Two of my recent articles on Reconstruction dealt with the minimum wage and social security. Reading more of the history contained more of the same, at times, but there were various opinions among the Republicans.
At this time in history, Kark Marx finally published the magazine Capital in German in London just at the moment in history. He referred to Ben Wade’s speech as a “sign of the times.” This was about property rights and there were many calls for the confiscation of the plantations, by workers opposed to the planters’ power grip and freedmen among others. So, there was concern in the South and the North about the destruction of “property rights.” Ben Wade, in Kansas, had delivered the speech that detailed that property had to be more evenly divided and a way to more equal distribution of capital, too. Republicans’ intent on becoming rich could care less about that.
But this tidbit of information about the Republican Party was a treasure to be found.
Not only was “confiscation” talked about but also organized labor’s demand for an eight-hour day, and the rise of Fenianism among Irish Americans. Remember that the Irish had started coming to our shores in great numbers around 1850. The Fenians were seekers of Irish Independence from England. Ideas of poor whites, free blacks, joining together with Republicans from Massachusetts, were spreading as far away as Texas. Moderate Republicans wanted some progress with “white propertied elements firmly in control.”
But there you have it, the roots of Marxism in the Republican Party, fighting to throw off the chains of slavery and for the workers to benefit. And moderates opposing the working class.
That could take us to the United States at this time. The NAACP website in Louisiana calls for a $20 minimum wage now. We know that the federal minimum wage is only $7.25, and Donald Trump already has spoken out that he has no intention to lift a finger help. He is leaving it up to the states, which essentially means that the businesspeople will prevail along with the fears of consumers regarding inflation. But he will not hesitate to raise prices on articles through tariffs. Why? The consumer or you pay, and the money goes to support Trump’s governmental efforts. Poverty is immense in America, but Trump doesn’t care about that.
I guess the Republican Party was much more powered along the Mississippi River back then by the Robert E. Lee as it still is today. Trump loves Robert E. Lee.
I checked the index of the book I am reading, and Karl Marx will be coming up again two more times, I can’t wait to find out more. What about you?
I have other things on my mind, and I am prepared to offer my own version of our current reconstruction. It has been revealed that an Iranian Jew who obtained a visa with the help of HIAS has come or is about to come to the United States where he longs to attend religious services in a synagogue. I strongly suggest that all other octogenarian Iranian Jews waiting in line by transported to Mexico City where a Jewish star (not a yellow star used by the Nazis and their collaborators) be placed on a bus that would transport those elders to the Mexican border where they can receive asylum from the United States. Why can’t these elders who were born in the times of the Holocaust not be given the gift of their lifetime which would be the gift denied to three million Jews denied access to our shores by Republican sponsored legislation. Let the wall come down! And thaw ICE! Reignite the flame of humanity at our border.
And don’t get me started on the Gaza Riviera!