Carl Gibson begins: "Imagine you helped prepare a great feast with 99 other people - one of them is morbidly obese, the rest are frail and anorexic. Now imagine the morbidly obese man lining up first, piling almost all the food onto his own plate, and leaving nothing but scraps for you and the rest of the dinner party. If he said you should eat less, would that justify his greed?"

House Speaker John Boehner leaves after voting at the House Chamber at the US Capitol Building, 07/29/11. (photo: Jewel Samad/Getty Images)

An American Uprising

By Carl Gibson, Reader Supported News

03 August 11

Reader Supported News | Perspective

magine you helped prepare a great feast with 99 other people - one of them is morbidly obese, the rest are frail and anorexic. Now imagine the morbidly obese man lining up first, piling almost all the food onto his own plate, and leaving nothing but scraps for you and the rest of the dinner party. If he said you should eat less, would that justify his greed?

Republicans in Congress just held their "No New Taxes" gun to the economy's head, and vowed to drive us into a second global recession unless Democrats and the White House paid the ransom. Even though the hostage was eventually returned, it was done so only after the basic needs of America's most vulnerable were cut to shreds. President Obama calls this a "compromise," but this was a deal where the Republicans got everything they wanted - trillions in spending cuts, and no new revenue.

Government spending hasn't been this low since Eisenhower's presidency, yet taxes for the wealthy are at their lowest since the Hoover administration. Even though spending as a percentage of GDP was low during Eisenhower's tenure, government had plenty of revenue due to a 91% top tax rate. Those high taxes on the richest Americans allowed for the birth of NASA, which eventually put a man on the moon, the creation of the Interstate System, and expansions of Social Security and National Parks.

Now, income for the richest Americans is only taxed at a 35% rate. NASA has since canceled all manned space flights. Budget cuts are leaving interstate highways in a dangerous state of disrepair. And this debt deal will begin the chipping away of Social Security and Medicare benefits for current and future generations. By the time millenials like me reach retirement age, it's highly likely that we'll receive little, if any, assistance from these programs.

Republicans refused to offer even the most reasonable concessions. They voted NO to ending $21 billion in taxpayer-funded handouts to tax-dodging oil companies. They've repeatedly stalled on bringing in $100 billion per year by closing corporate tax loopholes. They've rejected a new income tax bracket for households making above $1,000,000 per year. They even voted down ending tax breaks for corporate jet owners. The only spending Republicans spared from cuts was the Pentagon budget.

This week, David Frum, one of George W. Bush's speechwriters, accused Republicans of acting like "student radicals" instead of governing appropriately. Even conservatives like Frum recognize the foolishness of cutting federal spending while ignoring America's real deficit - jobs. Republicans have held a majority in the House for over 200 days, yet the GOP has yet to produce just one jobs bill. The GOP has made it clear that protecting corporate jet owners, oil companies and big banks is a higher priority than looking after the needs of their constituents.

As wages stagnate and the cost of living increases, Americans all over are forced to take on multiple jobs, all for longer hours, lower wages and less benefits. While the public programs we pay for and depend on get cut away piece by piece, and as more of our neighbors and communities succumb to poverty, we continue to watch the collective results of our efforts pool into the hands of a small, wealthy elite.

Congress may congratulate themselves on passing this deal and avoiding a default, but consequences are destined to come about in the streets, at town hall meetings and at the polls. In the next election cycle, Americans will remember who voted to protect their interests, and who voted to put their social safety net on the chopping block to protect billionaires and big oil. Shared sacrifice should include all Americans - especially those with the most food at the table.

Carl Gibson, 24, of Lexington, Kentucky, is a spokesman and organizer for US Uncut, a nonviolent, creative direct-action movement to stop budget cuts by getting corporations to pay their fair share of taxes. He graduated from Morehead State University in 2009 with a B.A. in Journalism before starting the first US Uncut group in Jackson, Mississippi, in February of 2011. Since then, over 20,000 US Uncut activists have carried out more than 300 actions in over 100 cities nationwide. You may contact Carl at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News.

Comments

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+102 # Barbara K 2011-08-03 13:57

I hope that people get mad enough to vote the Rs and their baggers out next year. It is time to get rid of those holding guns to the heads of our political decisions. More of them would finish the job of destroying our country completely, along with our SS, Medicare and Medicaid. We can be mad about the crappy deal we just got, but who forced that deal on us? It should have been a clean debt ceiling raise without the hostage taking. We should not have to deal with the devils in order to have our rights and freedoms. Get rid of them. Even a bad Dem is better than an R any day.

+83 # DLT888 2011-08-03 15:02

Yeah, but this breed of "Republicans" aka Fascists will NEVER leave office and they will make sure the vote rigging continues because there is no way they will leave just because the 'commoners' 'vote'. They intend to steal as many sham elections as they can because nothing has stopped them.

+18 # NanFan 2011-08-04 00:14

Quoting

Yeah, but this breed of "Republicans" aka Fascists will NEVER leave office and they will make sure the vote rigging continues because there is no way they will leave just because the 'commoners' 'vote'. They intend to steal as many sham elections as they can because nothing has stopped them.

I agree DLT TOO much. But just enough to believe that the only answer for us "commoners" is to pull "a Wisconsin" and begin RECALLS of all Republicans. Period.

Don't wait for 2012. Move now. State-by-state, start to proceed with recalls, getting others to take their places.

Part of Gibson's US UNCUT should be to stop any Repub or Tea "bagger" from EVER getting the chance to get elected.

Pay attention to Newt, by the way; he's out there; he's spewing lies to middle America, as we speak.

He's as scary as Michelle Bachmann.

Someone with the podium MUST start US REPUBLICAN RECALL and spread it throughout the states like wildfire.

It's our only chance to regain any sanity.

N.

+22 # Cat 2011-08-03 16:14

While I agree that the Republicans bullied US into a horrific deal, and that makes me mad as hell, still the Democrats responded in their typical weak fashion and rolled over. Come 2012 I will not do anything for President Obama in regards to helping him get reelected other than show up on election day, plug my nose and vote for the lessor of two evils.

+2 # warrior woman 2011-08-04 04:34

President Obama agreed in January that the budget deficit needed to be cut in half by 2013. He promised the IMF and European leaders. WTF do they have to do with our deficit???

U.S. needs to make progress on deficit, IMF warns
By Howard Schneider
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, January 27, 2011; 10:24 PM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/27/AR2011012707000.html

+5 # ericlipps 2011-08-04 05:41

Quoting

President Obama agreed in January that the budget deficit needed to be cut in half by 2013. He promised the IMF and European leaders. WTF do they have to do with our deficit???

U.S. needs to make progress on deficit, IMF warns
By Howard Schneider
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, January 27, 2011; 10:24 PM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/27/AR2011012707000.html

We're up to our eye teeth in debt to foreign governments, that's what they have to do with our deficit.

Right-wingers have ranted ever since the Clinton years about black helicopters, blue helmets and a sinister foreign takeover of the U.S. Their policies, however, have made foreign intervention more likely. The U.S., and before that Britain and other nations, have used military force to compel other nations to pay their debt. Don't be too sure it couldn't happen to us.

+5 # Aussie Crier 2011-08-04 07:35

The myth of national sovereignty for any nation, including the US, must kneel outside the tent of the mighty bond traders. They make enforcement of debt payments, or reduction of financial leverage, by armies unnecessary because shutting down access to cheap money is as powerful a tool as denying a junky his narcotic.

+1 # heraldmage 2011-08-07 13:58

Who do you think loans the USA money to pay its bills?
China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, India, Veneszula, IMF to name a few. It wouldn't surprse me if Libya & Iran also bought US Treasury bonds.
USA trade deficit = WTF

+6 # Karlus 2011-08-04 10:57

..I'm sick and tired of the "lessor of two evils"....aren't you? The Democrats are weak and ineffective. Look at the results thus far. The Republicans are vicious and deceitful and heading us into despair. We really need a show of force with a 3rd Party counter.

+2 # Uppity Woman 2011-08-04 11:17

Green Party! It's already here and just waiting for each of us to get involved.

+49 # Virginia 2011-08-03 16:34

The 2-party system has become narcissistic. But this isn't as much about the parties - this is about idiots and greed. We can't trust any of them. How do you get them back to the farm once they've seen Paris?! We have to cut their purse strings. They feed on money from the banks and their lobbyists. Starve the banks.

Civil disobedience - stop depositing into the large banks. Use credit unions. Tear up the credit cards - live on cash and debit. Right now if everyone closed their BofA account it would be bye, bye.

Encourage the states to takeover the mortgages, foreclosures, defaults and REO's and reconstruct them with the borrowers. Take away the banks' new gold standard and let their Capitalism shake its dirty old self out. Starve them to death. Then maybe they will learn they can't live without us.

-18 # ellybean 2011-08-03 18:22

I am through with Obama. He has pulled down his knickers to every republican on the hill. I worked, contributed to and voted for him in his first term. I will stay home this time. Better a republican who calls himself a republican than a republican who calls himself a democrat.

+6 # OldRedleg 2011-08-04 05:51

I agree with you for the most part but I will not stay home for the election. Like you, I worked for his election. Absolutely not this time! Whether I vote for Obama or not will probably not be decided until I am in front of the machine, and if he is the only real choice, the decision will only be that much more difficult.

And to Barbara K.: You are absolutely wrong about "bad Democrats." Think of your statement as the same as saying that a mental abuser is better any day than a physical abuser. We need to somehow learn to fight back and get rid of both abusers.

+5 # X Dane 2011-08-04 09:59

Ellybean, Yes, that is the stupidity which got us all these idiots who are now in the congress. So we can thank YOU when we get more, AND WHEN A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT GET MORE RIGHT WING JUSTICES ON THE SUPREME COURT.

THANKS FOR NOTHING..... SHORTSIGHTEDNES S IS WHAT GOT US WHERE WE ARE.

What we all HERE need to do is send the article "Anger deceit and Billionaires coup" to as many people as we can. ALSO TO OUR REPUBLICAN FRIENDS. FOR ALL NEED TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON.

If we sit back and pout, because the people in power is not doing what we want them to do. WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET.

0 # CTPatriot 2011-08-05 03:32

Wrong! Should that happen, you can thank Obama and the Democrats for sucking so badly that they failed to give voters a reason to come out and vote for them. Democrats, by repeatedly giving the Republicans almost everything they wanted, even when Democrats controlled both houses of congress, showed us that they are nothing but the "slightly less evil" party.

By attacking the messengers, you help to enable the bad behavior of Democrats once in office. So keep doing that and don't be a bit surprised when we lose the White House and the Senate in 2012.

The Democrats will have done it to themselves. And they will learn nothing from it because, just as with Republicans do when they lose, the blame is always placed elsewhere. Good luck with that.

+4 # Karlus 2011-08-04 10:59

Folks, whats with the negative marks here? She's speaking out what we all must be feeling. And I for one, agree with her.

+5 # OligarchyNot 2011-08-04 17:47

Obama has been a disappointment, but sitting out the election will only ensure that things get worse, especially considering the pack of GOPers running for president. Obama just doesn't negotiate well, and he should have called the republicans' bluff. They would NOT have let the government shut down, because if they did, that would ruin them in the next election. But Obama negotiated the democrats into the corner the republicans wanted them in so that if the Dems in the Senate voted against the bill, a government shutdown would have been their fault.

Imagine what it would be like with a republican president with majorities in both the House and the Senate... They would end democracy as wse know it, no doubt about it.

+6 # jerryball 2011-08-04 17:49

So you really ARE going to gift the GOP? They're fully expecting and plotting this rout for their retaking of the American Treasury in 2012. They looted and plundered it the last time. God only knows what will happen the next time.

+25 # Progressive Patriot 2011-08-03 18:43

Yeah, Oregon's "bad Dems" voted for this bill, the good ones didn't. We need to stop voting for either Republicrats or Demblicans ... and support REAL Progressives.

+84 # Alice 2011-08-03 14:02

Yes, Americans will go to the polls, but many Republican governors have made sure they will not be allowed to vote without a Voter ID that meets their new and ever-changing standards. Especially in Wisconsin, where students will not be allowed to vote, and where people in democratic-leaning districts will find no DMV open.

+80 # Robert I. Adler 2011-08-03 14:07

Sadly, Mr. Gibson, I can't share your optimism about the consequences at the polls. Too many voters have been misled into believing that cutting government spending creates jobs, instead of destroying them, and they have failed to recognize how state and local governments have been compelled to cut employment in order to offset recession-induced declines in revenues. It will require potent leadership by Democrats, from the President on down, to persuade the public of the fallacy of that argument-- and that leadership has been grievously lacking during the past two years.

-163 # XLIB 2011-08-03 14:19

Carl is evidently too young to realize that Karl Marx's ideas about how to grow an economy have been discarded by all but a few muddle-headed idealists.

Most economists, even so-called "liberals," have come to agree that raising taxes does not create jobs, which is what we need more than anything at this time.

Carl's analogy of the obese man at the feast is completely inapt. Try this one on for size: 100 people have dinner, and then the bill arrives. How much does the wealthiest one pay?
That's' the discussion we should be having. Is it 10%, 20%, 40% or what? Evidently there are a few class-envy addicts who would not be satisfied until the rich guy pays everything.

I take it this attitude is based on the premise that the wealthy have stolen it all from the poor, by cheating them of the rightful rewards for their labor etc. etc. Such lame, worn-out, and intellectually dishonest dogma should have been abandoned a long time ago, but no, it seems to be about all the left has to cling to. How sad, and how wasteful of the time and talents of all the fine folks on the left.

+63 # WarrenM 2011-08-03 15:25

Karl Marx never cared much about 'growing' an economy, although he predicted that it would occur especially under Capitalism. He merely observed that History is driven by socio/economic forces that tend to bring about class differences and predicted that the same thing will happen in the 'Capitalist' economy. He accurately predicted that classes would emerge. In the U.S. the class separation had been stalled and reversed by the advent of Keynesian economics. But Keynesian economics were thrown out when Reagan took office, Reaganomics. the result over the last 30 years has been a huge class separation in the U.S and many other countries. the long term result of this will be a society much like what North Korea has, a small economic elite,( in Korea this group is 'ruled' by 'communistic fanatics', in the U.S it will be 'Christian fanatics') supported by a large military organization to keep the rest of the population under control. Or some type of violent uprising will occur with unknown results. Unfortunately, I believe that this is exactly what will occur, although I disagree with the idea that it is inevitable.

-27 # XLIB 2011-08-03 21:10

The problem here is this obsession with the rich. The "poor" in this country are unbelievably well-off by historical standards. What seems to be so offensive to "progressives" is that the "rich" are doing so very well, AND there are so many more of them!

+63 # peterjkraus 2011-08-03 15:40

You´re evidently the rich guy in this discussion, the one making over a million per year. If not, you would not be stupid enough to defend the economic rapists that are having their way with us working folks.

-13 # XLIB 2011-08-03 21:08

Sorry to disappoint you. I qualify for food stamps but have never applied for them. It wouldn't be good to brag, but allow me to say that it is a sign of desperation to call someone stupid just because they don't agree with you.

+35 # KittatinyHawk 2011-08-03 15:53

You are probably the first one who believes that those working deserve no Social Security. that people do not deserve Welfare after their benefits are gone from unemployment and their jobs who kows where if anywhere at all. Welcome to the Feast because you will have to buck up for the fat guy no matter what you call them.
Funny thing is that when the market dropped and people go bankrupt...poverty sees no class either

-12 # XLIB 2011-08-03 21:13

Wrong. I actually agree with most Conservatives that working people deserve every bit of their investments in Social Security. They won't get theirs if the system continues to be so poorly managed. Remember, it was actually the Administration that threatened to withhold Social Security benefits in case the Debt Limit was not raised.

+6 # Capn Canard 2011-08-04 05:47

So you WANT your SS entitlements. Hmmm... the Right Wing position would appear to suggest that SS entitlements are job killers. Your support of SS seems to counter the Rethuglican positions that taxes are job killers. If you truly support social security then how can you call yourself a Conservative? The Standard belief is that SS and Medicare etc are job killers and will destroy America, WHAT SIDE ARE YOU ON? Isn't it the Teabaggers who want all taxes erased? Keep in mind that the GOP has dragged Obama to the RIGHT?(regrettably he wasn't kicking and screaming!), remember it was Ronald Reagan who the RiGHT IDOLIZIES as a paragon of virtue despite his penchant for INCREASING TAXES, and remember it was Clinton who has capitulated to the demands of the Ultra Wealthy(of which you DO NOT BELONG) and remember it was W who started TWO UNNECCESARY WARS against invented Enemies ... presumably because they have the unfortunate circumstance to be living on the sand above W's OIL! This stuff is far more earth bound than the fantasies of the deluded RIGHT WING TRUE BELIEVERS have tried to sell... fantasies like JOB CREATORS! Job are the result of DEMAND, their are no JOB CREATORS that is a RETHUBLICAN WET DREAM. Grow up.

+47 # Bitsy 2011-08-03 16:28

We don't want the rich to pay everything. That is ridiculous. We want them to pay their fair share. You seem to think it's fair for the middle class to foot the bill for everything. Do you think that the rich do not use more of the commons to make their money? Should they not contribute as much or a little more than the person who's lost everything? It's not just the restoration of fair tax rates for corporations/wealthy that we need. We need better and fairer and saner trade policies that don't reward companies for shipping jobs overseas. There's something to be said for fairness and corporate patriotism. And the fat cat should pay for what he takes, which is more of the pie.

+36 # Glenn Fieldman 2011-08-03 16:30

It depends on whose taxes are being raised and what's done with the taxes. At present, the wealthy are not investing. Anybody see any demand out there that would motivate an investment? In circumstances like these, it makes sense to tax the wealthy and for government to spend the money--preferably on investments with lasting value, such as infrastructure. Such investments pay the wages that create the demand at the local butcher, baker and candlestick maker.

+32 # in deo veritas 2011-08-03 16:51

Not paying any taxes at all or not paying one's fair share of their taxes IS THEFT .And it is the accomoplices of these greedy swine that have allowed them to do it. SDure we need jobs, but the mantra of these robber barons is to create only minimum wage jobs until they can get away with slave labor. They can harp all they want about responsibilioty to their stockholders but they are shortchanging them too with their bonuses and outrageous salaries. Too bad the stockholders, who are only interested in profit, are too dumb to realize that they too are being had. I would not be amongst them for any amount of money-I place too much value on my soul. Too bad that so many have sold their and will never be able to buy them back.

-7 # XLIB 2011-08-03 21:19

I don't know anyone who disagrees with "Not paying any taxes at all or not paying one's fair share of their taxes IS THEFT."

[Of course we recognize that the very lowest income earners are exempt from paying income taxes]

But "Fair Share?" So what do you want? 90%? You sound like you think that peoples' incomes belong to the government, and whatever share the government is willing to let them have is "fair." Exactly what does your "Deo" say?

+37 # Debbie Gibson 2011-08-03 17:25

"Most economists, even so-called "liberals," have come to agree that raising taxes does not create jobs, which is what we need more than anything at this time."

And if cutting taxes to the rich resulted in jobs, then we would have jobs. But, we don't, do we???

-12 # XLIB 2011-08-03 21:20

So the less than rich didn't have their taxes cut too?

Besides, who says that what we had before the tax cuts was fair?

[Well, I guess most progressives do, but that doesn't make it correct]

+32 # don1157 2011-08-03 17:27

Such words spoken, XLIB, without the support of facts. Once you present the facts with supportive documentation (other than Fox News) then maybe you will be require attention. However, like all of your ilk, you spew bunk that you have heard on Fox News and present them as facts. What you have presented is a perverted, classist, prejudiced, and purely selfish point of view promoted by billionaires to protect their wealth. You Sir and your classist bigotry are being used to support an agenda that likely is the opposite of your best interest.

-7 # XLIB 2011-08-03 21:21

Never watch Fox news, ever.

+26 # CLinlongbeach 2011-08-03 18:40

But you miss the point that the rich do NOT currently pay their fair share. They pay a smaller percentage of tax than I do...than the majority of Americans do. They have access to tax loopholes the average working/middle class person does not. If they paid their fair share then there wouldn't be so much class envy.

-17 # XLIB 2011-08-03 21:27

I would certainly be willing to take a look at your facts.

My guess is that this stuff about tax loopholes is grossly exaggerated. Used to be that way - in the 1950's for example, but certainly not now.

Could you please give some examples of these loopholes? And if the wealthy pay such a huge percentage of all the taxes collected, how many of them are using "loopholes?"

Consider: The top 1% of wage earners pay __% of the total.
The top 5% . . . pay ___%.
The top 10% pay ____%.

I know what those numbers are. Do you? What's fair?

+3 # bbeach85 2011-08-04 11:51

Let me guess....you get your numbers from the "non-partisan" TaxFoundation.org, which is funded by Exxon Mobil and the Koch Family Foundations. They are great at distorting the truth with "statistics".

-1 # XLIB 2011-08-04 21:53

OK, let's hear your numbers then.

+5 # Terre Watt 2011-08-03 21:50

So..you advocate that spending should be cut to the point whwere there is no more to cut all the while ignoring the fact that revenues need to come from somewhere? You're the one spoutingthe "lame, worn out and intellectually dishonest dogma". And no, it hasn't been aboned long ago except by those who are in denial that the middle class is shrinking rapidly under self righteous plutocrats like you. By the way, the word is "inept" not "inapt".

-9 # XLIB 2011-08-04 05:05

No, I am just advocating that spending be cut to the point where the economy can sustain it. That's where the revenue comes from, after all.

And by the way, you may prefer the word "inept," but in this case I meant "inapt." Do you need to look it up?

And by the way, the period goes inside the quotation marks.

+5 # OldRedleg 2011-08-04 06:09

Hey Grover,

Nice of you to visit this site!

Quoting

Most economists, even so-called "liberals," have come to agree that raising taxes does not create jobs, which is what we need more than anything at this time.

Good Lord! What deep, dark orifice did you pull this absurd factoid out of. You certainly (or maybe not certainly) can't believe it, nor can you prove or provide real evidence that massive cutting of taxes to the point we have today has provided any real sustained job growth, especially job growth that provide real living wages and benefits.

You've been reading too much of your own propaganda from the ATR group.

+68 # Rebecca Heal 2011-08-03 14:24

I want to join US Uncut. We must become as loud, insistent and powerful as the Tea Party to blunt their corrosive power on our nation.

+31 # wrodwell 2011-08-03 14:46

Congratulations on your non-violent activism. I hope your resistance remains "uncut". But, what if the situation changes and Power becomes fearful and employs force to stay in power? Will you in good conscience remain non-violent or will you act like the patriots of old when confronting tyranny: pick up arms to defend their right to Liberty? I sincerely hope none of us will have to make that choice but what if we do? Where will you be then?

+18 # in deo veritas 2011-08-03 17:01

Unlike the cowards and shills on capital hill, I took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution when I entered the armed forces. To me, that oath lasts a lifetime. To violate that oath would be tantamount to treason. Where does that put those who voted for this corrupt pact with the enemy? It is somewhat like the treaty that the Soviets and the Nazis signed the month before WWII began.

+59 # jon 2011-08-03 14:49

"Americans will remember who voted to protect their interests, and who voted to put their social safety net on the chopping block to protect billionaires and big oil."

This is preaching to the choir. The sad truth is that so many of our fellow citizens are irretrievably brainwashed by Fox news and the AM radio pundits, to such an extent that they will vote against themselves, and then when their Social Security and Medicare is eliminated, they will blame it on the Democrats because Rush Limbaugh said so.

We may get a Democratic Congress back in 2012, but I think Obama's capitulations and broken campaign promises might very well render him a one term President.

+26 # Jorge 2011-08-03 16:57

Jon- you are right about the corporate-controlled media (CCM) skewing the message (lying). As soon as President "O-sham-a" made the deal with the Repugs I started receiving e-mails from friends/neighbors about how Dems had sold out and were slashing Social Security. Thom Hartmann says 91% of all talk radio is right-wing radio. Our newspapers are conservative/right-wing and TV is center-right to right-wing (Fox "News"). Where is the strong voice of Progressives? RSN and Truthout need to be expanded exponentially to be effective.

+35 # Archie1954 2011-08-03 14:52

Maybe the Republican voters in the American electorate needed this wake up call, as disturbing and shocking as it is.

+24 # DLT888 2011-08-03 15:04

Alas, though, I think it's too late. They have too much power, and they aren't going to give it up without a fight.

+18 # in deo veritas 2011-08-03 17:04

Fine. When the fight comes, in whatever form it may take, they will show themselves for the cowards they are, as with all bullies.

+15 # in deo veritas 2011-08-03 17:03

LOL! Those voters who supported these charlatans will not wake up-they are too far gone.

+8 # photojack53 2011-08-03 20:11

How many countless thousands of Americans have had their finances DESTROYED while these EVIL Repugnicans play their dirty political games? They prolonged the high unemployment, lengthened the foreclosure crisis and delayed Obama's recovery attempts irreparably hurting our citizens, myself included. Look up "swiftboating" and "astroturfing" on wikipedia to see the UNCONSCIONABLE acts this party routinely does to hurt this country's citizens and our economy.
VOTE THESE EVIL BUMS OUT OF OFFICE, NOW!
DON'T LET YOUR CHILDREN GROW UP TO BECOME REPUBLICANS!
THINK, OR OUR NATION WILL BE RUINED BY THESE HORRID IDIOTS!

+53 # Janet F 2011-08-03 14:52

As a babyboomer, I thank you sincerely for standing up and calling this deal what it is. This will hurt babyboomers and all people younger, and probably those older than us, too.

+29 # KittatinyHawk 2011-08-03 15:58

It hurt us when we allowed it to start.
I wonder what Ob and Democrats know of SS..we have not on SSI had raise in years. Now we lose but Congress just took another raise this year...we didnot Protest.
We need to Protest

+33 # MainStreetMentor 2011-08-03 15:22

We who agree on what's being posted here, must not forget: News Corp is behind a great deal of what is being discussed here. Let's not forget, there is an investigation underway of the owner of that organization. Please, do not let up any pressure that might bring about justice to the owner. Without his media, much wind can be removed from the sails of the opposition.

-30 # DaveM 2011-08-03 15:25

The example in the first paragraph is incomplete. It does not answer the question of who bought the food. If it was the fat guy, he would be quite free to eat himself to death. He'd be piggish and disgusting and utterly without conscience, but he'd have that right.....

+19 # MIKE K 2011-08-03 17:08

Not if others starve to death because of his gluttony (one of the 7 deadly sins don't cha know).

-9 # XLIB 2011-08-03 21:28

Meaning that the stuff isn't rightfully his if someone else needs it more than he does?

+38 # brucezell 2011-08-03 15:30

The blatantly shameless repubs don't care that they are blatantly shameless. Our facist gov is well on it's way to becoming a banana republic. There will be the very rich and the very poor, nothing in between. The only chance we have is to remove these shameless bastards from office in 2012!

+28 # in deo veritas 2011-08-03 17:07

In the context of the issue at hand, WE THE PEOPLE paid for it with OUR money and were not allowed a seat at the table!

+5 # ALinSTL 2011-08-03 21:20

BUT DON'T YOU SEE, THEY CONSIDER IT,"... a Governmentt of "US" PEOPLE, by "US" PEOPLE & for "US" PEOPLE"...AND THEY DON'T INCLUDE US IN THEIR "US"...WE'RE TO BECOME THEIR INDENTURED PEONS IN ORDER TO AFFORD THEM THEIR PRIVILEGED, ELITIST LIVESTYLES...& YOU JUST KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO REPEAL THE 13th, 14th, 15th & 19th AMENDMENTS ONCE THEY TAKE FULL POWER...THEY WILL...

+8 # in deo veritas 2011-08-03 17:09

In banana republics, governments like what this one is becoming are removed without having elections. Granted it doesn't change things for the better usually, but at least the people have the guts to stand up for themselves. Those who want to turn this into that kind of country had better think twice.

+8 # photojack53 2011-08-03 20:09

You nailed it! How many countless thousands of Americans have had their finances DESTROYED while these EVIL Repugnicans play their dirty political games? They prolonged the high unemployment, lengthened the foreclosure crisis and delayed Obama's recovery attempts irreparably hurting our citizens, myself included. Look up "swiftboating" and "astroturfing" on wikipedia to see the UNCONSCIONABLE acts this party routinely does to hurt this country's citizens and our economy.
VOTE THESE EVIL BUMS OUT OF OFFICE, NOW!
DON'T LET YOUR CHILDREN GROW UP TO BECOME REPUBLICANS!
THINK, OR OUR NATION WILL BE RUINED BY THESE HORRID IDIOTS!

+57 # James Knight 2011-08-03 15:31

Carl: You used the word "assistance" in describing Medicare and Social Security. This is wrong. It is not "assistance." It is based on the proceeds of funds deducted from our paychecks to be used to buy us insurance to cover health issues and living expenses once we retire. For those who don't know, 1.45% is deducted from each of your paychecks as contributions to Medicare. 6.2% (4.2% this year after the President and Dems caved to Republicans) is also deducted from each paycheck as contributions toward retirement. And your employer matches both of these amounts as part of your pay package. So---this is our money. It is not, as the Republicans keep suggesting, welfare or socialism. Please call it what it is---Medicare and Social Security are paid for out of our hard earned money. It is not "assistance."

+9 # Smilinglady 2011-08-03 20:25

Also unemployment. These programs are paid for with our own earned paychedks. And, when we receive any of these compensatory payments, we circulate the cash within our local economy...keeping our locals afloat. When these programs get cut, so do our local communities' cash flow.

+4 # justsayn 2011-08-04 10:49

Unemployment is actually funded by the employer, not the employee. So unless you own a business that employees people making 7k or more throughout the fiscal year, you do not pay for unemployment benefits.

Operating as a federal-state partnership, UC is based on federal law, but administered by the states. The UC program is unique among U.S. social insurance programs in that it is funded almost totally by either federal or state taxes paid by employers.

Just a quick clip to corroborate statement:
"Currently, employers pay federal unemployment taxes of 6.2 percent on the first $7,000 earned by each of their employees during a calendar year. These federal taxes are used to cover the costs of administering the UC programs in all states. In addition, the federal UC taxes pay one-half of the cost of extended unemployment benefits (during periods of high unemployment) and provide for a fund from which states may borrow, if necessary, to pay benefits."

+11 # seeuingoa 2011-08-03 15:36

Seen from outside America:
The general Americans are stupid!
The most innovative, entrepreneurish ,
and adventurious of europians emigrated to America in the 1800-185o.
That means they are very innovative, entrepreneurish and adventurious but not
necessarily very clever!
And you will prove it if you re-elect Obama as president in 2012.

Say after me:
Nobel Peace price
Guantanamo
Treatment of Bradley Manning
Taxcut for the rich
bending to the republicans
Come on, Come on
and all this is said with the crying heart of a former all-out supporter of
Obama.

+27 # Isar 2011-08-03 15:54

OK...so the Republicans want to put the middle class back where they "belong"...back to only one chicken in every pot and one car in the garage....and as for the "poor"....well, to quote Dickens, "Are there no work houses?"....I fear the Republicans in Congress don't know important history....(27 of the new Congressman have no education beyond high school--let's not even think of the Michelle Bachman ignorance)...but the Great Russian Revolution came about because the Aristocracy ignored the plight of the peasant. Earlier, the French Revolution came to fruition because of an Aristocracy that basically said "Let them eat cake"....Yes, I know Marie Antoinette probably never said that, but it encompasses the attitude of the rich toward the poor....and this is the attitude of the Republicans in Washington today....Orin Hatch basically said it in his speech in July. So....come the revolution....and it will most certainly come....and our Revolution will be even bloodier....Think of all the people who own guns in this country, and in many states, they can legally carry concealed weapons. Will there be any place to hide? Will the Rich be able to build high enough walls around their properties? WHAT can we do to avoid a revolution in the making?

+32 # Bryan 2011-08-03 15:58

They're trying to destroy the democratic republic in order to return to the Wild West or the feudal system. There is no place in a civil and conscientious society for what these bastards are doing.

+6 # in deo veritas 2011-08-03 17:41

They would have to leave the country to save their worthless hides (if anyone would be low enough to accept them).

+8 # in deo veritas 2011-08-03 17:43

Actually calling them bastards is incorrect as it implies that they deserve to be regarded as humans instead of spawns of primordial ooze.

+7 # maryc 2011-08-03 23:52

It's even worse than wanting to return to the 19th century or feudalism . . . the Religious Right contingent wants to send us back to the Bronze Age. Their economic theories, such as they are, are gleaned from passing references in the Old Testament, as interpreted by them in their vast ignorance of history and human nature.

+5 # wjodon 2011-08-04 05:56

What you've said is unfortunately not even hyperbole. The confluence of peak oil, global warming, and financial strip mining at the expense of infrastructure are destined to crash our industrially based civilization, for real. Such an event will also crash industrially based agriculture and millions will starve. If we do not seize control, we are facing the extinction of our culture if not our race. The narcissists who have control took their Ayn Rand too seriously and actually think that they will survive us in their gated estates in some remote valley. Take a look at the hideaways owned by the Bush administration super-villains. They don't think that they need us. The fact that they are deluded and will not be spared is no comfort.

We need to form a new progressive party, a party of intervention.

+8 # sfnativecrone 2011-08-03 16:17

I would suggest that people look at all of the Dems who voted to pass this. I called Boxer's (CA) office to see how she voted and she voted "yes"! It's not just the Reps. It's almost all of them, including Obama, who are in the corporatists pockets and figure that the rest of us will just close our eyes. We can't do that. We should be emulating Europe and the Middle East--and saying "NO"!

-7 # MidwestTom 2011-08-03 16:22

ad about Greece where all government employees have taken a 30% pay cut, and the educated young are leaving. The result of huge government deficits. We are not yet Greece, but we are on track for interest on the national debt to exceed the defense budget in less than ten years. I have no problem increasing the taxes on those making $1 million and higher, but I want to see real cuts also. The question is where to cut; some ideas for discussion to qualify for a half pay military pension you must be in 24 years; once a women has three children on welfare she gets no additional welfare; pull half of our 70,000 troops out of Europe; make the retirement age 70; design interstate highways to last 50 years, not the current 20 years; eliminate the deductibility of state income taxes; pay social security on everything that one earns.

+4 # SeriousCitizen 2011-08-04 04:29

Actually, for the first time in history, illegal movement across the Canadian border is OUT of the USA and INTO Canada.

+24 # kswsma 2011-08-03 16:34

Carl, you are on the money, well-said.

To #XLIB: it's nOt a question of class envy; it's one of minimal survival level for millions of (once) middle-class americans whom, supposedly, Congress represents, but it doesn't, does it? It protects the wealth of a tiny percentage of very very very rich people and corporations ABOVE ALL ELSE. The implications of the recent budget vote say all that needs to be said. ("There must be no new taxes for the wealthy; let's instead cut the programs the struggling poor depend on.") The gap between the very rich and the working poor is staggering, NEVER so large, and it is growing. When and how do you reverse this without sneeringly calling it "wealth redistribution" or "socialist"? When 1% of the population controls and hoards 99.5% of the country's wealth and pays a smaller percentage of taxes or income than a teacher or janitor earning $35,000??? (That Is unless breaks, loopholes, and waivers allow them to pay no taxes at all.)
Everone who voted for this "deal" should be deeply ashamed, and yes I include Obama and the dems who approved it. Obama dared the Repubs, "call my bluff", they did, and he capitulated. He should have waited until the very last moment Tues., , then by Pres. edict raised the tax ceiling, showing the world what the Repubs were willing to do to the US and international economy to get their way.

+14 # Lou17 2011-08-03 16:54

If you would realize that the Democrats "caving" on every issue important to progressives for the last seven years wasn't caving but serving their corporate masters you could begin to work on getting money out of the political system so that it would serve the public, including bringing public financing of elections, equalizing lobbying power between corporations and public interest advocates, reinstating the fairness doctrine, giving free air time to candidates, breaking up media monopolies, and ensuring network neutrality.

+2 # hms 2011-08-03 17:10

In answer to this question, "sure, if he's a Republican"!

+10 # reiverpacific 2011-08-03 18:09

Very little about "Working Class" or "poor", only 'middle'.
Is it shameful to be "working class" these days, -the folks who actually made a real product to be traded, sold and exported, hopefully for the benefit of all involved including the traders (who now trade abstract quantities based on nothing useful for anybody but themselves).
To "XLIB": Marx's principles stand out as timeless as ever; it's the mind -numbed and follow-my-leader medievalists and patronizing patsies who find it convenient to diss his ideals (remember ideals?) to make a non-point, who are running backwards rather than making progress, with among other things, progressive taxation, which means that the wealthy are prevented from EXCESS -much of it mindlessly destructive of the planet and other species, which NO ONE PERSON, CONGLOMERATE OR GOVERNMENT should have the unfettered freedom to pursue using monopolistic-driven acquisition which really has no end but bottomless greed, at the expense of those of us who are less ambitious for power over others but wish to have the personally-enriching freedom of self-determination in our chosen field(s) using our natural or acquired skills.
I myself have no problem with anybody being financially wealthy. I do have a problem with mindless excess with no accountability!
Capitalism devours, in the end even itself!

+14 # Progressive Patriot 2011-08-03 18:40

"This week, David Frum, one of George W. Bush's speechwriters, accused Republicans of acting like "student radicals" instead of governing appropriately. Even conservatives like Frum recognize the foolishness of cutting federal spending while ignoring America's real deficit - jobs."

But Frum obviously stopped short of admitting that the MAJOR problem we have is the tax cuts that his former boss pushed upon us ... not to mention two wars on _BORROWED_ financing.

+3 # Sandy G 2011-08-03 18:50

Pithy metaphor. I think it will come back and smack them in the face.

+9 # angelfish 2011-08-03 20:00

Beware, fellow Citizens, rumor has it that a bill is being bandied about and Lobbied for in Congress with Congressmen from BOTH sides of the aisle looking to give the Mega-Wealthy Corporations another "TAX Holiday" ala GWB's in 2004 with the promise that Jobs would be made available and that some of their wealth would be shared. HAH! What a laugh, as soon as the deal was done they LAID Workers OFF! Write or call your Congressmen and tell them NOT to give these thieves another PENNY in Tax Relief, they already OWE us BIG Time! Remember on Election Day that it was these Fascists from the K.N.F.P (Koch/Norquist Fascist Party) who are the Puppet-Masters pulling the strings of Boehner, McConnell, Cantor, Graham, De Mint and the rest of their Sycophants!

+7 # photojack53 2011-08-03 20:02

This article really shows the enger and frustration of average Americans. The EVIL Repugnicans are pushing their own mothers off the cliff, to stick by the kooks in the Tea Party who stupidly demand no new taxes. The Repugnicans CREATED this mess and now they've prolonged it past the time it could have been ended. How many countless thousands of Americans have had their finances DESTROYED while these EVIL Repugnicans play their dirty political games? They prolonged the high unemployment, lengthened the foreclosure crisis and delayed Obama's recovery attempts irreparably hurting our citizens, myself included. Look up "swiftboating" and "astroturfing" on wikipedia to see the UNCONSCIONABLE acts this party routinely does to hurt this country's citizens and our economy.
VOTE THESE EVIL BUMS OUT OF OFFICE, NOW!
DON'T LET YOUR CHILDREN GROW UP TO BECOME REPUBLICANS!
THINK, OR OUR NATION WILL BE RUINED BY THESE HORRID IDIOTS!

+6 # giraffee2012 2011-08-03 20:11

If you are in a state with a TP(REP) governor who has TOLD you the Dems will have a hard time voting in 2012 -- OR KNOW of anyone in such a state --- register NOW -- get mail-in ballots and VOTE these creeps OUT in 2012 -- Do no NOT vote PLEASE.

Call your rep/Senators -- that this gang of 12 must not be chosen by Boehner/ the turtle from KY

Justification is each has PROMISED (BRAGGED) they will pick their 6 of those who will not vote for Tax reform (THEY BROKE their promise to enter into a FAIR administration of justice -- etc

VOTE in 2012 PLEASE

+5 # Lou17 2011-08-03 20:12

If you would realize that the Democrats "caving" on every issue important to progressives for the last ten or more years wasn't caving but serving their corporate masters you could begin to work on getting money out of the political system so that it would serve the public, including bringing public financing of elections, equalizing lobbying power between corporations and public interest advocates, reinstating the fairness doctrine, giving free air time to candidates, breaking up media monopolies, and ensuring network neutrality.

+3 # photojack53 2011-08-04 05:19

It is the REPUBLICANS who kowtow the most to their corporate masters. How many countless thousands of Americans have had their finances DESTROYED while these EVIL Repugnicans play their dirty political games? They prolonged the high unemployment, lengthened the foreclosure crisis and delayed Obama's recovery attempts irreparably hurting our citizens, myself included. Look up "swiftboating" and "astroturfing" on wikipedia to see the UNCONSCIONABLE acts this party routinely does to hurt this country's citizens and our economy.
VOTE THESE EVIL BUMS OUT OF OFFICE, NOW!
DON'T LET YOUR CHILDREN GROW UP TO BECOME REPUBLICANS!
THINK, OR OUR NATION WILL BE RUINED BY THESE HORRID IDIOTS!

I totally agree about getting money out of campaigning and the whole political system. It is filled with corruption, mainly from the Repugnicans. The Abramoff scandal mainly netted EVIL Repugnicans!

+4 # wjodon 2011-08-04 06:06

You are so right, Lou17. I am a lifelong democrat but have come to see that I have been deceived by the Kabuki show of a two party political system that has been corrupted by corporate money and propped up by a media that serves the corporatist agenda only.

I would add to the list of corrections the reform of automated balloting using publicly audited software and secure processes.

0 # SeriousCitizen 2011-08-04 04:27

It is important to remember that Americans collectively decided to vote for the Representatives , Senators, and President who did this. Many Americans decided to do this by not voting. Others decided to do this because they liked or believed the advertising. Others decided to do this by voting for the least worst. The bottom line is that we have to stop electing people into power who we know for certain are dishonest and corrupt, who refuse to do their job. Next elections, yes, do vote, but vote for anyone who is not Republican or Democrat. Vote for anyone who does not advertise on TV. TV advertising is ipso facto proof that the candidate is lying based on market research and is proof that they have been bribed to get the money to pay for the ads. Americans need to vote massively and in the majority for 3rd party candidates. It is dumb to vote for DemPublicans.

+4 # Capn Canard 2011-08-04 06:06

SeriousCitizen, I would go a step further and suggest that the two party system is the problem. In our failed system 51% of the vote and EVEN LESS gets 100% of the power. If we had a distributive democracy, say like most of Europe and Japan, then we'd have a means to find out what the citizens of the USA actually wanted. Instead we have a clusterf#ck of stupidity and a mediocre media that is supportive of power and consequently pompously tells us what we want based on less than 50% of what eligible voters want, and then those who "win" are effectively less than 25% of the voting population. Voting should be mandatory and progressive as per parliamentary procedure system like Japan, France, England, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, etc etc etc. Otherwise power stays in the hands of the Ultra Wealthy, aka Nobility, Royalty, The Church, Banksters, Corporatists et al. The PEOPLE AREN'T DUMB, our system inequitably favors the POWER OF WEALTH.

-1 # Madison 2011-08-04 06:49

The problem is that ONCE AGAIN, Obama rolled over to "save the hostages." But he knows that people won't vote for his Republican opponent, because then we'd get even worse. So we don't have the option of replacing the President with somebody better. If the House goes back to the Democrats, you still are held hostage by the Republicans filibustering every single bill in the Senate. And if you got a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate (which is not possible), then you'd have the country pulled too far left. There's no solution in sight now that Congresspeople don't hang out with each other ever so opponents become enemies, and compromise is a dirty word. The best way to get re-elected is to demagogue instead of govern.

+6 # fredboy 2011-08-04 06:58

For the first time in my 60+ years the political spectrum lacks awareness and reasoning, putting all its weight with a political philosophy instead. Thus, no foresight or wisdom is allowed.

You will recall that the first Bush pledge no new taxes, but saw the nation needed a boost and raised them. The radical belief set retaliated, despite the positive results of his decision. As I note, they cannot see reason or understand truth.

All nations that have fallen victim to blind faith in rigid philosophy (in this case it is tantamount to theology, as the radical right most worships its vice-grip hateful beliefs) have fallen, many imploding. Such movements are always led by radical, right wing messianics who pervert thinking to capture the support of the poor and less intelligent. Can you spell "Tea Party"?

+4 # VSweet 2011-08-04 07:00

The REPUBLICANS and T Party is running our nation as though this is their private companies. WE ARE NOT!

The sad part about it is the American people are doing NOTHING about it except blame and blame. Blame the President, Blame the Democrats, etc. Merely useless and non-active and frankly worthless. If there any true blue blooded Americans out there, a peaceful and mass demonstration to Washington, D.C. should take place to let Boehner, the Republicans, T Parties, Democrats known we ARE NOT YOUR private runned businesses,

WE elected you and WE ARE THE PEOPLE!!

WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF YOUR POMPOUS ATTITUDES AND CHILD LIKE BEHAVIORS AS the ELECTED OFFICIALS RUNNING OUR COUNTRY. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

+3 # Jeff C 2011-08-04 11:12

Carl,

Your article is both powerful and convincing. If the President had simply mustered the courage to communicate essentially the same message with the same level of skill and commitment, we might not be having this discussion.

+4 # GravityWave 2011-08-04 14:40

"Come 2012 I will not do anything for President Obama in regards to helping him get reelected other than show up on election day, plug my nose and vote for the lessor of two evils.

The lesser of two evils will probably be Obama. Are you going to vote for Bachmann or Gingritch, or any of the other Repug mental giants?

AT this point, the worst Dem. is far, FAARR superior to any Repug. But a lesson Dems need to learn is not to split the vote. We get bombed every time we do that.
Besides the presidential election is no place for protest votes under nearly any situation.

Dividing the Dem vote will not help America. Take a lesson from the Repugs and vote and work “religiously.”
This Congress has set up a condition where the Super Congress will probably go the way of all bipartisan actions. Meanwhile the Country is hitting a threshold of anger at the thugs. By the 2012 elections, anger if not narrow mindedness like that of the TP, could give us a plurality in both houses. And Obama can say “the people have spoken.”

How about a new immigration bill that deports traitors bent on rewriting our Constitution. And better separation of church and State. Or let the South secede?

+2 # Doc1 2011-08-04 20:29

As we see they are turning the USAinto the Philippines as a most corrupt religious fanatic country. Welcome to the BANANA REPUBLIC of the USA. The new phillipimes full of nothing but graft and corruption that has doomed their nation. The new marcos party AKA Tea Party

+2 # Archie1954 2011-08-04 20:56

I read the responses to the article and note that no one even mentions the elephant in the room. I'm talking about the outrageous military expenditures. The US military is funded to the same degree as all of the militaries of every other country on earth. That is blatant stupidity and evidence that something is rotten in the state of Denmark or at least in the city of Washington. Please explain to me why the US has to spend that much on its military? Was the country so frightened of 18 Muslim men that it had to outspend the rest of the world on armaments to be able to sleep at nights? So much for "home of the brave"! Of course the people's priorities such as jobs, good healthcare and decent pensions are going to suffer when the military holds first, second and third priorities of the government.

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