Obama Meets Occupy Wall Street

[jefferson_dem]

Obama Meets Occupy Wall Street
—By Siddhartha Mahanta

| Tue Dec. 6, 2011 11:52 AM PST

In a speech delivered at Osawatomie, Kansas today, President Obama debunked trickle-down economics, punctured the myth of the unregulated paradise, and slammed a Republican party fixated on making life better for the top 1 percent.

Calling for new investments in education and technology, Obama took it right to Republicans, defending his efforts to reform Wall Street, protect consumers through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and craft a more progressive tax code as part of a larger project to rebuild the Middle class. And his data points jibed with the income inequailty compliants that have beeen raised by Occupy Wall Streeters:

In the last few decades, the average income of the top one percent has gone up by more than 250%, to $1.2 million per year. For the top one hundredth of one percent, the average income is now $27 million per year. The typical CEO who used to earn about 30 times more than his or her workers now earns 110 times more. And yet, over the last decade, the incomes of most Americans have actually fallen by about six percent.

This kind of inequality—a level we haven’t seen since the Great Depression—hurts us all. When middle-class families can no longer afford to buy the goods and services that businesses are selling, it drags down the entire economy, from top to bottom. . . . Inequality also distorts our democracy. It gives an outsized voice to the few who can afford high-priced lobbyists and unlimited campaign contributions, and runs the risk of selling out our democracy to the highest bidder. And it leaves everyone else rightly suspicious that the system in Washington is rigged against them - that our elected representatives aren’t looking out for the interests of most Americans.

<SNIP>

http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/12/obama-meets-occupy-wall-street?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Motherjones%2Fmojoblog+%28MotherJones.com+%7C+MoJoBlog%29

[flpoljunkie]

Mother Jones' chart makes this income equality very clear

[tosh]

13. GREAT chart....Thanks!!

I've been on the lookout for a chart with annual income numbers.

[flpoljunkie]

1. Dupe!

[HughBeaumont]

2. Right. Trickle down is a scam. That being said . . .

. . . when are the tax cuts for the wealthy going bye-bye?

I'm all-anticipated eyes and ears on that one.

You know, unless there's some fine print in this little contract titled "Democracy" which dictates the wealthy indeed DO rule this country with an iron fist?

[Remember Me]

3. Well, let's see if anything goes beyond just pretty words from him

I won't be holding my breath.

[Name removed]

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[slay]

7. Um.. there are many of us who no longer take Obama at his word

and rightfully so going on his actions of the last 3 years. i'm not even sure he'd be saying this if it wasn't an election year in 2012.

So, you say we should start paying attention - where exactly should we start? At the point he gave tax cuts to the top 1%? you do remember when he did that right? i'm going on his ACTIONS because even though he gives great speeches, his actions have fallen far, far short of what is needed.

[tridim]

10. It's because you're not paying attention to reality.

Sorry to be so frank.

Your comment about the Bush tax cuts proves it. You should read what actually happened with that and then you'd know what happened.

[TheWraith]

11. Funny how all of them so love the "just pretty words" right-wing meme.

Of course at the same time when he's working with Congress they go off and scream "BULLY PULPIT BULLY PULPIT!"

[jberryhill]

15. Well, they got all this stuff twirlin around in their head...

[Number23]

18. HA!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Johnny2X2X]

29. Not happy either

But, honestly, what were Obama's options in most cases? He's actually done some good and fought for the middle class, but he's faced unprecedented opposition from the Republicans and little support from the Democrats.

Is he what I wanted as President? Not exactly, but he has tried and this speech signals a renewed effort to play hard ball.

Obama has positioned himself and the Democratic Party in a strong position due to the budget cut wars, they have the upper hand and it's time to cash in or if he still can't do that to expose the Republicans further for who they are and what they really stand for. I expect several high profile fights in the next several months that define just where both parties stand on issues vital to the average American. His whole presidency has been about gearing towards these fights and he finally has the hand to play and win.

[Remember Me]

31. What were Obama's options in most cases?

Oh, goodness. I won't go into specifics (well, a couple), but in general, PLENTY. Here are just a few:

1. Learn to negotiate! Get help on this! So you don't give away important stuff (e.g., the public option) before the negotiations even begin. And you learn when to see that people aren't negotiating "in good faith," and you learn what to do about it.

2. Realize that you can't reason with (or negotiate with) people who are extremists, sociopaths, and intent on NOT allowing there to be any compromise whatsoever.

3. Follow through on your campaing promises.

4. Don't play with women's reproductive rights.

5. Don't bash your base and don't allow the sad and sorry Napolean-complex help to do it either.

Etc., etc., etc.

[dennis4868]

8. you act as if...

Obama is a kign and can change the tax structure on hos own without a congress....OBAMA IS NOT A KING! Vote in real progressives to make real change. Seriously, I really believe many here think Obama can make changes to tax law on his own....i don't think they understand what congress is supposed to do. I am not holding my breath for congress (but if they do come through I know Obama will).

[tblue]

4. "In a speech..."

It's a start. But only a start. I don't believe what I hear anymore, sorry.

[jenmito]

14. We'll all get over your disappointment, I'm sure.

:rofl:

[Bodhi BloodWave]

26. Don't you just love the mindset tho

Bully pulpit, bully pulpit....its just pretty words, i don't trust what he says anylonger

[Skittles]

28. SPEAK FOR YOURSELF

[dionysus]

30. OKAY, WE WILL.

:rofl:

[slay]

6. I wish Obama was like this more often

and not just in election years.

[dennis4868]

9. he's been talking this stuff...

for 3 years....what utter BS from some DUers...they believe what they want to believe to go along with what the PL and Michael Moore tell the to believe....sad.

[TheWraith]

12. Some people just don't want to listen.

So they conveniently ignore the repeated stump campaigns around the country to push HCR, to push financial reform, to talk about the economy, to talk about the stimulus...

To some people, those hundreds and hundreds of speeches similar to this one just never happened.

[Number23]

19. I really wish you all would just ignore people like that

There are more than a few people on DU that aren't worth responding to anymore. Just let them wallow in their ignorance -- alone.

[Name removed]

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[jberryhill]

16. There's an election this year?

[slay]

23. In less than 365 days

there is.

[polichick]

17. Talk is cheap but it's a start...we'll see (and keep fingers crossed).

[indepat]

25. If only BHO had governed as progressively as his rhetoric would seem to suggest,

Democrats would imo now hold a substantial margin in the House of Representatives, a larger margin in the Senate and, further, would sweep the presidency and both Houses of Congress in 2012 in record numbers, again imo. Of course these hypotheticals are but one bunny's take which might be missing the mark in all accounts. :patriot:

[Remember Me]

32. PERFECTLY put

Thanks for articulating it that way: If only BHO had governed as progressively as his rhetoric would seem to suggest,

[Skittles]

27. finally a president acknowledging we are on to them

WORK FOR US, GOD DAMMIT