Bernie Sanders Filibustering the tax bill the old fashioned way..

[Acanthus]

No, because the polls show the exact opposite of that. YOU may believe that deficit spending is excessive, and that's a totally valid position for you to hold. Polling clearly shows that America does not however. People are concerned about the deficit, but they are MORE concerned about the government acting to reduce unemployment. Republicans think this can be done through tax cuts, and Democrats through directed spending.

There is some variation in the polls on this, but every single poll that I've seen that says otherwise has some serious question wording problems (like the gallup poll that weighted one response ridiculously). Overall what you're saying simply isn't accurate.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-...ob-creation-over-deficit-cuts-poll-shows.html
http://pollingreport.com/prioriti.htm

Unemployment and tax cuts for the rich are not job creation. I will agree that from an economics standpoint they are better than doing nothing... however... infrastructure spending would go a lot further and give us something tangible in return.

This agreement does nothing to create jobs.

So what is your argument you are trying to make?

 

[Exterous]

I like how everyone talks about how they want compromise and then when it happens everyone flips out.

I will not apologize for not qualifying my wanting them to compromise statements with a condition that they not take the worst ideas from both sides and put them together as a 'good idea'

And while I agree that jobs creation is a very good thing - I think this is not even close to a good way to do it.

 

[Craig234]

If you agree with me and Bernie Sanders about the opposition to these tax cuts for the top 2%, he suggests donating to www.democracyforamerica.com.

This is the Howard Dean founded group created to represent the public interests and progressive policies, a good place to donate to have 'the people' get more say.

Craig -

President Obama is right about one thing -- Republicans in Congress are holding the middle class hostage.

We have a $13.8 trillion national debt, a collapsing middle class and the most unequal distribution of wealth of any major country. With all this in mind, Republicans in Congress say they will block tax cuts to the middle class and block unemployment benefits to more than two million families unless the President gives huge tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires.

Their behavior is morally bankrupt. It is reprehensible.

But instead of challenging the Republicans for their absurd demands and their outrageous tactics, the President gave them virtually everything they wanted.

I cannot and will not support this deal. I will do everything I can to uphold the promise made to the American people to end the Bush tax cuts for the rich.

Join me and my friends at Democracy for America today and sign our pledge calling on Congress to reject this deal.

One of the most underreported parts of this deal is a cut to the Social Security payroll tax. In just one year, over $120 billion of revenue will be cut from Social Security under the President's compromise plan, weakening the program and virtually guaranteeing benefit cuts in the future.

Make no mistake about it. Social Security has not added one dime to the national debt and this cut will only embolden Republican attempts to privatize the program and increase the age of retirement. Social Security is a vital safety net for all Americans and a cornerstone of our commitment to protect the middle class.

We are not alone in standing against this compromise. Republicans are holding the middle class hostage and the American people know it. I come from a small state and yesterday my office received more than 1,000 calls on this issue, with over 90% of them in opposition to this deal.

Last night, thousands of DFA members joined me on DFA Live where we had a lively discussion on this issue. One thing was clear to me during that call -- DFA members nationwide want Democrats to stop this deal and fight for the middle class, working people, senior citizens and the unemployed while making sure that millionaires and billionaires are not given massive tax breaks.

Make sure Congress gets the message -- Join the fight now and sign the petition opposing this so-called "compromise."

Thank you,

-Bernie

Bernie Sanders
U.S. Senator

 

[fskimospy]

Unemployment and tax cuts for the rich are not job creation. I will agree that from an economics standpoint they are better than doing nothing... however... infrastructure spending would go a lot further and give us something tangible in return.

This agreement does nothing to create jobs.

So what is your argument you are trying to make?

Well economists think that it will. My argument is that the politicians are doing what America says it wants and people are still mad.

 

[Craig234]

Well economists think that it will. My argument is that the politicians are doing what America says it wants and people are still mad.

There's too much use of vague 'it' in this thread. Economists think what will do what?

People are against the tax cuts for the rich, so politicians who have approved of this deal that cuts taxes for the rich are doing what Americans want?

Which people are mad about what, those mad about the deal? Something else?

 

[MovingTarget]

Good for Bernie. The compromise is complete bullsh**. Let the tax cuts expire and have the Dems actually fillibuster the Republican attempt to handle it next session.

We should ban the threat to fillibuster entirely. You want to fillibuster? Stand up and actually DO it.

 

[Zebo]

LOL @ Bernie. What a loon, doing it old school indeed. What's he filibustering anyway, I thought there wasn't anything scheduled until Monday?

A loon? A loon who believes in what he puts forward, which makes him very different than the other clowns in Washington DC.

I don't even like much of what Mr. Sanders wants as solutions but I respect him for highlighting problems. How can you argue with problems of huge UE, huge deficit, huge income gap? You can't. Least he has the balls to shut shit down instead of papering them over like these other clowns.

 

[Zebo]

People must understand what is happening.
THIS deal is in fact setting the ground work for future dismantling of
programs like Social Security, education assistance, assistance to American war vets,
and many other middle class lifeline programs.

This is as clear as the floors of the glass bottom boats down in Florida Everglades.
THIS WILL HAPPEN, i.e. SS retirement benefits watered down and then eliminated for everyone, education assistance programs cut then ended, Veterans benefit programs all but eliminated, and that just the start.

Tax policy will be rewritten, but not for simplicity sake. And not to save you tax money.

This is why so many progressives are screaming and demanding the deal NOT happen.
Letting this Obama-Republican deal die, and thus paying the higher taxes, will cost everyone much less up front than compared to congress doing this deal, then ending programs that helps keep the middle class alive.

What is happening right now will probably have more of a direct impact on your future and the future of the middle class than any other happening within the next 50 years.
We should be paying very close attention. And speaking up...LOUDLY against this outrage and rape of the middle class workers!

Sure Obama is for this, and Clinton, and career politicians. This is their pocket book that will benefit. Is that any real shock to anyone?

If and once this deal becomes law, there will be no turning back. Not in two years, not ever. And within months, possibly weeks, you will then hear the need to sharply cut social programs, social security being target number one. Education funding as target number two. And unemployment benefits? What’s that?, they will ask.

I ask, how does this help America? Well it doesn't. It allows the top wealthy three percent to become much much more wealthy. And a huge section of the middle class to fall into poverty. Especially the seniors of current, and future. And that means you.

Here's another little surprise coming down the pipes you may not have heard.
Not only is it in the works to eliminate the home mortgage interest deduction, but anyone getting a tax refund on their federal taxes will NO LONGER get that money refunded in a one lump check. All federal tax refunds will be spread over a six month period, or twelve month period (depending on the amount of refund).
No more nice one lump federal tax refund checks in the mail... Not anymore.

I've never heard "glass bottom boat in everglades"

Anyway yeah Sanders does not just mumble it nails it all in 8+ hours which you can watch on cspan.

Banks with 60% of assets
Fraud was committed and jail needs to be served by these guys we lionize
Outsourcing which has ripped the hearts of American worker for profit to top
Crushing deficit which will destroy all middle programs
etc

 

[Zebo]

Comparing family debt and government debt isn't a good idea, because families aren't the sovereign issuer of the currency their debt is carried in.

While I happen to think that the Republican idea to cut taxes on the rich is a poor idea for stimulus, that's not the point of my post. What I thought was interesting was how America desires:
A.) compromise
B.) more stimulus (either through tax cuts or more spending)

When it got both, people flip out.

If that's what Americans want they deserve poverty which is what allowing the debt merchants finance deficit spending does. Rich get richer off interest and get all the money back because all welfare is spent.

Way better than taxing them.

Never-mind it doesn't take a math major to understand interest one day will consume 100% of receipts leaving nothing to spend.

Or, alternatively, interest rates go back up to normal 7% which would consume 800 billion tax dollars right now.