“This legislation will have a lasting impact on millions of Americans by protecting the hard-earned dollars of blue-collar workers, the very people who are living paycheck-to-paycheck.
Meanwhile, Wall Street veteran Scott Smith points out that placing a tiny tax on stock market transactions would generate enough revenue to fully fund universal healthcare, UBI, free college, AND pay off the entire national debt in less than a decade. So, evidently, taxation as we know it is about keeping the non-rich non-rich, and the Democratic Party as "a party for the working class" just means that it's the best that Washington will allow for the working class. Heck, the Constitution ALLOWS Congress to generate all the funds it needs tax-free, interest-free, out of THIN AIR. So why doesn't it?
If the democrats don't want republicans to take the issue from them, simply propose an amendment that would endorse what Cruz proposed and add the extension of minimum wage standards to tipped workers together with an increase of the minimum wage. If the republicans want to pose as defenders of low wage workers, here is a chance to use that desire as leverage. After all, they have come out with this and would be on the spot. I can't believe the democrats haven't thought of something similar; so let's see if they do it. Spoiler alert: The democrats and republicans serve the same basic interests, so don't hold your breath.
I just came upon the transcript of a lecture delivered by John Mearsheimer that is worth the time to read it. I think it has validity within its context, as it is a debate between ruling class ideologies absent class perspective:
I'm wary of downloads. However, since I only vaguely knew who Mearsheimer is, I looked him up. Well worth the time, especially given his work that now looks prescient. Not easy to discern his personal views because his assessments seem to look closely at domestic and foreign pol/econ situations as they are, not how he wants them to be. Great evidence Bernie types are much closer to reality than the dogmatic neolibs and neocons making a mess of the world. Thanks for the reference!
Ted Cruz’s piece of bacon legislation is as phony baloney as he is.
If Cruz really cared about ‘ working class’ Americans, legislation would have been passed previously by increasing wages long before.
This is a piece of bacon disguised as political recruitment for the Republican base. Don’t be bamboozled by this morsel, the real tax break is for the wealthy.
Indeed, we need a party of working class Americans and we need a Congress and Senate who can hold the president accountable and respect the separation of powers. Not one or two, but 435 congressional representatives and 100 senators.
All these wonderful ideas would would be ever so much better! Uh-huh. Just ignore the fact for decades the Dems, even when they had the presidency and the majority in Congress, have never bothered to put together any practical strategy.
In the early'90s, I was a hotel engineer, a rank and file activist with local 8 H.E.R.E. Seattle (hotel and restaurant employees.) There was a tip credit bill in the WA state legislature and I testified at the hearing. Its logic based on the assumption all customers tip; if they don't, how does anyone prove they didn't get something? Since few restaurant staff are full time so owners can avoid paying benefits, and the amount was for half minimum wage at the time, it came to around $12.60 per day. If a marginally competent manager can't save that small amount through efficient control of business costs, they should not be in charge. Instead, they want to take it from those for whom that little bit of money is a big deal. What kind of morality is okay with exploiting the least among us? And no other industry is so obviously dependent on good customer service.
Here's the kicker--this lobbying effort was organized and led by a woman, the owner of several vegan restaurants and a big Dem party activist.
Meanwhile, Wall Street veteran Scott Smith points out that placing a tiny tax on stock market transactions would generate enough revenue to fully fund universal healthcare, UBI, free college, AND pay off the entire national debt in less than a decade. So, evidently, taxation as we know it is about keeping the non-rich non-rich, and the Democratic Party as "a party for the working class" just means that it's the best that Washington will allow for the working class. Heck, the Constitution ALLOWS Congress to generate all the funds it needs tax-free, interest-free, out of THIN AIR. So why doesn't it?
If the democrats don't want republicans to take the issue from them, simply propose an amendment that would endorse what Cruz proposed and add the extension of minimum wage standards to tipped workers together with an increase of the minimum wage. If the republicans want to pose as defenders of low wage workers, here is a chance to use that desire as leverage. After all, they have come out with this and would be on the spot. I can't believe the democrats haven't thought of something similar; so let's see if they do it. Spoiler alert: The democrats and republicans serve the same basic interests, so don't hold your breath.
I just came upon the transcript of a lecture delivered by John Mearsheimer that is worth the time to read it. I think it has validity within its context, as it is a debate between ruling class ideologies absent class perspective:
https://www.mearsheimer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Madison-Lecture-PDF.pdf?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
I'm wary of downloads. However, since I only vaguely knew who Mearsheimer is, I looked him up. Well worth the time, especially given his work that now looks prescient. Not easy to discern his personal views because his assessments seem to look closely at domestic and foreign pol/econ situations as they are, not how he wants them to be. Great evidence Bernie types are much closer to reality than the dogmatic neolibs and neocons making a mess of the world. Thanks for the reference!
Ted Cruz’s piece of bacon legislation is as phony baloney as he is.
If Cruz really cared about ‘ working class’ Americans, legislation would have been passed previously by increasing wages long before.
This is a piece of bacon disguised as political recruitment for the Republican base. Don’t be bamboozled by this morsel, the real tax break is for the wealthy.
Indeed, we need a party of working class Americans and we need a Congress and Senate who can hold the president accountable and respect the separation of powers. Not one or two, but 435 congressional representatives and 100 senators.
All these wonderful ideas would would be ever so much better! Uh-huh. Just ignore the fact for decades the Dems, even when they had the presidency and the majority in Congress, have never bothered to put together any practical strategy.
In the early'90s, I was a hotel engineer, a rank and file activist with local 8 H.E.R.E. Seattle (hotel and restaurant employees.) There was a tip credit bill in the WA state legislature and I testified at the hearing. Its logic based on the assumption all customers tip; if they don't, how does anyone prove they didn't get something? Since few restaurant staff are full time so owners can avoid paying benefits, and the amount was for half minimum wage at the time, it came to around $12.60 per day. If a marginally competent manager can't save that small amount through efficient control of business costs, they should not be in charge. Instead, they want to take it from those for whom that little bit of money is a big deal. What kind of morality is okay with exploiting the least among us? And no other industry is so obviously dependent on good customer service.
Here's the kicker--this lobbying effort was organized and led by a woman, the owner of several vegan restaurants and a big Dem party activist.
very true!