Shortly after President Obama was elected, a group calling themselves the "Tea Party" gained prominence. At every Democratic/Obama-cause rally, their yellow flag with a recoiled snake ready to strike and the words "Don't Tread on Me" was flown by young, 'old', middle-aged, men and women; simple folks, really - just like all us 99%ers.
Gadsden flag
(Image by (From Wikimedia) Christopher Gadsden (1724–1805), this particular rendition by Vikrum~commonswiki / Own work, Author: See Source) Details Source DMCA
The Gadsden Flag is often associated with Libertarianism.
"Libertarianism is an umbrella term of political ideas. Modern-day Libertarians advocate for no government interference, such as regulations, and strong private property rights, such as land, infrastructure and natural resources". (Wikipedia) 1% interests, really.
The Supreme Court decisions in favor of Citizens United and McCutcheon v Federal Election Commission allowed a very few "blessed" Americans - of the 1% variety - to back candidates willing to do their bidding. As Senator Bernie Sanders has put it: "They became the most powerful, threatening the meaning of democracy in America".
Rather than promote a raise in taxes on the wealthiest, the "country's debt" is used in a shell game by GOP/Libertarian legislators to justify abolishing that which keeps their countrymen safe and well.
The Environmental Protection Agency, signed into law in 1970 by President Richard Nixon "to consolidate a variety of federal research, monitoring, and standard-setting enforcements to ensure environmental protections", is relentlessly attacked.
Since the 1980s, the Clean Water Act constructed and upgraded publicly owned sewage-treatment plants around the nation. The Clean Air Act forced corporations, unwilling to admit polluting, into "Superfund" clean ups. here. However, as of this year, there remain 51 Superfund sites. here),
While the agency struggles to keep up with enforcement, GOP/Libertarian lawmakers force deep and persistent funding cuts, while ironically complaining 'the agency isn't doing its job, and needs to be abolished'.
Two reports, by the Environmental Working Group in 2012 and the EPA in 2013, found 54%-92% of streams and rivers in the vast acreages of corn and soybeans have high pollution levels for nitrogen and phosphorous.
In 2013, North Dakota found 200 oil spills seeped into wheat fields, and Colorado reported two oil spills a day. (http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/oct/25/north-dakota-oil-pipeline-spills-secrecy) (http://www.zmescience.com/ecology/colorado-oil-spill-31072014/)
The American Lung Association in 2014 found nearly half of (147M) Americans live in counties where ozone or particle pollutant levels make the air unhealthy to breathe". (click here)
The suspiciously titled "Right to Work" laws threaten the rules set by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration that "assures safe working conditions and enforces 'whistleblower' regulations". (https://www.osha.gov/)
Using false and misleading information about union rules, these laws encroach on the last bastion of the middle-class for political strength through numbers. here
With manipulation on those who don't know when they are being bamboozled, again using "the crushing debt" excuse, GOP/Libertarians would happily eliminate American's entitlements.
"Entitlement" is defined as "a right".
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