It used to be "slightly left of center". The budget, taxes, economy from that other side.
By: Daniel Becker
HT: Digby
More people need to hear this perspective regarding the economy and the budget debate if only to remind them that there is another perspective…if only to hear what it sounds like when a congress person is actually fighting and working for you. You, the one without enough money to influence congress.
From the transcript:
JUDY WOODRUFF: Well, the president has talked about corporate — corporate tax reform. And he said, in two years, in — for 2012, he’s going to propose letting all those tax cuts expire that were allowed to continue in December.You spent, what, eight-and-a-half-hours on the floor of the Senate in December in a — in a protest against that. Are you confident the president is going to let the tax cuts expire?SEN. BERNIE SANDERS: No, of course I’m not. I mean, that’s what the president said when he ran for president. And yet, when the Republicans stood up to him and said, we want to give more tax breaks, extend the Bush tax breaks, essentially, the president gave in.When the Republicans said that, we want to lower the estate tax, Judy, which appeals — which only applies to the top three-tenths of 1 percent — these are not rich folks — these the very richest people in America — the president gave into that.So, the president may tell us that he has this in mind, but I think the record is that he has not fought for those principles. The American people want him to fight for those principles.And I think what this whole budget debate is about is do we stand up and say, no, we’re not going to cut programs for those who need it?The other issue that I think we have to talk about is, in the president’s budget, he talks about Social Security. And he makes me a little bit nervous, because I think, as many of our listeners know, the Social Security trust fund today has a $2.6 trillion surplus.Social Security can pay out every benefit owed to every eligible American for the next 27 years. Social Security, because it is funded by the payroll tax, hasn’t contributed one nickel to the deficit.
See, there is another voice, and some are finally experiencing the results of ignoring it. Remember this! Remember what a congress person sounds like when they are for real about working and fight for you. No more excuses you did not know. This is what you will sound like once you decide to influence congress.
I have listened to Bernie Sanders in interviews for an hour explaining these concepts. He is a smart man, grounded in reality who puts the intrests of 98% of Americans above his own. That does not mean I always agree with him, but I would be proud to vote for him and contribute money to his campaign. Alas I am not from Vermont and he has no national aspirations.
Well, DOLB, the people in Vermont are lucky to have someone who represents them as brilliantly as Sen. Sanders does. The rest of us aren’t so lucky. 🙁 NancyO
To Terry and Nancy,
We may not have a Sen. Sanders, but we now know what we need to hear during the primaries so that we get more Sen. and Rep Sanders.
So Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, starts his discussion by complaining aobut the Prsident’s Budget, but complains a non-existent Republican budget is even worse. Which budget is Bernie’s choice?
Give him credit he admits that the deficit is a huge problem, then we hear the same anti-war, anti-big business, anti-oil, [lest we forget he’s a socialist], class warfare rhetoric.
So, from the beginning, he is just voicing the same ole partisan, “left of center,” politics.
DoLB, this is not anything new, we see it here nearly everyday, so why was it necessary to repeat it?
CoRev
for the same reason you had to repeat second grade arithmetic. some people are slow learners.
So, CoRev, just so I know. Is there any doubt after the proposed CR hit the presses what the 2012 budget will look like? I doubt it will be sensible enough even to keep SSA in business. You will get what you want. I won’t. NancyO
Since it is unlikely CoRev has any idea how rude and stupid his comment was, I’ll explain a little why I was so mean to him.
CoRev, you are a visitor to a blog that bills itself “left of center.” Your comment essentially said “I don’t want to hear it, so just stop publishing.” that’s the rude part.
The stupid part is where you say “this is not anything new.” You are incapable of seeing anything new, any nuance, any topical relevance. It’s “socialism” so it’s all the same. Don’t bother me with it.”
Well, instead of us not repeating it, why don’t you just go where you don’t have to hear it?
Nancy, let’s at least wait till we see something from them for 2012. Which is exactly my complaint about Sander’s commentary.
Nancy, let’s at least wait till we see something from them for 2012. Which is exactly my complaint about Sander’s commentary. Hyperbolic conjecture is not beneficial to dialog.
But CoRev,
It is and has always been class warfare.
When Bernie was running for senate there were young people all over the state wearing red tee shirts with Bernie for Senate and talking a good line in his favor. In Vermont long time republicans see the light and support him.
CoRev,
Social security receipts hid the deficts.
CoRev, a little slow tonight, CR not your initials is the continuing resolution, I thought you were talking the 2012 budget, came out 14 Feb where the war machine, spending more in constant dollars than during Vietnam, gets 19.9% of US outlays for war profiteers and the SS gets to pay out 20% and collecting enough to cover about 95% of its outlays.
The war machine providing nothing but harm to the revenue side.
How about a special tax to profit the war machine?
Bernie Sanders is a great American.
DoLB, and it’s sad so many believe that. Most conservatives do not!
ILSM, SSA reciepts diminshed the deficits in the past decade, but did not hide them. The last time that happened was under Clinton. How else do you think much of those surpluses were achieved.
As to the 2/14/2011 budget, that was Obama’s, which few have been happy with. We still need to see the appropriations before we can say there is a budget to compare, and they have yet to be drafted. My point re: Sanders’ and other’s commentary.
CoRev,
Oh please.
Read your history of the debates regarding the writing of our constitution.
Or better yet, start reading about the labor wars. You can start by reading the lyrics to labor related folk songs of the time if you prefer some art with your history. You’ll get a better feel for the struggles and the dividing line.
oh for corn sake CoRev
Clinton brought down the deficits, whether he brought them to zero, or only close enough to zero to show how much was owed to SS does not change the fact that he brought down the deficits. Something your boys have not done, though you work hard to obscure or explain away that fact.
As for Obama, I think his stimulus has been wrong headed, and i think that is because he listens to the same people who work for Wall Street, but at least be fair enough to admit that stimulus… deficit spending… has been the standard remedy for recessions since 1932 or so. That it turned into the standard remedy for everything has been a bipartisan crime. And the Obama deficit was aimed to save the country from the Bush recession… and the policies of the same advisors that Obama listens to.
But I forget, your “point re Sanders and others commentary” is that you don’t want to listen to anything from the left, because it’s all socialism and its all the same.