Pelosi Slams House GOP: I think they think everybody has a trust fund

Nancy Pelosi is going to be honored this weekend by being inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York. In light of this, Joan Walsh interviewed the former Speaker. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) talked about their meeting with the President, in which they spent a good deal of time discussing the hardship the shutdown is causing.

Ms. Pelosi explained why Republicans don’t seem to think the shutdown is hurting anyone – apparently they are so out of touch with the lives of everyday Americans that they can’t imagine a life sans trust funds, “I think they think everybody has a trust fund they can fall back on. They make noise about helping veterans, while a large number of people who are hurt are veterans, disabled veterans, veterans who are government workers who are not getting paid.”

From Salon (I added their names for clarification):

WALSH: To move to the government shutdown – we know it probably hurts women most. I’ve been struck by the cruelty of just lifting the debt ceiling but leaving the government closed, given how many people are already suffering…

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PELOSI: What was interesting about our meeting with the president is that we spent a good deal of time, and his statement coming out of the meeting reflects it, talking about the hardship this is causing. I mean, if you’re a government worker, even if you’re going to get paid, I mean, tell that to your banker when you can’t pay your mortgage… I think they think everybody has a trust fund they can fall back on. They make noise about helping veterans, while a large number of people who are hurt are veterans, disabled veterans, veterans who are government workers who are not getting paid. We’re also seeing nonprofits furloughing people. All these people are consumers, so remember it’s having a tremendous ripple effect.

We haven’t seen any language about a debt ceiling hike. The question is not should they be linked, or delinked, the question is: Why are we keeping the government shut down. Why? What is that about? If the answer is ideological — because we want changes to the Affordable Care Act – that’s been rejected roundly by the American people.

While Republicans might not actually believe that everyone has trust funds, the point is that if you aren’t living paycheck to paycheck, it’s hard to appreciate the economic threat of one missed paycheck. People with stock portfolios (almost everyone in Congress) don’t understand the NO MORE MONEY concept. They only get it if they actively take an interest in how working America lives. Even if they grew up poor or middle class, if they haven’t been poor during the Bush recession, they have no idea how tenuous things are.

For those who are losing services and whose checks have stopped, there is no way out. Republicans are suggesting that furloughed workers take out a loan; so the people should go into debt to pay for the Republican refusal to fund the government allegedly over ObamaCare, as the Republicans threaten to default over “debt”. This from the party of “personal responsibility” and in the name of alleged fiscal conservatism.

Do Republicans even understand the concept of bad credit brought on by a huge housing crash? Do they understand that banks aren’t handing out money anymore? Not everyone can just get a loan these days, thanks to the crash of George W. Bush’s deregulated bubble economy. Do they understand the concept of interest rates as they relate to credit worthiness? Republicans ought to ponder this, as soon the country won’t be able to get a loan after they ruin our credit.

The Washington Post detailed the nine ways the shutdown will get more painful as it goes on. Here are a few from their list:

Oct. 11-15: Around 1 million “essential” federal employees will start seeing their pay delayed.

Late October: More than 3.8 million veterans won’t get disability and pension payments.

Late October: States will cut aid to the poor, including food stamps, welfare and heating assistance.

Nov. 1: Dozens of schools will face layoffs and closings, affecting tens of thousands of kids.

Stop whining! You people can just reach into your handy trust fund. DUH.

Republicans keep adding dirty bombs to their “offers” because this is all still a game to them. A game they are losing, but a game nonetheless.

Most Americans don’t get a second and third chance to wake up; they don’t have the luxury that House Republicans have, to let their egos run the show and deny reality.