What do you have that George W. Bush could take? Medicare? The prescription drugs bill gives huge subsidies to the drug companies, raises Medicare premiums, and helps a few seniors a little. Since the bill goes into effect in 2006, we won’t feel its pinch until after the 2004 election. An election year drug discount card will lower the cost of drugs next year, but nothing will prevent drug companies from raising prices to wipe out the discount.
Social Security? Who believes that Bush wouldn’t take this large trust fund to finance another pre-emptive war? His idea of “shared sacrifice” is sacrifice shared by combat troops, veterans, the elderly and the poor.
Overtime pay? Bush’s Labor Department revised the Fair Labor Standards Act to let employers deny overtime pay to 8 million workers currently entitled to it. Democrats fought to rescind the rule in the year-end omnibus spending bill, but Bush threatened to veto the bill if it restored overtime pay. Congress adjourned without acting on the bill, but will have to pass it next year to fund government operations.
Civil rights? Under the Patriot Act, if the attorney general suspects you have information that would help in the investigation of a terrorist, the FBI can secretly search your home without telling you that they have done this. This is called “sneak and peek,” and it trashes the Fourth Amendment.
Children and grandchildren of draft age? Watch the news, and use your imagination.
Oak Harbor
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