If you want to reply to the following, please reply to me DIRECTLY! Do
not use the list.
Here's a letter I wrote, which appeared in Newsday on 8/3/00
To hear George W. Bush and the Republicans talk, you'd think they
had a true change of heart. They expect us to believe that, if
elected, no longer will they destroy the Department of Education,
Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid -- all things they have
always been violently opposed to.
The truth is the Republicans, including Bush and Lazio, are not
"compassionate conservatives," but rather wolves in sheep's
clothing.
To get elected, Republicans are now trying to appear caring and
compassionate, when in reality we all know if they gain control
of both the U.S. Congress and the White House, they'll do exactly
what they tried to do in '94 -- and this time they'll succeed!
Talk about a Contract on America! Scary, especially if you're
elderly, poor, or disabled!
FOLLOWING IS AN ARTICLE I WROTE AND AM TRYING TO GET PUBLISHED:
THE REPUBLICANS' BIG LIE
<C> 2000 By Robert Mauro
The Republicans say they will protect Social Security, give
us a Patients' Bill of Rights, a Prescription Drug Plan and save
Medicare. Talk about a Big Lie. Historically Republicans have
opposed those very programs. Republicans conveniently forget
their historic opposition to every federal program designed to
help the elderly, the poor and the disabled.
In the 19th Century, Republicans gave corporate robber
barons free reign to exploit children, women, and other workers
in this country's mines, mills, factories and sweat shops. When
Democrats tried to outlaw child labor, Republicans vigorously
opposed it. When Democrats tried to create a minimum wage,
Republicans fought against it. When Democrats sided with the
Unions in their fight for safer working conditions, the
Republicans opposed them.
In the early 20th Century, people were dying from impure
foods and drugs. Patent medicines, containing cocaine and
laudanum, were addicting millions. Foods were filled with deadly
bacteria and "preservatives" like sawdust and formaldehyde.
People were poisoned and many died. It was Republican
congressmen who opposed regulating the food and drug industries.
Now the Republicans are in the pocket of the unsafe, unregulated
"health food/supplement" industry. More quackery backed by
Republicans.
Democrats had to join with progressive Republican President
Teddy Roosevelt to create the FDA, which, to this day, the
Republicans are trying to destroy.
In the 1930's, Republicans tried to prevent FDR from passing
any legislation which would help workers and regulate big
business. Moreover, when FDR wanted to create a plan to help
disabled and aged workers survive if they were no longer able to
work, the Republicans opposed the Social Security Act. Now these
same Republicans are trying to make us believe they will save
Social Security and give the elderly, the poor, and the disabled
a decent Medicare Prescription Drug Program? If the Republicans
get their way, they'll kill Medicare and Medicaid -- and probably
destroy Social Security as they claim to save these three vital
programs! Talk about the BIG LIE.
Similar Republican opposition came in 1964 when President
Johnson wanted to pass the Civil Rights Act. Republicans like
George Bush, Strom Thurmond, Barry Goldwater, and Ronald Reagan
vigorously opposed it.
It is true that the Civil Rights Act was also opposed by
Southern Democrats. Those Dixiecrats haven't changed their ways,
just changed their party. Today they're all Republicans!
In the 1940's, under President Harry Truman, the
Republicans, led by the ultra-conservative Republican Robert
Taft, prevented President Truman from creating a national health
care plan. (Hmmm, sound familiar?) Because of Republican
opposition, it took over twenty more years to finally achieve
Truman's dream, Medicare, which the Republicans would like to see
"wither on the vine" along with Social Security and Medicaid.
Today Republicans claim Affirmative Action is
discriminatory, i.e., it prevents hundreds of thousands of rich,
white, well-educated, able-bodied males from finding gainful
employment. It does??
And let's not forget the recent 5 to 4 vote of the U.S.
Supreme Court to protect Roe v. Wade. One more vote in the wrong
direction and women will lose their right to choose. If George
W. Bush is elected, that will happen.
As a person with a disability, I've fought for over thirty
years to increase accessibility and opportunity for all disabled
persons. Over those years I've seen tremendous opposition to
access and opportunity for persons with disability. This
opposition has consistently come from Republicans. They want to
water down and ultimately repeal the Americans with Disabilities
Act so their rich corporate buddies can continue to discriminate
against those of us Americans with disabilities.
Every program to help the elderly, the poor and the disabled
is consistently opposed by Republicans. It's an historic fact
that the Republicans opposed Social Security, SSDI, Medicare,
Medicaid, SSI, Affirmative Action, Roe v. Wade, and Food Stamps.
Today Republicans aim to weaken and destroy the ADA and
overturn Roe v. Wade. Republicans dream of cutting Medicare,
Social Security, SSDI, SSI, Medicaid and Food Stamps. And let's
not forget their opposition to anti-tobacco legislation as
400,000 Americans die annually from smoking. And even after the
shootings at Columbine High and other schools, the Republicans
remain in the holster of the gun lobby.
So when you hear a Republican promise you anything, remember
the Big Lie. The Republicans hope if they lie often and big
enough, you'll believe them. But don't be fooled. Instead look
at their history. That doesn't lie!
Bob Mauro, [log in to unmask] Amateur Radio Station KZ2G
--------------------------------------------------------------
My DisAbility Website http://idt.net/~mauro
My Amateur Radio Website http://idt.net/~mauro/kz2g.html
My Levittown, NY Website http://idt.net/~mauro/levittwn.html
--------------------------------------------------------------
If my IDT mail bounces, send it to [log in to unmask]
|
