“If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it’s real and not a Republican”

By Glen Reaux

It’s November 2022 and the middle of the Biden term. Democrats are shouting our democracy is under siege and Republicans scream that Democrats have destroyed the economy. With theses two disastrous issues facing voters today, there’s no wonder there is such a state of confusion. Are the issues for the 2022 Midterms Republican Pinocchio Economics or Democracy In Peril? Just who do you trust? Who do you vote for, Democrat or Republican? It’s a simple answer, yourself. That’s right. Vote for your own self-interest. If you think that the economy is more important than your freedoms and constitutional rights, then vote for the candidates that will truly support the economy of this nation. The operative word is truly. If you value your democracy over the economy, then vote for the candidates that guarantee our national democracy will continue to exist. Don’t vote for a party. Don’t join a tribe. Vote for yourself! But remember, without an enforceable constitutional democracy, we have no economy. The January 6^th insurrection sought to take that away from you and to this day, Republicans have refused to do anything about it.

So how does one vote for oneself? It’s not complicated. It’s very easy. You start by determining the truth about yourself. Don’t listen to the lies and rhetoric that are trying to scare you into a state of tribalism. To hell with all the TV commercials, tweets, and posts. Look deep into your soul and determine who you really are. Who is important to you? What are your core beliefs? Make a sound logical decision not driven by fear, hatred, love, or any emotion.  1+1=2 not emotion. That’s a fact.

Start with the duck principle. If you look like a duck, walk like a duck, and quack like a duck, you’re a duck. If you believe your race is superior, hang out with racist people, and act like a racist, you’re a racist. It’s not rocket science. It’s simple. Having one Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian friend does not remove the stigma of racism from your soul. You are a racist. Accept it. According to the constitution, it’s your right to be a racist.

If you truly believe in the constitution, equal rights for all people, equal justice under the law, the ability to pursue life, liberty, and happiness, then vote for that kind of candidate. If you are a Christian and want to vote for Christian principles, then do that. But, keep in mind that the constitution is not a religious document. It guarantees religious freedom. Which does not mean you can force your religious beliefs upon someone else through the power of your vote. The Constitution is not a Christian doctrine. The founding fathers didn’t design it to be. Many of them fled religious persecution.

Don’t forget to use the duck principle. If the candidate you like talks like Jesus the Christ, treats his fellow men and women as Jesus would, forgives their indiscretions like Jesus, and loves indiscriminately and unconditionally, then he’s a Christian. Remember no lying, no cheating, and no demonizing the other candidate. Those aren’t things that Jesus would do. If you are against abortion, that’s your right. But you should research Jesus’ position on abortion before using his name in defense of denying abortions. He had no position. In fact, in the bible, abortion does not exist. It’s just not in the bible.

If you consider yourself to be a member of the Christian Evangelical Right, do your research. Jesus was not a politician. He did not back politicians, whether they were government officials or theologians. If you want to back a political candidate, do it. But, don’t claim that it’s because of Christianity. Be honest with yourself. Donald Trump was no Christian. Name one time when he did what Jesus would do, If you supported the antichristian Donald Trump, the man of a million lies who demonized Republicans, Democrats, veterans, mothers, and their children with the mouth of Satan it’s probably because you are more like him than you wish to admit. Just look in the mirror and deep into your soul and accept what you are. Jesus forgives all.

Remember, be true to your core beliefs. And, if personally, you don’t pass the “Jesus duck test”, there’s no shame in that. Just own up to the fact that you are not a Christian. Stop calling yourself one and find your real reason for voting for the candidate or party of your choice. But, please vote. It is your constitutional right even if you don’t truly believe in the constitution. It protects even you.

Don’t forget, this election is not about Trump and Biden, Democrats or Republicans. It is about you. This means voting for the candidate that represents things that are going to make your life and the lives of your loved ones better. If it’s the economy, fine. If it is democracy, that’s great. But don’t believe the hype about either. Understand how each party approaches the economy and how they approach democracy. Election deniers, despite their station in life, are not patriots. Your constitutional rights mean nothing to them unless you agree with their political ideology. If a candidate denies the results of the 2020 election or supports the January 6^th insurrection, that candidate is not a supporter of law and order or the constitution. Is it in your best interest to vote for said candidate?

The following Senators voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election; Josh Hawley (Missouri), Tommy Tuberville (Alabama), Roger Marshall (Kansas), John Kennedy (Louisiana), Cindy Hyde-Smith (Mississippi), and Ted Cruz (Texas). Senator Cruz, can you expect him to fight for your interest when he refused to defend his wife and father? During the 2016 election campaign, Donald Trump called his wife ugly and accused his father of being involved in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Sadly, after the election, Ted Cruz became one of Trump’s biggest supporters. Do you really believe that Cruz and other election deniers like him have enough courage or integrity to represent your interest? Cowards and snakes never do.

Here are the 121 Republican Congress members that objected to the results of the 2020 election and to this day refuse to acknowledge President Biden’s victory. Never in history has anything like this ever happened.

According to the constitution’s free speech clause, it is not illegal to lie. Both Democrat and Republican politicians lie. The Republicans are claiming, providing no proof, that the policies of the Democratic Party have ruined the economy and have caused inflation to rise. According to the ICAEW, an international accounting body with over 189,000 members in 147 countries, inflation is not an American problem. It is a global problem caused by the pandemic, persistent supply chain issues, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and an extreme rise in corporate profits. Currently, the inflation rate in the U.S. is 8.2%, 10.1% in the U.K., 13.7% in Russia, 14.5% in Netherlands, and 83.45% in Turkey. What solutions are the Republicans proposing to solve the problem? Do your research. I challenge you to find one. Is it in your best interest to vote for someone without a solution to your economic problems?

Corporate profits have risen 54% since the start of the pandemic. Common sense dictates that if in 2020 a dozen eggs cost $1 with a 50% profit margin, in 2022 the same dozen eggs will cost $1.27. That means that corporations are stealing your hard-earned money, not the Democrats. This is corporate greed. The same holds true for all goods and services sold in America and worldwide. This is not a Democrat problem. It is a greed problem. Once again, corporate America, which is supported by deregulation and tax cutting policies of the Republican Party, has taken advantage of the American public when it is most vulnerable and cast blame on someone else. In a recent congressional hearing, Democrat Representative Katie Porter of the California 45^th congressional district interrogated several of the nation’s leading economists. They testified that the current rate of inflation is driven by unprecedented and historical corporate profits that have reached 54% since the beginning of the pandemic. This is not a Biden problem. It’s a greed problem caused by Republican policies and their allegiance to special interests and dark money.

So, what have Republicans done to help the economy or curb inflation? Have they named one thing? Can you name one thing? Have they mentioned one thing in any of their TV commercials that tout their economic policy successes.? Have they offered any solutions to the current rate of inflation, just one thing that would help solve the problem? They designed nothing in their commercials to inform you or offer solutions. But they’re designed to make you angry at Democrats. They’re designed to provoke you to make an irrational, emotional decision and vote against your own interest. What are Republican solutions other than tax cuts for the rich and corporations? How does this benefit you? Recently on FOX News, Senators Lindsey Graham and Rick Scott, both Republicans touted their plan to end Medicare and Social Security. They even propose enacting a 5-year limitation on all federal laws. Imagine every five years, Congress tries to re-pass all laws while trying to enact new legislation. Is this in your best interest?

Remember, you have been working all of your life. You have been paying into the social security system and into Medicare all this time. You are more vested in these so-called entitlement programs than any pension, 401-K, or other retirement plans. You’ve vested your entire working life into these programs that Republicans have turned into a dirty word, “ENTITLEMENT.” You’re entitled to a return on your lifetime investment. Are you going to let a Republican politician just steal all of your hard-earned money with a vote that is supposed to be in your best interest? Poof! All of your parent’s health insurance, retirement income, and you and your children’s future well-being go up in smoke. Are Republicans going to refund everything that you paid into the system? You’re entitled to it. Don’t hold your breath. It’s not in their plan. This is a copy of their plan or platform, aka “Commitment to America.”

Is the Republican Commitment to America in your best interest? If you think so, vote for it.

Republican candidates and their scary TV commercials and social media posts claim Democrats have destroyed the economy and caused inflation to run rampant. This, we now know, is a Pinocchio lie. The truth of the matter is Republicans have voted against all but one economic policy and law that Democrats have passed. Republicans have offered no alternative solutions. The one bill supported by Republicans is the Chips and Science Act of 2022.

American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

The $1.9 trillion pandemic relief and recovery package was signed into law in March 2021 without a single Republican senate vote and very few House Republican votes. Many economists predict low-income households will benefit the most from the plan. The law cuts the child poverty rate in half. Also, the adult poverty rate should be cut by 25%.  

The key elements of the Rescue Act:

• $1,400 direct payments to individuals earning up to $75,000 a year;
• Extending expanded unemployment benefits through the end of September 2021;
• Increased the value and expanded eligibility for the child tax credit to $3,600 per child under age 6 and $3,000 per child ages 6-17, up from $2,000. About 39 million families with children will receive the additional benefits.
• Billions for small businesses;
• $14 billion for a national vaccine program
• $350 billion for state, local, and tribal governments budget shortfalls.
• $130 billion to primary and secondary schools;
• $45 billion in rental, mortgage, and utility help;

A report from the Tax Policy Center states the law would cut taxes by an average of $3,000 per household and raise after-tax incomes by an average of 3.8% in 2021, with 70% of the benefit going to lower- and middle-income households. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, passed by Trump and Republican legislators, provided that half of the benefits went to the top 5% of highest-income households.

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed the House and Senate and was signed into law on November 15, 2021. The law It includes $550 billion in additional spending beyond previous legislation. This bipartisan legislation includes $110B for Roads and bridges ($110B), $73B for power infrastructure, $66B for passenger and freight rail, $65B for broadband, $55B for clean drinking water, $190B for transportation and airports and $28B for electric vehicle and transportation safety programs.

CHIPS and Science Act

The CHIPS and Science Act passed the House and Senate with bi-partisan support in July 2022. It is valued at $280 billion. They designed it to strengthen America’s manufacturing and technology research and production with a $200B investment, which includes artificial intelligence

The law provides $52 billion for U.S. companies producing computer chips, plus additional tax credits to encourage chip manufacturing in the U.S. and the creation of new jobs. An estimated 50,000 plus new high-paying jobs will be created while providing technology independence from foreign countries and strengthening our national security.

Inflation Reduction Act

The Inflation Reduction Act passed the House and Senate without a single Republican vote. Its core benefits are:

• Reduction of carbon emissions significantly through climate protection incentives, which include tax credits and rebates for renewable technologies (e.g., solar, wind, and electric vehicles).
• Added a 15% minimum tax applied to accounting income and a 1% tax on stock buybacks. The Act does not directly increase taxes on individuals.
• Allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices for key drugs and cap insulin costs for Medicare patients at $35 per month. This reduces healthcare costs for senior citizens.
• Extended the ACA subsidy enhancements which were scheduled to expire in 2022 by three years through 2025. An estimated 7 million people will now get free health insurance.
• Invested $80B in the IRS over a decade on systems and personnel. The Congressional Budget Office estimates an additional $200B in collections over a decade.

According to the CBO, the law would reduce the budget deficit by $100 billion over a decade, or $300 billion when enhanced IRS collections are included.

The Tax Policy Center estimated that the bottom 80% of taxpayers would receive a net benefit if the Affordable Care Act aka Obama Care premium tax credits (subsidies) are included.

The laws passed by Democratic lawmakers and signed into law by President Biden provides the average working-class Joe (most Americans) with a return on investment from their tax dollars as opposed to Republican Pinocchio economics which is tax cuts for the rich and deregulation for corporations which in-turn increase inflation while reaping record profits at your expense.  Here is a factual look at the impact the Democrat’s policies have had on the economy. Contrary to Republican Pinocchio rhetoric, the policies and laws cause historical economic growth and recovery by any standard.

One last thing. The Biden administration has implemented a student loan forgiveness program worth up to $20,000 per debt. This is the Democrat’s first step in providing a free 4-year college or trade school education for all Americans. Is this a bad economic policy? The executive order is currently being tied up in court by a lawsuit filed by Republican governors who feel you don’t deserve a free higher education or job training program.

The 2022 midterm elections are already underway. Early voting has started. The election concludes on Tuesday the 8^th. It is your constitutional right and duty to vote. Don’t let attack ads designed to demonize candidates or confuse the issues scare you into voting for the wrong person. Republican Pinocchio exists only as the lies they are. They don’t offer any solutions to your economic problems.

Don’t vote just to support a particular party. Look at all the facts and vote in your own interest. Don’t drink the partisan Kool-Aid. Vote for yourself.