Surprise surprise

Highlighted sections:

Section 3142(a) of title 40, United States Code, provides that "every contract in excess of $2,000, to which the Federal Government or the District of Columbia is a party, for construction, alteration, or repair, including painting and decorating, of public buildings and public works of the Government or the District of Columbia that are located in a State or the District of Columbia and which requires or involves the employment of mechanics or laborers shall contain a provision stating the minimum wages to be paid various classes or laborers and mechanics."

Section 3142(b) of title 40, United States Code, provides that such "minimum wages shall be based on the wages the Secretary of Labor determines to be prevailing for the corresponding classes of laborers and mechanics employed on projects of a character similar to the contract work in the civil subdivision of the State in which the work is to be performed . . ."

Section 3147 of title 40, United States Code, provides that "[t]he President may suspend the provisions of this subchapter during a national emergency."

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do by this proclamation suspend, as to all contracts entered into on or after the date of this proclamation and until otherwise provided, the provisions of subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code, 40 U.S.C. 3141-3148, and the provisions of all other acts providing for the payment of wages, which provisions are dependent upon determinations by the Secretary of Labor under section 3142 of title 40..."

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What does this mean, in effect?

It means, that in order to give the appearance of employment, in order to give the President good PR by having people working, he is in effect waiving the Minimum wage and Minimum earning potential of any laborer or contract worker in the affected Counties or Parishes of the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

People would normall make the $5.15 minimum wage in those areas can expect to be employed for LESS than that. Minus taxes, supposed benefits, and various other sundries such as transportation, clothing, etc. etc., George Bush has in this proclamation created a condition for creating virtual slavery in these areas. As if these people are not poor enough, they can expect to be working for less than a fast food cashier makes.

Also,

Halliburton's KBR unit gets contract to repair Gulf Coast facilities

Dick Cheney, that epitome of selfishness, priggishness, self-aggrandizement, anti-modern society, warmonger and war criminal (okay, I might've exaggerated a little), stands to benefit from this.

KBR can, in effect, subcontract jobs to laborers and mechanics the repair work in these areas for LESS than they normally would. As the federal government has contracted KBR to rebuild, the waiving of the Minimum wage clause allows KBR to not employ a minimum wage in its dealings with subcontractors. It does not affect the money that KBR charges the federal government for work that it does.

So, KBR makes money off the sweat of virtual slave labor, increasing its profits, and Halliburton's profits, increasing the value of Dick Cheney's shares, making the rich even richer.

What a f*ckin' country.

TTFN

NO MORE BU--SH--