Does a city "save money" by outsourcing good-paying jobs to a company that pays crap wages? The people who had good-paying jobs are out of work, replaced by people in low-wage jobs, and the rest of us feel the downward pressure on our wages and benefits as the race to the bottom accelerates.
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The president criticized Boehner's "Plan B" proposal today because it lacks an extension for unemployment insurance into 2013.
If the president fails to win on this issue, two million people will face tough choices. The mortgage or the car payment? Go to the doctor or hope for the best? Cash in the 401(k) or take the kids out of college?
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Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley took to the white board to explain the talking filibuster and why we need to reform the Senate. Merkley White Board: Its time to Reform the Senate with a Talking Filibuster Fix The Senate Now. You can sign the petition. The filibuster used to be an important tool that gave the [...]
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MORNING MESSAGE: 8 Deficit Reducers That Are More Ethical – And More Effective – Than the “Chained CPI” OurFuture.org’s Richard Eskow: “The “chained CPI” is being offered as part of a “deficit reduction” deal, even though Social Security is forbidden from contributing to the deficit. Even if you accepted this unreasoned act, it remains morally [...]
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News reports say the President’s proposed deal includes the “chained CPI,” which would impose drastic Social Security cuts and tax hikes for everybody but the wealthy. And House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says that “Democrats will stick with the President.” They should both think again. The “chained CPI” is being offered as part of a “deficit reduction” [...]
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For decades, the conservative agenda rested upon a three-legged stool of "culture war" issues: "God, guns, and gays." I've covered in previous posts how the outcome of the 2012 election pretty knocked out two legs of that ideological three legged stool. GOP messaging on "God" and "gays" fell flat this year. Now, as the nation reels from the slaughter of innocents at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT, there are signs that the third leg of conservative ideology — "guns" — is wobblier than ever.
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Greg Sargent is reporting tha the White House says they will make sure that the Chained CPI sell-out won't hurt the most vulnerable seniors. I don't know if they are basing this on the Simpson-Bowles formula, but if they are, it's bullshit.
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We JUST had an election where the public (not to mention Every. Single. Poll.) overwhelmingly said no cuts to Social Security or Medicare, and raise taxes on income over $250K. That ought to mean something. But the "word" out of DC is that a deal is underway that cuts the Social Security COLA and increases the income level subject to a higher tax from $250K to $400K.
Senators and Representatives who are thinking of touching the "third rail:" How many constituents are calling your office today to say, "Yes, I want you to cut the Social Security COLA"?
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Apparently, uncertainty is a fate worse than death for a CEO. Billionaires bellyache about it constantly on TV, contending they must know, right now, whether next year’s tax rates will rise. Republicans bewail uncertainty, insisting CEOs must know, right now, whether they’ll get a tax holiday for overseas profits. Their deep, abiding concern about the [...]
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MORNING MESSAGE: This Is Not America’s Deal OurFuture.org’s Richard Eskow: “Our leaders in Washington heard from the voters last month. They may need to hear from them again. According to news reports a budget deal is coalescing around some very unattractive and unwise ideas … The deal being floated uses the sneaky ‘chained CPI’ to [...]
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