David Corn: What's So Mature About Mugging The Poor?

[babylonsister]

http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/04/paul-ryan-adult-budget

Paul Ryan's "Adult" Budget
What's so mature about mugging the poor to underwrite tax cuts for the rich?
— By David Corn

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Here's the bottom line: In conventional Washington, squeezing the poor, while boosting the rich, is not considered a nonstarter.

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The basics are not debatable. Kaiser Health News reports that "seniors and the disabled would pay sharply more for their Medicare coverage" under Ryan's proposal. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities notes that two-thirds of the $4.3 trillion cuts in Ryan's plan come from low-income programs, while the Bush bonus tax cuts for high-income Americans are made permanent and estate taxes for the super-rich are ended. People with incomes over $1 million would be handed an average tax cut of $125,000 a year. As the CPBB observes,

Taken together, its proposals would produce the largest redistribution of income from the bottom to the top in modern U.S. history, while increasing poverty and inequality more than any measure in recent times and possibly in the nation’s history.

How adult.

Ryan is indeed breaking new ground…in brazenness. He is boldly (bravely?) reinforcing the fundamental stereotype of Republicans: Screw the poor, aid the rich. This plan is a full embrace of his inner Republican. Though it may be politically gutsy to call for altering a popular program like Medicare, it is hardly courageous to mug the poor and the elderly to underwrite a tax bonanza for the wealthy. The hosannas Ryan is receiving reveal the perverted perspective of much of the political class. He has declared class warfare on the have-nots. And for that, he is admired.

[CrispyQ]

1. This morning on CNN, they were interviewing people on the street.

One woman said we should not tax the rich more, because they would leave the country & we'd be in a worse mess. :banghead:

[jillan]

2. No - tell me that was a clip from April fools day.

[Wednesdays]

5. Are you kidding? There are people on this BOARD who echo those sentiments!

[CrispyQ]

6. It was today.

To many, the rich are god-like. I would guess most of them are still doing ok - they haven't lost their job or house.

:hi:

[Lorien]

3. maybe we should stop calling them "the rich" and start calling them "The money hoarders"

The poor put whatever money they earn right back into the economy, the wealthy simply hoard it. Their only worth to society is in the taxes they pay.

[Overseas]

4. K&R!

[_ed_]

7. Obama has to shit on poor people

so he can look "centrist" to the DC cocktail-party crowd.