Thoughts on Today's Political Landscape

[smc]

The problem is that the government is not stimulating the economy enough. Roosevelt understood it. Obama does not, or the intransigence of those who more directly represent the wealthy rulers (i.e., more directly than does he) keeps it from happening. What we need is many, many, many hundreds of billions in investment to create jobs doing things this failing, falling-behind country needs, not piddling symbolic stimuli ... and not tax breaks for phony "job creators."

[randolph]

Originally Posted by smc

The problem is that the government is not stimulating the economy enough. Roosevelt understood it. Obama does not, or the intransigence of those who more directly represent the wealthy rulers (i.e., more directly than does he) keeps it from happening. What we need is many, many, many hundreds of billions in investment to create jobs doing things this failing, falling-behind country needs, not piddling symbolic stimuli ... and not tax breaks for phony "job creators."

Maybe the billions will come from China to build factories here when millions of desperate unemployed workers here in the US are willing to work for peanuts, like the dock workers in the nineteen thirties.

[smc]

Originally Posted by randolph

Maybe the billions will come from China to build factories here when millions of desperate unemployed workers here in the US are willing to work for peanuts, like the dock workers in the nineteen thirties.

The United States has all the money needed to stimulate the economy without help from anyone. It's a matter of whose interests the government and the spending serve. Anyone who thinks the wealthiest are suffering even remotely in the current recession is delusional or lying.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by smc

The problem is that the government is not stimulating the economy enough. Roosevelt understood it. Obama does not, or the intransigence of those who more directly represent the wealthy rulers (i.e., more directly than does he) keeps it from happening. What we need is many, many, many hundreds of billions in investment to create jobs doing things this failing, falling-behind country needs, not piddling symbolic stimuli ... and not tax breaks for phony "job creators."

Wasn't about half of the stimulus bill composed of tax cuts?

Enoch,

My reference to Obama as the “one” was somewhat sarcastic as he was presented to us as a “semi-messiah” (my own term… ) by the United States media. Here are a few images from his campaign in case anyone forgot. Sorry… I agree with you 100% that we need to work together--I hope that will happen--but seems unrealistic to expect from our society as fragmented as it is. Maybe I’m wrong. My use of the term “leader” also does NOT mean “dictator.” History is rich with individuals who rose to the occasion in times of crisis--I will let you pick your favorites--we need one of them now.

A

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by aw9725

Enoch,

My reference to Obama as the ?one? was somewhat sarcastic as he was presented to us as a ?semi-messiah? (my own term? ) by the United States media. Here are a few images from his campaign in case anyone forgot. Sorry? I agree with you 100% that we need to work together--I hope that will happen--but seems unrealistic to expect from our society as fragmented as it is. Maybe I?m wrong. My use of the term ?leader? also does NOT mean ?dictator.? History is rich with individuals who rose to the occasion in times of crisis--I will let you pick your favorites--we need one of them now.

A

I am sorry. I never meant to give the impression you earnestly saw the man as a pseudo-messianic figure. In fact it never occurred to me you may have meant that. Instead the use of "the one" made me think of leaders, any leader, on whom all hopes are saddled. I am leery of any one person becoming a symbol. A friend of mine once put it as: we need leadership, not leaders. I think I understand that. Maybe I do not.

[GRH]

Just some random musings on the new "Jobs Bill" that Obama proposed. Tracy Coxx has insisted that we don't need more "stimulus." But what of the proposed payroll tax cuts? Was there ever a tax cut (except for green energy subsidies) that a Republican didn't like?

Personally, I feel it's reckless to steal money from Social Security given its long term trajectory. Rob Peter to pay Paul-- gladly have a hamburger today if I can pay you for it tomorrow. But Republican opposition to the payroll tax cut isn't rooted in this. If anything, Republicans would like policy that would make entitlements more likely to go bankrupt (that way they have an excuse to destroy the social safety net). No, any Republican opposition to the payroll tax cut proposal is rooted in the fact that they don't want to do ANYTHING that might help the economy (and by extension, possibly help Obama's reelection chances).

[TracyCoxx]

Originally Posted by GRH

Just some random musings on the new "Jobs Bill" that Obama proposed. Tracy Coxx has insisted that we don't need more "stimulus." But what of the proposed payroll tax cuts? Was there ever a tax cut (except for green energy subsidies) that a Republican didn't like?

Tax cut?
Obama proposes tax hikes to pay for jobs bill
http://news.yahoo.com/obama-send-job...230355229.html

[transjen]

You know i'm getting sick and tired of listening to the GOP BS about the rich should never pay one red cent in taxes
For ten years they have been greedy pig hogging there money getting fatter and yet where are the jobs from these so called job creaturers?
The pigs have enjoying there cuts for oven ten years so by GOP logic this should be a jobs boom time and yet where are the jobs from the rich not paying taxes?
And the great trickle down BS the rich pay less taxes everyones life improves so after ten years of rich pigs not paying taxes way are so many Americans living under the poverity line?
I know Tracy will scream it's all BO's fault
But in trurh the Bush GOP policies are still in effect so we should be in the middle of a booming enconmy
And all eight GOP bozos answer is the same cut taxes do away with regulations trickle down all the way
And these are the same bozos who created this mess to start with starting with the deity R Reagan a brain dead two bit movie actor
Jerseygirl Jen

[smc]

Originally Posted by TracyCoxx

Tax cut?
Obama proposes tax hikes to pay for jobs bill
http://news.yahoo.com/obama-send-job...230355229.html

Read the story carefully, all.

As Obama said in his speech, there is a proposal to cut payroll taxes in half, to 3.1 percent. That is a "tax cut."

As for the tax increases, the are:

- an increase on the tax rate for the wealthy;
- an increase in taxes for the energy corporations that are raking in billions in profits;
- the elimination of some loopholes in the tax code for those making over $200,000 per year.

So, yes, it will be paid in part by a tax increase. And to those who will feel the impact of these increases (and their apologists), in our country where the number of people living in poverty grows each day along with the embarrassing gap in income between the richest and the poorest, I say boo-fucking-hoo.

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I am sorry. I never meant to give the impression you earnestly saw the man as a pseudo-messianic figure. In fact it never occurred to me you may have meant that. Instead the use of "the one" made me think of leaders, any leader, on whom all hopes are saddled. I am leery of any one person becoming a symbol. A friend of mine once put it as: we need leadership, not leaders. I think I understand that. Maybe I do not.

Sure, no problem. I think it is good and prudent to be wary of anyone who appears to be ?the one? or have all the answers. History is full of examples of this type of person too coming to power?usually with disastrous consequences. Also you make an excellent point that we need ?leadership? as opposed to leaders.