It’s only more lipstick

So the Republicans have crammed through an alleged tax “reform” bill, spawned in secret with the creative assistance of their corporate masters’ lobbyists, and squeaked through in the wee hours. It appears 83 percent of its benefits are in the form of permanent tax reductions and special deals to the very people who need it the least. The rest of us get crumbs and have to finance this undeserved windfall with likely over $2 trillion in national debt.

Reform? There’s barely a whiff of it. Instead, our “conservative” elected Republican representatives have abandoned fiscal responsibility with a breathtaking act of cynicism that will, over time, likely hurt far more people than it will help.

They primped up the pig, put it in a fancy frock, added lipstick and concealed a time bomb beneath her skirt. Now, children, drink up your supply-side Kool-Aid and enjoy the sugar rush from the soon-to-shrink refunds.

See you on the down side of the Laffer curve when your temporary tax cuts expire, your taxes rise, your Medicare is cut by the automatic reductions that will kick in when revenue falls short, your local hospital closes, essential governmental functions falter and inflation eats up all your gains.

What goes around comes around. Midterm elections are looming. Time to send more thoughtful and independent-minded Arkansans to Congress who don’t put their faith in pixie-dust magic, corporate lobbyists and reality show celebrities.

The lipstick will wear off, but the pork remains. Oink.

CHARLES T. CROW

Little Rock