News Americas, MIAMI, FL, Fri. Nov. 9, 2018: The much-anticipated midterm elections are now over, but what undoubtedly remains is the ever-growing divide in the nation, stoked by racism, xenophobia and nativist politics from the alt-right and its self-confessed nationalist-in-chief.
After this election, it will be harder for the Republican Party to distance itself from labels like the Anti-Immigrant, Anti-Minority Party of Alternative Facts and Hate.
That is what the dangerous infection, Trumpism, and the Party’s new leader has brought it to; even though it’s been hurtling along that path for years now.
Sadly, while the leader of the GOP has chosen to run his usual scapegoating the immigrants campaign, ramped way up to drive fear into every White Republican that the brown immigrant “thugs” are going to “invade” their dear land, rape their daughters and kill them in their homes while taking away their jobs and laughing all the way to the bank, the reality is that the only people these “base” supporters need to fear is their own lying leaders.
While many in the GOP’s base continue to struggle to make ends meet, holding down minimum wage jobs, being dependent welfare, social security and Medicare, Medicaid and that very important pre-existing condition clause in the plan they love to hate – ‘Obama Care,’ the leaders who use nativist policies are fat cats, not having to struggle a day in their lives to make ends meet.
While the federal minimum wage is just $7.25 per hour as it is in 10 other states, including in Texas, members of congress and the senate get paid approximately $608 per hour, presuming 10-hour workdays.
That is more than many people make per week nationally. The state with the highest minimum wage is California at $11 per hour while the states with the lowest minimum wage per hour are Georgia, where the minimum wage is a stunning $5.50, and Wyoming, where it is a shocking $5.15.
That means a family with two persons working minimum wage jobs in Georgia and Wyoming will take home just $398.58 and $362 after tax per week, respectively. That’s $1,594.3 per and $1,448 per month, respectively.
Contrast that to the net worth of the hardliners in the GOP, led by El Trumpeto. His current net worth is US $3.1 billion. Hardliners who support an end to birth right citizenship like Mark Stanford is worth over $7 million while Mitch McConnell’s net worth is $22.5 million.
Paul Ryan’s net worth is estimated at $6 million; Ted Cruz’s at $4.9 million and Republican Brian Kemp in Georgia over $5 million.
These elected leaders have no idea what its like to struggle to pay a bill, live pay check to pay check; have to make a decision on whether its rent or food and can’t afford health care, the medication you need or deductibles.
But in order to ensure their “good life” is preserved and not have the so-called “base” focus on the real issues affecting their lives, the best scape goat is the black and brown immigrant, who like black freed slaves, are painted and vilified as dark-faced criminals, killers, rapists, invaders, job stealers, benefits moochers and people who lead to the darkening of America and the dilution of the GOP’s power, while taking away the majority control Whites enjoy now.
The reality, however, is the only person the GOP’s so-called base need to fear is its own lying, racist and selfish leaders, bent on keeping the cheese while hoodwinking them into fighting for the crumbs with the perceived black and brown “immigrant invaders.”
The writer is CMO at Hard Beat Communications, Inc. which owns the brands: NewsAmericasNow, CaribPRWire and InvestCaribbeanNow.
