d-coder Ring: What Those News Memes/Talking Points *Really* Mean

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Inspired by Cracking the Code, it's been fun listing some of today's popular political themes afloat within American political discourse, using plain-English translations, so some poorly promoted factual information can strip away some of the distortions surrounding those themes.

Because of the way political memes like these rise and fall, this page could turn into ongoing feature.

Your discourse, contributions and comments are most welcome.

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Enhanced Interrogation:
Torture. Terrorism. It is a horrific crime, as one of the most hellish acts one human can commit upon another.

Lower Taxes:
What 98% of us got immediately after the election of President Obama, who somehow forgot to tell you. Maybe he's been busy. See? http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/taxes/2010-05-10-taxes_N.htm??

Redistribution of Wealth:
What 2% of America benefited from, after 30 years of Conservative Economic policy. The other 98% of us? Here we are:



Socialism:
A term used with in conjunction with President Obama's name to say "I skipped the World Governments portion of my junior high Social Studies class".  See also: Racist Asshat

Birther:
Someone who is over 10 years too late to discuss "who is really the president". See also: INSANE Racist Asshat.

Immigration Problem:
A twisted label for America's Illegal Employer Problem, the solution to which is simple: Make the punishment for hiring illegal workers very very stiff. If the negative sanctions are high enough, employers will only hire legal workers. This solution is as simple as it is unlikely. Truth is, the Corporatist-backed, neo-Feudalism Tea Bagger Movement *loves* exploiting cheap labor. Worse still, as their bag-boy, Rand Paul clearly states, their twisted brand of Libertarianism, taken to its logical conclusion, would do more than repeal laws prohibiting segregation. Some argue that it might even overturn the abolition of slavery. Next stop: the 14th Amendment.

Small Business:
A term often used interchangeably with "S Corp" in an attempt to deceive you about the real beneficiaries (of a Tax Policy turned on its head). Small businesses create most of America's new (private sector) jobs. But don't be fooled: an S Corp. does not (necessarily) equal "small business". S-Corp., as an IRS tax classification, can be applied to a Moms and Pops/start-up venture, but usually not, when millionaire politicians (and/or their billionaire broadcasting shills) discuss the Tax Policy. They're really talking about their campaign fund sources (and/or advertisers). Here are some examples of S Corps that are not small businesses:

• Enterprise Products Partners, L.P., a pipeline company with 2009 revenues of $25 billion.
• Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., a Wall Street firm with $445 million in revenue in 2009.
• Price Waterhouse Coopers, an accounting firm with $26 billion in revenue in 2009.
• Koch Industries, a conglomerate of partnerships with 70,000 employees (and a major Tea Party funding source)
• The Hillman Company, an investment founded by billionaire philanthropist/industrialist Henry Hillman.
• Venn Strategies, Inc., whose chief operating officer is Brian Reardon, a former special assistant to former President George W. Bush.
• Ferrellgas, a propane and propane accessories business, with $2 billion in revenues in 2009 and 1 million customers.
• CoorsTek, a ceramics manufacturer founded by Adolph Coors, with 2009 revenue of $549 million.
• Dead River Co., with $500 million in revenue and 1,200 employees.
• McIlhenney Co., the Tabasco maker, with $250 million in revenue in 2007.

Check out www.opensecrets.org for insights into these guys' political campaign contributions. Better hurry, before all this activity goes underground. You might think they would want you to know about it. Not so much.

Smaller Government/Limited Governmental Power:
Unlimited Power for Multi-National Corporations which, conveniently, bankroll political campaigns. Turning our banks into casinos who'd readily rob you of your life savings? Outsourcing American jobs, to cut their  costs (using overseas sweatshops, or even child/prison labor)? Poisoning everyone's air and water? Cutting corners and undercutting safety precautions of coal mines and oil wells? It's all "on the table" as the co-called "free-market" in action. Actually, it's Capitalism swallowing American Democracy. Their next course: the Middle Class. Bon apetit, fat cats.

Spending Cuts:
An intentionally vague term designed to avoid discussing a very harsh political reality. Medicare, Medicaid and the Military are the *only* real ways to put a dent in the national debt. Everything else (combined) won't do much, thanks to 30+ years of Conservative Economic policies. Entitlements must be re-worked. AND taxes must go up, or America will go under. Wake up, Dorothy.

Privatizing Social Security:
Corporatist oligarchy talk to soothe the savage Wall Street Beast, as it salivates to consume one of the last pillars of the Middle Class. Yep, there's a lot of money in there. It comes off the brow of generations of the American Middle Class, who put it there for a reason. It's a promise made to the elderly. And it's never failed to deliver. Ever.

Bail Out and TARP:
Two completely separate government actions, often presented together to make them appear similar. They are different.

• The Bank Bail Out was the BushCo administration's final big kiss on the lips to his corrupt "Bank-ster" cronies, just after that industry brought America to the verge of bankruptcy. Billions of dollars simply vanished in that process, while CEOs took home huge salaries, bonuses, and "incentives", while refusing to lend money. Lending money: What banks used to do for real small businesses before the Banksters killed Glass-Stegal.
• TARP was a program that pretty much saved the American Auto Industry, among many businesses. Further, Obama's TARP created jobs, and is a financial net gain for the American government and We the People.