Bush's Economic Smokescreen

Economic Growth for Whom?

Chris Collins — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 17:16:41 -0500

Under Republican control, economic growth has been lopsided at best. CEO salaries are soaring and profits are up, but most Americans aren't seeing the benefits.

Bush's Economic Delusion

Alex Carter — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 17:15:39 -0500

When President Bush talks about how strong the economy is, most Americans think he's out to lunch.

MAIN STREET PAYS

Rick Perlstein — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 17:08:12 -0500

Households earning less than $23,000 receive on average $23 from the 2001 Bush tax cuts.

MAIN STREET PAYS

Terrance Heath — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 17:07:04 -0500

Wages aren't keeping up with inflation. Between 2004 and 2005, men's median earnings decreased 1.8% and women's median earnings decreased 1.3%.

WALL STREET PROFITS

Bill Scher — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 17:06:08 -0500

Households earning more than $ 1 million receive on average $111,549 from the 2001 Bush tax cuts.

Wall Street Profits

Robert Borosage — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 17:05:20 -0500

Corporate profits are up 18.5% compared to this time last year.

Bush's Economic Smokescreen

Robert Borosage — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 17:25:28 -0500

President Bush and the Republican Congress, catering to corporate lobbies, have acted consistently to make things worse for ordinary Americans.

They've accelerated the flight of jobs abroad through "outsourcing"-friendly trade and tax policies
They've put downward pressure on wages by blocking a minimum wage increase for nine years and coddling employers who trample labor laws.
They let big drug companies gouge seniors by prohibiting Medicare from negotiating for lower drug prices.
They lavished billions in subsidies on big oil, blocked efforts to prosecute gas-price gouging, and starved progress on alternative energy.
They incentivized companies to abandon pensions and replace them with individual retirement accounts.
They cut billions from the student loan program, even as they fixed interest rates at higher levels.

By exposing and challenging the Republicans' pay-to-play politics, Democrats can show voters they are paying the cost of conservative corruption and that it's time to clean out the stables.

Challenging the Economic Smokescreen

Robert Borosage — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 17:24:47 -0500

The corporate unraveling of the employee safety net—healthcare benefits, stable jobs, pensions—has been callously celebrated as the dawn of an "ownership society," as in, "I've got mine, you're on your own." Democrats have not yet roused voters with a new vision of a more just, more prosperous society. Still, there is a clear choice between the two parties.

Despite its timidity, the Democrats' "New Directions" program offers a clear contrast to Republican follies. It pledges to:

Require Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices.

Raise the minimum wage.

Repeal tax incentives for moving jobs abroad.

Cut college loan rates in half.

Launch a drive for energy independence.