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"Nothing protects a working class American quite like another slaughtered Yemeni wedding party or another worthless billion-dollar F-35 joint strike fighter." (Photo: internationaltimes.it)
The 10 Step Scheme for One-Sided Class War
Scream about the debt and deficit. Then shrink revenue by slashing taxes and spend a ton of money on wars of choice. Repeat.
Dec 20, 2017
1. Scream about the debt and deficit.
2. Shrink revenue by slashing taxes for the already palatial elite. Summarily dismiss all concerns about the debt and deficit, because, well, the debt and deficit don't really matter. Plus, tax cuts for the rich grow the economy anyway. Or maybe not. It doesn't matter. What matters is that one render unto the power elite the things that are the power elite's; everybody else can go to hell.
3. Scream about the debt and deficit.
4. Savagely gut Social Security and Medicare, because obviously the debt and deficit. Turns out the debt and deficit do matter. And to get the debt and deficit under control after slashing taxes on the rich will require nothing less than shared sacrifice from all Americans. But not really all Americans. The persecuted John Galts of the world have shouldered the burden of sacrifice long enough. Time, then, for all those particularly shiftless souls lacking the creativity and work ethic of the ruling class to sacrifice. Time for these ungrateful hordes to genuflect at the altar of capital and empty their pockets in tribute.
5. Scream about the debt and deficit.
6. Approve massive increases in military spending and cheerlead for another war (any war will do just fine). Again, turns out the debt and deficit no longer matter. But even it they did, nothing comes before the safety and security of the American people. And nothing protects a working class American quite like another slaughtered Yemeni wedding party or another worthless billion-dollar F-35 joint strike fighter.
7. Scream about the debt and deficit.
8. Open the spigots of black budget funding for the intelligence agencies. The debt and deficit must not hinder Big Brother's quest to watch all. After all, fiscal responsibility is nothing if one can't assure the gilded security of the ruling class. Its security is national security. And sure, the lowly proles won't rebel until they become conscious, and they cannot become conscious until after they rebel, but still, a vast domestic dragnet seems most prudent just in case the proles forget their proper place. It's imperative that the class war forever remain one-sided.
9. Scream about the debt and deficit.
10. Repeat steps 1 through 9.
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Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It's never been this bad out there. And it's never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed, the threats we face are intensifying. We need your support now more than ever. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Will you donate now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
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Ben Schreiner
Ben Schreiner is a freelance writer based in Oregon. He may be reached at bnschreiner@gmail.com or via his website.
1. Scream about the debt and deficit.
2. Shrink revenue by slashing taxes for the already palatial elite. Summarily dismiss all concerns about the debt and deficit, because, well, the debt and deficit don't really matter. Plus, tax cuts for the rich grow the economy anyway. Or maybe not. It doesn't matter. What matters is that one render unto the power elite the things that are the power elite's; everybody else can go to hell.
3. Scream about the debt and deficit.
4. Savagely gut Social Security and Medicare, because obviously the debt and deficit. Turns out the debt and deficit do matter. And to get the debt and deficit under control after slashing taxes on the rich will require nothing less than shared sacrifice from all Americans. But not really all Americans. The persecuted John Galts of the world have shouldered the burden of sacrifice long enough. Time, then, for all those particularly shiftless souls lacking the creativity and work ethic of the ruling class to sacrifice. Time for these ungrateful hordes to genuflect at the altar of capital and empty their pockets in tribute.
5. Scream about the debt and deficit.
6. Approve massive increases in military spending and cheerlead for another war (any war will do just fine). Again, turns out the debt and deficit no longer matter. But even it they did, nothing comes before the safety and security of the American people. And nothing protects a working class American quite like another slaughtered Yemeni wedding party or another worthless billion-dollar F-35 joint strike fighter.
7. Scream about the debt and deficit.
8. Open the spigots of black budget funding for the intelligence agencies. The debt and deficit must not hinder Big Brother's quest to watch all. After all, fiscal responsibility is nothing if one can't assure the gilded security of the ruling class. Its security is national security. And sure, the lowly proles won't rebel until they become conscious, and they cannot become conscious until after they rebel, but still, a vast domestic dragnet seems most prudent just in case the proles forget their proper place. It's imperative that the class war forever remain one-sided.
9. Scream about the debt and deficit.
10. Repeat steps 1 through 9.
Ben Schreiner
Ben Schreiner is a freelance writer based in Oregon. He may be reached at bnschreiner@gmail.com or via his website.
1. Scream about the debt and deficit.
2. Shrink revenue by slashing taxes for the already palatial elite. Summarily dismiss all concerns about the debt and deficit, because, well, the debt and deficit don't really matter. Plus, tax cuts for the rich grow the economy anyway. Or maybe not. It doesn't matter. What matters is that one render unto the power elite the things that are the power elite's; everybody else can go to hell.
3. Scream about the debt and deficit.
4. Savagely gut Social Security and Medicare, because obviously the debt and deficit. Turns out the debt and deficit do matter. And to get the debt and deficit under control after slashing taxes on the rich will require nothing less than shared sacrifice from all Americans. But not really all Americans. The persecuted John Galts of the world have shouldered the burden of sacrifice long enough. Time, then, for all those particularly shiftless souls lacking the creativity and work ethic of the ruling class to sacrifice. Time for these ungrateful hordes to genuflect at the altar of capital and empty their pockets in tribute.
5. Scream about the debt and deficit.
6. Approve massive increases in military spending and cheerlead for another war (any war will do just fine). Again, turns out the debt and deficit no longer matter. But even it they did, nothing comes before the safety and security of the American people. And nothing protects a working class American quite like another slaughtered Yemeni wedding party or another worthless billion-dollar F-35 joint strike fighter.
7. Scream about the debt and deficit.
8. Open the spigots of black budget funding for the intelligence agencies. The debt and deficit must not hinder Big Brother's quest to watch all. After all, fiscal responsibility is nothing if one can't assure the gilded security of the ruling class. Its security is national security. And sure, the lowly proles won't rebel until they become conscious, and they cannot become conscious until after they rebel, but still, a vast domestic dragnet seems most prudent just in case the proles forget their proper place. It's imperative that the class war forever remain one-sided.
9. Scream about the debt and deficit.
10. Repeat steps 1 through 9.
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