Bush's Labor Day hypocrisy

Today, the first Monday in September, is Labor Day in the USA -- a holiday set aside to celebrate the American worker.

And, as is customary, George W. Bush dedicated his latest weekly radio address to "the contributions of hardworking Americans all across our country - from teachers, farmers, and health care professionals, to firefighters, police officers, small business owners, and workers on the assembly line."

As if he has a clue what life is like today for American workers.

As if he cares.

Talk is cheap. The facts paint a very different story. Under Bush, unemployment as of August 1 had risen to 5.7 percent. And those of us who still have jobs are working harder for lower pay.

If Bush truly cared about the American worker, he wouldn't give tax breaks to corporations that outsource American jobs to cheaper (often slave-wage) labor markets in places like China and India.

And if Bush truly cared about the American worker, he would give working and middle-class families the real tax breaks and force the richest 2% to pay their fair share.

Of course, he spins the truth to make it sound like that's what he's doing. In Saturday's radio address, he went on to tell us that those cute little tax rebate checks are doing as intended and saving the economy.

"Many Americans who received tax rebates are spending them," he boasted. "Businesses are taking advantage of tax incentives to purchase new equipment this year. And there are signs that the stimulus package will continue to have a beneficial impact on the economy in the second half of the year."

He continued, "Our economy is showing that it is resilient. And our Nation is the most industrious, creative, and prosperous on earth."

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Blah, blah, blah.

Tell that to the 5.7 percent of Americans who don't have jobs.

Tell that to the Americans whose companies traded them for cheap Chinese sweatshop labor.

Tell that to the middle class families who now cannot afford a summer vacation.

Bush was elected -- twice, mind you -- because the average American fell for his fake down-home style. He was the candidate they'd most want to have a beer with.

Well, folks, your beer buddy got us into this mess.

And, with folksy old John McCain, it will be more of the same.

People need to realize that the folksy talk is just their way of talking down to you.