Comments on: The Grand Betrayal

By: Jerry W

Jerry W — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 07:12:40 +0000

I don’t see how “scrap the cap” plays into anyone’s plans to destroy social security. As I understand “scrap the cap” it eliminates an arbitrary limit ( $112,000 +-). As it is now anything earned above that amount is not subject to social security deductions, so the net effect is that those earning above that amount pay a lower percentage on their income. Why not scrap this cap and have everyone pay the same percentage, currently at 6.2% I believe.

By: Ayn R. Key

Ayn R. Key — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 17:11:11 +0000

“Cutting spending and raising taxes in a weak economy destroys jobs and slows growth.” That statement is true because of the “and”. “Cutting spending and cutting taxes” though is good for the economy, as long as the deficit is cut as well.

By: Tim MacMurdo

Tim MacMurdo — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 11:17:37 +0000

I wonder if any one has asked Obama if he wants his legacy to be thought of in terms of FDR or in terms of ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson.

By: #union #iww #ows #p2 #tlot #tcot Grand Bargain Betrayal http://blog.ourfuture.org/grand-bargain-betrayal/ With the election behind us, President Obama and the lame-duck Congress return to Washington to face a fiscal showdown, occasioned by automatic tax h

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 11:03:15 +0000

[...] Twitter [...]

By: coberly

coberly — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 03:10:04 +0000

well, Borosage is essentially right, but there are two areas where he weakens his case

first… ending ALL the Bush tax cuts would be the honest answer. ending only the tax cuts on “the rich” amounts to declaring that us poor middle class folk should expect to live in a country paid for by people who make more money that we do. it’s bad politics and it’s worse mental hygiene.

second… Borosage seems a little confused about Social Security. he appears to regard ending the payroll tax holiday as “raising taxes.” no, it’s simply allowing the people to continue to pay for their own retirement rather than asking them to spend, spend, spend to restore the economy for WalMart.

The poor, and the poor middle class, can and should pay for their own Social Security as they always have.

the trouble we are having is that killing Social Security is the PRIME motive of the deficit hysteria. The really bad guys would even take a tax increase (temporary to be sure) if it got their foot into the door of killing Social Security. The progressive left seems determined to play into their hands by calling for raising the cap, when an extra eighty cents per week,paid by the average worker, would end the “Social Security Crisis” forever.

That’s eighty cents per week per year for about the next twenty years while wages are going up eight dollars per week per year, and the workers will get the money back, with interest, when they need it most. That’s the way FDR designed it.

By: Timi

Timi — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 01:27:03 +0000

Can’t you give it a rest? Political Middle Ground means you like some things but dislike others. Enough with the ‘betrayal’ and all such drum-thumping.

By: Lute Song

Lute Song — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:43:07 +0000

Very well said. But don’t expect Obambi to do the right things. As Prof. Cornel West at Princeton said, Obama is a “black mascot for Wall Street.” And he has already demonstrated his willingness to bargain away key elements of the social safety net.

By: Thomas Baldwin

Thomas Baldwin — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:27:55 +0000

This is a good article. But with all due respect, Mr. Borosage, didn’t you and your colleagues know all of this before the election on November 6 or did you just suddenly learn all of this? Why the hell didn’t the staff at CAF say this? The problem, as Chris Hedges, has no eloquently said many times is that the “liberal” class is dead and who ever is left are liver bellied cowards (lizards). It is getting almost as tiresome to read your after the fact opinions as it is to watch the so-called left wing media on cable TV which I have cancelled.

Dr. Tom Baldwin

By: clarence swinney

clarence swinney — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 22:41:00 +0000

RECESSION SERIOUS CHOICES
Investments in our future
Middle Class Growth over ultra rich
Place a Public Option in Obamacare
Finance campaigns and elections—no $$$$–a law a fed employee can accept nothing
with a financial value—Short term campaigns like six month-3 primary 3 general—debate a week=12=Adequate to evaluate candidates—Any Mitt can make a fool of himself in three months
Balance the budget with a 35% effective tax on top10%–Stop patrolling the world—spend our money at home—Increase minimum wage—Jobs highest priority—De-monopolize too big banks—Return banking to like S&L—400 local owners—Use wealth locally not overseas.–Repeal Repeal of Glass Steagall. Tariff on foreign goods. Return more equality to America via Tax Code.

By: Adele Loessberg

Adele Loessberg — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 21:34:53 +0000

We need to adopt the Republican tactic of talking points and slogans. I like the four-point plan but would really like to see banners and buttons of ‘over the cliff’ after all a new Congress will be there in January.

I think it’s unlikely there will be an agreement unless Obama caves, and I think there’s a possibility he will if there’s not real encouragement from us, so let’s get behind ‘over the cliff’ I understand our senator Patty Murray of Washington has said she’s in favor of that.

i also understand that Harry Reid has signed a pledge not to cut Social Security or Medicare. I sent a petition to my representatives to sign it. We can do pledges too. What about our four-point plan?

And are we about to spend 1 billion to rebuild Iraq/ Afghanistan? How does that make sense? Let’s add Fix America First to our slogans.