Taken in isolation the "bipartisan" tax cut deal seems like a reasonable measure in the midst of a serious economic recession. But put in its wider political and economic context it is an unmitigated disaster. It's a disaster because it is based on "supply-side" premises that Obama appears to have fully embraced. And it's a disaster because the wrecking crew that's coming to Washington in January will point to the billions added to the deficit as yet another excuse to demand even deeper cuts in every federal program that might remotely benefit working people.
Any "gains" in income for most people the tax breaks might create will be more than nullified by the draconian cuts in health and human services, education, even infrastructure projects that are certain to follow. At the state and local level there will be more lay-offs of public employees, more shutting down of public sector institutions, more budget cuts, as the onslaught against any program that might improve the living standards of working people escalates.
Worse still, the tax deal drives a bulldozer right through the middle of the payroll tax stripping billions out of Social Security and Medicare that will be used to justify even more cuts. The Republicans will demand that the payroll tax reduction be made permanent -- and Obama will give it to them. Younger workers will be funneled into 401ks manipulated by Wall Street, the retirement age will go up, COLAs will be a thing of the past, and the monthly stipends of the elderly, the disabled, widows and orphans, will be reduced.
It's not surprising that the Democratic base is outraged and disappointed. Obama raised expectations to a new high in 2008 with his soaring rhetoric that sounded at the time to be a clarion call for a reaffirmation of core liberal-Democratic values (after so many years in the wilderness and the country suffering for it). People didn't put their faith in Obama, but their hope; and hope is a much more tenuous bond. They feel betrayed because they didn't think they were voting for business as usual in Washington, but business as usual is what they got.
Whatever President Obama accomplished during his first two years in office, with most of the heavy lifting thrown on Nancy Pelosi's shoulders, his decision to normalize the sweeping changes in American governance of the George W. Bush period will likely neutralize any lasting positive effects for Democrats.
Even George W. Bush conceded that Wall Street "got drunk." Yet somehow he passed the hangover onto us. It turned out to provide the perfect context of crisis for rolling back social programs the Republicans never supported. Sweet.
Bush was never a "conservative." A conservative would have repealed the tax cuts after 9-11 created new challenges from international terrorism sure to cost billions, as well as the need to rebuild New York City and the Pentagon and reform the national security institutions. The tax deal of 2010 is a bizarre "bipartisan" enshrining into law of Bush's fiscal recklessness of 2001.
Obama has normalized the Bush era by accepting his premises about the "war on terror," failing to close Guantanamo or hold anyone accountable (even John Yoo) for torture. He normalized the Bush era by escalating Bush's futile counterinsurgency war in Afghanistan, making it all the more difficult for the United States to disengage later on. And now, if the "bipartisan" tax deal goes through he will normalize (and even institutionalize) Bush's supply-side economics that never ceases in its drive to bestow boons to the richest people and corporations in the country.
Bush's tax trap set nearly a decade ago sprung right on schedule to ensnare a Democratic president. It's slightly ironic that a President who big corporations have targeted with hundreds of millions of dollars to destroy would turn around and give them and their CEOs everything they ever wanted. Stuffing more cash into the already bulging pockets of billionaires and millionaires, after a 30-year period that has created Gilded Age levels of inequality, is unwise public policy sure to come back to bite Obama later. Yet he skips happily into the mouth of the wolf.
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HuffPost TV: Roy Sekoff: Obama 'Just Not That Into' Taxing The Wealthy
seriously, think about it - most posters here despair of ever truly changing the system - so let's give these washington a-holes a jolt - let's expose this government for what it is - let's make true what is true - this is a one party system and that system is primarily republican.
seriously - i know this sounds wacky - but if every progressive switched parties the jig would be up - the system would be exposed for what is - a corrupt piece of bull---t.
this would be similar to the 'move your money campaign' if we all switch parties we will send a message to both sides maybe the dems will then take us seriously. if we do it well ahead of 2012 that will give them a fright. and all those right wing a-hole pundits will be stuck without a straw man to kick around - we will agree with everything they say - let's put an end to welfare,the middle class, heck, let's call it what it is and bring back debtors prison and slavery while we're at it. let's agree with them and then some. i am serious. the worst that can happen is that the country falls faster - and the revolution comes sooner - talking, marching, tenting doesn't work
I think that's a pretty good description of the Obama legacy.
president will finish what a republicans president could not. How all of this is happening is just
another twist of the knife in the backs of liberals.
Somehow at the start of the match when both sides shake hands, Obama gets it into his head that he is supposed to be the referee and find a peaceful way to resolve the dispute that leads both sides happy. GOP shook his hand! What better proof does he need than that.
So when the bell rings, he walks across the ring with his hand outstretched for another handshake only to be punched in the face. Again and Again. He asks GOP what it will take to stop being hit, and Obama is eager to surrender, and then he returns to the corner proudly declaring that he has negotiated the best possible deal under the circumstances. Dazed and confused he seems to have forgotten who he was supposed to be fighting for, if indeed he ever knew that at all.
I hope we can persuade him not to seek relection in 2012 because the need for someone to fight for the American people has only gotten larger thanks to Obama.
Will repeal of DADT pass? Who knows - if not, that can be added to the list.
The true give away that Obama is really a Republican in Democratic clothing is his financial crew. Essentially, Geitner/Summers are Obama's Carnegie (Hoover's secretary of the Treasury).
And everytime it looks as though the left might actually choke on one of Obama's "compromises," the far right starts its chorus so that the radical giveaway really appears very moderate. And right on schedule, the Tea Partiers are beginning to bray.
All I can hope is that history repeats itself and after fours years of Obama (Hoover) another FDR will be voted in. But somehow I doubt that.
I cannot add to it as you took the words right out of my mouth.
talk about committing political suicide and taking what is left of America with you . . . so much for change we can believe in . . not
Appently. Bush reincarnated.
****My own sister listened to Obama's speech on the deal and thought it was an okay deal. Tolerable.
It took me a while to convince her about the sneaky assault on social security....which she gets.
Once I explained what Obama and the Repugs were actually doing, all of it, she was appalled.
How do you make people open their eyes and see what is going down?
Once a person really studies the policies and programs of this Democratic administration, it is an eye-opener. Good for you in educating your sister on the actualities and realilties.
That's what the Tea Partiers have wanted all along, so it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. With or without the Bush tax cuts, they were still gonna insist that their representatives start cutting this big, fat, bloated government down to size.
They are generally AOK with unlimited funds going to our 800 foreign military bases, unfunded wars, defense contractors, health care for cooperative Afghanis, Taliban, and Iraqis, etc.
A few libertarians like Ron Paul see this hypocrisy, but the majority of the radical right loves anything associated with guns or explosions, anywhere in the world.
I am so glad I never had any kids. The majority of the young people in the USA are already doomed!
I am ashamed to be an American.