Blog Archive: February, 2012

Robert Reich says the economy's problem is that regular working people are not sharing in the gains that the economy makes. He says the idea that bringing back manufacturing will fix this is an illusion. I agree and disagree. more »

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On the menu this morning:

• Morning Message: Lessons From The National Teach-In: "No Substitute" For An Energized Citizenry
• Got Gas?
• The Tax Plan Cometh
• Super PAC Kryptonite
• Greek Bailout
• The Devil Made Him Do It

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Thousands of people who tuned into Tuesday night's "National Teach-In to Take Back the American Dream" got a remarkable one-hour tutorial on how the economy collapsed, and with it the economic security of millions of working Americans. more »

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Thanks in large part to the phenomenon of Barack Obama's presidential campaign, 2008 was known as the year of the small donor. While Barack Obama can't called it's herald, his decision to accept, if not embrace, the reality of super PACs suggests that the 2012 presidential election — the first post-Citizens United presidential election — may become known as the Year of the Super PAC. (There's word that even Occupy Wall Street could get a super PAC.) Maybe. But that barely scratches the surface. So far, the 2012 race suggests that behind every successful candidate is a well-funded super PAC. And behind every power well-funded PAC is an even more powerful backer with very deep pockets. Take a closer look, and bigger story is that 2012 election may turn out to be The Year of the Billionaire.

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In Will We Choose A Chinese Future, David Sirota asks the core question: "Do we accept an economic competition that asks us to emulate China?" THIS is the choice that the "job creators" are demanding that we make when they say we need to be more "business friendly." THIS is what they are asking us to do to ourselves when they say that less government, less regulation, lower taxes, anti-union "right-to-work" laws, and the rest of the corporate-conservative litany is what will restore the economy and "create jobs."

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One year ago this week, blogger Ian Murphy of the Buffalo Beast pranked Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker by posing as billionaire David Koch on a phone call. more »

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First, Republicans opposed extending the payroll tax cut that put an extra $20 a week in the pockets of 160 million working Americans.

Next, th more »

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On the menu this morning:

• Morning Message: Obama vs. Obama: One Budget, Two Competing Visions of the Future
• Super PACs To The Rescue?
• 2012: Year Of The Billionaire
• The Coming Gas Wars
• Economic Update
• GOP Race To The Right
• Breakfast Sides

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Today the Western world is divided between two visions of our economic future. One vision is of austerity and the other is of growth. One is of hope and possibility, the other of despair and cynicism. The battle between these two visions has divided the United States and the entire Western world.

And both of them can be found in in President Obama latest budget.

It's almost as if the President decided that if the Republicans can't provide him with a challenger worthy of this debate, he'll conduct it with himself.

Double Vision

In one vision, the excesses and errors of the 1 percent have left the Western world too broke to fulfill its social contract with anyone but the wealthiest among us. Middle class and lower-income citizens must be abandoned to face a future of ever-dwindling resources. Government's only permissible spending is on wasteful military systems that enrich wealthy contractors and their corporations.

In the other vision, government retains its role as an engine of growth and change. It's wise enough to invest in long-term expansion before pivoting to address its deficit problems. It manages its budget, not "like a family," but like a business - one that understands that well-timed investment is the key to continued growth and prosperity, In today's world, that means investing in jobs, research, education, health, and infrastructure.

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The other day we appeared on Sam Seder's program, The Majority Report, to discuss the radical-right ideology of Edward DeMarco, a Bush appointee who became Acting Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and continues in that role because Congress won't confirm President Obama's nominee.

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