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A Progressive Proposal For Addressing The Budget Deficit

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Thu Nov 11, 2010 at 10:32:12 AM EST
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Senator Kent Conrad says:

I would agree with what the president said. Instead of shooting [the Catfood Commission proposal] down, propose an alternative — but one that does as good of a job as this one does at getting us back on a sound fiscal choice[.]

I can think of a few things but let's start with this one - NO TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH! How does Kent Conrad feel about that? Oh wait:

Sen. Kent Conrad (D., N.D.)[. . .] said Wednesday that Congress should not allow taxes on the wealthy to rise until the economy is on a more sound footing.

STFU Kent Conrad.

Speaking for me only

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    A Progressive Proposal For Addressing The Budget Deficit | 15 comments (15 topical)

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    here's another idea (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by desmoinesdem on Thu Nov 11, 2010 at 10:57:06 AM EST
    Start making rich people pay into Social Security on all their income, not just the first $106K or whatever the cutoff is.

    This is a decent idea (none / 0) (#11)
    by Warren Terrer on Thu Nov 11, 2010 at 11:52:24 AM EST
    except that it has pitfalls:

    1. It concedes the idea that SS is in crisis and needs help, when it doesn't.

    2. It won't put an end to GOP and pundit lies that SS is in crisis and needs to be fixed i.e. destroyed, even though that would probably be its major selling point to Obama.

    3. If it were possible to convince the GOP, the pundits, and the voters that this fix is all that it takes, it should be just as easy to convince them that no fix is required, because it isn't. And yet the president has bought into the lie that social security is in crisis so I can't imagine him selling this fix.

    At best, it's a fairness issue, i.e. it's only fair that the rich pay more than just a rate based on $106k.

    I see Obama as thoroughly boxed in by his neo-liberal thinking and poor leadership skills. No solution coming from him is going to be a solution at all.

    Parent

    Fait accompli (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by lentinel on Thu Nov 11, 2010 at 11:08:47 AM EST
    From David Axelrod (according to HuffPo) - Obama has already decided to let the tax cuts for the very wealthy continue "temporarily" (oh yeah).

    No surprise there.

    Some exhaustion though.

    Can you imagine... (5.00 / 3) (#6)
    by Dadler on Thu Nov 11, 2010 at 11:22:47 AM EST
    ...a pol saying "This time, we are only going to ask those making over a million dollars a year to sacrifice. The working classes and the poor have been the only ones sacrificing for far too long. Today, it's time for the wealthy and the privileged and the lucky to carry some water. Unless, of  course, they are going to stand up and say 'No, we will not sacrifice for our country.' Will they say that? It's on them. Let's see."

    That we can't even IMAGINE a statement like this being made (except perhaps by a comic), much less being taken seriously, well, enough said.

    This is a free country alright, except when it comes to price.

    Senator Conrad... (5.00 / 2) (#13)
    by rhbrandon on Thu Nov 11, 2010 at 12:27:58 PM EST
    "There is no way of doing it that's not controversial or difficult," Conrad said on ABC's "Good Morning America" of the panel's recommendations. "If some of us have to sacrifice a political career to get this country back on track, then so be it."

    You first.

    Parent

    Hilarious (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by Warren Terrer on Thu Nov 11, 2010 at 12:30:59 PM EST
    Of course by 'some of us' he means some one other than himself.

    Parent
    yeah (none / 0) (#15)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Nov 11, 2010 at 12:33:09 PM EST
    someone "else"

    Parent
    If sacrifice is necessary, please tell me why (none / 0) (#16)
    by MO Blue on Thu Nov 11, 2010 at 12:39:54 PM EST
    the rich are given additional benefits and not required to sacrifice anything.

    The Republicans will be so grateful to Conrad for doing their work for them in destroying the middle class and the Democratic party that I doubt they will even run a candidate against him.

    Parent

    Progressive Spending Cut Proposals... (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by kdog on Thu Nov 11, 2010 at 11:59:55 AM EST
    DEA...done.  DHS...gone.  ATF..adios.  CIA/FBI/DOD...cut in half.  You get the idea.

    More than one way to prioritize caring for the sick and the old while getting the books in order...more revenue is only half the equation.  

    he does (none / 0) (#1)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Nov 11, 2010 at 10:35:02 AM EST
    have a point though that it might be an opportunity to draw some actual distinctions between the two parties.

    Except that (5.00 / 4) (#2)
    by Warren Terrer on Thu Nov 11, 2010 at 10:46:26 AM EST
    "addressing the budget deficit" is playing by the GOP rules. When did Ronald Reagan ever address the budget deficit? Or either Bush? The budget deficit only becomes an issue when a Democrat is in office, and Democrats fall for it every time.

    We are no longer on the gold standard. Not only is the budget deficit not the bad thing that the GOP says it is, it is in fact an essential component in driving the economy in a fiat money system. Indeed the absolute worst time to be discussing 'addressing the budget deficit' is in the middle of a massive economic collapse and deflationary environment such as we have now.

    Parent

    that point (none / 0) (#3)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Nov 11, 2010 at 10:48:03 AM EST
    among others would help draw the distinction I was thinking of.

    Parent
    from republico (none / 0) (#8)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Nov 11, 2010 at 11:35:28 AM EST
    "Obama caving on the high income tax-cut issue guarantees that he will attract an intra-party opponent from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party," Boston University law professor Cornelius Hurley wrote on POLITICO's Arena. "The White House misreads the mood of the country. Tea partiers do not reflect that mood. Independents and Democrats disenchanted with Obama's lack of conviction do."

    what she said

    I haven't seen (none / 0) (#9)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Nov 11, 2010 at 11:38:37 AM EST
    a more inept political shop than Obama's since maybe Carter.

    Parent
    They (Wall St) already have the keys (none / 0) (#10)
    by MO Blue on Thu Nov 11, 2010 at 11:38:40 AM EST
    all else is an illusion.

    A Progressive Proposal For Addressing The Budget Deficit | 15 comments (15 topical)

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