This Carbon Based Life

By David Glenn Cox

It is very refreshing in these days of division and Republican radicalism to see the roots of Republican theory exposed. Times may change but deep down inside, they never do. As Tevye says, “Tradition!”

“There’s just a lot of people in this country that don’t want to work, period…and want other people to take care of them.” – Virginia Foxx  ( R ) N.C.

God bless her at this special time of the year to take time out of her busy day to criticize (them) (you)  for not being productive enough. She puts the hate in humanity. I suppose Bob Cratchit will want the whole day off again, this year. It was nearly one hundred years ago Henry Ford said, “Americans won’t do a good day’s work if they can get out of it.” That is bedrock Republican theory right there. We have widgets to make! Times a wastin! Get busy! Chop, chop!

You’re not sick! It’s a cough, just keep making those hamburgers, you’ll be fine. Such was the basis for Republican resistance to Covid-19 shutdowns. X number of workers will die versus how many hamburgers we won’t sell!

Until they can build a robot to replace you, break your union or outsource your job you are important to their bottom line. Do you know what’s wrong with this country? Everyone is lazy, everyone, except me.

“That’s not what this country is all about. We have great opportunities in this country for people to be successful, if they want to work hard.” – Virginia Foxx

Attach the carrot to stick with string and then attach the stick to the mule’s harness. Yes, there are great opportunities, but they aren’t evenly dispersed. If you come from an upper-class background those opportunities increase and multiply but if you don’t, the opportunities don’t either. The old, any boy can be President malarky, pretending your life’s ultimate goal is to work real hard.

“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt

See the obvious difference in the theme?

Get back to work! Those pyramids won’t build themselves; you know. Don’t you want Pharaoh to be momentarily pleased with your hours back breaking labors? Ms. Fox believes a struggling kid from Appalachia or Mississippi has the same opportunities as a kid from a wealthy family. The only difference being hard work, drive and effort. And it could happen, but it probably won’t.

“Economic depression cannot be cured by legislative action or executive pronouncement.” ― Herbert Hoover

Translation: Deal with it! Sure, you’re hungry and cold tonight, but we just can’t go tinkering with the mechanism of mercantilism. That could be dangerous. You could become demoralized and would prefer living on a pittance rather than holding a decent job. Instead, Hoover came up with a plan to lend $2 billion 1929 dollars to factory owners to reopen their factories making cars and radios for the unemployed.

You see, factory owners and big business work real hard and aren’t lazy, like the lazy rabble who are just looking for an opportunity to screw around. Hoover felt direct Federal Aid to the unemployed was dangerous because people like you and me are basically lazy. But big business could be trusted not to let the money corrupt THEM, the way it would you and I. Especially, after those same big businessmen had tanked the economy in the first place.

“America – a great social and economic experiment, noble in motive and far-reaching in purpose.” ― Herbert Hoover

Stirring! Very stirring sir! Applause! From the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with snow! How does that work in practice sir? Lofty soaring rhetoric, that don’t mean nothing about nothing. Do you know what I mean? I mean, do you really know what I mean? I mean America is great; it’s you who suck!

They just can’t help themselves; they hate the bulk of humanity. “Tradition!” They see themselves as overseers looking out for our best interests on the global plantation. They tolerate all of you lazy slobs walking around on their streets, and do you ever stop and thank them for the privilege? No, you start unions, and you want time off and you want time and a half for overtime! You want time off to bear children and bury dead relatives! You even want time off for school functions! That’s why we invented video pal!

You wanna save whales and forests and Ozone layers, have you any idea what that costs? Never mind the future, besides Jesus will be here any minute now! He’ll fix everything! But in the meantime, we have to defend that stock price.

Traditional Republican values, “Tradition!” Socialism for the rich and predatory Capitalism for the poor. Because deep down inside Republicans believe, you’re just no good! Lazy and dirty and driving around in your old beat-up cars and playing loud music. Uncouth and unrefined, taking up valuable space in their world.

But the social issues of the day say the issue is not working hard enough, but not earning enough from their hard work to survive. And who’s fault is that? Millions of working homeless unable make the rent, living in their cars. They only care about you people as working labor units.

Republicans in Congress fought against seatbelts and airbags in cars. They fight pollution standards and raising the minimum wage tooth and nail. They defended tobacco for decades because they could make money selling those cigarettes to the prowls. What do they care if you die at forty-five.

“You, you said that they – What did you say just a minute ago? They had to wait and save their money before they even thought about a decent home. Wait? For what?! Until their children grow up and leave them? Until they’re so old and broken-down that – You know how long it takes a working man to save five thousand dollars? Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you’re talking about, they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn’t think so. People were human beings to him, but to you a warped frustrated old man, they’re cattle. Well, in my book he died a richer man than you’ll ever be. – George Bailey

No one every lay on their death lamenting they didn’t work hard enough.