Robert Reich: All the President has to do is connect the dots

[kpete]

Why We Must Raise Taxes on the Rich
MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2011


..........

Here’s the truth: The only way America can reduce the long-term budget deficit, maintain vital services, protect Social Security and Medicare, invest more in education and infrastructure, and not raise taxes on the working middle class is by raising taxes on the super rich.

.............

All the President has to do is connect the dots – the explosion of income and wealth among America’s super-rich, the dramatic drop in their tax rates, the consequential devastating budget squeezes in Washington and in state capitals, and the slashing of vital public services for the middle class and the poor.

This shouldn’t be difficult. Most Americans are on the receiving end. By now they know trickle-down economics is a lie. And they sense the dice are loaded in favor of the multi-millionaires and billionaires, and their corporations, now paying a relative pittance in taxes.

The President has the bully pulpit. But will he use it?

http://robertreich.org/post/4344201496

[spanone]

1. it does seem pretty damned simple. the truth is an easy sell.

[AndyTiedye]

8. I'm Sure That Republican House Will Get Right On It

:rofl:

[Donnachaidh]

16. too bad no attempt was made at all when he had the majority, huh?

:rofl: :rofl: :sarcasm:

[AndyTiedye]

18. When We Had the House it Passed, But Fell to a Repig Filibuster in the Senate

To say "no attempt was made" is incorrect.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. IF he uses the bully pulpit...

It will be to espouse the other option.

I do not trust him to raise taxes on the rich. After all, they are the ones who are financing his re-election campaign.

[vssmith]

4. No $ from me this go around

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. None from me, either...

[Auntie Bush]

25. So you'd rather have a Republican as president and let him pick

the next couple SCJ's? Not me...no matter what a disappointment Obama is....he's the best we have. Your's the attitude of many Dems and why the ReTHUGS won so many seats. That did us a lot of good. I'd of thought that attitude learned Dems not to do that again...but I guess not!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

26. I didn't say that, and I would NEVER vote for a Republican.

I will vote for him.

But money? Hell, he doesn't need mine.

He's got enough big corporate donors this time.

You're extrapolating just a bit much from my remarks.

[northoftheborder]

12. right-o

[closeupready]

21. Exactly what I was going to say.

Brilliant minds think alike. ;)

[highplainsdem]

3. K&R

[jillan]

6. This is such an easy issue to frame. Why won't he do it?

Why does he worry so much about the nutcases on other side?

[cameozalaznick]

13. Why won't he?

I've seen polling that shows this idea has massive support -- like 70 percent or maybe even higher. I can't help but think there's got to be a reason we don't know about... In other words, what does Obama know that we don't know?

[elocs]

7. Does he want to connect the dots?

Most all of us have masters to serve and I can at least respect one who serves their master openly and honestly, and without hypocrisy. I might not like it, but at least I could respect that they are not pissing on my head trying to convince me it is raining and in my best interest to endure the insult.

[provis99]

9. why does he assume Obama is not doing exactly what he wants?

Obama is sharp, and never claimed to be a liberal, or to care about the working man. So why should we expect any different from him?:shrug:

[Raksha]

10. That's right...ALL Obama has to do is connect the dots.

And if he doesn't connect the dots, it isn't because he's not capable of it, but because he WON'T. And that tells me all I need to know.

[pansypoo53219]

11. clinton did it. tax the rich

point out just what republikkklans under georgee did.

[Demeter]

14. Nellie Forbush leads the way from Bali Hai in the South Pacific:

Nellie:
I'm gonna wash that man right outta my hair,
I'm gonna wash that man right outta my hair,
I'm gonna wash that man right outta my hair,
And send him on his way.

I'm gonna wave that man right outta my arms,

Nellie and Girls:
I'm gonna wave that man right outta my arms,
I'm gonna wave that man right outta my arms,
And send him on his way.

Don't try to patch it up

Girls:
Tear it up, tear it up!

Nellie:
Wash him out, dry him out,

Girls:
Push him out, fly him out,

Nellie:
Cancel him and let him go!

Girls:
Yea, sister!

Nellie:
I'm gonna wash that man right outta my hair,
I'm gonna wash that man right outta my hair,
I'm gonna wash that man right outta my hair,
And send him on his way.

If a man don't understand you,
If you fly on separate beams,
Waste no time, make a change,
Ride that man right off your range.
Rub him out of the roll call
And drum him out of your dreams.

Girls:
Oho! If you laugh at different comics,
If you root for different teams,
Waste no time, weep no more,
Show him what the door is for.
Rub him out of the roll call
And drum him out of your dreams.

Nellie:
You can't light a fire when the wood's all wet,

Girls:
No!

Nellie:
You can't make a butterfly strong,

Girls:
uh-uhh!

Nellie:
You can't fix an egg when it ain't quite good,

Girls:
And you can't fix a man when he's wrong!

Nellie:
You can't put back a petal when it falls from a flower,
Or sweeten up a fellow when he starts turnin' sour

Girls:
Oh no! Oh no!

Nellie and Girls:
If his eyes get dull and fishy,
When you look for glints and gleams,
Waste no time,
Make a switch,
Drop him in the nearest ditch!
Rub him out of the roll call,
And drum him out of your dreams
Oho! Oho!

Nellie:
I went and washed that man right outta my hair,
I went and washed that man right outta my hair,
I went and washed that man right outta my hair,
And sent him on his way.

Girls:
She went to wash that man right outta my hair,
She went to wash that man right outta my hair,
She went to wash that man right outta my hair,

Nellie and Girls:
And send him on his way!

[teacher gal]

15. I think one of the ways the rich control this country

is by donating heavily to both major political parties.

How do we ever get out from under a political system that is controlled by power and wealth?

[Donnachaidh]

17. public financing of elections -- but that's not likely to happen, because politicos love the money

They use the argument that they will do *something about it, IF you give them the job* -- and then promptly forget about that promise.

Expecting politicos on either side to give up the swag and implement public financing is silly -- it's like telling crack addicts to mind the stash....

[readmoreoften]

19. Why would he do that?

[CrossChris]

20. Too bad he's getting millions in campaign money explicity to NOT CONNECT THE DOTS

I'm really looking forward to the day that people in Reich's position can start saying aloud that the President lied about ever being on our side, or even getting us a fair shake in any of these deals.

[bvar22]

22. Obama and the "Centrist" party Leadership connected those dots long ago,

...and have already made their choice.





Who will STAND and FIGHT for THIS American Majority?
Lofty Rhetoric, broken promises, and excuses mean NOTHING now.
"By their WORKS you will know them,"
and by their WORKS they will be judged.

[upi402]

23. Obama's a corporatist. Can we stop the charade ?

Seriously, are we stuck on stupid here? Or just in denial from the sports disease; "Red team vs, Blue team".

"There ain't but two kinds of people in this world; thems that work, and thems that don't."
-Few Cloths

[yurbud]

24. it's a matter of will and way

the money of the rich will find its way in to politicians pockets and then they will say and do the way their told.

[leftstreet]

27. K&R

[AdHocSolver]

28. Just taxing the rich more won't save the middle class.

The power of the wealthy stems from two sources: The ability to outsource your job (and thereby control your income), and the ability to limit what goods and services you can purchase by controlling availability and price (for example, by limiting your access to overpriced health care).

By continuing to buy imports rather than "buying American", and by investing your money (for those who have it) in the Ponzi scheme known as the "stock market", you continue to feed the beast that threatens you.