it's true. So much of the "Left" has become Democratic Party drones -- following the Party Line and chanting about the "lesser of two evils" -- that the "Left" may be an endangered species. But that doesn't mean that it (unlike an actual species) can't revive. the Obama/GOP austerity program could spark a new progressive movement of some sort that refuses to be co-opted. Maybe the Occupy movement?
On Fri, Apr 5, 2013 at 7:33 AM, Robert Naiman <[email protected]>wrote: > This is the moment of truth. Now we'll find out if America has a Left or > not. If America has a Left, chained CPI can be stopped. Otherwise, the > notion that America has a Left will from now on always be a bad joke. > > > On Fri, Apr 5, 2013 at 9:30 AM, Jim Devine <[email protected]> wrote: > >> and some people hoped he was the new FDR? if "we're all Keynesians," he's >> an exception. >> [from >> http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/05/us/social-programs-face-cutback-in-obama-budget.html >> ] >> Obama Budget to Include Cuts to Programs in Hopes of Deal By JACKIE >> CALMES<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/c/jackie_calmes/index.html> >> Published: >> April 5, 2013 >> <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/05/us/social-programs-face-cutback-in-obama-budget.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130405&_r=0#commentsContainer> >> >> WASHINGTON — President Obama next week will take the political risk of >> formally proposing cuts to Social >> Security<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/s/social_security_us/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier>and >> Medicare<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/medicare/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier>in >> his annual budget in an effort to demonstrate his willingness to >> compromise with Republicans and revive prospects for a long-term >> deficit-reduction deal, administration officials say. >> >> In a significant shift in fiscal strategy, Mr. Obama on Wednesday will >> send a budget plan to Capitol Hill that departs from the usual presidential >> wish list that Republicans typically declare dead on arrival. Instead it >> will embody the final compromise offer that he made to Speaker John A. >> Boehner late last year, before Mr. Boehner abandoned negotiations in >> opposition to the president’s demand for higher taxes from wealthy >> individuals and some corporations. >> >> Congressional Republicans have dug in against any new tax revenues after >> higher taxes for the affluent were approved at the start of the year. The >> administration’s hope is to create cracks in Republicans’ antitax >> resistance, especially in the Senate, as constituents complain about the >> across-the-board cuts in military and domestic programs that took effect >> March 1. >> >> Mr. Obama’s proposed deficit reduction would replace those cuts. And if >> Republicans continue to resist the president, the White House believes that >> most Americans will blame them for the fiscal paralysis. >> >> Besides the tax increases that most Republicans continue to oppose, Mr. >> Obama’s >> budget<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/f/federal_budget_us/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier>will >> propose a new inflation formula that would have the effect of reducing >> cost-of-living payments for Social Security benefits, though with financial >> protections for low-income and very old beneficiaries, administration >> officials said. The idea, known as chained C.P.I., has infuriated some >> Democrats and advocacy groups to Mr. Obama’s left, and they have already >> mobilized in opposition. >> >> As Mr. Obama has before, his budget documents will emphasize that he >> would support the cost-of-living change, as well as other reductions that >> Republicans have called for in the popular programs for older Americans, >> only if Republicans agree to additional taxes on the wealthy and >> infrastructure investments that the president called for in last year’s >> offer to Mr. Boehner. >> >> Mr. Obama will propose other spending and tax credit initiatives, >> including aid for states to make free prekindergarten education available >> nationwide — a priority outlined in his State of the Union >> address<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/s/state_of_the_union_message_us/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier>in >> February. He will propose to pay for it by raising federal taxes on >> cigarettes and other tobacco products. >> >> “The president has made clear that he is willing to compromise and do >> tough things to reduce the deficits, but only in the context of a package >> like this one that has balance and includes revenues from the wealthiest >> Americans and that is designed to promote economic growth,” said a senior >> administration official, who, like others, declined to be identified >> confirming details about the coming budget. >> >> “That means,” the official added, “that the things like C.P.I. that >> Republican leaders have pushed hard for will only be accepted if >> Congressional Republicans are willing to do more on revenues.” >> -- >> Jim Devine / "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own >> way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante. >> >> _______________________________________________ >> pen-l mailing list >> [email protected] >> https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l >> >> > > > -- > Robert Naiman > Policy Director > Just Foreign Policy > www.justforeignpolicy.org > [email protected] > > _______________________________________________ > pen-l mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l > > -- Jim Devine / "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante.
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