CatherineRhodes.com

People forget that the top tax rate during the 1950s was 91 percent

Howard Stern (of all people) had a terrific insight. He was on Jon Stewart and said, “you’re like a voice of reason.” Indeed. Especially regarding a segment Jon did this past week comparing the Fox News coverage of the millionaire tax cuts vs. the greed of the unionized teachers. It’s shocking how manipulated Fox’s viewers are by the powerful elite that controls the broadcast. Sad. VERY sad. Anyway, Jon Stewart observed that their intention is to create class warfare — with the middle class pitted against each other.

It’s all summed up in this joke:

A Wall Street CEO, a tea party member, and a union worker are all sitting at a table when a plate with a dozen cookies arrives. Before anyone else can make a move, the Wall Streeter reaches out to rake in 11 of the cookies. When the other two look at him in surprise, the CEO locks eyes with the tea party member. “You better watch him,” the executive says with a nod toward the union worker. “He wants a piece of your cookie.”

At least these people didn't crash the economy

The problem with immigration is that there are factions for it and factions against it within each party. The Dems support diversity and civil rights so they are accepting of Latino immigrants, but they also support unions and know cheap labor undercuts bargaining power. The Repubs have a similar conflict. The Tea Party types want to preserve the dominant culture and feel threatened by the onslaught of Spanish-speakers. Then there’s the business wing of the party that knows low-wage workers add to the bottom line.

“This Week” had a spirited debate during the Roundtable discussion, in which Bill Maher smugly insinuated the Arizona law is motivated by racism. George Will asked which provisions of the federal immigration law Maher actually agreed with, and Maher said, “I’ll take a pass.” Which is one thing I hate — when people speak passionately against a problem without having any possible solutions. If you have a better way, go ahead and advocate as strongly as possible. But if you don’t, shut up.

The left talks about the need for “comprehensive immigration reform,” but what exactly does that mean? No one has specifics. The right talks about “securing the borders” — as if that’s even possible.

I loved a snippet from Peggy Noonan’s column in the Wall Street Journal on Sunday:

In New York, legal and illegal immigrants keep the city running. They work hard jobs with brutal hours, rip off no one on Wall Street, and do not crash the economy. They are generally considered among the good guys.

Let’s remember who the real criminals are, the pigs in wingtips at AIG recklessly betting your retirement savings like so many casino chips.