Republicanized?

If I can put aside the weight commentary for just a bit, I have a venting coming due of an entirely different variety.

I was raised a liberal. My mom had me marching in demonstrations against nuclear weapons wearing anti-Reagan t-shirts when I was still in diapers. I grew up as part of the working poor, standing in line for the state subsidized powdered milk and block of cheddar cheese they gave the welfare families. I played with other children in our little corner of the low-income housing where roach traps were common, and we were told to stay clear of the older kids who ran with gangs. We shopped at thrift stores and fabric stores for clothes, and toys were things like bins of cornmeal and kidney beans with funnels and empty sour cream containers. We didn't go to Disneyworld, and even Riverside, the local amusement park was a once a year treat.

I still think of myself as a social liberal. I believe in abortion rights, and help for the "working" poor. I think immigration is a good thing without complete amnesty, and don't believe in the death penalty.

I do however, carry a more cynical view of the lazy welfare-ites who find they profit more from remaining on federal and state welfare programs for years and years than putting in an 8 hour day at McDonald's. I carried myself up to my current Manhattan apartment and lifestyle by working my ass of for twenty years, so I resent those that would rather stay home and watch the next season of Ally McBeal on their huge flatscreen TV's (though they live in a trailer and for some strange reason can't afford groceries this week) while I get up every day and go to work. I have a limited view of "classism," as it purports itself, because I managed to crawl the hell out of it all on my own.

My mother would likely roll over in her grave to hear this, but she didn't live long enough to see my own sister subsist on government handouts for the entirety of her adult life!

Unless you live under a rock, you know that this week the government announced a tax rebate program that would give $600 to single tax payers and $1200+ to families with children. Even those that did not pay tax last year (thank you, EIC) but earned more than a flat amount ($5000?) will benefit from $300 each. Those however, who earn more than $87K as a single or $174K as a couple will get nothing. Zero, zilch, NADA. You are "phased out" and deemed to be part of the wealthy who doesn't need such a windfall.

That may be true if you're single and live in Bumfuck, Oklahoma; but if you live in Manhattan, $87K a year means you probably live with a roommate, you have trouble making ends meet just like everyone else, and you could definitely use a little break from good ole' Dubya and Nancy P. If you're a family and only pull in $174K a year and you have kids and private school, and nannies, and medical bills to pay for just like the rest of America, you're equally strapped.

I don't know about you, but I am personally PISSED and offended that my thousands and thousands of dollars I paid in taxes last year (Oh yeah, and I had to do a payment plan to get it to them) will benefit those that will use it to pay down their gambling debt or run out to Wal-Mart and put a few more kitschy things on layaway. I'm outraged that I'm subsidizing the jeebs that couldn't afford their rents in the first place who ran out and got sub-prime mortgages and SURPRISE! can't afford those either. Oh, and their friend the govt. is going to bail out the lenders too.

My colleagues had a response to my outrage and despair, "Welcome to the Republican Party."

How sad, how irretrievably broken is our system. My boyfriend is a Republican (it used to be that I wouldn't even date them), and we've had some interesting political debates of our own. I don't qualify for any of the IRS' "benefits" because I don't conform to the American norm of married, mortgage holding, child-bearing normalcy the IRS deems deserving. Then again, talking to my Manhattanite colleagues and friends, the only thing that gets them is a boost up to the AMT (alternative minimum tax- to those of you who don't have to bear it) basis, more evil than what I have to endure.

When it comes to economics, I am moving ever closer to the dark side, with what seems something akin to Darth Vadar breathing down my neck. If things continue down this route, I may even sway my side to the true dark emperor, Mikey Bloomberg.

I feel like screaming!