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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWarren: Solution isn’t for the President to cut deals, any deals, just to show he can do business
Warren's op-ed in the Washington Post today:
But for all the talk of change in Washington and in states where one party is taking over from another, one thing has not changed: The stock market and gross domestic product keep going up, while families are getting squeezed hard by an economy that isnt working for them.
The solution to this isnt a basket of quickly passed laws designed to prove Congress can do something -- anything. The solution isnt for the president to cut deals -- any deals -- just to show he can do business. The solution requires an honest recognition of the kind of changes needed if families are going to get a shot at building a secure future.
Its not about big government or small government. Its not the size of government that worries people; rather its deep-down concern over who government works for. People are ready to work, ready to do their part, ready to fight for their futures and their kids futures, but they see a government that bows and scrapes for big corporations, big banks, big oil companies and big political donors -- and they know this government does not work for them.
The American people want a fighting chance to build better lives for their families. They want a government that will stand up to the big banks when they break the law. A government that helps out students who are getting crushed by debt. A government that will protect and expand Social Security for our seniors and raise the minimum wage.
Americans understand that building a prosperous future isnt free. They want us to invest carefully and prudently, sharply aware that Congress spends the peoples money. They want us to make investments that will pay off in their lives, investments in the roads and power grids that make it easier for businesses to create good jobs here in America, investments in medical and scientific research that spur new discoveries and economic growth, and investments in educating our children so they can build a future for themselves and their children.
Before leaders in Congress and the president get caught up in proving they can pass some new laws, everyone should take a skeptical look at whom those new laws will serve. At this very minute, lobbyists and lawyers are lining up by the thousands to push for new laws -- laws that will help their rich and powerful clients get richer and more powerful. Hoping to catch a wave of dealmaking, these lobbyists and lawyers -- and their well-heeled clients -- are looking for the chance to rig the game just a little more.
But the lobbyists agenda is not Americas agenda. Americans are deeply suspicious of trade deals negotiated in secret, with chief executives invited into the room while the workers whose jobs are on the line are locked outside. They have been burned enough times on tax deals that carefully protect the tender fannies of billionaires and big oil and other big political donors, while working families just get hammered. They are appalled by Wall Street banks that got taxpayer bailouts and now whine that the laws are too tough, even as they rake in billions in profits. If cutting deals means helping big corporations, Wall Street banks and the already-powerful, that isnt a victory for the American people -- its just another round of the same old rigged game.
Yes, we need action. But action must be focused in the right place: on ending tax laws riddled with loopholes that favor giant corporations, on breaking up the financial institutions that continue to threaten our economy, and on giving people struggling with high-interest student loans the same chance to refinance their debt that every Wall Street corporation enjoys. Theres no shortage of work that Congress can do, but the agenda shouldnt be drawn up by a bunch of corporate lobbyists and lawyers.
Change is hard, especially when the playing field is already tilted so far in favor of those with money and influence. But this government belongs to the American people, and its time to work on Americas agenda. America is ready -- and Congress should be ready, too.
Thank you for being a part of this,
Elizabeth
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/elizabeth-warren-its-time-to-work-on-americas-agenda/2014/11/07/984da7b6-669c-11e4-9fdc-d43b053ecb4d_story.html
Hits the nail on the head as usual
Half-Century Man
(5,279 posts)The wants of the few should never outweigh the needs of the many.
We band together to provide the best existence of the most of us as possible, or say it briefly; Civilization.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Not on the welfare of the wealthy, powerful, connected.
Half-Century Man
(5,279 posts)No one NEEDS a billion dollars, but you can get it by taking from a huge mass of others, thus removing their ability to buy food.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)And saving to read later.
Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts)The President isn't going to make any deals that he doesn't think will work for the betterment of this country.
If Warren has a problem with that, she can whine to Obama about it.
President Obama doesn't have to sign any bills that the Republicans send to him from Capitol Hill.
He can veto them and then say, "we can do better than this."
He can veto anything they send to him and then say they don't meet his standard.
He can be a perfectionist, and if the bill doesn't meet all of his criteria, every little thing, he can veto the bill, and say, "naw, this isn't exactly what I want."
He can do that until someone else is in the White House.
Maineman
(854 posts)awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)to get TPP pushed through?
grahamhgreen
(15,741 posts)blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)destroying Workers Unions, and destroying our Public Schools, and increasing the reach and force of the Surveillance Police State, and paying mere Lip Service to the Party Platform, and ...
Union Scribe
(7,099 posts)CrispyQ
(36,509 posts)This president?
The next two years, we are going to find out just what kind of democrat Barack Obama is.
99Forever
(14,524 posts)Unfortunately, I doubt Obama will take her sage advice. We are about to have a massive load of ugly shoved down our throats.
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)Odin2005
(53,521 posts)Beartracks
(12,821 posts)Right on, Ms. Warren!
Republicans claim the size of government can be "too big" but even THEY aren't interested in making government smaller in total; rather, they're only interested in blatantly shrinking those parts of the government that don't serve corporate interests.
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NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)RufusTFirefly
(8,812 posts)I love the way the messages that Warren conveys are always thoughtful and intelligent yet still manage to be simple and inspiring.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)kentuck
(111,110 posts)Just to get stuff passed is not the solution.
blackspade
(10,056 posts)blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)Maineman
(854 posts)One prong of a two pronged approach to support right wing agenda.
nationalize the fed
(2,169 posts)LuvNewcastle
(16,856 posts)I think her message would really resonate with people if she runs.
Wella
(1,827 posts)I hope she runs.
ucrdem
(15,512 posts)Didn't Tuesday show that that's a losing strategy?
Electric Monk
(13,869 posts)Run like a real Dem, like Alan Greyson, Keith Boykin, Al Franken, or Liz Warren, and it's been shown voters (in states that aren't completely crazy) will vote for the real Dem when given a real choice, instead of choosing Republican Lite.
That's the difference. That's the lesson to be learned here, imho.
ucrdem
(15,512 posts)That's a total misreading of Obama's post-election news conference, which I listened to. Obama made no such promises, predictions, or suggestions. He simply said he was going to listen to what the country's newly elected government has to say. For Warren to score points in this way, which is about all I ever read about her doing on DU, strikes me as poor strategy if she's running for national office, as this op-ed strongly suggests she is.
JMHO, YMMV.
blackspade
(10,056 posts)appalachiablue
(41,171 posts)ctsnowman
(1,903 posts)Takket
(21,625 posts)LuckyLib
(6,819 posts)"People are ready to work, ready to do their part, ready to fight for their futures and their kids futures, but they see a government that bows and scrapes for big corporations, big banks, big oil companies and big political donors -- and they know this government does not work for them."
You tell it, sister!