Dave Johnson Talks Jobs And Trade

Dave Johnson once again joins Rick Smith on the Rick Smith Show, this time to discuss the White House Deficit Commission’s recommendation to cut Social Security benefits to pay for tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy and for huge increases in military spending.

In this discussion, Johnson points out the irony of Social Security being placed on the chopping block to reduce the deficit, even though it is not Social Security itself that contributes to the national debt, it's the need to pay back what was previously borrowed from the Social Security trust fund. Johnson also attacks the myth that big business actually creates jobs; in reality, he argues, more jobs means less profit for companies and therefore we should not be so quick to lavish businesses with large tax cuts as a jobs-producing strategy. Putting people back to work, Johnson also emphasized, is good for the economy because people can pay their taxes and afford to shop and spend money.

Also on this program:

• Johnson explains why allowing the wealthy to have more sway in government is bad for democracy and has resulted in a "one dollar, one vote" political system.
• The results of the latest G-20 summit meeting is discussed, along with the problem of trade agreements that fail to protect labor rights while allowing corporations to ship jobs overseas to evade democratic labor gains.
• The two discuss the possibility of working with people who align themselves with the Tea Party on trade issues, since the Tea Party movement understands that NAFTA worked against the best interests of average Americans.