Tom Toles for December 12, 2017

Same fake news they’ve used since Reagan.

One of the objectives of the Kochs and their ilk is repealing the so-called Johnson Amendment. There is an active movement afoot both within the administration and in Congress to do so. Repeal would allow them to make their unlimited political donations tax-free. Yes, you read that right. Go here to learn more: https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/advanced-search?search_api_views_fulltext=Johnson+amendment&sort_by=search_api_relevance

Fight back! The Johnson Amendment, which dates from 1954, prohibits 501-c-3’s from “endorsing or opposing any candidate for political office.” What it does not do is prohibit these organizations from taking a public stance on any issue of the day. The Amendment also protects 501-c-3’s from requests (demands?) from candidates for endorsements and donations.

They have already succeeded in including repeal in the House-passed tax reform bill. Call your congressmen’s local offices and urge them to preserve this vital wall between charitable donations and politics.

WE INVEST IN FEATHERS FOR NESTS – {rhyme}

We’re innocent folks who sometimes invest

in politicians who’ll feather our nest.

Too bad that you Others get so distressed; -

- too bad that you Others get so dispossessed

when of government service you get divested

when us Plutocrats’ surf has surged and crested.

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Trump is keeping his tax returns secret to fool his base – they will never believe he is going to pay millions less under the new tax reform. What a scam, and 1/3 of Americans go along with it like they want to pay the rich for the great job they are doing for us.

{Off the cartoon’s topic:}

BLACK HOLE – {rhyme and image}

A Black Hole, the oval office: -

- Societal norms disappear

into Trump’s voracious orifice.

The values which we revere

are gone when he widens his jaw,

are destroyed in his ravenous maw.

… Image:

https://media.mehrnews.com/d/2016/04/09/4/2043755.jpg?ts=1486462047399

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{Off the cartoon’s topic:}

RISING GORGE – {rhyme}

My gorge, how it rises

as the media apprises

of the ways of Trump.

In my throat there’s a lump.

My blood, how it’s steamingly boiled.

The coils of my guts are roiled

and my britches are soggy and soiled

when I think how The Donald has yuugely foiled

my nation’s values and left us turmoiled.

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The wealthy activists (Kochs, Waltons, et al) have to be admired in that, unlike the middle class, they work hard to sustain and improve their status. They tell congress what they want and they get it … as though the Democratic and Republican parties were there own employees. The wealthy activists have also convinced the public that only one of the parties can control at a time -- never cooperating with the other side and working for the voters -- as either one is enough to serve their needs. The wealthy activists know the while the constitution states the government is supposed to be “of, by, and for the people”, their close ties to the two political parties and keeping the public divided against itself prevents that from ever happening. The wealthy activists know that the 115th congress will design a “tax reform” bill that will benefit them.

As the rich get richer, the power of the people diminishes.

America; Home of the best Republicans MONEY can buy!

Like it or not, Citizens United (holding that corporations = people and money = speech) is now the law of the land, because the Supreme Court said so, and they have the final word on what the Constitution means. There is one higher power than that, tho, and that’s the Constitution itself. The only long-term answer to this fundamental flaw in the American political system is a Constitutional amendment declaring, in terms so crystal clear that even Anthony Kennedy can’t mistake them, that:

(1) only actual human beings have human rights,

(2) free spending is not equivalent to free speech, and

(3) campaign financing can be reasonably regulated by state and federal laws, uniformly applied.

Guess it’s all how you define “pay for”.

I guess we can always eat coal.

Well, now we know; now that the “details” of this “bigly” tax plan are out, where the “cuts”, to balance the Fed Budget, will be made. Cut Medical deductions, cut state tax deductions, cut charitable deductions. Neat huh?!