WILL BUILD BACK BETTER CREATE AN “ENTITLEMENT SOCIETY”?
Actually, America has already established a costly entitlement society, and it works great for the rich and corporations.
QUICK READ: The Build Back Better bill would take from the rich and help the rest of us. But America’s biggest welfare recipients, the rich and powerful, hate that idea. So they have dispatched their lobbyists to push their paid-for politicians to defeat the bill whose sole purpose is to help make America a more broadly prosperous nation.
TAKE ACTION NOW:
BACKGROUND
The latest objection to the 10-year, $3.5 trillion bill of social investments is that it would create an “entitlement society,” where freeloaders get government handouts.
So who are society’s moochers?
Arguably, it’s the fossil fuel industry whose government subsidies and unpaid taxes total $311.5 billion over ten years.
It’s the wealthy dodging $1.6 trillion in taxes over the same period.
It’s the pharmaceutical industry that every decade overcharges the government $530 billion for drugs.
These and dozens more freeloader industries are fighting to protect their welfare checks from being redirected to build a more prosperous society by opposing:
Slashing drug prices.
Cutting the $10,000 a year that families pay for child care.
Allowing home care rather than placing people in understaffed facilities.
Launching the most significant climate change program ever.
Granting seniors dental, hearing, and vision care.
Strengthening the workforce with two years of free community college
Extending the child tax credit, which has already cut child poverty in half.
Essentially the entitlement argument is a racist dog whistle to whites who still believe the lie of “welfare queens.”
It’s all a deflection to protect the rich. Fight for passage of the Build Back Better bill.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Don’t back off $3.5 trillion. The “entitlement” society is composed of the rich, fossil fuel companies, the pharmaceutical industry, and more. The rest of us could use the help.
SEN. WYDEN: Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Don’t back off $3.5 trillion. The “entitlement” society is composed of the rich, fossil fuel companies, the pharmaceutical industry, and more. The rest of us could use the help.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
The “entitlement” society is composed of the rich, fossil fuel companies, the pharmaceutical industry and more. Support your constituents, who need the help.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Don’t back off $3.5 trillion. The “entitlement” society is composed of the rich, fossil fuel companies, the pharmaceutical industry, and more. The rest of us could use the help.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The “entitlement” society is composed of the rich, fossil fuel companies, the pharmaceutical industry and more. Support your constituents, who need the help.
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Don’t back off $3.5 trillion. The “entitlement” society is composed of the rich, fossil fuel companies, the pharmaceutical industry, and more. The rest of us could use the help.
Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Don’t back off $3.5 trillion. The “entitlement” society is composed of the rich, fossil fuel companies, the pharmaceutical industry, and more. The rest of us could use the help.
Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The “entitlement” society is composed of the rich, fossil fuel companies, the pharmaceutical industry and more. Support your constituents, who need the help.
Action 3:
Other opportunities for action include:
WRITE LETTERS AND POSTCARDS IN GOOD COMPANY,
FRIDAY, OCT. 15, 4:00pm: https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/274619/
PHONEBANK TO ENCOURAGE VIRGINIANS TO VOTE
SATURDAY, OCT. 16, 12:00 noon-2:00pm: https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/410893/
Further Reading:
How Two Bills in Congress Could Have a Major Impact on Climate Action - The New York Times
Sen. Manchin Says Bernie Sanders Wants, 'Entitlement Society'
Climate hawks reject compromise in reconciliation - Roll Call
The wealthy may avoid $163 billion in annual taxes. How they do it - CNBC
Child Care Has High Costs for Parents, Low Wages for Staff - The New York Times
Manchin’s list of demand, Memo to Schumer, July-28-2021.pdf
It’s Bernie vs Manchin as spending breakthrough remains elusive - The Washington Post
Top 1% of U.S. Earners Now Hold More Wealth Than All of the Middle Class - Bloomberg
Climate Justice and COP 26: Who Is Responsible for Climate Crisis? - Rolling Stone
Joe Manchin’s reconciliation memo: What to know - The Washington Post
