Don’t get me wrong, it is a nice sentiment on his official stationery, but there are a few issues with it. First off, while the bigger housing providers can probably float people for a few months, the little guys certainly cannot, and are in the same boat as the rest of us.
But what is even more glaring is the obvious hypocrisy. Isn’t it tragically funny how all these supposed free market conservatives are embracing socialism? Unlimited unemployment benefits, free virus testing and healthcare, deferred income taxes, deferred student loans, and sending checks to Americans (who might not even need them). Funny how socialism all of a sudden is the answer, while Dems vote for Biden over Sanders as the guy to beat Trump. What an incredible missed opportunity, TWICE! Sanders whole platform that NO ONE said he could accomplish as president is playing out before us in a matter of weeks! I watch this sometimes while imagining pig blood being splattered on me in the poor seats of the Globe Theatre.
The representation of private interests … abolishes all natural and spiritual distinctions by enthroning in their stead the immoral, irrational and soulless abstraction of a particular material object and a particular consciousness which is slavishly subordinated to this object.
Marx, On the Thefts of Wood, in Rheinische Zeitung (1842)
Like I said, I support helping my fellow brothers and sisters, but we would probably not be in this predicament if it weren’t for the greed of the few at the top. While the rich will argue they did not cause the virus or it’s spread, they are gravely mistaken. Global warming has caused disease and viruses to spread more rapidly. There is also the argument that by destroying the middle class (basically starting in 1980 by electing Ronald Reagan) most Americans live paycheck to paycheck, and cannot weather an economic crisis with savings. It’s not the virus that will kill us, it’s greed folks.
Socialism is expecting free shit everyday of your live. Capitalism makes it possible to help those in a time of need. Thats a BIG DIFFERENCE.
Italy has Bernie style soft socialism. I recommend you move there next week.
Landlords who wont agree to reducing the monthly rent to help make this fund go farther, should be named in the Sunday paper!
It’s utterly amazing how universal health care and Keynesian economics are now in vogue with the GOP. It’s not complete universal health care, but i’ts a start. And giving out money, both privately and publicly, to stimulate our economy is far more John Kenneth Galbraith, than it is Herbert Hoover. I guess the good Lord does work in mysterious ways at times.
I also couldn’t help but notice that the mayor in talking about social distancing mentioned the importance of our current busing system in helping those who need it. I sure hope the current city hall has that same attitude about busing after they evaluate their on-demand concept, too.
And one last thing, we often hear that wages can’t go up because of tight margins for businesses. But where are all of these businesses finding the capital now, during an economic downtown, to pay non-productive workers? At least when employees are working, businesses have better cash flow, but then why can’t they pay more then, too?
But I do take issue with the word socialism here, when it comes to a private fund for the needy. Because conservatives do not see it as socialism, because they are privately in control of it. It’s like how conservatives always support food banks, but not food stamps. And that’s because they like to be in control without the lower case democratic governmental angle involved. For it allows them the joy of having a “My Lord” relationship with the masses, or in this case, the needy.
‘Capitalism makes it possible to help those in a time of need.’
LMFAO!
And when is that gonna happen? I’ll help you with your answer; NEVER!
Does he think that these property owners dont have bills to pay?
That they just magically go away when tenants dont pay up?
Govt created the problem and then provides “solution” that always create more problems.
And I dont know any true conservative who is supporting socialism or even PTH, who is NOT a conservative but NWO shill. They are not loyal to either political party but falsely hide behind one so we will vote them in and warm up to their ideas which will slowly ruin our nation for EVERYONE.
Italy’s problem is an example of decentralization and not failed socialism. Italy has had what? About eighty individual government coalitions formed since WWII to run their parliament? It is obvious, that politically, that country is fragmentized, which then feeds it decentralized nature regardless of its socialistic tendencies, that then lends itself to their current viral crisis.
It is this decentralization also, which explains why the US is behind South Korea and Germany in dealing with this virus, too.
Right now our country is being run by governors and not a president in terms of leadership and action to address this virus. Our federal president has become nothing but a MC at a White House press conference, while states are all over the board in terms of their reaction to the virus.
This COVID-19 crisis in the US gives one fear like 9/11, but exemplifies all the chaos of a decentralized mess like Florida 2000 or Katrina 2005, while our economy increasingly has more of the potential to resemble 1929, than 2008.
Take care everyone!
This is a memo written by the mayor of a relatively small upper midwest city which features a local philanthropic effort and, on behalf of rent-paying citizens, asks for compassion and forbearance on delinquent rent in the months ahead.
You have taken that and lept forward to a screed about free-market conservatives embracing socialism.
As the guy in the insurance ad says to the charicture artist, “I don’t see it.” (the connection).
Capitalism makes it possible to help those in a time of need.
“LMFAO! And when is that going to happen?”
I may not have an endorsing opinion about the foundation mentioned in the Mayor’s memo. Regardless, the Mayor cites 1.1 million instances of ‘that’ happening.
Very quickly and very early in this developing crisis.
Without being compelled by government to do so.
Oh, it gets better, a WSJ article now claims the Trump administration is thinking about opening up a special enrollment period for ObamaCare to deal with this virus.
While this is the same administration, which won’t currently defend ObamaCare before the Supreme Court on a legal challenge brought by conservative Republicans, who claim ObamaCare is unconstitutional.
These conservatives running this country right now really don’t know what they are. They apparently will do anything on a dime. Just as they will say anything on a dime as well.
Good luck everyone! And stay safe and consistent with your social distancing… 😉
LJL – “Socialism is expecting free shit everyday of your live.” That’s a a load of disinformation crap right there. Expecting free shit every day of your life is corporate lobbying. The classic definition of Socialism is state ownership of the means of production – which is what the republican President and Senate are proposing right now – requiring an equity position (ownership) in any business that accepts our bailout $$$. THAT sir – is what “socialism” actually is.
The mayor is asking for sympathy and understanding. Has nothing to do with socialism. Some lenders and landlords will heed him. Frankly, the problem handles itself. You can’t evict someone if courts are clogged. You can’t forclose for one year and then will there be buyers given the economy. The people have more power than the oligarchs think. What’s really happening is the rich are losing wealth and the poor are same as usual. What worries me is revolution and/or rampant crime. If you are home and haven’t kept your pistol handy, time to find it and load it.
You might have to live in a tent for awhile but you can later buy your house back on the courthouse steps for half your mortgage. There will be migration to safer places with better employment. Rent will be half. POWER TO THE PEOPLE.
Incidently, LJL, nobody reads the pet poop Argus. It’s hard to find when you need something for the bottom of a bird cage. HERE, is where there’s local news. TV has merged such that there’s no reporters and news is here say from other sources.
Requiring equity of any business for financial stability is done everyday by the bond market. It is how we got through the 08 mess. Do I agree with the bailouts and handouts..NO.
And you said it correct, state ownership of production is socialism by definition. SO can you tell us what companies the state is taking over?
You know damn good and well Scott and liberals like you don’t see socialism by its technical definition. Reread the title of this blog to find context to the debate
Todays socialism crowd believes in free shit. Read Scott’s other post about providing charity for renter as a clear example. Collecting private money as charity is not socialism.
BTW….The US county with the highest poverty is a socialist economy.
Your simply out of your element Donny!
I know….Orange man bad. I don’t like him either but do you really want to see the second great depression to make the orange man go away.
Grow Up!
Private money and people WANTING to part with their money to give people breaks, help, etc is NOT Socialism. In this scenario I have the option to “opt out” and not donate, participate, etc.
Notice how the letter is asking for their help and not forcing them too. These folks are free to say no, TRUE!!. It will look bad if you do but, you have that option
Socialism requires/mandates I participate and if I refuse there will be consequences. Social Security and Medicare or socialism at its finest. I cannot opt out and I am forced to pay for it. I wish I could
I think you are taking someone “asking” for help or encouraging you to help as an overt act, its not!! It’s merely a leader (yes I am using that term loosely) to ask for those in our community to help out. The reality is, most Americans are happy to help their fellow neighbor in a time of need and sadly this is when we seem to come together but, it’s NOT forced on is. When the government forces choices on us or requires us to participate we cannot opt out when we see something we dont agree with or folks taking advantage of a situation.
Agree to disagree all day long but, simply asking folks in your community to pitch in is not Socialism, its an ASK and and ASK only.
CH,
Do you want to “opt out” of fire, EMT, and police, too?
VSG – Thats a straw man argument and you know it. We all pay taxes for COMMON use stuf, roads, police, fire, etc. You folks always do this trying to justify Socialism and bring up stuff like this, its ludacris. I am talking about programs we are forced to pay for that most don’t use. I dont use welfare, foodstamps, public housing. I also don’t farm or build buildings and get subsidies that way either. These programs do not allow us to opt out yet we pay for them and Medicare and SS are the too biggest frauds and ripoffs we have ever had. We are FORCED to give the govt our money inthe hopes they can do the right hing in the future for me and as you can CLEARLY tell SS and Medicare are on life support because its a Giant Ponzi scheme.
Your arguments that the Mayor is trying out Socialism by “asking” folks to help out has no legs to stand on. The problem is we probably agree on helping each other out, especially in time of need. The difference is you want to do it with the threat of a penalty and enforcement, I want it to be voluntary. You Liberals hide behind the “good of society” talking points but, you cannot deny your programs are enforced at the end of a gun because if I don’t comply I can be fined, jailed, etc.
This is why I am a Conservative and a Fiscal one at that. Lets take Local politics. I bet we all agree on the following:
– I don’t want to subsidize the Rich and their pet projects
– I want open government
– I want a Safe City
– I want a clean City
– I want the the playing field to be level
– I want Government out of the business of picking winners and losers
– I dont want to subsidize the poor
Half of these things require government REMOVAL from the process, especially the subsidizing of groups. If the government just removed itself from these areas it would reduce our costs immensely and the govt footprint would shrink. Its no secret that both sides are fighting over HOW to govern and if you simply just remove govt from the mix where it does NOT belong its less to fight over. If we were to do this, we would NOT be upset with the parking ramp, aquatics center, Premier Center, etc because it would have not been paid for with tax dollars. See all that debt and arguments and frustration GONE. We all see the same problems we just see the solutions differently and you can clearly see government is too big, intrusive, corrupt, and abusive for our own good. I for the life of me cannot understand why you would argue for more of it, it just rarely works and when it does it barely functions.
CH,
What about Ag, do you want to subsidize that? If we don’t, then SD collapses, and then there goes our “balanced budgets”.
( and Woodstock adds: “‘Straw man?'”…..”Well, at least you have a heart”…. )