Comments on: Meanwhile, Back In The Real Economy

By: Estella Lauter

Estella Lauter — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 07:05:57 +0000

Tom Richards’ recommendations are excellent except for the one about raising the age for benefits to 67. As Hatty Lee’s brilliant infographic shows, that will just keep lower-wage workers and people of color working longer to make ends meet and will do nothing to solve the serious problem of growing inequality. Any changes to the current SS, Medicare and Medicaid programs need to be made, at a time and in a state of mind that is far more rational than this Congress is prepared to be. It may be more fair, for example, to collect FICA taxes on all earned income instead of just the first $90,000 (or whatever), or to tax capital gains at a higher rate. Changes in those programs should be off the table until the House shows that it can think straight about the people it is supposed to serve. These programs are too important to the 99% to risk changes in the present political environment.

By: Tom Richards MAmoderate

Tom Richards MAmoderate — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 23:13:20 +0000

Mr. President: You have a strong hand now, so play it!

Go over the cliff!
Immediately submit bills to:
Raise the top two marginal rates to at least 50%;
Roll back only half of the rest of the marginal rates;
Direct Treasury to pay pittance on non-pension debt, to balance the budget;
Direct Defense love within their new budget;
Raise the age of all benefits to age 67;
Request of Pelosi and Reid one paragraph extending Medicare benefits to all citizens with $50-co-pays;
Request of Boehner and McConnell a flood of one paragraph bills for reducing spending and air them and push for enactment of everyone that is reasonable in your judgement;
Direct Commerce to apply import fees on out of balance nations a year in arrears and
Direct the AG to prosecute every known case of bankers’ fraud, applying both jail terms and fines for principals.