I read to Swamp Rabbit part of Charles Pierce’s reaction to the Republicans’ successful effort last Wednesday to block a Senate vote on whether to raise the minimum wage to $10.10:

Can we just drop the pretense now and admit that one of our two major political parties is perfectly fine with pauperizing the American middle-class in order to “redistribute” wealth upwards? Can we please lay the myth of the Republican moderate to rest, at least on this issue?

“Depends who Pierce means by ‘we,'” Swamp Rabbit said.

Exactly. If he means those of us who are aware the country has become a plutocracy, then he’s preaching to the choir. Educated paupers have known for a long time that “pauperizing” of the middle class is a tactic being used by the rich to make themselves even richer, and that there are no Republican “moderates” on this issue.

However, if Pierce is referring to poor and nearly poor voters who helped elect the very pigs who blocked the minimum wage vote, then the answer to both of his questions is “not yet” — not by a long shot. It would take a lot more money and messaging to get through to those who, even in these hard times, can’t see that Republican office holders invariably advance the interests of the rich at the expense of everyone else.

The definition of insanity — and of denial — involves doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

And so it is that many uninformed working people continue to vote for the likes of Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell and others who are destroying the social safety net and further enriching the 1 percent.

“‘Uninformed’ don’t quite say it,” Swamp Rabbit said, right before he hopped out of the shack and into the swamp. “You mean stupid.”

And liberal commentators such as Pierce continue to state the obvious about Republican office holders rather than propose strategies for convincing working people to stop voting against their own interests.

Clarifications: The Democratic Party as it currently exists is only marginally more pro-worker than the GOP. A $10 minimum wage is better than no increase, but it’s still a disgrace. Also, the term “middle-class,” as used by Pierce and many others, is applicable to fewer Americans every year. “Formerly middle-class” is a more accurate tag for those whose incomes can’t keep up with the cost of living.

Footnote: For what it’s worth, here’s where to register your support for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s call for a $10.10 minimum wage: http://www.dccc.org/page/s/minimum-wage-2013?source=LR_em_PET_2014.05.06_b1_an_min-wage