By the time you read this column, the much-anticipated midterm elections will be over. But what will undoubtedly remain is the ever-growing divide in the nation, stoked by racism, xenophobia and nativist politics from the alt-right and its self-confessed nationalist-in-chief.
After this election, it will be harder for the Republican Party to distance itself from labels such as the anti-immigrant, anti-minority party of alternative facts and hate.
That is what the dangerous infection, Trumpism, and the party’s new leader has brought it to, even though it’s been hurtling along that path for years now.
Sadly, although the leader of the GOP has chosen to run his usual scapegoating-the-immigrants campaign, ramped way up to drive fear into every white Republican that the Brown immigrant “thugs” are going to “invade” their dear land, rape their daughters and kill them in their homes while taking away their jobs and laughing all the way to the bank, the reality is that the only people these “base” supporters need to fear is their own lying leaders.
While many in the GOP’s base continue to struggle to make ends meet, holding down minimum wage jobs, being dependent on welfare, Social Security and Medicare, Medicaid and that very important pre-existing condition clause in the plan they love to hate, Obamacare, the leaders who use nativist policies are fat cats who have not had to struggle a day in their lives to make ends meet.
Whereas the federal minimum wage is just $7.25 per hour, as it is in 10 states, including in Texas, members of the House and Senate get paid approximately $608 per hour, presuming 10-hour workdays.
That is more than many people make per week nationally. The state with the highest minimum wage is California at $11 per hour, and the states with the lowest minimum wage per hour are Georgia, where the minimum wage is a stunning $5.50, and Wyoming, where it is a shocking $5.15.
That means a family of two working minimum wage jobs in Georgia and Wyoming will take home just $398.58 and $362 after tax per week, respectively. That’s $1,594.3 and $1,448 per month, respectively.
Contrast that with the net worth of the hardliners in the GOP, led by El Trumpeto. His current net worth is $3.1 billion. Mark Stanford is worth more than $7 million and Mitch McConnell’s net worth is $22.5 million. Both support an end to birthright citizenship.
Paul Ryan’s net worth is estimated at $6 million, Ted Cruz’s at $4.9 million and Brian Kemp’s of Georgia at more than $5 million.
These elected leaders have no idea what it’s like to struggle to pay bills, to live pay check to pay check, to have to decide whether to pay rent or buy food, to not be able to afford health care or medication.
But to ensure that their “good life” is preserved and not have the so-called base focus on the real issues affecting their lives, the best scapegoats are the Black and Brown immigrants who, like the freed slaves after the Civil War, are painted and vilified as dark-faced criminals, killers, rapists, invaders, job stealers, benefits moochers and people who lead to the darkening of America and the dilution of the GOP’s power, while taking away the majority control whites enjoy now.
The reality, however, is the only people the GOP’s so-called base needs to fear are their own lying, racist and selfish leaders, bent on keeping the cheese for themselves while hoodwinking their supporters into fighting for the crumbs with the perceived Black and Brown “immigrant invaders.”
The writer is CMO at Hard Beat Communications, Inc., which owns the brands NewsAmericasNow, CaribPRWire and InvestCaribbeanNow.