Republican assault on the elderly continues……

Republicans control the US Senate, the US House, the Vice-Presidency, the Presidency, and the US Supreme Court. By controlling every level of government, Republicans ensure that their political base, the Fortune 500, is protected. But, what about the Unfortunate 50 Million, who struggle to live from day to day, trying to make ends meet?

Beginning with trickle down Reaganomics, or voodoo economics as some called it, Republicans proposed giving the wealthiest Americans gluttonous tax breaks because the excess would ultimately trickle down to the middle class. Eventually, Reaganomics caused the collapse of the middle class:

"The corporate media doesn't talk about it much, but the United States is rapidly on its way to becoming three separate nations. First, there are a small number of incredibly wealthy people who own and control more and more of our country. Second, there is a shrinking middle class in which ordinary people are, in most instances, working longer hours for lower wages and benefits. Third, an increasing number of Americans are living in abject poverty -- going hungry and sleeping out on the streets….Today, the richest 1 percent own more wealth than the bottom 95 percent, and the CEOs of large corporations earn more than 500 times what their average employees make. The nation's 13,000 wealthiest families, 1/100th of one percent of the population, receive almost as much income as the poorest 20 million families in America."

Well the chickens of Reaganomics have come home to roost again. This time for the elderly!

In Seniors Charged With Selling Prescriptions, Roger Alford reports that elderly Americans living on social security are compelled to sell their prescription pain pills to make ends meet:

"When a person is on Social Security, drawing $500 a month, and they can sell their pain pills for $10 apiece, they'll take half of them for themselves and sell the other half to pay their electric bills or buy groceries."

But, when Republican policies compel the elderly to sell their prescription drugs “to bring in a little extra money," then it has gone too far.

12/12/05