Thursday, April 21, 2005
Georgia Republican Self-Pleasure
Today was interesting. Well, by interesting, I mean utterly revolting.
I spent the day at what was ostensibly the Georgia Manufacturing Appreciation Week Governor's Awards luncheon. What it was, in fact, was a ridiculous exercise in self-congratulatory Republican campaigning at taxpayer expense.
Throughout lunch, we heard over and over how great it was to cut taxes on big business and take away people's right to sue and how important it was to remove any and all regulation on business. And, of course, every speaker was sure to sing the praises of His High Holiness Sonny Perdue.
In the end, I was troubled a by a few things: First, the taxpayer expense in bringing 1,300 people to the event isn't cheap. Second, the obvious campaigning going on. Even though the annual program was begun under a Democratic administration, far be it from anyone to acknowledge that bit of history. Third, though, and most unnerving was the response of some of the employees of the winning manufacturers. They cheered as loud as anyone at the applause lines about tax cuts and tort reform, and I couldn't help but wonder if they knew what they were clapping for.
This governor hurts their right to sue, and reduces state revenue and thus state services to coddle business votes. I hope the Democrats in Georgia can get their crap together enough to show people the problems with Perdue.
Otherwise, I'll have to sit through four more years of Republican masturbatory campaign speeches on the taxpayer dime.
I spent the day at what was ostensibly the Georgia Manufacturing Appreciation Week Governor's Awards luncheon. What it was, in fact, was a ridiculous exercise in self-congratulatory Republican campaigning at taxpayer expense.
Throughout lunch, we heard over and over how great it was to cut taxes on big business and take away people's right to sue and how important it was to remove any and all regulation on business. And, of course, every speaker was sure to sing the praises of His High Holiness Sonny Perdue.
In the end, I was troubled a by a few things: First, the taxpayer expense in bringing 1,300 people to the event isn't cheap. Second, the obvious campaigning going on. Even though the annual program was begun under a Democratic administration, far be it from anyone to acknowledge that bit of history. Third, though, and most unnerving was the response of some of the employees of the winning manufacturers. They cheered as loud as anyone at the applause lines about tax cuts and tort reform, and I couldn't help but wonder if they knew what they were clapping for.
This governor hurts their right to sue, and reduces state revenue and thus state services to coddle business votes. I hope the Democrats in Georgia can get their crap together enough to show people the problems with Perdue.
Otherwise, I'll have to sit through four more years of Republican masturbatory campaign speeches on the taxpayer dime.
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