After The Debt Limit Crisis, Can Democrats Be The Party Of Big Business?

[applegrove]

After The Debt Limit Crisis, Can Democrats Be The Party Of Big Business?

by Joseph Thorndike at Forbes, Chicago Tribune

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-nsc-after-the-debt-limit-crisis-can-democrats-be-the-20131010,0,4488069.story

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While Republicans talk a lot about change, their addition to obstructionism has made them the party of the status quo. And that's bad news for business. Whether you're a retailer hoping for corporate tax reform or an agricultural company looking for sensible immigration reform, you should be very unhappy with Republicans.

Which raises a question: Might business look to Democrats for help?

It's an implausible suggestion, given the party's liberal drift in recent years. Many Democrats have been elected on explicitly anti-business platforms, and it seems unlikely that they'd be willing to throw business a bone, let alone a life ring. And business leaders, for their part, can't help but worry about the Democrats' penchant for regulation.

But both sides have much to gain from such an alliance. Business would get a party that's already on board for immigration reform. And while tax revision, both individual and corporate, is less popular on the left than it is on the right, plenty of Democrats are committed to it. Even President Obama has made corporate rate reduction a centerpiece of his economic program.




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[applegrove]

1. While I don't agree with the first sentence of the 2nd last paragraph, some

of it is interesting. Might mitigate citizens united until Democrats can get rid of it.

[Wounded Bear]

2. "given the party's liberal drift in recent years"

WTF? Liberal drift? Oh, wait...Chicago school economics. I guess I see now.

[bhikkhu]

3. Big business needs a well run government too

same as all of us. Maybe its just a little more obvious now.

[Loudly]

4. Business will always have a difficult time cozying up to advocates of consumer protection

and fair elections.

So I suggest that the way of the Democrats is to start businesses of the People's own.

Businesses which must contend with the regulations and standards of conduct which Democrats have imposed upon small business.

Businesses which take advantage of every advantage and privilege and subsidy made available to businesses of the size sought to be created.

Created to hire and to serve, by the available means of engaging in business in the marketplace.

[leveymg]

5. Seems to ignore the Dem's general drift toward the Right beginning w/Clinton Admin.

As if deregulation and the Rubin Treasury era never happened. Weird disassociation from reality or amnesia.

We may see this become the legacy of the Obama Presidency as well with the Grand Deal.

[RichGirl]

6. The Democratic Party...

...is a party for the people. If business starts treating people fairly...giving people good jobs with good wages and benefits, if they give customers good products for a fair price...then the Democratic Party will be for big business.

[MyshkinCommaPrince]

7. "Many Democrats have been elected on explicitly anti-business platforms..."

How many? Do we have a list of these Democrats, anywhere? Just how "anti-business" were these platforms, and how explicit? Seems like we could use a bit of that, but where is it hiding?

So often I feel like I'm living on another planet, or everyone else is speaking some other language or something. Maybe it's me. I'm the goof who cries during Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, y'know, when they all embrace the ideal of "Be cool to one another." Don't think much of the movie, but that message seems so much better than cheat, steal, obstruct, rip 'em off, try to get away with as much as you can, and eat a big bowl of Hate three meals a day. Grumble, mutter, & feh.

[Stallion]

8. We Have a Story to Tell

There is a 33 year story that Democrats have a strong record for creating a strong business environment. The Republicans have a record of deficits and poor business performance. Yes we should make the argument that good, effective government is good for business while attempting to destroy good, effective government is counter-productive. We are the Big Boy party and the Business community should count on us to do what's best for America