and poverty? Of course, these so called "family values" proponents are complete hypocrites so it is not a surprise that they react this way.

PoliShifter said...

What would CTHULHU do? (Since Jesus seems to no longer be relevant...we all know what he would do and no one does it)

Suzi Riot said...

That $845 billion is needed for all the good work we're doing in Iraq. Besides, what's the point of feeding 'em when we're just gonna bomb 'em later?

Life As I Know It Now said...

what polishifter said, in spades.

Randal Graves said...

mauigirl, I think it does occur to them, but fear is so profitable for their little circle of soulless hacks, why do what their deity calls for?

poli, he'd eat all the tigers and giraffes and hippopotamuses then move on to us for dessert!

suzi, that's an excellent point. why let them eat cake? we'll eat the cake, they can eat some extra fiery munitions.

liberality, and clubs and hearts and diamonds.

susan said...

Where do I sign up for my hard earned tax dollars to go directly to the International Criminal Court fund?

Miskatonic University Alumni has a little list..

Randal Graves said...

Cheney's alma mater, no doubt.

Swinebread said...

More Bombs, More Bombs, slurp

TomCat said...

They think accumulating more wealth and hoarding it reduces global poverty. But, trickle up? Don't you mean gush up?

Unknown said...

Kudos to all responders, and thanks, Susan.

My thoughts exactly.

Where do I sign up for my hard earned tax dollars to go directly to the International Criminal Court fund?

Suzan

Welcome to Pottersville

Anonymous said...

Yes, those family values; where would we be without them? So what if America pollutes the world and bombs everybody we don't like -- we have Values, Goddammit!

And there's nothing wrong with saying "Ditto." I use it a lot. I first heard it on a Cheers episode (Sam Malone said it), before I'd even heard of Mush Bimbo.

Dr. Zaius said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dr. Zaius said...

Poverty?!? Are there no workhouses? Are there no prisons?

Anonymous said...

It's not just the money, they're going to help fund the black helicopters for the UN to take us over!