Democrats should start talking about GOP shakedown
ROBERT REICH
San Francisco Chronicle
March 6, 2011
You can't fight something with nothing. But as long as Democrats refuse to talk about the almost unprecedented buildup of income, wealth and power at the top - and the refusal of the superrich to pay their fair share of the nation's bills - Republicans will convince people it's all about government and unions.
Republicans claim to have a mandate from voters for the showdowns and shutdowns they're launching. Governors say they're not against unions, but voters have told them to cut costs, and unions are in the way. House Republicans say they're not seeking a government shutdown but standing on principle. "Republicans' goal is to cut spending and reduce the size of government," says House leader John Boehner, "not to shut it down." But if a shutdown is necessary to achieve the goal, so be it.
The Republican message is that bloated government is responsible for the lousy economy that most people continue to experience. Cut the bloat, and jobs and wages will return.
Nothing could be further from the truth, but for some reason, President Obama and the Democrats aren't responding with the truth. Their response is: We agree, but you're going too far. Government employees should give up some more wages and benefits, but don't take away their bargaining rights. Private-sector unionized workers should make more concessions, but don't bust the unions. Nondefense discretionary spending should be cut, but don't cut so much.
(Original here.)
San Francisco Chronicle
March 6, 2011
You can't fight something with nothing. But as long as Democrats refuse to talk about the almost unprecedented buildup of income, wealth and power at the top - and the refusal of the superrich to pay their fair share of the nation's bills - Republicans will convince people it's all about government and unions.
Republicans claim to have a mandate from voters for the showdowns and shutdowns they're launching. Governors say they're not against unions, but voters have told them to cut costs, and unions are in the way. House Republicans say they're not seeking a government shutdown but standing on principle. "Republicans' goal is to cut spending and reduce the size of government," says House leader John Boehner, "not to shut it down." But if a shutdown is necessary to achieve the goal, so be it.
The Republican message is that bloated government is responsible for the lousy economy that most people continue to experience. Cut the bloat, and jobs and wages will return.
Nothing could be further from the truth, but for some reason, President Obama and the Democrats aren't responding with the truth. Their response is: We agree, but you're going too far. Government employees should give up some more wages and benefits, but don't take away their bargaining rights. Private-sector unionized workers should make more concessions, but don't bust the unions. Nondefense discretionary spending should be cut, but don't cut so much.
(Original here.)
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