There are many differences on many different issues between the two major political parties, but I believe both of them have the same hope when it comes to the economy. Democrats and Republicans both want a financially healthy country, and they want Americans to have enough money so they can live free of welfare. Both parties want all citizens to work, to pay their bills, and to pay their taxes.
This is common sense, so if you hear something different then you are falling for the fake rhetoric that is out there.
It bothers me because so many MAGA folks and other Republicans say that the economy is their number one issue when it comes to picking a candidate. And, I get it. These people are not wealthy. Most Americans are not. They are often scrapping by, and budgeting their money. They live month to month. One catastrophe (a medical problem, or a natural disaster, or losing a job) could change their lives. They could lose their home. They could find themselves out on the street, relying on the government’s help just to survive. They could overuse credit cards out of desperation and ruin personal credit ratings making it harder to get back on their feet. Lose a car and you lose a way to get to a job. Lose a house and you have no permanent address that is required for employment.
We all know people who have had this happen to them. It’s a real and a scary concern.
But we must remember, our country is based on freedoms and it is also our country that encourages capitalism. Work hard, and you will succeed. So, somehow our politicians have to figure out ways to reduce the pain of the poor, and to give people financial security, and yet keep business owners and their board members free to make the decisions for their companies. These top people want their businesses to thrive, because then they will make lots of money.
This is why I believe when a country like ours runs this way then we MUST have a moral backbone. We must have political leaders who want the business owners and the boards to CARE about their employees. We need to encourage them to see that well paid employees are happy employees, who will then work hard and who stay with the company. But how do we do it? How do we reward those who treat their employees well?
Well, one way is to require a minimum wage that is enough for a person to get themselves out of poverty, to get off of public assistance. Raising the minimum wage so that it reflects inflation (the rising price of housing, utility, food prices) is just common sense to me. If prices go up, then so must pay.
Another way to encourage business owners to take care of their employees is by giving them incentives in tax credits.
Now, if you have stuck with me here so far, you might be saying that small business owners cannot afford to pay their employees a living wage. My response? Then unfortunately they should not be in business. That is capitalism. They cannot be successful without taking care of their employees. They SHOULD NOT be successful without having a moral backbone and a basic concern for them.
Obviously, I am not an economist, or a psychologist, and I know I have a simplistic view about how changes can work. But, I do know, it is not fair for far too many Americans to struggle financially when others live the ‘good life.’ It is not fair that only some get to experience ‘The American Dream.’
What can we do?
First, I think we need to learn about the policies that each party has for ways to improve financial security for all. Which one has really tried to enact laws that will actually provide better for the poor? Pull them up? I also think we need to encourage candidates to state their economic plan. Too many candidates talk about wanting to make lives better without presenting an agenda of ways to make it happen. I can’t help but laugh at Trump’s so called ‘economic speech’ the other day and how he said he had to say something about economics because he was told to…. But, guess what? He never did.
Which party speaks about lifting people up? Which party wants to have the wealthy business owners pay more, just their fair share, in taxes? Which party wants to bring back a “middle class” of people, and get them comfortably out of poverty and back to work to pay for themselves?
Okay. Okay, yes I am partial to the Democrats. I think they grasp a better plan, and I think of them as the ‘peoples’ party.’ All people. But, like I said at the beginning of this musing, both political parties want to have a stronger economy and they want all Americans to enjoy the benefits of it. When we have a place to agree we must do it!
So, we can easily find and see the differences elsewhere (gun control abortion rights, civil rights, educational opportunities) with the two parties – but the economy is not one of them. Democrats and Republicans want the same thing. We must decide which one might achieve the goal better.
Marla’s Musings 