Obama shifts much of burden of economic crisis to states & municipalities: essential services gutted

[Karmadillo]

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/may2010/pers-m21.shtml

Facing record loss of revenue, US states gutting essential services
21 May 2010

The governors of California, New York and dozens of other US states have submitted drastic budget-cutting proposals for fiscal year 2011, which begins on July 1, 2010. Reeling from the economic recession, high rates of unemployment and the sharpest decline in tax revenue on record, states are eliminating essential services that will have a devastating effect on children, senior citizens and working people.

In Greece, Portugal, England and other countries, the crisis has taken the form of the insolvency or near insolvency of entire nations and demands for austerity by national governments acting under the whip of the global bond markets and “sovereign debt” traders.

In the US, the Obama administration has shifted much of the burden of the economic crisis onto the states and municipalities. While handing over trillions to fund the bailout of the Wall Street banks and finance two wars, the White House has starved state and local governments, and what little money was made available in the federal stimulus is drying up this year.

In fiscal years 2010-2011, the states have faced combined shortfalls of $375 billion, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). Over the last two years, at least 45 states have slashed health, education and low-income assistance programs; 30 raised regressive sales taxes and fees; and 42 cut their payrolls through layoffs, unpaid leaves (furloughs) and hiring freezes. Since August 2008, state and local governments eliminated 192,000 jobs.

more...

[FrenchieCat]

1. IT'S ALL OBAMA'S FAULT!

Impeach!

[AllentownJake]

3. Glad to see you are coming around FC

However, I have to see evidence of high crimes or misdemeanors and I only see bad management and a lack of leadership for the people over the corporate interest Frenchie. I think PRIMARY CHALLENGE is a more appropriate answer.

[FrenchieCat]

4. I think a Republican President is the answer.

Cause there's gonna be a lot of us sitting it out...right along with you in the general should Obama be primaried.

The States fucked themselves, and were in trouble long before Obama even set his hand on the bible......and the socialist rag is blaming the President, after he bailed states through the stimulus.

You can go with the twisted bullshit if you must. Won't be my loss.

[AllentownJake]

6. Here is the deal

When you put your hand on the Bible, it is your job to fix the shit that is going on.

Now, there has been trillions handed over to a small cabal in Manhattan to save their ass through Federal Reserve and administration policy.

My brother is autistic and gets state support. My brother, cannot fend for himself. My brother is truly what my God Jesus of Nazareth said when he spoke of the least amongst us.

What do you say to me, my family, and other families like me when I see money handed out 60 miles north of me to sociopaths who have no trouble while my brother's funding is being cut.

I'll campaign like hell for my Gubernatorial candidate in PA, because I got a personal assurance programs for the Mentally disabled are important to maintain from my candidate Dan Onorato.

Obama, I'll help someone else down ballot in 2012 if he is the party's nominee. If he has a legit PRIMARY challenger, I will work like ever fucking hell to get rid of him and his friends like Salazar, Geithner, Emmanuel, etc from government.

The Primary process is the interview for the party nominee and party leader, and I'm willing to hear from new applicants.

[Odin2005]

27. I know a bunch of people that are just like your brother.

The severely disabled are lucky here in Minnesota. Whereas in many other places such people would either be being taken care of by loved ones or warehoused in institutions, here such people live in group-homes with 1 to 3 other individuals and taken care of by 24hr staff. I myself, being a very high-functioning autistic and not nearly as disabled as many of these folks are, have staff for a few hours a day 3 days a week to help with errands and what-not.

A few months ago we were all down in St. Paul working our rears off lobbying so our funding doesn't get cut. Staff shortages because of funding issues is part of the reason my friend with Cerebral Palsy got raped a year ago! :grr:

[AllentownJake]

30. You judge a society by how it treats the least amongst it

This crazy hippie from Nazareth 2000 years ago walked around saying stuff like that, and it has been a true ever since.

We are lucky in PA. My ex from Indiana was amazed at how well our group homes functioned in comparison to the ones in her state. I wish to maintain that.

[Odin2005]

34. people from elsewhere say the same thing about Minnesota.

[mmonk]

10. Republicans are never the answer, especially since the initial

bailout was orchestrated by one (Bush). What Obama needs is a new cabinet preferably with people who will break up too big to fail and restore progressive taxation while pushing a more Keynesenian type stimulus. The leaders in Congress need to favor progressives instead of centrists on these issues (but the lobbying money may be too great).

[BakedAtAMileHigh]

21. I think non-Corporately funded Elections are the answer

But you keep up with the snark. I'm sure it will solve everything for you. :eyes:

[AllentownJake]

24. I love her!

Every time she post something, my argument becomes stronger!

[RainDog]

26. she's got nothing

but bullshit.

[AllentownJake]

28. Which is why I love her

Anyone who is on the fence of an argument sees the nastiness of her replies and denial, and generally become easier for people who think like I and others do, to woo them over to our viewpoints.

I'll never convince FC on my view of things, but she'll help me convince others to my view by her style of rhetoric!

[boston bean]

11. In regards to your sig pic...

In the year 2000 Democrats were told "Bush Won, Get Over It".

Why have you chosen that as a rallying cry for your support of Obama?

Are people just suppose to shut up and never question Obama because he is the President?

You are doing the country and ALL Americans a disservice by implying we should just shut up and take whatever our government hands us. It's wrong, Frenchie. It's dishonest, and most of all it makes the President impotent. If people don't push for the right policies we will keep getting shit. Why don't you want to make Obama the greatest POTUS ever. He could be, if he felt as much political heat from his supporters as he does from his corporate campaign donors.

[QC]

23. "Are people just suppose to shut up and never question Obama because he is the President?"

Apparently.

[AllentownJake]

43. Obviously

Activism no longer became necessary on any issue the minute he put his hand on the Bible, because he always knows what is best. BTW, have they started work on the Pyramid for Pharaoh yet?

[donco6]

41. "Are people just supposed to shut up" -

According to Frenchie - hell YES!

[Lerkfish]

12. instead of that knee jerk reaction

and even instead of placing blame on Obama like this article does, can you at least see a way to accept that the facts of the worsening economy are true? That's the first step towards finding a solution.

some people here are like those who stick their fingers in their ears and deny evolution. The economy is circling the bowl and the lot of some people just wish to ignore it.

[mmonk]

2. This approach pushes further contraction of the economy

but cutting services and cutting taxes at the top (flattening rates) are the only "solutions" our "two" party system seems to come up with. Thanks for posting because you might take heat for it.

[glitch]

53. They have one choice, the looters sacked the economy (no tax revenue) and the banks withdrew credit.

They need to indict and convict the corporate criminals who looted the economy and seize all their assets.

And since the crisis is global the world needs to join in on the prosecutions. IMHO.

[Captain Hilts]

5. This is a trend that began with Reagan and has continued straight through. nt

[Catshrink]

16. But no one bitched when Reagan started this....

It's taken 30 years for the effects to trickle down so that people can see Reaganomics for the farce it is/was.

[AllentownJake]

31. Plenty spoke out.

and plenty stared at their 401(k) balances and shrugged their shoulders....they aren't too happy with either right now.

[QC]

38. Yeah, Reagan was not so universally loved

as Republicans would have us believe now.

There was plenty of protest against him then, as well as plenty of speculation that his mind was gone.

[AllentownJake]

39. Pull up a SNL skit from 1980-1989

That was a big impression of him. The GOP has very intelligently created a Ronald Reagan mythology. The funny thing is they've gone so far to the right even poor Ronny would be scratching his head right now.

Nixon would be a liberal democrat :rofl:

[QC]

40. Yep, they forget that Reagan wanted nuclear disarmament,

to name only one example.

He was nowhere near as right wing as those who now run around singing his praises.

[RC]

7. This is a continuation of the bu$h B.S.

"In the US, the Obama administration has shifted much of the burden of the economic crisis onto the states and municipalities. While handing over trillions to fund the bailout of the Wall Street banks and finance two wars, the White House has starved state and local governments, and what little money was made available in the federal stimulus is drying up this year."

When are we going to get humane humans to vote for to do the job correctly?

[WinkyDink]

8. And yet: billionaires are more plentiful than ever. Govts need to go after THEM.

[xchrom]

9. Recommend

[NoPasaran]

13. Typical anti-Obama boilerplate from the Trots at WSWS

[girl gone mad]

14. Looks pretty straightforward to me.

I have noticed that people who don't want to hear the facts always try to attack the source.

[AllentownJake]

15. The funny thing is when they post an article from a source one day

and trash it the next.

This doesn't happen with this particular source but the reactions to Paul Krugman are rather entertaining depending on whether Paul took his meds that day.

[JTFrog]

17. That source will never have credibility here.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3631195&mesg_id=3632343

13. Locking

World Socialist Web Service can hardly be relied on for constructive criticism of a Democratic Presidential candidate.

And seriously, those who have done nothing but trash Obama for the last year or more here have even less credibility.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6443683">A thought about context and the constructiveness of criticism.


Just sayin... :shrug:

[AllentownJake]

18. There are a billion dollars of cuts coming to PA this year

After a billion last year. Would the PA budge suffice, and we are one of the states in "good" shape.

[SidDithers]

49. +1...

thanks for posting that.

Sid

[donco6]

42. And they're always willing to add more sources to their banned list.

And then they try to get them banned here - ala FireDogLake.

[AllentownJake]

45. Well it has always been a liberal value to have an enemies list in the media. nt

[Odin2005]

29. No, it's what's ACTALLY HAPPENING with ACTUAL PEOPLE in the REAL WORLD.

Like in my case where services for the disabled are getting cut!

[glitch]

54. "Typical pro-Obama boilerplate from the bots at DU" See how easy that is? And just as ineffective.

Try a reasoned rebuttal, you'll get farther.

[Chemical Bill]

19. .

"Since August 2008, state and local governments eliminated 192,000 jobs."

That damn Obama started this before he got elected! It's like the October Surprise!

Bill

PS - My repuke governor has been cutting taxes for the ultra rich for 5 years, and now we have hugh state deficits!!11!!

[madrchsod]

20. jerry white is correct

to bad nothing will be done about it.

welcome to argentina

[Odin2005]

22. WSWS is usually FOS, but they're right here. Disaster Capitalism.

[madrchsod]

25. try this- enter your state,your town,or your contribution

http://costofwar.com/

i noticed the figures are still going up...while our social services are being cut.


i won`t even want to think about our trade policies that obama has`t mentioned nor will he. we have to produce goods to provide services. when there`s enough people begging in the streets...well they`ll just be rounded up and "sent away". yes i am very bitter because this is`t what i voted for.

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[fascisthunter]

33. look closer at that pile... somewhere in there is our country

[WeDidIt]

35. Actually, you're seeing World Socialist Web Service in there

WSWS is not considered a valid source on DU.

[fascisthunter]

36. looks more like fascism to me... but you go with your "anti-soshilest ajenduh"

[WeDidIt]

37. Take it up with the Admins

Threads started that use WSWS as a source get locked because it is an invalid source.

Much like Spewsmax, Debka, or World Nut Daily.

[donco6]

44. With the usual beefy contribution by WeDidIt. n/t

[WeDidIt]

46. When a valid source is used, I'll add some content

WSWS is an invalid source.

[donco6]

47. No need to explain.

I understand you perfectly.

[AllentownJake]

48. Whitehouse.gov

Will not be writing an article like this, which is the only valid approved source on your list.

[SidDithers]

50. You need a new hobby...nt

Sid

[dionysus]

51. da, it's all his fault comrade.

[AllentownJake]

52. 1960 called

It wants its insult back.

[inna]

55. late kick.

this is a must read.