Monday, March 16, 2009

The Little Guy Delusion

So, you listen to Rush Limbaugh on local hatetalker WXIT 1200 AM because you like his particular kind of populism, his tendency to stick up for the little guys, his blubbery sense of fair play--because you identify with him somehow.

Because it is becoming clearer every day to you that you are just ONE lottery ticket away from becoming a millionaire. You're ever-so-close. The odds are on your side.

When you do become a millionaire (which you surely will, make no mistake), you're going to want someone like Rush out there looking out for you--watching your back.

The way he watches out for these folks:
...
[O]ffering a full-throated defense of taxpayer-funded bonuses for employees of AIG Financial Products. The reasoning? Well, Rush has a lot of insurance with AIG and it would be a "hassle" for him if the company went bankrupt. Also, he figured that taxpayers should pay for his insurance company's bonuses, since he's paying for their mortgages.
...
Rush offered an admonition to those Americans upset that $160 million of taxpayers' cash is going to bonuses, saying that it is just one-tenth of one percent of all bailout funds, and that there are far greater abuses of government to be angry over. Of course, last week, Rush was railing against Obama for signing the omnibus bill, which Rush redubbed "earmark-ulus," and his anger was not tempered by the fact that earmarks in that bill comprised less than 2 percent of the total spending. Rush then explained to his readers that he knows he's in the minority for supporting the AIG bonuses, but, as he is always quick to point out, he is a man of "principle," not of "polls."
...
Oh yes, you WILL hit that lottery. Of course, you may have to stay employed until that glorious day arrives. How's that going, anyway?

Looks like Rush supports the big guys, folks. He has no problem with paying bonuses to AIG executives--but he has a BIG problem supporting auto workers (you know--actual regular people).

Oh, noes. More bad news for Rush--and his deluded fans.

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