They've Got Our Backs
As the economy falters and the Obama administration flails about while "Main St" languishes, it's comforting to know a strong opposition party is there to protect the interests of ordinary Americans. Case in point:
- Trade Policy: Republicans in the Senate are up in arms over Obama's failure to move unconditionally and expeditiously on free-trade agreements with South Korea, Columbia and Panama. "At a time when 14 million Americans are looking for work, they actually want to hold off on these known job-creating agreements in exchange for a green light to spend more money. It's astonishing," McConnell said. Because nothing says "Jobs" like free-trade with Columbia, Panama and South Korea.
- Meanwhile, on the campaign trail: Tim Pawlenty introduced his candidacy by offering the wealthy a cut in their tax rates from 35% to 25%. Right now, people making over $10m per year pay about 21% of their income in taxes. So Pawlenty is obviously in sync with the American worker who finds this tax burden his wealthy neighbors offensive and would prefer they spent that money on cheap immigrant labor.
- Bank Profits: On an issue that is so critical that Senate Republicans have joined forces with a number of Democrats, Sen. Corker is working around the clock to stave off the capping of debit card fees at 12 cents per transaction. “We have people on both sides of the aisle that realize this policy is detrimental,” Corker said on the Senate floor. Clearly, when it comes to the health of Main Street, bank profits trump the earnings of retailers, and no one senses this more than Mr. Joe Sixpack.
posted by ziel | 6/07/2011 09:20:00 PM
6 Comments:
Of course, this is really more a matter of Democrats betraying their ostensible principles than Republicans, since free trade and giving tax cuts to the wealthy have always been conservative positions.
free trade and giving tax cuts to the wealthy have always been conservative positions.
No, free trade and giving tax cuts to the wealthy have always been Republican positions. If you really paid attention to such things you'd recognize the significance.
A balanced budget amendment had always been the Republican position. The Neocons introduced the concept of cutting taxes regardless of the deficit - thus the Reagan tax cuts of the 80's. Still, Reagan agreed to raise taxes twice after the initial cut in recognition that it went too deep.
Free-trade was also not a Republican issue historically - again, it only became so with the rise of free-market fundamentalism in the party.
In the 19th century Republicans were very protectionist. It was a point of contention between the South and North. The South wanted to export commodities to Britain and buy manufactured products in return. The Northern industrialists were opposed.
I think that always we have a means to avoid all these differences and it is the communication, I think if they have communication everything goes on the way.
Well, I don't actually consider this is likely to have success.
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