When it comes to responding to Katrina, Bush was dull and slow. But when it comes to helping out contractors like Halliburton which will be working in the areas of devastation, Bush quickly suspends federal law so that these companies can pay below prevailing wages.
It's profoundly revealing how in the midst of this terrible crisis, someone in the adminstration (perhaps Cheney himself?) was probably approached by Halliburton and other companies like them and told that it would be helpful if the President suspended the requirements of the 1931 Davis-Bacon Act. And in response, Bush reacts like a trained monkey.
"The Davis-Bacon law requires federal contractors to pay workers at least the prevailing wages in the area where the work is conducted. It applies to federally funded construction projects such as highways and bridges. Bush's executive order suspends the requirements of the Davis-Bacon law for designated areas hit by the storm. "
We certainly wouldn't want people to take advantage of this "national emergency" and work at a decent wage in rebuilding the Gulf Coast area. And besides, the Bush government needs to find some way of thanking Halliburton for helping out, doesn't it?
2 comments:
It's profoundly revealing how in the midst of this terrible crisis, someone in the adminstration (perhaps Cheney himself?) was probably approached by Halliburton and other companies like them and told that it would be helpful if the President suspended the requirements of the 1931 Davis-Bacon Act. And in response, Bush reacts like a trained monkey.
This is complete conjecture. All we know is that there are not enough people to help with the rebuilding. It's a shame that people wouldn't help rebuild their communities unless they are paid some prevailing wage.
I made it clear that it was conjecture by including the question mark and the word "probably." But it's probably closer to the truth than "Anonymous" would want us believe. Someone had to have the bright idea to request a waiver. And it certainly wasn't the victims who need jobs. So whose bright idea does anonymous think it was?
Anonymous also believes that people who have lost their homes and jobs are not worth paying prevailing wage anyway. I suppose anonymous would have all the victims become volunteers and "help" rebuild roads and bridges (which is what the Davis-Bacon Act refers to in the first place) for nothing. Amazing, not only should the victims pay with their homes, jobs, and lives, but they should work for less, so corporate vultures can make a higher profit from the disaster. Anonymous is an example of how shameful this country has become.
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