Which Candidate Is The Most Liberal On Economic Issues

[DemocratSinceBirth]

I will operatioanlize the word liberal as one who favors increased government involvement in the economy and redistributionist policies.

Conversely, a conservative favors decreased government involvement in the economy and no or limited redistributionist policies.

Most liberal to most conservative:

1a Sharpton

1b Kucinich

2 Moseley Braun

3 Gephardt

4 Kerry

5 Edwards

6 Graham

7 Dean

8 Lieberman

*I posted this yesterday but the option wasn't working.

[JohnKleeb]

1. Kucinich and its his economics that has me supporting him

of course the other issues too but I am a democrat for many reasons but economics helps.

[XanaDUer]

2. Dennis K.

Sharpton, too.

Kerry's policy right now is to only take tax cuts from the wealthy to provide a buffer to the middle class and the poor.

This is to prevent the lower and middle classes from being heavily hit because the states have already increased their taxes due to fed cuts to the states.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

3. Why are you using Republican rhetoric and labels here?

"I will operatioanlize the word liberal as one who favors increased government involvement in the economy and redistributionist policies.

Conversely, a conservative favors decreased government involvement in the economy and no or limited redistributionist policies."

This is how the Republicans define liberal - "increased government" and "redistributionist" but I don't know any liberals who say that.

As an economic liberal, I want less corporate interference in the economy and no more redistribution of wealth from the middle working class to the ultra-rich.

[JohnKleeb]

4. good question by chance you get my pm

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. I Think My Definitions Are Pretty Much Text Book Definitions

but I agree that the Republicans have bastardized them.

[AP]

18. If the Republicans wrote the textbook...

Clinton created a smaller federal government, and his stewardship led to higher employment, and more wealth being spread among the middle class.

Too bad he couldn't get the progressive tax mojo working.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

20. It Has Nothing To Do With Who Wrote The Textbook

Conservatives favor laissez faire econmoics and liberals are more Keynesian.


When I took Economcs we used Paul Samuelson. Those are more or less his defintions.

Paul Samuelson was a liberal, a nominal Keynesian, and a Nobel Prize Winner.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

24. Republicans don't favor a free economy

They support a corporate economy, chartered and backed by the state, and are masters of the cronyism that entails. I don't think we should allow them to label what we do as "government intervention" and label what they do a "free market".

[DemocratSinceBirth]

25. I Said The Rs Made A Mockery Of Free Market Capitalism

We agree....

-:)


For what's it worth

I am eclectic on the economy. A little capitalism, a little socialism, and a little Keynesiasm suits me just fine...

[lcordero]

5. It's not Kucinich's liberalism that I support

I support his responsiveness to the wishes of the people that he represents.

[JohnKleeb]

7. cool thats a good reason

I gotta admit its not issues with me just either, its his story of the boy from Cleveland who became the boy mayor stood up, then becomes president, thats the next chapter. Also his work ethic being in congress whenever he can. Seeing him with constiuents in the moment is now, makes me say why are we being told that we have a losing battle, these people know what he is.

[JohnKleeb]

6. who voted for lieberman

The guy wants things to be like Clinton was.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. On Economics I See

little room between Clinton and Dean, Graham, and Lieberman.

I think all the others are to the left of Clinton by varying degrees.

[Pepperbelly]

10. Jebus ...

do you have to support a family?

If it was like under Clinton, things would be pretty fucking peachy right now.

Good God, that remark makes me wonder about the candidate you support. Is that where he is coming from as well?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

11. Clintonomics Were O K By Me

He created more millionaires....


but under his tenure we had the:

highest rate of African American employment


highest rate of African American home ownership


highest rate of Hispanic employment


a budget surplus

a smoking stock market

[JohnKleeb]

12. dont get me wrong

I didnt say that was bad. I meant Lieberman believes in the same economics that Clinton did, like cutting taxes etc. I wasnt critical but its hard to call that economic liberalism. Sorry no offnse.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. I Would Look At Cutting Taxes For the Middle Class*

and expanding the Earned Income Tax Cut but I do find it laughable that some folks think he's the most liberal on economics.



*you can only cut taxes so much and have any kind of fiscal responsibility

[JohnKleeb]

14. thats my point

I meant no harm what so ever. It was no offense. I wasnt even bitching. Just making a comment. Clinton did a lot of good things for the country. I am a democrat, just very liberal.

[Pepperbelly]

15. For some of us ...

the economics are a life and death matter.

Until the collapse, I worked in a middle class gig and had for 20 years. I lost the gig.

Since then, I have lost my house and it is everything I can do tokeep utilities turned on and food in the house. Pardon me if I get emotional about it at times but it is highly stressful. I am making less than half of what I was before.

But ... we're all on the same side.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

16. we're all on the same side

keep telling yourself that. I agree though, for most of us economics is a life and death issue. I'm just as worried about the cheap labor neo-liberals as I am the cheap labor conservatives.

[JohnKleeb]

17. I am sorry I meant no harm

Hearing about your situation its hard not to get emotional. Dont worry, I didnt mean it in a good or bad way just saying thats what Lieberman believes in, Clintonomics. Sorry again.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

22. Don't Worry About It

We are among friends...


And for me I rather be around folks to my left than to my right...

[JohnKleeb]

26. thanks I dont agree with you on some issues but youre nice to us Kucinich

people and are a nice person. I would do. I just dont like pissing people off inadverantly.

[AP]

19. I had the vague impression Lieberman is the insurance companies' bitch

And, if you read Wealth and Democracy, you get the impression that insurance companies are some of the biggest sabotagers of a competivie, wealth-producing, wealth-spreading, liberal economy.

[CMT]

21. easily Dennis, he is the most liberal candidate in the race

eom.

[Coffee Coyote]

23. strictly speaking

I am not sure ANY of them are economically liberal - perhaps Sharpton or Braun, but even they would be working within the confines of current fed money policy. Kucinich is an old-fashioned protectionist at heart, which really means turning back the clock (no disrespect intended Kucinich supporters - I am not offering my views on whether being protectionist is good or bad) on NAFTA and GATT. That makes him a labor populist, but I know nothing about his tax or fed policies.

Dean is the most reactionary economically by far. Why anyone thinks he is economically "liberal" is beyond me - must be blind support.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

27. If Liberalism=Cheap Money

I don't think you can get to the left of the Fed.

[JohnKleeb]

28. I guess so dont worry I know you meant no harm

Well knowing his populism I would imagine he would be for lower taxes for the middle and lower classes instead of the wealthy. Dont worry you didnt mean any harm. I consider myself a support of labor populism.