I had a bad dream last night. It's 2025 and an obsessed right-wing Republican from Florida by the name of Rick Scott is now president of the United States. All hell has broken loose.
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That's because Republicans now control both the House and the Senate, having trounced Democrats in the 2022 election, and then Scott's 2024 coattails widened their majorities in both chambers. The hypocritical, racist demagoguery of the Republican Party ultimately captured the entirety of the United States government and we now see the results.
Today the man whose hospital company once paid $1.7 billion in federal fines for Medicare fraud and other wrongdoing now occupies the White House, and his "Rescue America" plan first announced in 2022 has become law. Taxes soon will be raised on the poorest Americans, including the elderly, and other programs like Social Security, Medicare and veterans' benefits face a possible death sentence.
Scott's original plan included the statement that "All Americans should pay some income tax to have skin in the game, even if a small amount. Currently over half of Americans pay no income tax."
The Tax Policy Center (TPC) estimated then that Scott’s plan could increase federal income taxes by more than $100 billion in 2022 alone. More than 80 percent would be paid by households making about $54,000 or less, and 97 percent would be paid by those making less than about $100,000. Now, three years later, that $100 billion estimate has skyrocketed.
When his plan was first announced, it was immediately denounced by then Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Democrats in Congress and the White House. Other GOP lawmakers also objected, complaining about various components, especially the tax requirement and a two-term limitation for senators.
Undeterred, as chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee Scott shrewdly shifted a sizable share of his NRSC fundraising to his own accounts, generating millions to finance his campaign for the White House. That became a reality when Donald Trump decided not to run after being indicted on federal charges stemming from his ill fated effort to overturn the 2020 election.
What's Happened?
So now, conservative Republicans completely control all three branches of the federal government resulting in:
Enactment of Scott's "Rescue America" plan, with mandatory minimum taxes on the poor and requirements that all federal programs "sunset" after five years -- including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterans benefits.
Introduction of new legislation reducing taxes on upper income individuals and corporations, including an end to the estate tax.
A return to back alley abortions as the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade.
Introduction of legislation by the White House to repeal the federal minimum wage, giving employers the freedom to pay wages according to free market conditions.
A proposal to ban same sex marriages.
A ban on any discussion in public schools, colleges, and universities of the impact of racism in our nation.
A ban on any discussion in public schools, colleges, and universities regarding sexual identity.
A requirement that every public school class begin with a Christian prayer.
An end to environmental regulations and policies encouraging the development of renewable climate-friendly energy sources combined with renewed incentives for fossil fuels.
Restrictive laws making it more difficult for minorities and the working poor to exercise their right to vote.
An end to federal financial support for programs aimed at assisting minority businesses.
An end to federal financial support for historically Black colleges and universities.
All of that resulted from Trump's packing the Supreme Court with conservatives, plus the GOP's takeover of Congress and then Scott's election.
A Bad Dream
Yes, all of that was just a bad dream.
Scott says he has no plans to run for President, but why should he be believed? He's using his position to raise money for his own purposes, and clearly he's incredibly ambitious.
Scott needs to be taken seriously because his "Rescue America" plan is dangerous and the scenario that could result, combined with potential Republican gains in 2022 and perhaps 2024, is simply unthinkable.
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