The Disturbing List of The Latest Republican Demands.
By Thom Hartmann A...
On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had to delay a crucial vote on unemployment benefits so that Republican lawmakers could finalize their list of demands. Although Democrats want to extend long-term unemployment benefits for 11 months with no strings attached, Conservative senators only want a three month extension, and they want the cost of the program off-set with more austerity measures. Among the proposals, which will likely be offered as amendments to the final plan, are some of the most inhumane ideas ever dreamed up by the Republican party.
According to a senior Democratic aide, in exchange for helping out-of-work Americans, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell would like to deny healthcare to millions with a one-year delay of Obamacare. Senator Kelly Ayotte would like to put the cost of an extension on the backs of immigrant children, by making it impossible for their parents to claim a child tax credit. And, Senator Rob Portman wants to cut Social Security benefits for the few Americans who receive disability benefits and unemployment assistance – a measure that would save a meager $100 million dollars a year.
Rather than asking the wealthy to pay more, or closing a few corporate tax loopholes, Republicans think that the cost of unemployment insurance should be paid by sick people, children, and the disabled. To make matters worse, some Democrats are going along with these ideas in an effort to restore the financial lifeline that 1.4 million out-of-work Americans rely on. It shouldn't have even come to this.
When Republicans were in power, they extended these important benefits multiple times with no strings attached. Now, however, they're using this emergency as an opportunity to inflict more pain on the American public – for the sole purpose of blaming that pain on our President. Austerity has never and will never benefit our economy, and this Republican political hostage-taking is causing real damage to millions of American lives.
Comments
#2
I heard that Issa is trying to subpoena a guy named G. Washington for his coming hearings about the Christie situation. Maybe he'll get the study protocol and data that were collected as well?
#3
It's just another Reich Wing trick to blame more hardship on President Obama. But, why stop there?
Reich Wing talking points 101 -- "Thanks Obama!"
(warning - language advisory)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkQxHlr2fXM
(Sorry for making light of such a serious situation. However, like Thom said, the Republican demands would be laughable if they weren't so serious. Perhaps what the Democrats need to do is to laugh in the Republicans face.)
#4
Quote Thom Hartmann:and this Republican political hostage-taking is causing real damage to millions of American lives.
Maybe millions of Americans should do real damage to these damn republicans.
#5
Bill Clinton declared that "there is NO excuse" for long-term unemployment, and America applauded. We agreed that any aid provided must be strictly time-limited to "serve as an incentive to get up every morning and get a job." When we require this of some who have the greatest barriers to employment, it would be an insult to expect less of working class Americans. Right?
#6
Well, yes, the middle class has felt this way about the poor for years. We have a stunningly rigid class system in the US today. The rich think of the working class the way the working class thinks of those who have been pushed out.
#7
Quote SHFabian:When we require this of some who have the greatest barriers to employment, it would be an insult to expect less of working class Americans. Right?
SHFabian ~ Wrong! You are talking apples and oranges. That was 1996, this is 2014. As far as the job market and unemployment is concerned between then and now you might as well be talking about two different planets. Stop trying to oversimplify the situation to justify greed and ignorance. In 1996 indeed there was "NO excuse" for long-term unemployment. Today there is NO possibility for long-term employment; unless, you consider working two to three minimum wage jobs as the just and moral equivalent of working one living wage job.
#8
Thom, it's long past time for you to start calling them what they are: Repugnicans.
#9
As a voter that voted for Ronny the Great GOP leader. I am here to say that I have left the GOP several years back for the numerous dangerous to America policies. Most do not want to admit that the GOP members are pushing and all out WAR against America. They are practicing a scorched earth form of politics that is designed to destroy. They will continue this as long as they are allowed to by the American people and our military. WHich by the way the Military takes an oathe to serve and protect the Untied States Constitution against both Foriegn and DOMESTIC TERRORIST! One can easily argue that the GOP as a whole meet the qualifications to be declared Domestic Terrorist. As such they need to be treated accordingly or they will destroy this country.
#10
Reply to #1: I agree, it is a very disturbing list. It does reflect the ongoing economic terrorism meant to cause harm to Obama, but he is not the "sole purpose" of this Teapublican austerity madness.
There exist many other targets and motivations including, union busting, private acquisition of government, "we the people," properties at bargain basement prices....Detroit, default deregulation do to insufficient funding of environmental and financial protection agencies, concentration of wealth by the Fascist owners of the entire Republican Party and at least half of the Democrats, etc.
"We economists knew austerity wouldn't work. It was sheer ideology....a view that you have been sinners and you need redemption through pain" ......Nobel Prize-winning economist, Joseph Stiglitz
His fellow Nobel Prize- winning economist, Paul Krugman is in total agreement.
#11
I am so ashamed that Rob Portman is a Senator from my State. I cannot believe that he would think it is okay to take money from the poor and let the rich keep their ill-gotten gains, so to speak.
It is time for the People to stand up and get their Representatives and Senators to really start working for the People... ALL the People, not the Corporations called "People" by the SCOTUS.
I cannot believe that the GOP thinks that they can screw the American People. As the kid on a commercial says, "Dis-Guss-Ting!
#12
These bastards need to be brought to heel. I don't care how it is done. It needs to be done now.
#13
Indeed they are.
#14
Hi All,
I've been away for awhile putting together Youtube clips and comments on my Political Blog and Website. I am from Wisconsin and put together a site exposing Governor Scott Walker and Paul Ryan for the purpose of enlightening Wisconsinites as well as the whole country on how these two corporate tea party shills, posing as Republicans, have been the leading parties the Koch Brothers have been using, and bribing with super pac money, to put the screws to the average american citizen.
I did so with the intent to discredit them with their own words hoping that if I could build enough traffic to the site, enough people will get out the vote to vote these bastards out of office...
Regarding the unemployment issue, I just put up a youtube from my congressman Ron Kind from Wisconsin, who represents Wisconsin's third district and is serving in Washington DC.
Here is a link to that page https://sites.google.com/site/teapartygovernorplayinggames/home
Under it, is a link to an article and video of an interview with Governor Scott Walker where in he states he is against the extension of unemployment benifits and, more or less blames the unemployed for being lazy and not looking hard enough for a job in a jobless market.
#15
Ray, I commend you for leaving the GOP. But I hope you're being sarcastic in your reference to "Ronny the Great GOP leader". I hated him as governor of California and saw nothing but trouble in his initial bid for the presidency. Unfortunately my premonition was spot-on. Once that senile actor became president, trouble is exactly what we got. The damage he inflicted on the social fabric of this country lingers on, decades later, with no end in sight. Reagan's deregulation rampage paved the way for many of the problems we're deaing with right now. I hope I'm dead and buried long before another one of these evil clowns gets into the White House. - Aliceinwonderland
#16
Gore Vidal is correct calling us the United States of Amnesia. The Republican party in my 72 years of life have been for, by, and of the wealthy and multi-national corporations and big banks. There are a few Democrats that really should be Republican and most all in Washington,DC could care less about the poor, elderly, sick, infirm, homeless and starving 70% of America's population. It seems that the Republican party of today would be much happier if my forefathers had lost the Revelutionary War with King George III and we could have work houses and debtors prisons. And yet we as a nation keep re-electing these (excuse the expression) people back in office and we expect them to suddenly change and take notice of we the people. TSK, TSK! Silly American People with severe Amnesia. Wars have been waged for far less provocation and very bloody ones at that on this very soil. Just my opinion, of course.
#17
My only quible with this fine piece is that you think republicans/we/government should "ask" the rich to pay more.
I see the same word "ask" used by other progressive pundits - Paul Krugman for example.
We must TELL the rich to pay more. If we simply "ask", they'll say "NO" or just ignore the request.
Our government has no problem in TELLING the 99% what to pay, why on earth must the government ASK the 1% to pay more?!
Tell them to pay, or I'll tell them where to go!
#18
No. Those 1996 policies remain in effect, supported by those still in the middle class. I was actually speaking against greed and ignorance. True, we have been transitioning into a bottom-wage, temp/short term job market for decades. You are mistaken in saying that in 1996, there actually was no excuse for long-term unemployment. Did you honestly think there were plenty of jobs for all who wanted one (not asked sarcastically, but am honestly wondering if people had this misperception). At no point in recent decades have we had jobs for all who need one, and this (job loss) significantly increased with Clinton's NAFTA. Reality is that not everyone can work, due to health or circumstances, and there simply aren't jobs available to all who need one. The last I heard, there are 7 jobs for every 10 people in desperate need of a job. So, what should we do with the remaining 3, those left out? America did agree that any aid provided must be short-term to serve as an incentive "to get up every morning and find a job." What I am saying is that it defies logic to expect less of American workers than we require of some of the most disadvantaged. Maybe we need to decide at what point a worker becomes a non-person, undeserving of aid. I have strongly disagreed with this agenda, but we're stuck with what the majority wants.
#19
Hello Thom,
I have wanted you to run for president since the first year I started listening to you. And I still want you to run! For the simple fact that the economy is the most important piece of our government and you seem to have an excelent grasp on what that entails.
If every one worked our government could afford all the safety net programs, healthcare, social Security, infrastructure, and foreign aid programs and still reduce our budget deficit. The Republicans have killed every jobs program that President Obama has proposed because they cannot allow a black Democratic President to succeed. they do not care what damage they cause our courtry as long as they can claim President Obama failed.
Aside from the fact that Republicans would like to put everyone who earns less than $100,000/year into slave labor camps we all know that their healthcare program is "Don't get sick. If you do get sick, die quickly." unless you're over the earning threshold, then you should be pampered and waited on by your slaves.
While reading the online comments on the budget deal just signed by congress today someone said that giving money to those out of work would add to inflation, which gave me a thought. Corporate taxes should be tied to the amount of profit. If a corporation is making 100% profit (doubling the amount spent to produce their product) they should pay 35% of that in taxes and every 10% more should increase their taxes by 10% (if they make 110% they pay 45% in taxes) an on up. And management salaries should not be deductable or included in the cost of producing the product, It would seem that this formula would de-incentivise raising prices for the product and at least help to de-incentivise the income disparity between CEOs and workers.
Sincerely,
William Manners
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