Repubs drooling over "opportunity" Katrina created to sell fascist policy

[BurtWorm]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/13/AR2005091300588_pf.html

Bush already has dispatched his top strategist, Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove, and other aides to assemble ideas from agencies, conservative think tanks, GOP lawmakers and state officials to guide the rebuilding of New Orleans and relocation of flood victims. The idea, aides said, is twofold: provide a quick federal response that comports with Bush's governing philosophy, and prevent Katrina from swamping his second-term ambitions on Social Security, taxes and Middle East democracy-building.

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), a Bush ally, said the recovery effort provides conservatives with an unusual opportunity to test ideas that have been hard to sell on a national scope, including vouchers to cover education for dislocated students and tax incentives for business investment. "There are a whole host of ideas being looked at," Kyl said.

In what may become the next major post-Katrina policy, the White House was working yesterday to suspend wage supports for service workers in the hurricane zone as it did for construction workers on federal contracts last week, administration and congressional officials said. This possible move, described by administration officials as being under debate, already provoked preemptive Democratic protests.

At tomorrow's speech, the president is to outline his vision more comprehensively than he has to date. A top aide said he will stress that New Orleans officials will dictate how the city will be rebuilt, but will also make plain the reconstruction should reflect his vision of government -- including reducing regulatory obstacles and emphasizing entrepreneurship over big government, the aide said. He will discuss plans to provide health care, education, jobs and housing assistance to flood victims, another aide said.

[Mizmoon]

1. The only way to stop their elimination of minumim wage

is for people to refuse to work for less than minimum.
Can we do it?

[Neecy]

2. what a disconnect...

He's going to discuss plans to provide jobs to flood victims, but the jobs will be minimum wage?

In what may become the next major post-Katrina policy, the White House was working yesterday to suspend wage supports for service workers in the hurricane zone as it did for construction workers on federal contracts last week, administration and congressional officials said.

This is obscene. He's turning us into a nation of serfs.

[txaslftist]

3. Serfs and overlords.

Not just serfs.

[Neecy]

7. ah, yes

Forgot about our overlords.

Really, it's just an outrage - our millionaire president will sign legislation for his millionaire friends to drive already low wages even further into the gutter, while our millionaire representatives in the Congress egg him on.

Where's the revolution?

[txaslftist]

14. Sorry, no revolution...

...our millionaire representatives are too busy passing an estate tax repeal so they don't have to pay taxes on the millions they pass to their millionaire heirs.

[Neecy]

21. oops, my bad

He doesn't need to pass legislation with our millionaire congress, since he can sign away wage protection with a stroke of the pen. Of course, it will be met with loving approval by his millionaire contractor friends and our millionaires in congress.

[txaslftist]

25. That's right. Now, back to work citizen.

[cyberpj]

8. The jobs may be lower than minimum wage if he can pull it off:

Bush lifts wage rules for Katrina

President signs executive order allowing contractors to pay below prevailing wage in affected areas.
September 9, 2005: 11:43 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush issued an executive order Thursday allowing federal contractors rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to pay below the prevailing wage.

In a notice to Congress, Bush said the hurricane had caused "a national emergency" that permits him to take such action under the 1931 Davis-Bacon Act in ravaged areas of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.

The Davis-Bacon law requires federal contractors to pay workers at least the prevailing wages in the area where the work is conducted. It applies to federally funded construction projects such as highways and bridges.

here:

http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/08/news/economy/katrina_wages.reut/

[RaleighNCDUer]

12. Prevailing wage is not minimum wage --

though by the time they are through it well could be.

This will allow contractors to low-bid and still pad their profits by paying construction workers as little as possible, meaning probably minimum wage. Even these guys can't pay less than minimum wage (unless, of course, we are talking about a state minimum, which is often higher than federal minimum, but I suspect LA state minimum is the same as federal).

[Neecy]

18. I think that's right

"Prevailing wage" in construction work is, I believe, generally considered to be union scale since most construction work is done by union members.

What this does is allow for his wealthy contractor friends to pocket the difference between prevailing wages - union scale - and minimum wage, a considerable difference. And nary a whimper from the public.

[cyberpj]

27. The public -- hasn't had a chance to hear about this - thanks media!

ONly heard it mentioned once so far, on Olbermann's show.

[genieroze]

19. I think it's less than minimum wage.

[Bob3]

4. well look at the enormous success they've had in Iraq

where many of the same goof ball ideas they are going unleash on the helpless people of Louisiana were tried out.

If they are allowed to do this - not only will New Orleans not be rebuilt but we will be hard put to prevent cannibalism.

[thefloyd]

5. Geesh a little test tube for

Conservative ideas. I wonder if Democrats will call out CONS for exploiting and politicizing katrina? Sure....

[femrap]

9. I believe the neocons want to bring back

SLAVERY....! That's what corporations want...don't want to pay people one cent for their work.

[kestrel91316]

22. Slavery is exactly what they have in mind for folks who can't pay back

their debts, now that they are in the process of ultimately eliminating bankruptcy for individuals and unincorporated businesses (and yes I do believe that is their ultimate goal with the banktuptcy law changes - this Oct change is only Step One).

If you owe someone money and can't pay them back with money, then they will force you to pay it back in labor.

[Karenina]

26. The Katrina "exercise."

[Armstead]

6. I posted an alert about this last week

It sank like a stone, as my posts have been doing lately (whine,whine), but anyway...

Last week the House GOP leaders gave a press conference about their response to aid in the Katrina rebuilding and relief efforts.

Surprise,surprise, it was more of the same old same old GOP agenda, put into hyperdrive. Their emphasis was on things like cutting taxes to "stimulate" the economy, and removing the regulations that would "hinder" the rebuilding effort.

If they can get away with it, they will simply use katrina to push throgh an accelerated version of the same crappy policies and crony capitalism that they're been force feeding us for the last five years.

Our side needs to come up with an equally aggressive LIBERAL counter plan.

[BurtWorm]

24. I wonder if anyone is actually doing the work required for that.

It would seem to be an opportune moment. Better Democrats use the opportunity than Republicans.

[liberal N proud]

10. Takes responsibility = take control of the agenda

The bu$h regime and their republican cartel is making plans for the New Orleans of their dreams.
Keep the poor and black people out of the city while using government money to build a playground for the elite.
They are turning this into an opportunity right under our eyes.
-profit for the Friends of bu$h companies
-Kill minimum wage - speeds up their efforts to create the two class society.
-Keep the nations attention diverted while they continue to rape the treasury including social security (no need for Holloway and Aruba)

[BurtWorm]

13. Well put!

:toast:

[Beam Me Up]

11. Anyone else having a deja vu moment?

Since we know the president has no "vision" we already know what we're going to get.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

15. Fits with idea that Thursday speech to announce a Czar

The easier to push through his rotten agenda.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,23889-1779465,00.html

[BurtWorm]

17. That makes sense.

They'll appoint a human ("moderate") face for their inhuman agenda.

[txaslftist]

16. I guess this is their version of "you broke it, you own it?"

[Neecy]

20. an unholy "vision"

A top aide said he will stress that New Orleans officials will dictate how the city will be rebuilt, but will also make plain the reconstruction should reflect his vision of government -- including reducing regulatory obstacles and emphasizing entrepreneurship over big government, the aide said.


Keep in mind that in the mad world of the Bush administration, "entrepreneurship" means no-bid contracts for his wealthy campaign donors and Halliburton, and "reducing regulatory obstacles" means gutting the Clean Air and Water acts, reducing EPA standards and having their newly-minted minimum wage workers in New Orleans being subjected to working in a toxic dump without legal recourse (their beloved 'tort reform) if they sicken from the toxins and die.

What kind of sick 'vision' is this? Why are we, the people, putting up with it? Who's going to protect us from the Bush administration slow-death sentence? The Democrats who are about to confirm John Roberts, who will enable all of these crimes?

[The Sleeper]

23. ah, yes...slavery is coming

Where's John Brown when you need him ??