The Mandate To Our Leaders: Put Regular Americans First.

The Mandate To Our Leaders: Put Regular Americans First.

We should fix the deficit the American way: put people back to work and grow our economy by getting rid of tax breaks that don't. They should quit trying to force European-style austerity on America.

There is a fiscally responsible approach to our national budget and it recognizes that:

• The middle class and families who work for a living are the true engine of economic prosperity for all Americans.
• The real job creators driving our economy are the working people who keep our businesses thriving and hiring.
• If you're serious about dealing with the deficit, you have to get the economy on its feet first before we start cutting things and hurting the recovery.
• So let's get serious about lowering the debt by asking the richest among us to pay their fair share and getting rid of waste like corporate tax loopholes and subsidies, so we can invest in our economy to put people back to work.

• If it takes money out of the pockets of hard-working regular Americans struggling in this Wall Street-created recession, it should be off the table. If it's waste, cut it.  
• We know what to protect. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits -- the foundations of financial security for regular Americans who work for a living.
• In fact, our leaders should be seeking to strengthen these programs, not just fend off cuts, because they are by far the most cost-efficient ways to secure our retirement and health care. In these times, we can't afford to be wasting money on more expensive alternatives.
• We know what to cut. Wasteful tax breaks for the wealthy, tax loopholes that reward corporations for offshoring jobs, and waste like outdated Pentagon pork our military leaders don't want.
• We know what to invest in. Education, infrastructure, and clean energy -- investments that put people to work and will make sure the economy we leave our children stays the envy of the world.