Who’s makin’ a list?
“Wall Street isn’t the only big winner from the new legislation. Health insurance companies get to keep their special tax breaks. Tourist destinations like Las Vegas get their travel promotion subsidies.
“In a victory for food companies, the legislation even makes federally subsidized school lunches less healthy by allowing companies that provide them to include fewer whole grains. This boosts their profits because junkier food is less expensive to make.
“Major defense contractors also win big. They get tens of billions of dollars for the new warplanes, missiles, and submarines…
“Conservatives like to portray government as a welfare machine doling out benefits to the poor, some of whom are too lazy to work.
“In reality, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, only about 12 percent of federal spending goes to individuals and families, most of whom are in dire need.
“An increasing portion goes to corporate welfare.”
Who’s a lazy bum in that corporate jet?
“In addition to the provisions in the recent spending bill that reward Wall Street, health insurers, the travel industry, food companies, and defense contractors, other corporate goodies have been long baked into the federal budget.
“Big agribusiness gets price supports. Hedge-fund and private-equity managers get their own special “carried-interest” tax loophole. The oil and gas industry gets its special tax subsidies.
“Big Pharma gets a particularly big benefit: a prohibition on government using its vast bargaining power under Medicare and Medicaid to negotiate low drug prices…
“Starting in 2015, [couples] can donate ten times [more than before]. In a two-year election cycle, a couple will be able to give $1,296,000 to a party’s various accounts…
“If government were responding to the public’s interest instead of the moneyed interests, it would be smaller and more efficient.”
We’re on to ’em! So kick back and take it easy, relax in the holidays, and restore the energy for real change.
River of Asymmetry 