The Rich get Richer, the Poor get Po'

Where does one begin? The Republican controlled Senate on Monday, shot down two proposed minimum wage increases. Currently, minimum wage is a whopping $5.15. Whoa Nelly, that's a whole lotta cheddah! Who needs an increase making that kind of money? Who can't manage that type of money? One proposal was to raise it to a modest $7.25., over the next two years. But Republicans countered with a smaller increase - $1.10 in two steps over 18 months - that they said would help workers without hampering the creation of jobs needed to help those with low skills. Creation of jobs, what creation of jobs? Did I miss something? Where are these jobs? Lets see, last time I checked gas prices were rising, with a rise in gas prices comes a rise in prices in the grocery store, milk, eggs, cheese, veggies, all of the primary necessities. Hell, a minimum wage worker can barely afford to put gas in the tank to get to work. Something is seriously wrong with this picture? Over the last five years, the Senate voted themselves a $28,500 pay increase. That's some bullshit....but you the voter elected these officials to represent your interests. On the minimum wage increase vote, it appears that all of the opposition came from the Republicans, so I blame all those dumb-asses in the red states who choose to vote against their own best interests. When your stomach growls and the fridge is low its ok, you kept Bob and Tom from getting married. That's what you get. Lastly, the Senate is about to vote on a bill that will toughen the bankruptcy law. I am first to preach the acceptance of personal responsibility but hidden behind all of the talk about people who abuse the system are those who have to file bankruptcy due to emergencies, like medical and loss of employment. "A vast majority of personal bankruptcies in the United States are the result of severe misfortune. One recent study found that more than half of bankruptcies are the result of medical emergencies. The rest are overwhelmingly the result either of job loss or of divorce" N.Y. Times. The Democrats proposed an amendment which would address such individuals, but of course, it was voted down. There are some loopholes in the bill which will allow those wealthier individuals to protect their wealth, but for your average Joe Blow, you sir are up the creek. Read this link by Paul Krugman for further details. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/08/opinion/08krugman.html?hp