Quoting the Bible, Bush CUTS Katrina workers pay!

[Joanne98]

This is an outrage.

Quoting Bible, Cutting Worker Pay
September 11, 2005


The Bush administration, never satisfied to rest on its laurels, has found a way to shock and stun advocates for American workers who thought they'd seen it all.

In a highly televised and publicized stunt, President Bush on Thursday called for a "National Day of Prayer and Remembrance For Victims of Hurricane Katrina."

"Across our nation," Bush said solemnly, "so many selfless deeds reflect the promise of the Scripture: `For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in.' I encourage all Americans to respond with acts of kindness in the days ahead."

Fine. That passage was from the Book of Matthew. Hours later, after most news deadlines had passed, the President quietly invoked the Book of George to stab in the back thousands of poor Katrina victims.

Bush used his powers to suspend a law that for 74 years has guaranteed a decent wage to construction workers in federal contracts. The suspension applies to more than 100 counties and parishes in the states hit by Katrina - indefinitely, for all contracts, whether or not they are meant to clean up and rebuild devastated areas.

The order cancels "prevailing wages," which assure that workers on federal jobs receive hourly pay akin to workers doing similar work in those areas. Prevailing wages in the Deep South states are barely above poverty: $9.55 an hour, for example, for a construction laborer in New Orleans.

http://www.courant.com/business/hc-haar0911.artsep11,0,3429673.column?coll=hc-utility-business

[SammyBlue]

1. You act surprised???

Think Halliburton wants to pay a living wage??? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!

Who Would Jesus Screw???

[Joanne98]

5. Who would Jesus screw. That's good.

[Stinky Bushes]

2. While that doesn't surprise me,

is this a credible source? And what law is the author referring to?

Bush ALWAYS breaks out the Bible talk when his ratings are low. An attempt to lasso in his wayward Christian base. Unfortunately they swoon all over the man when he does this, they are so darn gullible. Sad!

[Joanne98]

4. It's a credible source. It was on the TEEVEE too...CNN I think.

[KerryOn]

8. This thead has a link to the Washington Post.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4716946&mesg_id=4716946

[Suich]

10. Here's another link:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/8/22374/66753

[Big Kahuna]

3. Blessed are the cheesemakers.

:puke:

I'm just waiting for * to appear on national TV, pull his face off and reveal himself to be Adolph Hitler, Zippy the Pinhead or Ming the Merciless.

[China_cat]

11. Zippy the pinhead

was a loving, sweet and empathetic creature. His mean streak only came out when someone else was being mean or unfair.

[Bob3]

6. god do I hate people who pray in public

especially when they are screwing the powerless. The word shameless hypocrite isn't big enough.

[Joanne98]

12. Let us PREY! Is more like it.

[Flubadubya]

7. The unkindest cut of all...

Pardon the Shakespeare, but this one deed by BushCo alone has infuriated me more than just about anything else they have done in the wake of the Katrina disaster. Just think about it... the people who will be trying to put their lives back together will be in both the greatest need of their lifetimes, AND in the most vulnerable situation... and Bush says he will have ZERO tolerance for anyone who tries any price gouging in the area? How cold and hypocritical can they get?!! :eyes:

This has to be one of the most cynical things they have ever done. They are taking fullest advantage of hopeless and helpless people to further stuff the coffers of Halliburton (and any other contractor they choose). Mega-profits to the filthy rich... let the victims "eat cake". :grr::mad::grr: :argh:

[Joanne98]

13. It's not a diaster...It's an opportunity!

Bush NEVER passes up an OPPORTUNITY! I remember when being an OPPORTUNIST was a BAD thing!

[liam_laddie]

15. the expense-income spread...

Y'all can be DAMN sure that those no-bid contracts will NOT
reflect the lower labor rate. The corpo-fascist companies giving a break to us taxpayers? Hell, NO! They got their boy up there
to hand out $50bn plus..a feeding frenzy of corruption. Where the
HELL are the moderate and fiscally-responsible rethugs, or Dems, for that matter? I'm gonna throw up... REVOLUTION is the only way outta this valley of deception and woe.

[Frustratedlady]

18. You Beat Me To It...

Is there any way the public can find out what wages these companies are figuring into these contracts? I can't believe we can't get an accounting of Halliburton's contract details. That's a burr in my side, not only regarding U.S. projects, but in Iraq and other countries, as well. We keep hearing about violations and fines, but that doesn't tell us a darned thing. We hear they have been fined in one paragraph and land a huge project in another!

I'm a strong believer that reinstating a WPA-type program would be a plus, so long as it didn't involve these corporations that have been ripping us off for years. Give the small contractors an opportunity to expand their businesses and give displaced citizens an opportunity to work and learn new skills in the process. How much bigger does Halliburton, Bechtel, KBR, et al. need to get before they are satisfied?

You know darned well that these big contractors are going to at least double the wages they charge, while the poor worker will struggle at wages barely over minimum and probably be denied full insurance coverage, due to the working conditions. They should receive a bonus for endangering their lives.

[teknomanzer]

26. Why does that chocolate cake smell like shit?

And why doesn't bushco ever eat any?

[Stinky Bushes]

9. and I also think it's extremely hypocritical

for * to say this after allowing thousands of Americans to suffer and die for five days so that he could have a photo op juxtaposed with the "coming in of the cavalry."

SHAMELESS!

[Joanne98]

14. Welcome to DU!

[ray of light]

16. it's official

he's bringing back slave labor!

[stlsaxman]

17. "The Butcher with the sharpest knife has the Warmest Heart"

Number 6 quoting Number 2 in "The Prisoner: Change Of Mind"

[greblc]

19. There is no excuse but what is the "reason" for taking this action?

His father did the same during another huricane clean up. What's the justification? I know it to save someone a dime.

[Bucky]

23. Right guess. It's supposed to help small employers. Supposed to.

But in reality, since FEMA's doing a jillion dollar bail out, it's mostly intended to reward construction industry fatcats who'll get the big contracts, then donate big back to Republicans in the '06 cycle. Basically a scheme to turn your tax dollars into Republican campaign funds after greasing down the same contractors who live off of government largesse.

The longstanding logic behind lowering wages in disaster areas is pretty much invalidated by the insurance industry and the establishment of FEMA funds. But don't let that stop you.

[ChaoticSilly]

20. what he said vs. what I heard

For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was poor and you gave me money... no wait, you cut my wages, jerk.

I encourage all Americans to respond with acts of kindness in the days ahead. Except of course myself. And Karl. And Uncle Dick. And the people of Haliburton. You guys can continue being arrogant, selfish, incompetent, lying, racist, greedy, money grubbing facsists - you know, just like my "base".

[triguy46]

21. He is NOT A CHRISTIAN!!!!!

He only claims it. Please don't judge Christ by the acts of * the dickhead.

To paraphrase evangelicals, "Even Satan can quote Scripture."

[Secular Agent Man]

22. From the revised King Bush Version:

"For I was drowning and you played the guitar; I was thirsty and you ate cake; I was an American, and you let me die."

[meow2u3]

24. James 5:1-6 (NAB) condemns screwing workers

1 Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.
2 Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten,
3 your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire. You have stored up treasure for the last days.
4 Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
5 You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter.
6 You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one; he offers you no resistance

http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/james/james5.htm

On edit: bolfaced emphasis is mine; provided link

[Raydawg1234]

25. dont forget about congress.....

Lets not forget that it was a group of republican congressmen that urged Bush to do this(paying back their contributors no doubt). It's not just Bush that we have to defeat, for that is only one branch of government. We have to retake congress as well. Only then would impeachment be possible.

[Beam Me Up]

27. can we have a couple more nominations for this story folks?