Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: "This is a brilliant tactical move on the president’s part. And Republicans know it." [View all]ProSense
(116,464 posts)72. The day the right lost the economic argument
That was the title of this piece from July:
The day the right lost the economic argument
President Obama's speech clinched the case against Norquist-style austerity and won over the likes of USA Today
By Michael Lind
If you need any further evidence of the stark ideological divide that separates progressives from conservatives, you can find it by contrasting President Barack Obamas speech on the economy with the response of the House Republicans...the president provided a capsule summary of the mainstream progressive narrative about the U.S. economy from 1945 to 2009:
Thats an excellent statement of the progressive theory of the case. What collapsed in 2008 was not merely the lesser stock and real estate bubble of the 2000s, but the larger Bubble Economy which had been artificially juiced up since the 1980s.
If you accept this thesis, as most progressives do, there can be no going to back to pre-2008 normality because from Reagan to George W. Bush the normal was abnormal and sustained only by the Keynesian stimulus provided by Reagans and George W. Bushs military build-ups and the stock market and real estate bubbles fueled by tax cuts for the rich. (Conservatives oppose Keynesian stimulus in the form of productive infrastructure investment, but support Keynesian stimulus if it benefits rentiers, defense contractors, real estate speculators and money managers).
- more -
http://www.salon.com/2013/07/25/the_day_the_right_lost_the_economic_argument/
President Obama's speech clinched the case against Norquist-style austerity and won over the likes of USA Today
By Michael Lind
If you need any further evidence of the stark ideological divide that separates progressives from conservatives, you can find it by contrasting President Barack Obamas speech on the economy with the response of the House Republicans...the president provided a capsule summary of the mainstream progressive narrative about the U.S. economy from 1945 to 2009:
In the period after World War II, a growing middle class was the engine of our prosperity. Whether you owned a company, swept its floors, or worked anywhere in between, this country offered you a basic bargain a sense that your hard work would be rewarded with fair wages and benefits, the chance to buy a home, to save for retirement, and, above all, to hand down a better life for your kids.
But over time, that engine began to stall. That bargain began to fray. Technology made some jobs obsolete. Global competition sent others overseas. It became harder for unions to fight for the middle class. Washington doled out bigger tax cuts to the rich and smaller minimum wage increases for the working poor. The link between higher productivity and peoples wages and salaries was severed the income of the top 1% nearly quadrupled from 1979 to 2007, while the typical familys barely budged.
Towards the end of those three decades, a housing bubble, credit cards, and a churning financial sector kept the economy artificially juiced up.
Thats an excellent statement of the progressive theory of the case. What collapsed in 2008 was not merely the lesser stock and real estate bubble of the 2000s, but the larger Bubble Economy which had been artificially juiced up since the 1980s.
If you accept this thesis, as most progressives do, there can be no going to back to pre-2008 normality because from Reagan to George W. Bush the normal was abnormal and sustained only by the Keynesian stimulus provided by Reagans and George W. Bushs military build-ups and the stock market and real estate bubbles fueled by tax cuts for the rich. (Conservatives oppose Keynesian stimulus in the form of productive infrastructure investment, but support Keynesian stimulus if it benefits rentiers, defense contractors, real estate speculators and money managers).
- more -
http://www.salon.com/2013/07/25/the_day_the_right_lost_the_economic_argument/
Yesterday, the President made the case for good government again, smacking down the Republican hostage takers in the process.
<...>
We hear all the time about how government is the problem. Well, it turns out we rely on it in a whole lot of ways. Not only does it keep us strong through our military and our law enforcement, it plays a vital role in caring for our seniors and our veterans, educating our kids, making sure our workers are trained for the jobs that are being created, arming our businesses with the best science and technology so they can compete with companies from other countries. It plays a key role in keeping our food and our toys and our workplaces safe. It helps folks rebuild after a storm. It conserves our natural resources. It finances startups. It helps to sell our products overseas. It provides security to our diplomats abroad.
So let's work together to make government work better, instead of treating it like an enemy or purposely making it work worse. Thats not what the founders of this nation envisioned when they gave us the gift of self-government. You dont like a particular policy or a particular president, then argue for your position. Go out there and win an election. Push to change it. But dont break it. Dont break what our predecessors spent over two centuries building. That's not being faithful to what this country is about.
We hear all the time about how government is the problem. Well, it turns out we rely on it in a whole lot of ways. Not only does it keep us strong through our military and our law enforcement, it plays a vital role in caring for our seniors and our veterans, educating our kids, making sure our workers are trained for the jobs that are being created, arming our businesses with the best science and technology so they can compete with companies from other countries. It plays a key role in keeping our food and our toys and our workplaces safe. It helps folks rebuild after a storm. It conserves our natural resources. It finances startups. It helps to sell our products overseas. It provides security to our diplomats abroad.
So let's work together to make government work better, instead of treating it like an enemy or purposely making it work worse. Thats not what the founders of this nation envisioned when they gave us the gift of self-government. You dont like a particular policy or a particular president, then argue for your position. Go out there and win an election. Push to change it. But dont break it. Dont break what our predecessors spent over two centuries building. That's not being faithful to what this country is about.
Transcript: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023871486
Wow...Obama actually made Reid kill the Susan Collins deal
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023869728
No!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023866933
Originally posted here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023877964
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
100 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
"This is a brilliant tactical move on the president’s part. And Republicans know it." [View all]
babylonsister
Oct 2013
OP
I'm all for crushing the Republicans, but if this is the moment to achieve a great gain ....
Scuba
Oct 2013
#1
I agree as far as policy goes - but think the argument is more about politics
el_bryanto
Oct 2013
#12
I disagree. Immigration reform could be a boon for republicans if that party would embrace making
bluestate10
Oct 2013
#25
I like Pres. Obama's pivot to Immigration Reform. Give the GOP another crisis before
SDjack
Oct 2013
#68
OK, but which Republicans do YOU think will show up to this dog and pony show?
Tigress DEM
Oct 2013
#93
with the 2014 elections coming up, this is the moment to take back the house
magical thyme
Oct 2013
#19
Obama has no intention to tax the wealthy, regardless of his previous campaign rhetoric
loudsue
Oct 2013
#33
No I am not. That is *exactly* why I said we need to push our representatives
magical thyme
Oct 2013
#43
If a Democratic Congress offers Mr. Obama a bill to raise taxes on the wealthy, he would sign it
Ikonoklast
Oct 2013
#44
The president won the first tax increase on the wealthy in more than 20 years.
cheapdate
Oct 2013
#75
Repubs would feel safer rejecting SS than rejecting immigration? You don't know their base.
Scuba
Oct 2013
#41
This was about saving the economy. The Republicans are destroying themselves, no Obama needed.
Coyotl
Oct 2013
#4
They are being told 24/7 by right wing media that Obama IS trying to destroy them.
Vinnie From Indy
Oct 2013
#24
You know, I didn't want to say it out loud, because I didn't want to jinx him, but...
Baitball Blogger
Oct 2013
#9
If done right, the Trans Pacific trade deal can be a huge boon for Americans, if done wrong, it
bluestate10
Oct 2013
#17
He Says 'Try To Destroy The Republican Party', Ma'am, Like That Were A Bad Thing....
The Magistrate
Oct 2013
#14
The President should take Labrador's words, dissect them then clearly explain why Labrador is wrong,
bluestate10
Oct 2013
#15
"he’s trying to destroy the Republican Party."--This from the party that declared its sole mission
Jackpine Radical
Oct 2013
#23
I hope President O has a good weekend relax. Next week Rs better be ready to WORK!
Sunlei
Oct 2013
#54
Hey way a minute we're the only ones who are supposed to destroy the other party, the President is
Snake Plissken
Oct 2013
#67