Class War Without Mercy

[Donnachaidh]

http://counterpunch.org/elich07112011.html

One can never have too much money. In the U.S., the top one percent of the population rakes in almost a quarter of the national income and enjoys 40 percent of the wealth. That class sees this as a problem. It is not enough.

For ordinary workers, the recession brought only economic hardship. But for corporate America, it meant one thing: opportunity. This is the chance to permanently mold the economy into something approximating the Third World model: vast wealth and privilege for those at the top, and unemployment, falling wages, and inadequate or nonexistent social services for the rest of society.

The recession ended two years ago, yet more than nine percent of the population remains without work. If one takes into account discouraged workers and part-time workers wanting a full-time position, nearly one sixth of the workforce is underutilized. For people of African descent, the situation is even more dire, with unemployment approaching a rate twice as high. Yet, a jobs program has never been on lawmakers' agenda.

Instead, the trend has been to slash benefits at a time of heightened need, while simultaneously calling for more tax cuts for the wealthy. Deficits run up by the George W. Bush Administration and President Barack Obama have handed the right wing a cudgel to impose their will and discipline workers. President Obama needed no votes from Congress had he been willing to simply let the Bush tax cuts expire. By insisting on an unwinnable partial continuation of the tax cuts, Obama ensured that the entire package would remain in effect. At a time when the recession has caused a plunge in tax revenue, starving the government of funds when it is most needed is exacting a toll on the well being of the population, and opened the door for slashing benefits. According to the Congressional Budget Office, continuation of the Bush tax cuts through the year 2020 will contribute $3.3 trillion toward the national debt. This is money that would be better utilized in providing much needed social services and launching a real jobs program, assuming of course, the political will to do so - which has been noticeably lacking.

More at the link---

[begin_within]

1. The only answer to this is to raise taxes on the wealthy and on corporations

But nobody in Washington has the guts to do it. They're all scared and hamstrung by their ties to campaign donors.

[TBF]

4. That would only be a band-aid,

the real answer is to get rid of the capitalism that results in these vast income gaps between rich and poor.

[socialist_n_TN]

11. Kick. That IS the answer..........

not schlepping for "votes". You'll never get enough votes to change the system. The ENTIRE political system is set up to funnel wealth to the top.

[21st Century FDR]

2. Warren Buffett said it years ago

"There’s class warfare, all right, but it’s my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning."

Most of his fellow 1% wouldn't be so honest about it.

[moondust]

3. Psychopathic greed.

It's fine if other people suffer and in some cases die unnecessarily from deprivation so that *they* can buy a bigger yacht and a third vacation home with their tax cuts. Perhaps the more the better, depending on the degree of one's psychopathy.

[nashville_brook]

5. if neoliberalism worked we'd have 100% employment back during Bush's terms

it's a slow motion shakedown.

[checks-n-balances]

6. k&r

:kick:

Horribly depressing, though, isn't it?

[Faryn Balyncd]

7. K and R

[girl gone mad]

8. k & r

You're on a roll tonight, Donna.

[sarcasmo]

9. Right on, the rich only care if they have enough to buy another yacht or another mansion.

[classysassy]

10. It's not the wealthy

it is their enablers,our congress.All of the citizens in America need to tell the congress critters that have sold us down the river,enough is enoug and send the criminals home never to serve again.

[dogmoma56]

12. here are a lot of graphs showing the Unbelievable inequity of wealth distribution, >Links>>>

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1502204&mesg_id=1506216