Warren and Sanders: Who Is Congress Really Serving?

[Donkees]

By ELIZABETH WARREN and BERNIE SANDERS DEC. 17, 2017

Excerpt:

At a time when the American economy is rigged in favor of the rich and giant corporations, the coming federal funding bill is a chance to show that our country still respects hard work. We recognize that we cannot do everything we’d like to do before the end of the year, but there is room in the budget to take real, immediate steps in this direction — by easing household costs for working parents and students, by protecting workers’ pensions and Social Security, and by improving access to health care for veterans and for people who need mental health services.

Over the past generation, the costs of child care have jumped nearly 1,000 percent. That puts a lot of financial pressure on working parents, and it forces many to make difficult compromises on the quality of care they can afford. If Congress doubles federal support for child care in this year’s spending bill, we could guarantee high-quality care for nearly a quarter of a million more children.

Student loan debt is another major burden for many people, including those in lower-paying public service jobs, like teachers, nurses, firefighters, police officers, social workers and military personnel. Ten years ago, Congress created a program to help wipe out student loan debt for these public servants, hoping it would encourage more people to give back to their communities. But because of failures in student loan servicing and a lot of bureaucratic nonsense, many might not get the forgiveness they’ve earned. Congress can easily fix this in the funding bill and help tens of thousands of people.

To strengthen Americans’ economic security, it’s not enough to reduce basic expenses. We must also protect retirement — and that means pensions and Social Security. It was Wall Street greed that made our economy crash in 2008, not America’s truckers, warehouse workers, retirees and widows. But as a consequence of that crash, the pension funds of many workers are now on the brink of failure. Congress can use this funding bill to shore up these retirement plans and make sure nearly 1.5 million American workers aren’t left holding the bag for Wall Street’s mistakes.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/17/opinion/warren-sanders-congress-serving.html

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. They serve their masters. The rich doners. nm

[Raster]

2. Yep. Nothing further to add.

[Irish_Dem]

3. And themselves. They leave congress very rich. nt

[YOHABLO]

9. LOBBYISTS !!

[Honeycombe8]

4. I don't care what these 2 have to say.

I've watched them for some time, and I don't like what I've seen. Esp. lately.

There are other more credible Democrats to listen to.

[yesphan]

5. Then they

need to step up and start speaking out, loudly.

[murielm99]

6. They have been.

We have far better spokespeople.

[DemocracyMouse]

7. Eliz. Warren + Bernie Sanders...

Elizabeth Warren + Bernie Sanders are two of the most refreshing and deep thinking Democratic leaders we have. Yes they, along with 31 other Democrats, rushed to judgment on Franken, but they have consistently pointed to the elephant in the room: while Republicans divide Americans along race, culture and gender lines, the 1% are stealing our economy. No other Democrats have fought so hard to clarify this. Too many of us are doing 2 or 3 jobs to survive.... the system has never been so rigged in my lifetime.

[Honeycombe8]

8. I don't care what they think they have to say. Sanders is also not a member of the Dem Party.

He's an independent who caucuses with the Dem Party.

There are much better spokespeople. Unfortunately, the strongest, most successful voice was railroaded out of the Senate (less competition for those who have their eyes on a Presidential run), but there are others. Not these two, as far as I'm concerned. I'm sure they're nice enough people, but it's time for new voices.

[DemocracyMouse]

10. And what up and coming youngsters are as effective?

I wish more younger folks would join Warren and Sanders. Me thinks that what you are really saying is you are age averse. Building up years of experience, skills, a complex and tested set of ideas is a wonderful thing.

How about this: let's stop being prejudiced against older people.

[Honeycombe8]

11. It's time for new voices instead of the tired, old same ol' same ol'.

Pssst....I'm over 60. I don't hold my age against myself.

Our new candidate is not likely to come from the Senate or Congress, unless they are very new there. Their voting record becomes prohibitive.

[DemocracyMouse]

14. Define "same old"

Saying "same old, same old" is vague. It might even be masking a lack of clarity in your own mind about where we've been and where we need to go.

All I get from your statement is you want something shiney and new and you're willing to toss out anything, even if it's wise or useful, to get it.

[Demsrule86]

19. I know many here like Sen. Sanders. I am not a fan...but what has he done in the

Senate that advanced progressive policy Maybe I missed something.

[NurseJackie]

13. Thank you!

Yes yes yes.

[aidbo]

17. Wait, Bernie isnt a Democrat?!??!

[ehrnst]

20. +1000.

Warren is far more effective in moving the conversation on economic issues forward than anyone in decades, but she can do much more good as a Senator.

There is a reason that the GOP wants to silence her.

Sanders doesn't have the skills in listening, diplomacy and leading teams needed for executive office. He would be much more effective as an activist than as a career politician, but he has chosen to run for office.

[murielm99]

16. Schiff has been doing a lot of speaking up.

So has Harris.

Maxine Waters is much more refreshing, AFAIK. And she is fearless.

I don't regard Sanders as a deep thinker. His platform contained many ideas that were not fleshed out. They were suggestions. Hillary had detailed plans to go along with her ideas. There are good reasons why she won the nomination. She was the superior candidate.

We have great leadership.

[ehrnst]

21. Agree. (nt)

[Marthe48]

29. and the election

gd russians. gd orange tripe

[TonyPDX]

24. x1000

[TonyPDX]

23. Tim Kaine?

[PatrickforO]

30. I do. Sometimes politics is really ugly and personal, like with what happened

with Franken being railroaded.

But here's the thing. Bernie and Warren are both progressive without apology. They aren't waffling to try and get middle of the road people on board. They are stating their progressive positions, which most of us share, by the way.

We'll see what happens with Franken - he will still be a strong voice.

In the meantime, any young, articulate Dems out there - now's the time to run!

[dae]

12. K & R

[bdamomma]

15. They are filthy

the GOP, to do this to the American people. Stealing at the highest level. There are going to be held accountable in 2018.

[AllyCat]

18. Clearly not Al Franken since these two signed on for him to resign

I'm really done listening to what these two or any of the others say for awhile. Democrats were supposed to protect us and did this boneheaded thing instead. Just not caring much what they think for now.

[Honeycombe8]

25. +1 nt

[Kentonio]

31. Sorry but the futures of American workers are more important than your hurt feelings

Al Franken is extremely wealthy and is going to be just fine. The same can't be said about people who might lose their pensions, or be pushed into bankrupcy by medical costs.

Heads in the game please, this is more important than any individual.

[AllyCat]

32. Righteo

My widdo feewings should never be expressed when Dems do stoopid stuff. Got it.

[Kentonio]

33. Apologies

I was cranky earlier when I wrote that. Sorry for being snappy.

[The Mouth]

22. How many members of congress are millionaires?

[Honeycombe8]

27. Including Warren & Sanders? Almost all of 'em. nt

[SharonClark]

26. That is exactly what needs to be said. Thank you Senators.

[YOHABLO]

28. Rhetorical question