This video clearly points out what the OWS is all about. But, just like everything else I’ve heard from the unwashed masses, there’s nothing even approaching any kind of a reasonable solution or even a suggestion of a reasonable solution. It’s easy to point out problems and inequalities and adding a lot of statistics really helps convince the simple minded —- how about putting together a few feasible strategies to correct the problems?
You want a strategy, here’s a strategy:
1) Re-establish the financial transaction tax which was
in place in this country prior to the 1970s. If we
cannot stop the growing casino character of the stock
market, at least we could get a piece of the action
to buy down the deficit and help to make justified
entitlement programs more solvent.
2) A surtax on the wealthiest Americans. When Eisen-
hower was president, the top tax rate was 90%, only
one parent had to work, and families had two decent
cars in their garage.
3) We need a sane trade policy, which is fair to all not
just multinational corporations and other countries.
4) A public health care option to rein in the costs gene-
rated by middleman private insurors. Costs which
annually negate any pay increase most Americans
receive.
5) A domestic Marshall Plan for America’s infrastructure.
6) Put an end to supply-side economics, which has done
nothing but to bankrupt this country. The marginal
utility of this economic theory has been spent and its
vitality is overstated. Nothing I hate more is to hear
some conservative invoke JFK’s name, 1962, and
supply-sided economics to somehow legitimize “s-s”
economics. What they do not tell you is that JFK paid
for his tax cuts, it was the first time since the 1920s
this approached had been used, and he did not create
Reagan/Stockman/Cheney massive deficits to fund
it.
7. Two constitutional amendments – one that no longer
recognizes corporations as people – and an other
which states money is not free speech when it
severely limits the affective speech of others.
That’s fantastic — feasible and debatable strategies. Tell me who is putting forward anything close to this from the Democratic side of the aisle? Agree with the strategies or not, they are certainly real and thoughtful. Who on the democrat/progressive side of the aisle is bringing forth anything even close to a feasible, debatable plan? For two years the D’s had the White House, the Senate, the House and a media gushing over the damn thing. Nothing of consequence brought forth to cure what ails the country most. Our country does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. Real cuts to our spending must be made. All the new taxes or tax increases in the world will be like pissing in the ocean — it might make some of the 99%-ers feel better, but it won’t make a damn bit of difference.
Oliver – the D’s did NPOT have the Senate – simply because of the cloture rule – 40 Repubs could and did block EVERYTHING that came before them. the Healthcare Reform bill only got eneacted by use of a back door process because it included budgetary items that could be negotiated in a joint committee consisting of members of both the House and Senate. Over 500 biulls were passed by the House – soemwhere in the neighborhood of a dozen actually got acted on by the Senate – SOLELY becaue of the stupid Senate rules on cloture that allowed the 40 Repubs to block whatever they wanted to. Like it or not, the entire government is at the mercy of any group of 40 Senators that agree they don’t want to act.
The problem is that the Democrats are not full service Democrats. They are social liberals not economic liberals. We need Democratic leaders who cater to both concerns.
Over the past thirty years we have seen a continual decline in the living standards of Americans. The only big feather which Democrats have in their cap is there
success in protecting a woman’s right to abortion.
Ah, yes, those big mean bullies using the cloture rule to thwart the progressive’s progress. That’s a bullshit excuse. If the D’s could have gotten their shit in a group, across the board in the legislative and executive branch they could have passed anything they wanted. They couldn’t agree on much of anything themselves and therefore didn’t get shit done. So, in 2012 when the R’s have the House, Senate and White House, we’ll see what they can do.
It’s not an attempt to claim anything. “The Gang Who Couldn’t Shoot Straight” wasn’t able to get anything done when they had complete control of the House, Senate and White House. You can say it was GWB’s fault or cloture or global warming or your tux didn’t come back from the cleaners or the sun was in your eyes. They’re all just lame excuses. After the 2012 elections when the other party of knuckleheads takes over control of all three we’ll see what they can do.
Ruf and OK – I don’t play the party politics silliness. This is how I look at it, the rich and powerful are corrupt and they own our country and our politicians. Going to OTHER politicians is not going to solve the problem. Will the OWS protesters ever accomplish anything? Not sure, but just a couple of weeks back protesters in front of the WH seemed to get Barry to change his tune about XL. As a working class Joe, I just want to be treated fairly for the work I do. That’s it. That’s all any American is asking for. It’s not socialism, it’s humanity.
I’m not “playing party politics” lewis. just pointing out that the “complete control” phrase Olki is using is not true – although he is likely using that (delusional) idea to continue playing the politics party game. Just hoping if he can admit to the delusion (which IS the game) he will stop playing the game. May be too much to ask.
I know, I just get sick of blaming politicians for our problems then turning around and asking the same kind of folks to fix the problems they created. It’s ignorant.
This video clearly points out what the OWS is all about. But, just like everything else I’ve heard from the unwashed masses, there’s nothing even approaching any kind of a reasonable solution or even a suggestion of a reasonable solution. It’s easy to point out problems and inequalities and adding a lot of statistics really helps convince the simple minded —- how about putting together a few feasible strategies to correct the problems?
You want a strategy, here’s a strategy:
1) Re-establish the financial transaction tax which was
in place in this country prior to the 1970s. If we
cannot stop the growing casino character of the stock
market, at least we could get a piece of the action
to buy down the deficit and help to make justified
entitlement programs more solvent.
2) A surtax on the wealthiest Americans. When Eisen-
hower was president, the top tax rate was 90%, only
one parent had to work, and families had two decent
cars in their garage.
3) We need a sane trade policy, which is fair to all not
just multinational corporations and other countries.
4) A public health care option to rein in the costs gene-
rated by middleman private insurors. Costs which
annually negate any pay increase most Americans
receive.
5) A domestic Marshall Plan for America’s infrastructure.
6) Put an end to supply-side economics, which has done
nothing but to bankrupt this country. The marginal
utility of this economic theory has been spent and its
vitality is overstated. Nothing I hate more is to hear
some conservative invoke JFK’s name, 1962, and
supply-sided economics to somehow legitimize “s-s”
economics. What they do not tell you is that JFK paid
for his tax cuts, it was the first time since the 1920s
this approached had been used, and he did not create
Reagan/Stockman/Cheney massive deficits to fund
it.
7. Two constitutional amendments – one that no longer
recognizes corporations as people – and an other
which states money is not free speech when it
severely limits the affective speech of others.
That’s fantastic — feasible and debatable strategies. Tell me who is putting forward anything close to this from the Democratic side of the aisle? Agree with the strategies or not, they are certainly real and thoughtful. Who on the democrat/progressive side of the aisle is bringing forth anything even close to a feasible, debatable plan? For two years the D’s had the White House, the Senate, the House and a media gushing over the damn thing. Nothing of consequence brought forth to cure what ails the country most. Our country does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. Real cuts to our spending must be made. All the new taxes or tax increases in the world will be like pissing in the ocean — it might make some of the 99%-ers feel better, but it won’t make a damn bit of difference.
Oliver – the D’s did NPOT have the Senate – simply because of the cloture rule – 40 Repubs could and did block EVERYTHING that came before them. the Healthcare Reform bill only got eneacted by use of a back door process because it included budgetary items that could be negotiated in a joint committee consisting of members of both the House and Senate. Over 500 biulls were passed by the House – soemwhere in the neighborhood of a dozen actually got acted on by the Senate – SOLELY becaue of the stupid Senate rules on cloture that allowed the 40 Repubs to block whatever they wanted to. Like it or not, the entire government is at the mercy of any group of 40 Senators that agree they don’t want to act.
The problem is that the Democrats are not full service Democrats. They are social liberals not economic liberals. We need Democratic leaders who cater to both concerns.
Over the past thirty years we have seen a continual decline in the living standards of Americans. The only big feather which Democrats have in their cap is there
success in protecting a woman’s right to abortion.
Ah, yes, those big mean bullies using the cloture rule to thwart the progressive’s progress. That’s a bullshit excuse. If the D’s could have gotten their shit in a group, across the board in the legislative and executive branch they could have passed anything they wanted. They couldn’t agree on much of anything themselves and therefore didn’t get shit done. So, in 2012 when the R’s have the House, Senate and White House, we’ll see what they can do.
OWS divided.
Oliver – are you attempting to claim that the 40 who control the senate actually DON’T? What a load.
The video is missing that small part about the 1% and how politicians and media are corporate owned.
AG – 🙂
‘Is there a course on condescendion?’
It’s not an attempt to claim anything. “The Gang Who Couldn’t Shoot Straight” wasn’t able to get anything done when they had complete control of the House, Senate and White House. You can say it was GWB’s fault or cloture or global warming or your tux didn’t come back from the cleaners or the sun was in your eyes. They’re all just lame excuses. After the 2012 elections when the other party of knuckleheads takes over control of all three we’ll see what they can do.
Ruf and OK – I don’t play the party politics silliness. This is how I look at it, the rich and powerful are corrupt and they own our country and our politicians. Going to OTHER politicians is not going to solve the problem. Will the OWS protesters ever accomplish anything? Not sure, but just a couple of weeks back protesters in front of the WH seemed to get Barry to change his tune about XL. As a working class Joe, I just want to be treated fairly for the work I do. That’s it. That’s all any American is asking for. It’s not socialism, it’s humanity.
I’m sure Jesus was a capitalist.
I’m not “playing party politics” lewis. just pointing out that the “complete control” phrase Olki is using is not true – although he is likely using that (delusional) idea to continue playing the politics party game. Just hoping if he can admit to the delusion (which IS the game) he will stop playing the game. May be too much to ask.
I know, I just get sick of blaming politicians for our problems then turning around and asking the same kind of folks to fix the problems they created. It’s ignorant.
I hear the Republicans are trying to get pepper spray declared a vegetable.
No, that’s pizza WITH pepper spray.