The Sad Sabbath of Scott's Sins

The poet and philosopher George Santayana in Life of Reason, Reason in Common Sense wrote "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Later today, Governor Scott Walker will take his place in the long line of republicans whose actions proved George Santayana was correct. He will sign his so-called “Budget Repair Bill,” and similar to his republican predecessors, he will carefully stage this “propaganda event” by vigilantly screening individuals, who will benefit the most from this unfair bill, to be his audience. (Some of his wealthy-employer friends will coerce their employees to be present, so that it gives the impression that the middle class is represented.)

Then Scott Walker appearing before the news media, which have done atrocious jobs of investigating the ills of this budget, will state that his budget will put Wisconsin on the path to economic recovery by bringing business to Wisconsin, increasing employment, and lessening the tax burden on property owners, the middle class, and all businesses.

Many Americans who are going to see this “disinformation event” will be completely unaware that republican leaders have been performing this same stunt for 20 of the past 30 years.

At the national level, it started with Ronald Reagan’s Trickled-Down Plan, which George Bush Sr. continued. It gained additional tax breaks ―ten years ago when George Bush Jr. increased the tax breaks for corporate America and the richest Americans, and it continued with President Obama keeping the tax cuts in place.

At the state level, it started in 1981 with the beginning of President Regan first term in the White House. Many republican states ― especially those in the South ― followed Reagan’s lead of taking from the poor and giving to the rich, while strategically dismantling unions and other organizations that empowered the middle class. It was during this period that the republicans made the word “union” a dirty word, and began portraying unions as anti-jobs and anti-American. Republican states (the so-called “Red States”) started calling themselves “right to work states,” which is ironic because unemployment increased during this period, as the rich started getting richer and the poor started getting poorer. It would have been more appropriate for them to call themselves "the right to be exploited states!"

Presently, many of the states with the highest level of unemployment are states that have implemented the same policies that Governor Scott Walker will be signing into law today. In other words, to quote the great American philosopher, Yogi Berra, “It’s like déjà vu ― all over again!” Except, Scott Walker will sign this unfair, unprincipled, un-democratic, and highly immoral policy on the Sabbath! And it should be against the law for a governor to intentionally commit moral sins on the day that most Christians set aside for the purpose of renewing their faith, praying for their sins, and worshiping their Savior! But Governor Walker is a republican leader, which means that his immoral conduct and lack of democratic principles is par for the course.

God, please help us!