Today's passage of the $858 billion deal struck between Republicans and President Barack Obama provides vital assistance to a record number of long-term job-hunters. And we certainly needed it -- an average of about $290 a week for Americans who want to work but have been unable to find jobs for more than six months.
But the price was too high. While desperately poor families are forgoing Christmas this year--prompting children to pen "Dear Santa" letters that ask for basics like boots, coats and money for electricity bills -- Republicans fought tooth-and-nail for a gilded gift basket of income tax cuts worth $120 billion for America's super-rich, and a new estate tax exemption would let off all but America's 50 wealthiest families so their pampered children can keep more of their millions.
Let's call these the cut-and-run Republicans, who cut taxes and run from responsibilities.
It's a shame. America's families are suffering. Our dismal economy teeters on a ledge. Last month we saw the number of long-term jobless workers reach 6.3 million, a record high, and a million more than last year.
Despite record corporate profits and two trillion dollars of cash on hand, no one's hiring.
For two years, Republicans have raised alarms about the deficit, convincing some Democrats that it would be imprudent to spend money to fix our economy. Deficit hysteria gave cover to those creating legislative gridlock, stalling and reducing much-needed investments in America's infrastructure and our future, measures that would have created millions of new jobs and rebuilt our economy toward a powerful and prosperous future.
Far from being a time for the American government to pull back, this is the time to invest and rebuild. When jobs and tax receipts are increasing, America can prudently address the deficit.
Instead, we've seen Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on the Senate floor pull a dour face and warn like a stern parent about reckless spending.
House Speaker-to-be John Boehner is so committed to fiscal restraint, he said, that he would bring up a cost-cutting measure every week in the House. Every single week.
But the Republican Senate minority promised to block every piece of legislation, and even threatened to shut down the government, if they didn't get those tax cuts for billionaires.
What about the billions those tax cuts add to the federal deficit? The cut-and-run Republicans didn't blink an eye.
Where was McConnell's "old-fashioned discipline" that prompted the Senate's record 133 filibusters in 2010?
Where was Boehner's tirade on the House floor against saddling future generations with debt?
These Republicans have finally lost the last shred of credibility.
True fiscal conservatives from generations past wouldn't recognize these new reckless champions for the super-rich.
But we'll remember. From this vote forward, when the cut-and-run Republicans pull out the "fiscal responsibility" card to oppose bills that benefit the American people rather than America's richest individuals and families, the rest of us can tell them to take a hike.
House Speaker-to-be John Boehner is so committed to fiscal restraint, he said, that he would bring up a cost-cutting measure every week in the House. Every single week.
But the Republican Senate minority promised to block every piece of legislation, and even threatened to shut down the government, if they didn't get those tax cuts for billionaires.
What about the billions those tax cuts add to the federal deficit? The cut-and-run Republicans didn't blink an eye."
If I hear anyone say that "we can't afford" (such as in the case of a paltry $250 to disabled vets and seniors, education, health care, medicare, medicaid, food stamps, and the list goes on) by those that have held their breathe and threatened to turn blue over continuing failed tax cuts....well I think my head will just explode.
(Gov-elect Jerry Brown is a special case. What he's about to endure REEKS of irony.)
It was always a bad idea to grant unionization rights to government employees. Now it's becoming obvious we just can't afford the result. Cities should be encouraged to go into bankruptcy to shed themselves of these obligations and states should terminate as many workers as possible NIW - before they reach retirement eligibility for a retirement the state can not afford.
Later, we can hire people back under more reasonable terms.
Now that Americans have decided it's every man for himself and companies are always most concerned about their workers we've seen what has happened. Because I don't believe in getting my "facts" from a right wing news source, I've included some articles that show you just how wrong you are. Read them and learn.
http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/2009/02/efca_factsheets.html
http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/voiceatwork/efca/57million.cfm
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Americas/United-States-of-America-WORKING-CONDITIONS.html
http://www.sharedprosperity.org/bp182.html
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/union2.nr0.htm
When the employers are allowed to band together in monopolistic fashion, I'll agree that the workers should be able to also - at least for private employees.
Public employees work for the taxpayers. If they don't trust us to do right by them, they should find a job elsewhere.....
"Later, we can hire people back under more reasonable terms."
You mean minimum wage and no benefits?
If that's all they are worth, hell yes. But government employees can always take their case t their real bosses, THE PEOPLE WHO PAY THE TAXES THAT PROVIDE THEIR SALARIES. If they can't convince a majority of these people they are worth more than the minimum wage, why should they get more?
They are not just hypocrites, they fill blank empty shells of former humans, now puppets of their masters, the wealthier.
Sociopaths and psychopaths have at least a reason for their lack of compassion and empathy.
Tax-cut tourettes. Get re-elected. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. same thing happens over and over again, and ultimately the country will spiral downward until someone acts like an adult in the room and calls them out on their behavior and stands up to them - firmly.
I think a lot of folks had/have faith that this President was that person. I hope he is as well, but I wish he was a bit more firm in his fights as he would win them. He displayed that he can do it - when he attended the Republican caucus luncheon last year and took questions; when he held the Health Care summit and made both transparent and televised both meetings. I surely hope we see more of that, and we could have used it on this debate for the tax cuts extension.
The Democrats care about the well being of the American worker while the Republicans would walk over their bodies to give away taxpayer money to their wealthy friends.