From the office of Congressman Andy Harris:
Andy Harris released the following statement regarding the release of the Obama budget
“Today, the President released his budget – one week late, and one trillion dollars short. Only in Washington could an actual 5 percent increase in spending be called a “cut” – but that’s exactly what the President did. His budget continues to tax and spend. His budget never solves the deficit problem, much less begins to pay down the exploding national debt we will leave to our grandchildren. But the President does find money to pay for Solyndra-style programs, and continues to pass the costs on to hard-working taxpayers. To say this is whistling past the graveyard is an understatement – the President once again refuses to take leadership on the greatest challenge facing our nation today – getting our debt and deficit under control. The President is right; we can’t wait for him to take leadership in tackling the debt and the deficit. He never will. And we can’t wait for the Senate to take action – over 1,000 days have passed since they offered a budget blueprint. Once again, the House will have to take leadership on reining in the debt and deficit by proposing a budget that makes the tough choices that are necessary to head off a Greek-style federal bankruptcy.”
Do the best that you can to hold the line till we take back the Senate in Nov, Rep. Harris.
The Democrats obviously have no intention of stopping their out of control taxing and spending.
Now let’s hear from their constituents who always believe that someone else will be the ones taxed, the poor suckers…
No, no, I’m sure they have it right this time… I’m experimenting with getting my credit card debt up to 10 or 15 times my annual bring home pay because I’m sure prosperity is waiting just on the other side…
The budget asks for all to pay their fair share and works for middle class voters and not just for billionaires. As reported today in the NY Times, “Instead of trying to stabilize the budget on the backs of the poor, it would raise taxes on the wealthy and on big banks and eliminate many corporate tax loopholes.
To put Americans back to work, it would invest $350 billion in constructing roads, rail lines and schools, and encourage manufacturing through tax incentives and research spending. It would maintain the Pell grant program for low-income college students and add new spending for teacher improvement and education reform.
Republicans, on the other hand, would cut taxes for the rich and cut almost all of that spending, heedless of the pain that it would inflict on the economy and the millions of Americans still reeling from the downturn’s effects. In poll after poll, the public has made clear that it prefers the president’s approach of rebuilding the economy now and tackling the deficit when the fundamentals are stronger.”
Congressman Harris is a tool for the rich and would throw us middleclass under the bus. Its time we elect someone who will put us first.
So we can trust this ‘investment’ of $350 billion will perform better than the previous ‘investments’ over the last few years. It is time to begin the dismantling of federal programs, follow the Constitution and return power back to the States and local governments. We do not need the DC politicians making every decision.
Stay out of my healthcare, out of my food pantry and out of my wallet. It is my responsibility to raise my family, not the governments, and until people return to that ethic, we will continue to descend into a socialist chaos much like Greece and other European countries.
Taxpayer: This is the kind of sophomoric and simplistic thinking that leads to a Plutocracy. Do you really think that you can trust big business to work for your best interests? They care only for profit. If they destroy the environment, or poison your children, or destroy the economy by shipping good American jobs overseas who will look after you? It is only the people’s government, elected by you, who can protect you from abuse.
I will concede that big government that is too controlling is just as bad. But the troubles in Greece are caused by too many people not paying their fair share of taxes and starving the government of revenue. As for me, I want the government in my pantry and health care. They think more about my welfare than any big corporation and anyone who gainsays this is a tool for billionaires and predatory company exploitation.
He didn’t say anything about trusting big corporations.
What he espoused were classical Republican “State-ist” ideas.
We can have plenty of necessary Federal oversight and regulations, while at the same time turning most of the responsibilities and tax collecting duties to States and local governments.
I think we’d all be much better off.
He/she for the picky out there.
The trouble in Greece and the other European countries is the growth of the welfare state and nanny government so many want the USA to copy. America became the greatest economy because it did not emulate Europe – as I recall – people fled Europe to come to the USA. Now we are told we should emulate Europe in health care and tax rates. Really worked for them didn’t it?
And yes, I would trust the a large corporation over Congress when considering my welfare. Yes, they do have to make a profit and that is what drives innovation and efficiency. The life you enjoy today is the result of some ‘evil corporation’ investing in R&D, and producing the product. When the corporation makes bad decisions, products or investments, they are held in account. When Congress or the President do so, they blame the other party or the private sector. How many trillions of dollars have been wasted by Congress and who has been held accountable? How many billions of stimulus dollars have been lost to bankruptcy and who has gone to jail for such theft?
If a corporation ran their pension like the federal government runs Social Security, the officers would be arrested. Yet, again, noone is held accountable.
The USA became the greatest economy on the planet, in part, because they borrowed their way to prosperity. If you had actually paid for all the things your government does for you, your economic growth would be slower. Be very impressed with what you think you have achieved; you’re going to have to pay for it eventually.
TO: Dave Porter – The US became a great economy due to capitalism and the protection of private property rights. The growth of government over the last 50 years has been a drag on the economy which is now really manifesting.
You are right in the fact the liabilities and promises made by the gevernment will eventually have to be paid by extracting even more capital from the private sector, continuing the drag. Generational theft, unseen at this level, condemns the next generation to paying off the carelessness of the present.
TAXPAYER: You stated “Generational theft, unseen at this level, condemns the next generation to paying off the carelessness of the present.” What you seem to forget is that it is the REPUBLICAN/Tea Party that amassed this debt. Daniel Patrick Moynihan once said “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion,
but not his own facts.” I don’t know what parallel universe you occupy but the facts are that President Clinton came into office with a $345 billion dollar deficit and left office with a $293 billion dollar surplus while the Republicans took that surplus and spent it down to a $416 billion dollar deficit. That is $709 billion dollars they spent.
Republicans left this country in the worst financial mess since the great depression. During his eight years in office, President Bush oversaw a huge increase in government spending. In fact, President Bush increased government spending more than any of the six presidents preceding him. In his last term in office, President Bush increased discretionary outlays by an estimated 48.6 percent. During his eight years in office, President Bush spent almost twice as much as his predecessor, President Clinton. Adjusted for inflation, in eight years, President Clinton increased the federal budget by 11 percent. In eight years, President Bush increased it by 104 percent.
Moreover, it was the Republican Party who gave away billions to failed banks without a shred of accountability. As you must know, the interest we must pay on the National Debt that borrow and spend Republicans have burden us with from 2000 to 2009 was $3,354,184,917,662.61. BTW much of this money is paid to China who is happily using it to undercut American jobs.
So how can TAXPAYER possible imply that Republicans are anything other than spendthrifts? To me he represents the worst kind of disingenuousness and a total liberation of facts and reason. Moreover, Republicans spend this money for big business and special interests while Democrats spend money for the working people of America. For my money, that is how I want it spent.
Hey Proud,
The debt is on both parties, not just the Republicans.
Here is a breakdown of the debt, by president:
Carter – debt increased by 276,666 billion dollars – 4 years
Reagan – debt increased by 1.754,182 trillion dollars – 8 years
Bush (I) – debt increased by 1.492,617 trillion dollars – 4 years
Clinton – debt increased by 1.485,207 trillion dollars – 8 years
Bush (II) – debt increased by 5.037,588 trillion dollars – 8 years
Obama – debt increased by 4.426,094 trillion dollars – 3 years
It seems to me that while Bush (II) spent the most, though Obama is on a pace to double him.
Also, in the 18 terms of Congress since Carter, both houses were controlled by D 8 times, both controlled by R 5 times, D house/R senate 3 times, D senate/R house 1 time, and split senate/R house 1 time.
Anyways, have a nice day.
Proud – In my postings I did not point the finger at either party but at both – at Congress and the President. You immediately blame the TEA Party (which has not ever had control of Congress)/Republicans and Bush. Typical.
The TEA Party was created because the Republican Party was drifting too far to the left, not being the counterweight to increased government spending they were expected and elected to be. Blaming the TEA Party is just wrong.
Blaming Bush for the economic crisis is a convenient re-write of what caused the mortgage crisis and who warned Congress repeatedly in the early 2000’s of the coming crisis. Bush asked for more oversite of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Congress refused, saying the taxpayers would NEVER be on the hook for the liabilities assumed by these GSEs. They were wrong and then continue to blame Bush for not doing something about (even though they were the ones responsible for oversite). Guess the money being driven into their campaign coffers by the Fannie/Freddie PACs was more important.
PAUL Mc: Your statistics are fairly misleading without a listing of revenue. “In the post World War II era government revenue fell back initially but then began a slow increase, peaking at 33.1 percent of GDP in the recession year of 1982 and 37.5 percent of GDP in the recession year of 2001.” (usgovernmentrevenue ) Thanks to the GOP tax giveaway to the richest few in this country, revenue has decreased today to 25.94% in 2009. This is apparent when the middle class pays at 28% to 33% in 2011 and billionaires pay at 15% (e.g., Romney).
Now add to this is government spending. “Government spending peaked at just under 53 percent of GDP in 1945… Although spending dropped back to 21 percent of GDP immediately after WWII, it steadily climbed thereafter until it hit a peak of 36 percent of GDP in the bottom of the recession of 1980-82. Thereafter government spending chugged along in the mid 30s until the mortgage meltdown of 2008 (caused by Republicans). In the aftermath of bank and auto bailouts, government spending surged to wartime levels at 45 percent of GDP (remember Bush kept his wars off the books while Obama honestly included them). The mortgage emergency seems to have ratcheted out-year spending up a notch. Near term government spending in the future is pegging at 40 percent of GDP.”
How does one fill in the void between revenue and spending? Some have indicated reducing spending which sounds like fun until one considers what would be cut: would it be defense, education, veteran benefits, protecting the environment, health, the infrastructure? Until we can get a House of Representatives that aren’t only interested in the Tea Party witch hunt against our first Black president and begin to act like responsible stewards of the Republic, and until the American public stops its knee jerk reactions to right wing reactionary media pundits, we will be in the dumps.
You have a great day!
Hey Proud,
“PAUL Mc: Your statistics are fairly misleading without a listing of revenue.” – Not misleading at all. I was responding to your post about the finances of the US, and providing pertinent information you forgot to post.
“In the post World War II era government revenue fell back initially but then began a slow increase, peaking at 33.1 percent of GDP in the recession year of 1982 and 37.5 percent of GDP in the recession year of 2001.” (usgovernmentrevenue ) Thanks to the GOP tax giveaway to the richest few in this country, revenue has decreased today to 25.94% in 2009.” – Lets look at the revenue for each year. For Obama, the average revenue per year was 2.2 trillion. For Bush, the average was 2.16 trillion, with a high of 2.6 trillion. For Clinton, the average revenue was 1.56 trillion, with a high of 2 trillion. As for % of GDP, during the Clinton years, the GDP% was (by year) 33.4, 33.5, 34.3, 34.9, 35.7, 36.5, 36.1, 37.2. In the Bush years it was 34.5, 31.2, 31.2, 33.0, 33.8, 35.3, 37.0, 32.9. In the Obama years it was 25.9, 32.5 estimated, 32.4 guestimated. Also, it should be noted that the President does not control the budget alone, it must be approved by Congress; the president provides a budget which must be approved by the house and the senate.
“This is apparent when the middle class pays at 28% to 33% in 2011 and billionaires pay at 15% (e.g., Romney).” – You do realize that Romney, and other millionaires, actually pay a higher rate? What you are actually referring to is the capital gains tax rate, which is the 15% rate. (And I will concede that many millionaires do make a significant portion of their money through this, I just don’t want you to be so misleading by stating they pay 15%.)
“Now add to this is government spending. “Government spending peaked at just under 53 percent of GDP in 1945… Although spending dropped back to 21 percent of GDP immediately after WWII, it steadily climbed thereafter until it hit a peak of 36 percent of GDP in the bottom of the recession of 1980-82. Thereafter government spending chugged along in the mid 30s until the mortgage meltdown of 2008 (caused by Republicans).” – This is correct, except for the cause of the mortgage meltdown; which is a debate for a different day. Also, even in 2008 the percent was 32.9. In 09, for which Obama was the president for 11 of the 12 months, the percent was 25.9.
‘”In the aftermath of bank and auto bailouts, government spending surged to wartime levels at 45 percent of GDP (remember Bush kept his wars off the books while Obama honestly included them). The mortgage emergency seems to have ratcheted out-year spending up a notch. Near term government spending in the future is pegging at 40 percent of GDP.”’ – Ok.
“How does one fill in the void between revenue and spending? Some have indicated reducing spending which sounds like fun until one considers what would be cut: would it be defense, education, veteran benefits, protecting the environment, health, the infrastructure?” – I would cut a number of programs (entitlement, including corporate) and require not only a balanced budget, but a budget that would reduce our deficit. I would also make sure every pays their fair share, and before you get started, that includes eliminating the tax loop holes and the import/export situation.
“Until we can get a House of Representatives that aren’t only interested in the Tea Party witch hunt against our first Black president” – Thanks for the unnecessary race-baiting. It really makes your argument so much stronger. I know that is one of those logical fallacies that you so often post about on here.
“and begin to act like responsible stewards of the Republic, and until the American public stops its knee jerk reactions to right wing reactionary media pundits, we will be in the dumps.” – I think many do act as responsible stewards of the Republic. I also think that American public needs to stop its knee jerk reaction to the left wing liberal media pundits; until then, we will continue to remain down in the dumps.
“You have a great day!” – I usually do.
Anyways, have a nice day.
@Proud to be Liberal writes “mortgage meltdown of 2008 (caused by Republicans)”
Are you insane the Democrats led by duplicitous Barney Frank and Chris Dodd who own the mortgage meltdown.
“return power back to the States and local governments. We do not need the DC politicians making every decision.”
100% agree with that. Most of the rest, I do not.
It is not time to begin that process. The time to do that is when times are good and money is flowing again.
And when that time comes, I don’t want to see any of these Tea Party people out protesting increases in state and local taxes either– government must provide some services, and when we whittle down the Federal budget, the State budgets will grow. Me personally, I have no problem with that, because I can better influence the spending of that money on a local level. We’re going to pay a little less overall, but not much, and people better get used to that idea– if the time ever comes.
And you are right, the government shouldn’t be taking care of your family. The problem is, an increasing number of people aren’t taking care of their own kids and family. What’s going to happen when your family abandons you or isn’t around to help?
There’s lots to be done in this country to save it from itself, and most of it has nothing to do with Washington.
“What’s going to happen when your family abandons you or isn’t around to help?”
That is my responsibility, as a productive member of society, to handle. Why should I expect the government to take care of me? Too many feel they should not be responsible for taking care of themselves, that, at some point, the government should take on that task.
TAXPAYER: And if someone is incapible to care for themselves you would throw them into the ditch. Allow me to remind you so called Christians what you should be feeling: “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
I think that says it all.
PROUD- You wrote “Allow me to remind you so called Christians what you should be feeling: “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.””
Yes, I am a Christian – not a so-called Christian. You seem to assume that the responsibility of the individual in society, as is described above, can be apporpriated to a government entity, thereby removing that responsibility from the individual. ‘I need not help my neighbor, I pay taxes.’ When we decide the government is where we can place our moral responsibility to society, we are finished as a functioning society.
TAXPAYER: You said, “When we decide the government is where we can place our moral responsibility to society, we are finished as a functioning society.” Are you saying we should put our moral responsibility with big business? As you know their ONLY interest is in profits, AT ANY COSTS to citizens. I am not saying we should disregard capitalism but that the corporations that harm us should be held accountable for the damage they may do to innocent citizens. I believe the only entity that can control the corrosive practices of SOME of the worst offenders is a duly elected and representative government not beholding to lobbyists but to the electorate.
You still have not indicated how we should help the most helpless of our fellow citizens: the ones that cannot help themselves. Do you say “too bad” and shrug off your “Christian” beliefs by saying ‘I need not help my neighbor, I pay taxes.’ That’s cold man!
PROUD – Please read what is written and the intent. You wrote “Are you saying we should put our moral responsibility with big business? As you know their ONLY interest is in profits, AT ANY COSTS to citizens”
There are more businesses out there that are very involved in charitable work, are socially responsible and have a great positive influence on society. Any business that has sole interest in profits, AT ANY COSTS, will not sruvive the long-term. And yes, there should be some government oversite, although not to the extreme some believe.
You also wrote “You still have not indicated how we should help the most helpless of our fellow citizens: the ones that cannot help themselves. Do you say “too bad” and shrug off your “Christian” beliefs by saying ‘I need not help my neighbor, I pay taxes.’ That’s cold man!”
Yes I did indicate. It is the responsibility of society, not goverment, to help those fellow citizens. My point was the notion that a person could shrug off that responsibility by saying they pay their taxes is wrong. But that is being done and a government entity, which requires no payback or change in behavior that may have caused the need, actually encourages such behaviors. I realize that is not the case in all situations.
In general, I’m agreeing with most of what Taxpayer is saying, but I find the following to be quaint and out of touch:
“Any business that has sole interest in profits, AT ANY COSTS, will not sruvive the long-term.”
I suppose possibly, maybe, once upon a time that might have been true. But not in our country today, not as our democracy functions now, where as PTBL points out, it is completely dysyfunctional and largely under the control of a wealthy group of citizens and corporations who have generally succeeded in ensuring their profitibality in perpetuity.
Further, whereas most citizens and voters are largely not engaged, informed, or active, and all of the above is allowed to continue without consequence. We continue to stay at home on election day, or vote blindly, or buy the same products we love, so long as everything seems good in our heads. We’ve got our cheap leased car, our DVR, our cell phone and beer, so who cares about much else.
I own an Apple iPhone, Apple stock and you anti-capitalist liberals could have done the same thing. So now you want to attack Apple and Apple stockholders.
But before you continue your jihad on corporate America you better check your pension fund’s investments, mutual fund’s holdings and IRA investments because they certainly hold stocks like Apple and when you get the government to crush corporate America through increased confiscatory taxation you will succeed in hurting your own investments and causing iPhones and the like to skyrocket in price for all consumers.
TAXPAYER: The last time I checked a bill will not become law until the President signs it and it is not true that it would have been over ruled by Congress. You need to get a handle on how government works these days.
And yes you are so correct to state that:”… they have provided many families with careers, good standards of living and steady employment….” Unfortunately most of those jobs have been overseas. Have you ever heard of the rust belt? I’m from Dundalk, do you want to tell the former workers from Sparrows Point about all those good jobs?
Hey Proud,
“TAXPAYER: The last time I checked a bill will not become law until the President signs it and it is not true that it would have been over ruled by Congress. You need to get a handle on how government works these days.” – According to a little document called the Constitution, a bill ca become law without the signature of the president. Article 1, Section 7, paragraph 2. If a bill is vetoed by the president, it is returned to congress where it is voted on and if approved by 2/3rds majority of each house, it becomes law. Furthermore, a bill can become law if it is sent to the president and the president does not sign, nor does he veto it, and it remains there for 10 days (unless it is at the end of the session of congress).
“And yes you are so correct to state that:”… they have provided many families with careers, good standards of living and steady employment….” Unfortunately most of those jobs have been overseas. Have you ever heard of the rust belt? I’m from Dundalk, do you want to tell the former workers from Sparrows Point about all those good jobs?” – Not all industries have moved overseas, though that is a serious problem. Also, why the hate for the insurance, shipping, and banking industries?
Anyways, have a nice day.
PAUL MC: Yes I understand the route of a bill, but do you understand about the filibuster and how even the hint of one will kill a bill?
Shipping (and I mean ships) dump into our waters. Insurance? It seems that only make money when they don’t pay claims and they work hard at that. The only thing that keeps them honest is State regulation (government again). Banking: I am referring to the foreclosure mess we’re in.
Hey Proud,
“PAUL MC: Yes I understand the route of a bill, but do you understand about the filibuster and how even the hint of one will kill a bill?” – Yes, I understand all of that. My response was to your statement, ‘The last time I checked a bill will not become law until the President signs it’, which was not a true statement. I wanted to make sure you knew the truth. I am helpful. Had you made a statement about filibuster that was incorrect, I might have corrected that as well.
“Shipping (and I mean ships) dump into our waters.” – Yes, and they also import and export goods, which is good for the economy. Should we not import or export?
“Insurance? It seems that only make money when they don’t pay claims and they work hard at that.” – That is not true. Insurance companies make money in two ways; underwriting income and investment income. Underwriting income is what you are talking about. However, the larger piece of the pie is the investment income. Also, most insurance companies work hard to make sure their customers are taken care of in an efficient method.
“The only thing that keeps them honest is State regulation (government again).” – Not true. Regulation does play a role in keeping them honest but their reputation and competition does as well.
“Banking: I am referring to the foreclosure mess we’re in.” – Ok, so some banks messed up. I won’t argue that. Some did. Not the entire industry. Also, the foreclosure problem is not just banking, there is a huge political fault to this as well, though it appears we would disagree on which party was at fault.
Anyways, have a nice day.
TAXPAYER: You stated, “There are more businesses out there that are very involved in charitable work, are socially responsible and have a great positive influence on society.” Perhaps, but I am referring to Exxon, BP, Apple, Monsanto, all of coal, mining, insurance, banking, shipping… shall I go on? In fact, I would be interested in a list of those companies that you say“…are very involved in charitable work, are socially responsible and have a great positive influence on society.”
Who says that the government “…requires no payback or change in behavior….” For example, there are strict rules about how long one may receive welfare and what actions are needed to continue getting it (thanks to President Clinton BTW).
PROUD wrote “For example, there are strict rules about how long one may receive welfare and what actions are needed to continue getting it (thanks to President Clinton BTW).”
You must be referring to the Welfare Reform Act he vetoed twice and then signed when it was clear Congress was going to override. You do realize that Newt Gingrich was Speaker and drove that bill through Congress. Please stop assigning credit where it does not belong.
On the companies, without listing but looking at your list — they have provided many families with careers, good standards of living and steady employment. Apple provides many scholarships. The list could go on and on.
Fire Obama.
Fire Ben Bernake.
Fire 435 Reps.
Fire 33 Senators.
Cap Federal Spending to 85% of Revenues, absorb the pain now, instead of the pain Greece is seeing.
Get back to sound money.
Give the economy 5 years to find itself, and you’ll see the US back on a path to prosperity.
Continue down the road to serfdom at your own perils if you don’t do any of this (just ask Europe how bailouts and massive social programs work out for ya).
Even the favorite bastardized economist Keynes agreed that sound money and government spending is what destroyed the real economy.
PTBL,
You said, “Its time we elect someone who will put us first.”
I agree wholeheartedly!!!!! Get rid of Obama and his Democratic economic destroyers! Look beyond the Republican attitude of serving the wealthy elite. Oh yeah, in this election it will be a race between a class warrior and a class warrior. Perhaps next time… I really wonder how we’d be had Ross Perot won so many years ago…
Localguy: Had Ross Perot won so many years ago even more of our jobs would be in China. Hows all those jobs leaving the country working out for you? I would think you’d want jobs to be LOCAL.
PTBL,
You wrote earlier, “Daniel Patrick Moynihan once said ‘Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.'”
You did know Perot was against NAFTA, right? He argued it would suck jobs out of the US… He was right. So how is that support of it? Yup, keep it local. If it helps – do some research before you post things, it will help you sound more informed.
LOCALGUY: You realize that NAFTA means North American Free Trade Agreement? Right? I am referring to how corporations ship good American jobs to places like China which isn’t on this continent the last time I looked. For example, Apple has 45,000 American workers and 750,000 Chinese workers. You can multiply this by every American manufacturer.
Clearly you have trouble connecting dots. Sorry.
You assert Perot would have outsourced jobs – I say he feared that happening. Of course I know what NAFTA means – the point is that he stood against policies that could hurt American manufacturing jobs. Had he been elected we could have had a president who stood up to the business stooges that occupy Congress and the White House. He had that kind of personality.
I have to agree with Local Guy. I recall Perot used the term “Giant Sucking Sound” when asked how he felt about NAFTA.
LOCALGUY: I concede to your point about Ross, but the point I’d make is the wholesale outsourcing of good American jobs caused by corporation’s greed and abetted by the policies embraced and promoted by the GOP.
Remember it was the unions that created the middleclass in America. They are all but destroyed today. American workers could hope to a good paying job, free from inherent dangers, with good health care and a comfortable retirement paid for by their contributions. Corporations have raided pension funds and declared bankruptcy for no other reason than to bust unions, health care obligations and pension costs (defined benefits). These practices have hurt us as a nation and it is being done because of the propaganda strategy of FOX and other right wing pundits. (Another reason is an educational system that minimizes the study of history and civics.) The saddest part is that the American public is just lying down and allowing it to happen. These forces have inserted extraneous issues such as religion into elections in order to mask the GOP’s real intent: huge profits for billionaires.
Instead of the exploited American working to raise everyone, they are working to tear everyone down to their level. One of the targets for this is teachers. The carping about their salaries and pensions is endless on this site. My question is this: why would you vote for a party whose only goal is to enhance the wealth of 1% of the richest Americans?
PTBL,
The GOP promotes and embraces those outsourcing policies, and the Democratic Party sings in harmony. If you stalk my posts you’ll find out I’m fiercely independent – not GOP nor Democratic. In my opinion those two massive political corporations represent the interests of big business (they only differ in which one) and pimp the American public for their respective gains. They’ve crafted election finance laws to keep themselves in power and only propose changes that would hurt the other party rather than restore parity to the masses.
FOX News, don’t watch it, never have, never will. And on the other side the equally ridiculous entertainment network posing as news, MSNBC, is handing out Kool Aid of their own flavor. You might want to put them in your critique as well.
Truth is, you argue the established wealth of the land is tearing down the worker… On the other side of the coin tearing down the hand that fills the trough is equally disastrous. The country needs parity – favorable policies to business is just as destructive as favorable policies for workers. Notice I said “parity.” There exists in this land enough room for everyone to benefit. It does not require occupying Wall Street or electing a super majority of Democrats – it requires everyone to be part of the process.
LOCALGUY: You’ve made some good points that any thinking person would agree with. “There exists in this land enough room for everyone to benefit. It does not require occupying Wall Street or electing a super majority of Democrats – it requires everyone to be part of the process.” And I would add: think of the whole country rather than one point of view.
Obama’s budget has nothing to do with taxpayers paying their fair share. It’s about spending more and more, borrowing more and more and taxing more and more. Almost anyone can see that this cannot go on forever without severe consequences (think Greece).I think we should straighten out this mess now amd not leave it to our kids and grandkids. Obama may be the most incompetent, corrupt and anti American president we’ve ever had and that takes some doing.
Hey look at that, the House is going to propose a budget. And the Senate hasn’t done so for about 3 years…
I guess maybe the President *isn’t* the only one who makes up the Federal budget.
Amazing.
/Sarcasm Off
/Comedy On
I see the PR monkey is down to one paragraph releases, just as I predicted.
/Substance On
There was nothing of substance to respond to in this release, which is great because it saves me some trouble.
If this guy did anything that wasn’t related directly to his re-election I’d be thrilled.
Andy Harris is just another cog in the machine. Regardless of your party line, it is clear he has no original thoughts, ideas, or beliefs. He simply wants to be re-elected. Period.
Break away from pure partisan thinking and put COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY, both Democrats and Republicans.
Oh good it is not just me. Bravo.
@Patriot – You said it all with that last sentence. Good call!
Economic conservatives played a cynical game. They allowed the self-serving banking industry and gluttonous oil and defense industries to operate with no restrictions or any sense of morality. Then they pushed to have these same companies contribute obscene amounts of money to the “independent” PACS, However, now the long-running con game of economic conservatives and the wealthy supporters they serve finally has gone rotten. While the dithering Tea Partyers, who have to make sure they are lock-step with their affuent puppet-masters, have made a art out of inaction, things are starting to edge forward. Harris has no problem with tax breaks for the rich, but someone getting a paycheck can’t get the same break.