Posted on 07/28/2006 7:10:44 AM PDT by Solow591
Despite the clear economic case against a higher federal minimum wage, "moderates" in Congress are continuing the push the issue. Fortunately, House conservatives are not going along with this misguided effort, and members of the Republican Study Committee circulated this letter on Capitol Hill yesterday.
(Excerpt) Read more at freedomworks.org ...
It also removes our economy as a serious global contender.
BUMP
I think you assume too much: that this is a winning election issue. I just think you are wrong on this issue. The democrats have been trying to find a populist class warfare issue to run on because they follow the Karl Marx blueprint, but that blueprint has not worked since Reagan. Clinton won because of Perot and because Bush I was a liberal republican that did not believe in Reagan principals. The democrats have not won on populism in many years, and they won't do it now. We are in good shape economically and everyone knows it, including the voters. The papers have been trying to paint a different picture, but nobody is buying it.
And how do the majority of Americans benefit from this?
Congress is corrupt, it has been in the total of living memory. The way I look at republican politicians can best be summed up in the words of Presidetn Eisenhower, "He may be a Son of a * but he is our Son of a *." You do not trust them, and you keep a wary eye on all. For they will only serve your interests when they are made to believe doing so is in theirs.
That is how I see it as well. But add to this midterm elections are also about getting out the base. The rat base is hot, is ours? I do not know, but I know this many of my friends and family who are reasonably conservative are not happy as of late.
Read some of the immigration threads...
I do believe so. It would have the effect of pushing wages up.
And that would be good for all Americans?
For the majority, yes.
I believe both bases are riled up. But I don't think this will be a "normal" midterm election. I think a lot will depend on the froth -- those who can go either way.
"That is not the function of government."
This is the point. Even the letter that was compiled is ridiculous, not because of it's contents, for Hastert is nothing more than a birdbrain, anyway. We witnessed that with his idiotic reply/cry regarding Jefferson's office raid. He's just mimicking what he thinks people want to read. It's ridiculous, because it is none of Congresses business, and they have no place even writing such a letter. That is not their job. All of the government needs to re-read the constitution and find out what their job really is. They'll find out that ripping us off with astronomical taxes is not one of them...
I have not read them, so I don't know what you are referring to. However, I think the conservative position is that we should stop illegal immigration, and I think that is a winning position for the majority of voters. The press would like us to believe that we should fold on that position or that it is racist, but I don't believe the majority of the voters agree with that. The same thing happened in liberal California with affirmative action--the voters were against it but the press tried to make it like it was a losing position. And the same thing is happening with the minimum wage issue--everyone is trying to scare the republicans into thinking their position is a loser.
The problem I have is that of the people I have talked to, they are discusted with those in power now. I think there is a strong throw the bums out sentament going on. And you are right about one thing mid term votes are usually centered on bread and butter issues.
I will agree if we can revert it to $1.00/hour first.
Shalom.
Also, and this is really interesting, look at the number of times folks get called "Marxist" or "DU troll" etc. on FR for voicing an unpopular opinion lately.
It's as if they've lost sight that the candidate with the most votes wins. A lot of these folks who get called names see themselves as conservatives, but are having doubts. That's fine. But to push them to the other side is kinda insane...
The country, if anything, has become more economically conservative. When Reagan was first elected, a far larger number of people were still unionized, and unions have since been largely discredited--few still believe they add the to longterm economic good. At the time, Keynesian economic theory was dominant; that too has lost its popularity. Then, the belief that government could promote longterm economic growth was widespread; now, the talk is more in terms of a suitable trade-off between growth and egalitarianism.
Then, there were still people who believed the Swedish socialist dream could be a model for the world; now Sweden, with the rest of the developed world, recognizes that economic liberalization is the key to growth.
Sure, petty liberal issues like the minimum wage still make good politics among certain groups come election time, but now more the country should be ready for a party that can coherently advocate a conservative economic ideology. The Republican Party has shown little interest in doing so.
So some will be hurt? Which ones?
You and I think a lot alike. Very good post. I wish I had wrote that. It is right on point.
It's really disappointing, and I can't imagine it even makes good politics. Does the Republicans honestly think they can deliver more votes by offering a second-best solution to the Democrats' proposal than by giving a clear argument that the Democrats' idea would harm the very people it purports to help?
The republicans need to realize that they will never out Santa Clause the democrats (offer goodies from the government).
It has been a great debate, but I have to sign off now and actually get some work done.
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