I think your diagnosis is faulty. I think the key problem is that the "Left" doesn't believe in political engagement. It believes in impotent complaining.
On Fri, Apr 5, 2013 at 9:37 AM, Jim Devine <[email protected]> wrote: > 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. > > _______________________________________________ > 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
