Paul Bearer

From our current affairs editor, Lemuel Stuart III:

In July 2019, the US Senate passed a bill “to ensure a fund to compensate victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks never runs out of money — and that first responders won't have to return to Congress to plead for more funding.”  Read about the final vote HERE.

Prior to the passage, the GOP leadership tried to stall – even stop – the passage of the bill.  

At one point, Jon Stewart – a stalwart supporter of the first responders – called out Rand Paul for his hypocrisy:  "He is the guy that put us in hundreds of billions of dollars in debt.  He was the 51st vote on that cut (the Trump/GOP tax cut scam to make the filthy rich even filthier). Now he’s going to tell us (that this much needed funding for First Responders)...is just too much for us to handle.  There are some things they just have no trouble putting on the credit card.” 
 

It defied logic.  Suddenly Senator Paul wanted to balance the budget on the backs of the 9/11 First Responders AFTER HE AND THE GOP ADDED BILLIONS TO OUR DEBT WITHOUT QUESTION SO THAT THE RICH COULD GET RICHER FROM THEIR TRUMP TAX CUTS.

Rand Paul's hypocrisy – a hallmark of the GOP – called to mind a poem written by Emmett Lee Dickinson from 1853 entitled "Rand gave himself to Trump” (below on the left), and so we posted that as one of our Featured Poems of the Week just before the Senate’s passage of the final bill.  Dickinson was quite the visionary!
 
Dickinson's poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem "I gave myself to him" (below on the right) our other featured poem that week.

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
 
Rand gave himself to Trump –
And took Himself, more Pay,
The solemn contract for the Rich
Was ratified, this way –
 
The Wealthiest gained more –
The rest grew poorer still
With this great Rip-off scam suspect,
We Daily Owe – our Bill
 
Manipulate their Vision
Until the Payoff’s high –
Still Fable – it will trickle Down –
The Politicians – lie –
 
In truth – ‘tis Mutual – Risk –
Few – find it – Mutual Gain –
Our Nation’s Debt – Each Year we owe –
Insolvent – very Soon –

By Emily Dickinson:
 
I gave myself to Him –
And took Himself, for Pay,
The solemn contract of a Life
Was ratified, this way –

The Wealth might disappoint –
Myself a poorer prove
Than this great Purchaser suspect,
The Daily Own – of Love

Depreciate the Vision –
But till the Merchant buy –
Still Fable – in the Isles of Spice –
The subtle Cargoes – lie –

At least – 'tis Mutual – Risk –
Some –found it – Mutual Gain –
Sweet Debt of Life – Each Night to owe –
Insolvent – every Noon –