"People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character."--Ralph Waldo Emerson
When we think of a person's character, what comes to mind first? Is their flowery words or is it their immediate action towards others that happen to live in the world? Or do we only see the mask that folks like to masquerade around in pretending to be good person? Let's take a minute to discuss Congressional US Representative of District 8 and Chairman of the House of Means and Ways committee - Jason Smith, the extraordinaire, proud member of the party of "Nay and insanity". There is no other way to accurately describe the poster boy of the disaster of what the GOP has become. However, before we get into his recent architectural designs of the proposed how bill of the 30% sales taxes on American and the gutting of Social Security/Medicare. Let's look at his shining accomplishments in Missouri and in his own Congressional District 8 in Missouri.
Jason's first accomplishment in his state house tentative stint the major accomplishment that can actually claim is he was the youngest ever to be "elected" to the state legislation body in Missouri and helped to pave the way for the current policies that are wreaking havoc on our poor state's constituents. This man has had his little hands into about everything this state runs on. From the Agricultural Policy's committee to the Judiciary Committee. Folks might not think these committees aren't important, but they help shape legislative polices, and decided where funding should go. Like to fund law enforcement, schools, infrastructure projects, and other public programs. There's no doubt, he played his part in with putting our state agencies and schools on their knees to the point that they're so under funded that they can no longer work as they should. Jason has never worked for his constituents, but the ultra wealthy and corporations while in the Missouri State House and that hasn't changed since moving to the US title. In fact, his brand of politics is why District 8 has some of the highest poverty levels in the US and ranks first in the state. Food insecurity, the district ranks 1st despite being the second largest agricultural producers in the state. And that's not even bringing up the high suicide rates in the district either. Or the fact, that the district has little to no living wage-paying job opportunities anywhere to be found. Everything major bill that could have served as a boon for the constituents that live in District 8- Jason has voted against. But the real highlight of his career is that Jason and his ilk have been trying to make Missouri "ground zero" for what could be considered a dystonia "wet dream" come true since 2005. Is that all his fault? No, because for a place to become a disaster it takes more than one person to get that kind of work, but it does illuminate how long the Ultra conservative fringe framework has been in place in this state in which has lead our once progressive bluish purple state to the dismal abyss of a nothingness and destitution. And this leads us to his career as the US Representative. It's by far more flashy than his handiwork in the Missouri's Legislation. To be perfectly clear, Jason should be called the US representative of the party of "Nay" considering his voting recorded. He's voted against anything that would raise our district out of impoverishment. From voting against our Vet population (which is like 70,000 people) to bringing in manufacturing plants for jobs. But We'll get into that right after we discuss how he meddled in gutting Prop B back into 2011.
Prop B was a voter approved law that was targeting the inhumane practices of CAFO, AFO, and puppy mills. Of course, this was around the same time when Humane Society's "Dirty Dozen" list was published too. For Jason, this list was problematic because his mother had been named on the Humane Society's "Dirty Dozen" list as one of the worst dog breeders in the State. This scandal should have ended his political career. Most of us would have been mortified if our kin was named on a list that dubbed their business as one of the worst in an entire state, never mind it had reached the levels of the national stage. But not Jason.. Nope, he doubled down on lobbying to gut Prop B that was overwhelmingly passed by Missourians, because we care about our animals. Keep in mind, that this law would have put her "business" out of business with the regulations this law called for. Of course, Mo Leg decided that voters didn't matter and overrode the process to get this bill amended to their liking, because the damage it would do to "Big Ag" production practices. Ultimately, Jason was the trying to contain the scandal that involved his mom's "puppy farm" and navigate the waters of lobbying for the Prop B to be gutted for own self-interest no doubt. And it turned into more of the same of the politics of Mo Leg and state level--Corrupt and designed for select few and not the average Missourian at the end of the day. Keep in mind, all these shinning achievements of Jason's were all while he was in Mo Leg. And that brings us to his "stratagems" while sitting in the US Congressional House of Representatives.
Jason joined the US House after running during the special elections of 2013 and since then has managed to get one bill called Expanding Seniors Receiving Dialysis’ Choice Act. I will give him credit for that, but his more notable actions in the House didn't start until 2015 when he made some infelicitous comments about Obergefell vs. Hodges being "unconstitutional' despite the fact that we're all entitled to the "pursuit of happiness" and the constitution actually says that in big, bold letters. Then in 2017, when the Affortable Care Act, he once again showed the world that common sense doesn't grow in everyone's garden by making a random comment during a debate about a tan salon tax. "What I found on Google is roughly 80% of who's taxed is women... Today is International Women's Day. It's interesting no one is bringing that up." He continued, "You look at the number one cause of skin cancer... It's the sun. So I've noticed the people over here haven't found too many taxes they dislike. So why have they not proposed a tax on the sun?"[1] Yes, he really said that on the floor of a congressional debate. While it's true that women suffer a "pink" tax and our products are more expensive than men's in general, made his constituents look like a bunch of bumbling fools. It's also important to point out that in 2016 that Jason had his hand in writing and passing the Tax cuts and Jobs Act under the Trump Administration. You know the "big tax cut" that either cause people to pay more in taxes or didn't affect anyone that doesn't have a bank account of at least six figures. Once again he proved that he was only for a select few-cobbled together with his own self-interest at heart. Never mind the fact, he knew his constituents would never benefit from the " Trump tax cuts". Jason directly benefited from the tax cuts with a few of the LLC's he owned at the time. Now moving on to 2019, when Jason decided it was a good idea to showcase his impecunious character trait when he told Tony Cárdenas (US Rep of California) by telling the poor man to "Go back to Puerto Rico" [2]. And while Jason had to go back and apologize for his comment, and should have sunk his career. But 2016-2020 was a different political climate than what folks were used to. Between the bewilderment and the shell shock that came from how widely sociably acceptable for people to speak to others like that--it became the norm. This climate lead to the tragic events of January 6th and Jason's role in that historical event. So let's flash forward to 2021.
Now we all have different opinions on whether Jan.6th was a protest that turned to a riot to a full scale insurrection--We all can agree it shook our little Republic and the foundation of our democracy to it's core. What doesn't change is that Jason was a willing take part in the burning of our 23 year old constitution to the ground. Of course, Josh Hawley's actions that are more in the spotlight, but make no mistake that Jason left his foot print on that historical day. Jason encouraged stood outside with the folks intending to overthrow our government, and even went as far as to sign the amicus brief (Lawsuit to contest the election results). Naturally, Jason was reprimanded by the Speaker of the House because his oath is to the Constitution and the hooligans that stormed the capital. This is a stain that can never be removed from his record nor can he back paddle to deny his intentions. One could argue that as wild as that seems that our US rep was / and still is willing to watch our institution of democracy burn to the ground. While it's inconceivable to think that any lawmaker is willing to burn the entire nation to the ground-- The reality is that's not it's not nearly as crazy as his unfounded comment about the 2021 "vaccine" mandates where he claimed that Biden was going to send in troops to vaccinate us all KGB style.... A prediction that never came to pass because most folks went and got their shots on their own, because it's what good people do in times of plagues. So, yes Missouri had its own version of MTG and Boebert, but for Jason this all down for show. As he was using his skills in distraction politics to raise at least 1.6 million dollars for the NRCC to buy his chairman seat of the most prestigious committees in D.C. The House of Means and Ways Committee. Now that everyone is caught on his impeccable sense of character, accomplishments, and deeds in 2023 ..
It's time of year to get into the "New year, not so much new me" sentiment of Jason's intentions remain the same as they were when he began his political career. Especially now that he's the Chairman of the Means and Way committee and the QAnon is running the clown show that used to be called "politics". There's no doubt, that the "Freedom Caucus" wanted Jason in that seat, so they could continue to unleash their version of hell which coindencely enough looks like a cross between the movie "idiocracy" and the current shape that Missouri is in at a state level. All the while, Jason is telling everyone who will listen that he is a reflection of what his party is (Definitely Reagan's party by his own omission) and that he's a "firebrand" in the GOP. Although, it could be argued that Jason is trying to be "edgy" and not actually knows what the definition of what firebrand means.
Nevertheless, there's no mistake that the "Freedom Caucus" definitely got their man into one of the most influential seats in congress, and the "Fair Tax" bill is a solid reflection of how he's going to lead the committee and that he has every intention of getting the rest of the nation in the same kind of economic distress as his congressional district. For those unfamiliar with the "Fair Tax"Act it would wipe income taxes and put a 30% sales tax on everything. This law would virtually tank the entire US Economy. It would also would strip the 16th amendment of the US Constitution, and virtually would decimate rural areas that already have astronomical rates of poverty.[4] And as the commercial says "But wait there's more!" -- Indeed, there is.. Jason and his ilk are eyeing to cut Social Security and Medicare from our elderly population. This bill would also protect the ultra wealthy tax cheats and corporations by abolishing the IRS. Keep in mind, this economic catastrophe is just in the first month since QAnon got its turn to run the US. House of Representatives with US Rep. Jason Smith being the lead conductor of MAGA crazy train. There's very little doubt that their failed social experiment that started in Missouri over 20 years has now reached the national levels, and puts the spotlight directly on the unremarkable and character of US Rep. known as Jason Smith.
So take a look at his record and past behavior as a career politician and judge for yourself as to how much trouble we're in with him behind the committee that pulls the nations purse strings.
As always take care of one another.
Much love, and peace out
Jojo
Citations:
1. Holmes, Jack (March 9, 2017). "Watch This Republican Congressman Call for Taxing the Sun". Esquire. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- "GOP rep wonders why Obamacare taxes tanning salons instead of the sun". Death and Taxes. March 8, 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
2. Raasch, Chuck. "In heated moment,
Missouri lawmaker yells 'go back to Puerto Rico' to House Democrats". STLtoday. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- Scholtes, Jennifer; Emma, Caitlin; Ferris, Sarah. "GOP Rep. Jason Smith tells Democrats to 'go back to Puerto Rico!'". Politico. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
3. https://www.forbes.com/sites/benkoltun/2023/01/12/the-debt-ceiling-will-be-raised-but-a-firebrand-gop-leader-complicates-path/?sh=4ae79523700chttps://tax.thomsonreuters.com/news/republicans-add-10-new-members-to-tax-writing-committee/
4. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/25?s=1&r=18
I absolutely detest the Trump wannabe.