Obama's NAFTA moment: Reaganism under a Democratic Banner

[Tom Rinaldo]

Cut the size of Government, give taxpayers back their money, depend on the private sector for solutions to whatever ails us. Our nation is still in the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression because of failed Right Wing policies, and Obama has now come fully around to pushing the Republican backed response; more cut taxes.

Obama partially caved on the first stimulus package and cut back on direct government job creating investment in key initiatives in order to carve out hundreds of billions more in tax cuts, cuts that few even know he even gave them. The result was insufficient stimulus and vastly hyped up fears about the growing Federal deficit, leading to the current virtual red light on any more new federal expenditures, even ones "fully paid for" with savings elsewhere.

Now Obama hammers Democrats to back adding virtually a trillion dollars more to the deficit over the next two years, the overwhelming majority of it the result of more tax cuts with zero spending on our infrastructure. That's Reaganism, pure and simple. It's a total Democratic ideological capitulation, with far reaching negative implications for average Americans. This is Obama's NAFTA moment. The Democratic Party got on baord for that ride also. Tighten your seat belts, we're going down.

[yourout]

1. He is making a mistake of epic proportions that 10 years from now will be vilified.

[Tom Rinaldo]

4. I know it is strong words, I know it's even fighting words

I fully expected Obama's most loyal supporters to rate this thread down, and from that perspective I can't blame them. I do not equate Obama with Reagan, let alone the current Republican leadership. But this tax compromise that he is now backing IS Reaganism. A rose by another name and all of that...

He does this at a time when the Right wing is already emboldened to go after government as an institution, not just government funded programs. He does this when even the underlying rational for government giving unemployment benefits to those who lose their jobs and can't replace them during a severe economic downturn is under sharp attack. He does this when the Bi-partisan commission on the economy that he appointed already tried to propose shrinking the American economic safety net through sharp reductions in funding WITHOUT any new tax cuts adding to the deficit. He does this when the minimum wage is being slashed in Ireland and college tuition in Great Britain is being tripled because of belt tightening measures.

Emptying the govenment coffers as a tactic to force the shrinking of government to get it out of the way of the private sector is pure Reaganism, and this proposal is a straight forward expression of it.

[disillusioned73]

6. 10 years??? Make that 1.5 years....

when the Pubs will be in full national debt OUTRAGE mode for the 2012 elections.... and all the 'I told you sos' from the liberals/progs. will be little solace for what we are headed for..

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. This will all, every last penny, be known as Obama's deficits

No contrary explanations will be heard above the din. And they will say that even as they push to make the tax cuts permanent. They will not feel any shame.

[Lasher]

10. And when the economy finally rebounds somewhat despite the Bush/Obama tax cuts for the wealthy,

it will be because of Bush/Obama trickledown, etc etc etc.

[Tom Rinaldo]

11. These talking points are so well rehersed...

...even W wouldn't have needed a secret earphone to recite them.

[Poboy]

2. recommend

[madrchsod]

3. ya it`s gimmie shelter time that is for sure and...

it`s not going to be pretty.

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. When Clinton was pushing NAFTA a lot of Demopcrats were asleep at the wheel

We could use a few million alarm clocks going off right about now.

[Gin]

8. heard on NPR that this complaining by the "left" is helping him

triangulate...so...we are damned if we do and damned if we don't...

nothing will change the minds of the congress..it will pass....UI should never have been tied to tax cuts....that in itself was a trap for us....how could we complain when it means UI won't be there.....

I surrender...I give up..you won Obama.

[Tom Rinaldo]

9. I reluctantly agree that there is nothing that will work now to undo this now

But the sooner the counter narrative gains voice and is heard, the quicker damage control can begin. Much like the Iraq war in a way.

[gratuitous]

12. NAFTA wasn't so bad

Once they got those environmental and labor side agreements worked out and adopted, it was great! Jobs coming out our ears; workers given the best conditions, paid properly and on time; and the Rio Grande along the maquiladora section? Fine wine should taste as good as the water there.

Wait; what?