Why America's plutocrats gobble up $1,500 hot dogs

Part 3 of Julian Borger's series on Bush America

George Bush's America, the wealthiest nation in history, faces a
growing poverty crisis. In the first of a three-part series Julian
Borger takes the pulse of the US with elections just a year away


Why America's plutocrats gobble up $1,500 hot dogs

In the final part of a series, Julian Borger examines the inequality of the Bush era

Wednesday November 5, 2003
The Guardian

~snip~

These politically charged dinners are normally five-course affairs eaten off white linen, but the folksiness of the Bush White House has by now pervaded the Republican party. The menu on this night was hot dogs and peanuts, served from food carts and eaten standing up.

"I think it's great because I thinks folks would rather be eating hot dogs with President Bush than sipping wine and nibbling cheese with Hillary Clinton," declared George Allen, a Virginia senator.

The president, who marched in to an ecstatic welcome, offered rhetoric to match the humble fare. After vowing to persevere in the battle against terrorism, he turned to his domestic ambitions, "to work for a society of prosperity and compassion so that every single citizen has a chance to work and succeed and realise the great promise of this country".

~snip~

The memo sent out to would-be demonstrators stressed that "If people want to participate - AND WE DO NEED BODIES - they must be DRESSED DOWN, appear to be REAL WORKER types etc."

In the end, the televised rally involved the president's supporters dressed as the working poor, cheering for more money to go to the rich. It is hard to think of a more fitting tableau for Bush's America.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1077949,00.html

Part 1: Long queue at drive-in soup kitchen
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1076574,00.html


Part 2: Land where calling an ambulance is first step to bankruptcy
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1077230,00.html

The last line was purrfect:

"In the end, the televised rally involved the president's supporters dressed as the working poor, cheering for more money to go to the rich. It is hard to think of a more fitting tableau for Bush's America."

Kinda says it all.

From history:

Louis ascended the throne at the age of twenty; he was of average intelligence, but was not overly concerned with the running of the country. In the French imagination, he was seen as representing everything that the Estates opposed: centralized government, wealth, indifference. His wife, Marie Antoinette, was vilified by all the members of the Estates as indifferent and calculating

http://www.wsu.edu:8000/~dee/REV/LOUISXVI.HTM

Where are the Sans Coullottes when you need them?

It must be terrible for them, poor dears.

i've little doubt they'd pay at least as handsomely to gobble cheney's thirty-five cent cock.