Dorgan: Earmark ban 'a complete charade'

[kpete]

Source: The Hill

Dorgan: Earmark ban 'a complete charade'
By Elise Viebeck - 11/28/10 10:17 AM ET

Outgoing Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) said Sunday that the earmark ban spearheaded by ascendant Tea Party Republicans is a "complete charade" because it will not affect the budget.

Dorgan appeared outgoing Rep. David Obey (D-Wisc.) on CNN's "State of the Union," where they discussed the proposed moratorium.

"It's a complete charade," Dorgan said. "You can get rid of every single earmark. It's not going to change one cent in federal spending. It's a charade trying to direct attention over here when the big issue is an unsustainable fiscal policy put in place largely by the 2001 tax cuts."

He called Republicans dishonest for acting as if the earmark issue is a large part of fiscal policy.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/130811-dorgan-earmark-ban-a-complete-charade-

[handmade34]

1. both he and Obey were great

the charade is the ridiculous inequality in this country and the peoples' continuing support of it

from: http://toomuchonline.org/

Quote of the Week
“The rich are always going to say that, you know, just give us more money and we’ll go out and spend more and then it will all trickle down to the rest of you. But that has not worked the last 10 years, and I hope the American public is catching on.”
Warren Buffett


Inequality Index

· Percentage of U.S. total income in 1976 that went to the top 1% of American households: 8.9.
· Percentage in 2007: 23.5.
· Only other year since 1913 that the top 1 percent’s share was that high: 1928.
· Combined net worth of the Forbes 400 wealthiest Americans in 2007: $1.5 trillion.
· Combined net worth of the poorest 50% of American households: $1.6 trillion.
· U.S. minimum wage, per hour: $7.25.
· Hourly pay of Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon, for an 80-hour week: $27,034.74.
· Average hourly wage in 1972, adjusted for inflation: $20.06.
· In 2008: $18.52.


Normalized to 1979, the top 1% have seen their share of America's income more than double. The bottom 90% have seen their portion shrink.


If you aren't in the top 1%, then you're getting a bum deal

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/15-charts-about-wealth-and-inequality-in-america-2010-4#if-you-arent-in-the-top-1-then-youre-getting-a-bum-deal-15#ixzz16axkEQkD

[geckosfeet]

3. In great deference to Mr.Buffet - the trickle down hoax started with raygun.

It has been 30 years.

Yeah. Look at the time lines on those charts.

[No Elephants]

6. +1 Apparently, neither Dems nor Pubs can bring themselves to accuse St Ronnie of anything.

[geckosfeet]

2. Snicker. Yeah - and so what? Like we didn't know that. Why didn't you and all the dems

shout that from the rooftops before 11/2/2010?

[No Elephants]

4. Dorgan is, IMO, one of the better ones, but your point is spot on, nonetheless..

D.C. is full of kabuki theaters.

[Mz Pip]

5. Of course it is.

But I still think the Dems need to call their bluff and go ahead with a ban on earmarks. States rights!!!! Let those Red States pick up the tab for things the the federal government pays for and see how the teabaggers like it.

I truly believe these idiots don't understand how government works. Maybe it's time for a lesson.

[No Elephants]

7. Earmarks are only a small part of avenues by which feds aid the states.

(Or, to be more specific and accurate, only a small fraction of money that gets transferred to red states from residents of blue states.)

[Blandocyte]

8. Talk of ending earmarx was just a PR campaign

Another buzzword that has a definition that is more than the people who get their views from Fox and talk radio realize. I hate our slide into dumbassedness, but there's nothing I can do except to learn to try to keep my blood pressure down about it.

In the meantime, I will sing the line, "Ha ha, charade you are," and recall a time when the average dumbass didn't have a 24/7 greek chorus mouthpiece of the rich telling them what their opinions should be.

[Laelth]

9. Nice Pink Floyd allusion. Well said. n/t

-Laelth

[Supersedeas]

10. the "24/7 greek chorus mouthpiece of the rich" will not be denied