What is the Democratic Party solution to economic inequality?

[kentuck]

It has been reported in the last couple of days that the wealthiest 85 people in the world have as much wealth as 3.5 billion people that walk this earth.

Everyday we see reports of how much the top 1% in this country has accumulated in wealth, even as more and more Americans slip into poverty.

Some are recommending an increase in the minimum wage to $10.00 + an hour. Even if that were passed, the minimum wage would still be less than it was in 1968 in constant dollars.

What should be the Democratic Party solution?

[Autumn]

1. A few speeches about it?

[Puzzledtraveller]

56. ^^this^^

And the TPP.

[Warpy]

76. No shit, the Wall Street Democrats

still have a stranglehold on the party when it comes to economic issues. Everybody knows the solution--raising taxes on the rich and the corporate while raising the minimum wage to a living level and restoring the safety net--but they're all loath to do it while the cash flow is positive.

[theHandpuppet]

145. Well of course

That's what we should be doing but actually doing it is another thing entirely. Our political purse strings are controlled by Wall Street and their proxies in D.C., most Dems included. I guess I'm just feeling cynical and dejected about whether we can really do anything at all at this point.

[Warpy]

147. All we can do right now is keep waking other people up

so that they're ready when the real crisis hit.

The bursting of the mortgage bubble only hit us, the 99%. We'll have to wait for the one that hits the 1% hard enough to break their power.

It's coming. We know it and they know it. They're just hoping to steal enough to get through it.

[whatchamacallit]

86. +1

[Nay]

115. That's all. Just speeches. While TPP gets slid up our asses sideways. nt

[Octafish]

132. Form a commission and get back to us in 3Q 2016.

Not that we would want to take leadership on this one, or anything.

[geek tragedy]

2. good jobs. nt

[polichick]

3. TPP?

[woo me with science]

32. Yeah, that'll fix it!

As First Way Manny put so well, caring about inequality and pushing the TPP are VIOLENTLY MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.

Fuck the TPP. It's worse than you think.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023401331

The TPP: If you want to see how corporations and government work together to screw their citizenry
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024062919

Why the Tribunals in the TPP are so bad and how we know that.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023216358

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): An Extremist 1% Global Attack - IMPORTANT
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002936339

Thom Hartmann: TPP...fast track to poverty in America
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017169491

Study: Mega-Trade Deal Would Make Most Americans Poorer
http://billmoyers.com/2013/09/17/study-mega-trade-deal-would-make-most-americans-poorer/

TPP Is a Race to The Bottom -- We Need a Race to the Top
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023826847

Charlie Pierce: The TPP is a Million Ton Dunghammer Aimed at the Middle Class
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024340998

Nothing demonstrates the corporate control of our government like the TPP
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4042753

Because corporations don't have enough rights and power: The TPP & "investor rights"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023455457

TPP: Corporate rights expand and democratic rights decrease.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101649524

"A Corporate Trojan Horse": Secretive TPP Trade Pact, Would Rewrite Swath of U.S. Laws
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017159011

How bad is the Intellectual Property Rights Chapter of the TPP? Beyond odious and beneath contempt
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024030797

Secret TPP Deal will void democracy.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023209078

Wikileaks Exposes the TPP as a Capitulation to Corporate Interests
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017159214

TPP: The Terrible Plutocratic Plan
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023314206

TPP -- if this doesn't scare the crap out of you, nothing will. NAFTA ON STEROIDS
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023737075

Obama's TPP Disaster for Labor, Environmental Protections, Consumer Protections, Human Rights, and Democracy Itself
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101734264

Workers Speak Out about the TPP
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017142588

TPP. TPP. TPP. Bad for the U.S., Bad for other countries. Excellent for big Pharma
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024124545

TPP: The Biggest Threat to the Internet You've Probably Never Heard Of
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023092564

The TPP in less than 4 minutes
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024059278

Three Things about the TPP you need to know and share.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017126764

What the TPP means for you regarding the internet
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023734769

Trans-Pacific Partnership undermines health system
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023270583

The TPP's potential impact on the ACA
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024068410

Monsanto, the TPP, and Global Food Dominance.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101679408

Control over food is at stake with Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/112747655

The TPP and ill health
http://www.democraticunderground.com/111644140

Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders): Don't Trade Away Health With The TPP
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023788866

TPP threatens access to generic affordable medicines, say NGOS, Doctors Without Borders
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023182266

Another Reason to Hate TPP: Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023925427

Rep. Zoe Lofgren: TPP 'would lock in really backwards provisions' of copyright law
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024144674

Tobacco "Smoking Gun" Shows Real TPP Agenda
http://www.democraticunderground.com/111640155

Krugman does a no-show on the TPP - Dean Baker rebutts, NC digs deeper.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024193197

"Of The TPP's 29 Draft Chapters, ONLY 5 Deal With Traditional Trade Issues."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024324994

The Corporate Propaganda Machine: TPP Defenders Take To The Internet To Deliver Official Talking Points
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024115535

Not only will Obama's TPP make you and your family poorer, it will make you more unsafe
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024360384

Association of University Faculties: TPP a Trojan Horse
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101674503

By Pushing the TPP, Obama is Extending the Assaults of NAFTA
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024317882

Trade Expert: Why TPP — “NAFTA on Steroids” — Must Be Stopped
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024308737

What is wrong with the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023820069

The Impact of the TPP on One State: Maine
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024275215

Madison Mayor on TPP: 'Enrons Will Become Commonplace'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023892026

Screwing Over America with TPP "FAST TRACK"--Bi-Partisan Senate Does the Deed..
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1269569

13 Cities Mobilized to Shine a Light on TPP: “Don’t Fast Track a Train Wreck – FLUSH the TPP!”
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024037394

Noam Chomsky: The TPP: Corporate Attack on Democracy
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101782234

Noam Chomsky: The TPP: Kicking Away The Ladder (TPP)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017169091

Major Political Donors Have Access to TPP Documents. Everyone Else? Not So Much.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024347897

The TPP: 600+ "Trade Advisors" with access- Practically all of them corporate
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023734647

Industry powers with access to TPP plans lavish money on Congress
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024360863

Preventing TPP essential for all workers.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/01/16/sen-bernie-sanders-lambastes-democrats-and-republicans-over-trans-pacific-partnership/

Bloomberg columnist questions "why the secrecy" surrounding TPP negotiations....
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024211801

TPP: Obama's Free (but not Fair) Secret Trade Agreement
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023182246

Papantonio: Obama MUST Drop the TPP
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017158723

TPP: Poison for Community Resilience
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024335233

Thinking About What the TPP Threatens
http://www.democraticunderground.com/111643896

Bill Moyers: Yves Smith and Dean Baker on Secrets in Trade (TPP)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017155918

Bill Moyers: Why are the contents of the TPP being deliberately kept from the American people?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023964411

The defenders on the TPP: "You don't know that" and "It's just speculation". Bullfuckingshit.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3688119

What TPP will bring: Some Awful NAFTA Chapter 11 Arbritration Cases- and a chart
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3701483

[polichick]

71. I was being facetious.

[woo me with science]

74. I know.

Sorry that didn't come across. I meant to back you up.

[polichick]

88. I'm glad you posted such important info - just don't want you to think...

I've gone over to the dark side.

[Mass]

4. Ask CEOs to pay people more? Send everybody to college (more income, even if more loans to pay back)

Not much more, I am afraid.

[FiveGoodMen]

5. To reach across the aisle in bipartisan friendship

[Le Taz Hot]

50. ^^^

Thread win.

[PowerToThePeople]

6. Not sure about party solution but

an idea I have been hitting around is:

-Drop the dollar. All currently issued dollars become worthless.
-Issue a new currency for international trade. Reimburse any foreign entities for their previous dollars.
-Internally, shift to housing/food/energy credits which can be distributed equally to the public based on population & GDP.
-Keep a Fort Knox style setup with new currency backing these credits (similar to the gold standard)
-Monitor the flow of credits to assign the distribution of natural and "human" resources. Central managed asset distribution based on where it is needed.

[Adrahil]

13. errrr.... no thanks.

I've saved most of my adult life.... I'd be pretty pissed if that all just poofed away.

[PowerToThePeople]

14. How do you know? You may very well be better off.

You have been brainwashed your entire life by the Plutocracy.

Current per capita GDP is $51k/year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29_per_capita

edit - basically your argument, and the argument of many others is:

"I am fully vested in this corrupt , amoral, and unjust economic system. So, you can not change it now."

This is the "I got mine" attitude...

[Adrahil]

19. Yeah, well naturally I'm not interested in....

... embracing considerably less. I didn't inherit what I have, so I don't feel guilty for having it. I'm not exactly floating in buckets of money, though. I generally oppose the "destroy it all ad start over" plans because they rarely fix anything.

The solution, IMO is a focused effort to refocus production and national will away from people making money by moving money and get people back to work building things.

I don't favor equal outcomes. I do favor a fair shake.

[PowerToThePeople]

21. I don't favor equal outcomes. I do favor a fair shake.

And that is truly what this system is. You will not see equal outcomes, but the inputs will be the same. Not everyone can be President, or Brain surgeon, or an NBA superstar, etc. But everyone will be on equal economic footing to compete for those various careers.

In a system similar to what I have described, GWB would never have happened. Rmoney's kids would be competing on equal footing with inner city LA kids for jobs. It evens the playing field.

[Adrahil]

34. But your solution would wipe out everything I've done my whole life. Nt

[PowerToThePeople]

36. Wipe out everything you have done your whole life

Last edited Thu Jan 23, 2014, 08:08 AM - Edit history (1)

Come on now, that is pretty silly...

you have collected a lot of this?



In all reality, that is nothing more than monopoly money. It is no real loss. You are not stripped of your skills, talents, or abilities. You are not stripped of the things you have accomplished that can be used to find employment. You are not stripped of anything of substance.

What you get is a stipend for food, housing, utilities, and probably some recreation credits (to be used for hobbies etc.) Your stipend would be the same as every other citizens.

[hfojvt]

70. uh sure

Except that right now, with that so-called "monopoly money" I can buy things like food, computers, internet services. I can pay for my gas bill. I could, if I wanted to, buy two brand new cars with that "monopoly money" I have saved up over 28 years of working shitty jobs that I hated.

So yeah, losing the equivalent of two brand new cars really is a considerable loss.

But it's cool I guess, since I will still have all the skills and talents that allowed me to get the shitty job I currently have.

Thinking of that, I will now sing a few bars of "Ode to Joy".

[PowerToThePeople]

72. honestly

I am not trying too be inconsiderate here, but it appears you do not have enough assets to be fighting for the other side. I am a little confused as to why you would turn down a gaurantied income, that is likely higher than you have made for your career.

[Warpy]

77. I came up with similar schemes when I was under 30

then the real world intruded.

What might work better is a wealth tax along with a progressive income tax structure. My taxes would go up. Yours would fall. I can afford an increase. It's insane to tax labor for their blood and sweat, insane and cruel.

The progressive tax structure not only ushered in the longest sustained boom the world has ever seen, it also proved a disincentive to greed and a prod to corporations to invest the money in new equipment and new products before Uncle Sam got his hands on it.

This is why Reagan couldn't wait to get rid of it. This is why we need to bring it back.

[PowerToThePeople]

81. You do not know me

You have no idea on my age, education level, carreer, assets, etc. Everyone just ASSumes that I am some poor, uneducated, non-skilled labor. Why else would I be fighting for a Socialist style economic system? Reality is, on all points, you all are likely incorrect.

[Warpy]

85. I said nary a single word about you

However, if the shoe fits, by all means wear it.

And for heaven's sake, don't ever consider the alternative I posted and address that.

[PowerToThePeople]

89. You assumed my taxes would fall

and yours would rise. So, you obviously placed me in a lower income region and below yourself.

I do agree with your ideas, if the plan is to try and salvage a Capitalist Economic system. My point here is that we should not try to salvage a system which is destructive for it's citizens, the environment, and humanity at large.

[hfojvt]

78. you mean

other than the fact that it's based first on wiping out my life savings and second that it could not possibly work.

[TBF]

123. For capitalists that is the only thing of any importance -

the piles of money they have accumulated.

I agree with wiping it out and going to a resource-based economy.

[NCTraveler]

134. "In all reality, that is nothing more than monopoly money."

You completely lost your own argument by saying that.

[NM_Birder]

60. "I got mine"....no

I earned what I have, it has taken a lot of determination and tremendous amount of discipline that I have struggled with my whole life to achieve it, and I'm not ashamed of having it. Enough of what I accomplish is fed into the machine, you can't have my remaining portion. Give me a leader to believe in, one that does what he campaigns he'll do, and I will be like most every other American, and will gladly support slicing off a larger chunk of my accomplishments for the greater good, but my goals are mine, I want more than the minimum survival requirements. The only difference between corrupt, lying administrations are vacation destinations and new china patterns, other than that - the corruption arc has hardly changed in 40 years, only the personality occupying the big chair. Your plan is to throw all the cookies in one jar for "fair" distribution ? no thanks, they suck at that bad enough already.

Your plan would bring corruption to a whole new meaning.

I assume you have nothing, or at least the bare minimum because you have redistributed it to those with less ? ...you know to "even the playing field"

... My experience is that people that use the term "evening the playing field" are unlikely to believe enough in their own philosophy to put it into practice.

[badtoworse]

35. No fucking way!

Sounds great if you don't have a pot to piss in. If you've been prudent; planned and saved, you get shafted. Where is the fairness in that?

[PowerToThePeople]

38. Saved? Saved for what?

Tell me what your savings are going to give you that this plan will not.

[badtoworse]

40. A comfortable retirement instead of subsistence controlled by the government.

Because I've saved and invested prudently, I have the resources to do what I want in retirement. Your plan would destroy the value of my savings and give me only what the government thinks I need. Why would I accept that?

[PowerToThePeople]

41. how much per year

Are you planning on pulling from retirement?

[badtoworse]

42. What difference?

Probably a lot more than your food/energy/ housing credits would be worth. BTW, how much would that be in current dollars?

Your plan is basically Marxism and you can keep it.

[NM_Birder]

65. The freedom to cut my own path.

not the government allotted length of rope to enjoy my "pre-approved amount of freedom".

[PowerToThePeople]

68. that is all you have now

You just do not appear to be able to see it. The only people that live outside of this pre approved freedom are the plutocrats. And, if you are one of them, then too bad - your shit is getting redistributed. Get a job, bum.

[NM_Birder]

69. LOL.......

Christ I needed that laugh, .......for a minute there I thought you were ignorant and foolish enough to believe the BS you suggested.

[ronnie624]

82. Even among liberals and progressives,

concern about the destruction of our biosphere and the future of our civilization receives little more than lip service. Fundamental change to the way humans conduct their economic affairs, is simply too frightening to contemplate. They have been hoodwinked by a lifetime of exposure to capitalist propaganda, into believing that they absolutely 'need' more than what is necessary for a comfortable, secure existence; hoarding more than one needs equals freedom; only the unbridled pursuit of money and material possessions can bring happiness.

Watching our civilization self-destruct, is kind of sad.

[PowerToThePeople]

83. Glad I am not the only one who sees it.

Thank you for your post.

[NM_Birder]

92. "Hoodwinked"

love that word.

People don't "need" anything more than food, shelter, and sleep to survive, .....and of course to tell other people what they do or do not "need".

get off the internet and take a nap, you are needlessly using community resources for personal and therefore unnecessary wasteful purposes, accelerating our civilization's self destructive trajectory.

[ronnie624]

100. There are many things that can bring genuine happiness and a sense of fulfillment:

family, friends, artistic and intellectual pursuits, maintaining one's physical fitness. Working one's fingers to bone in order to secure 'retirement', usually causes a lot of stress for working class people, by taking a person's time from the things that are truly important, like family.

I usually just ignore gratuitous personal references.

[NM_Birder]

109. love makes the world go round.........

but it doesn't pay the bills, put food on the table a roof over your family and it doesn't provide the things I set as goals for my life, one of those goals being material wealth for recreational happiness, another is financial security to enjoy the most life has to offer and the life we built together.

I work hard, make a good living, and am able to provide much more than the minimum essentials for those I love. THAT gives me pleasure, I enjoy working hard, I enjoy the fruits of my labor, and I especially enjoy being able to share and provide as many opportunities as I can for the woman I love, opportunities I can provide because of the choices I've made and the determination I've held.

That is the beauty of the United States, ...you can go as far as you want, and as far as you are willing to strive.
and you can also- believe I should be content with the government allotted level of success and happiness.

better tomorrows, Don't bother trying to make me feel ashamed for wanting the most opportunities I can possibly get out of life, I'm not ashamed, I will continue to strive for the most I can secure.

good luck.

[ronnie624]

114. As expected,

your post ignores the damage done to our biosphere as a result of our wasteful, consumerist economy, as well as the harm done to other people in the world who suffer as a result of having their resources and labor absconded with, so that Western capitalists can be 'rich'. Your views are, no doubt, firmly entrenched, but I hope that one day, you and millions of others will see things correctly. Unfortunately, such awareness, when it comes, will probably be too late.

[NM_Birder]

118. "rich"........no I would not say that

But I do understand the derogatory way in which you meant it.

But if I had a private jet, and flew from state to state where my mansions were, all I would have to do is lecture you on your wasteful ways. Then I'd be a goddamn biosphere hero.

Enjoy life Ronnie, I know I enjoy mine.
take care.

[The2ndWheel]

119. Civilization is a resource hoarding process

Capitalist propaganda isn't necessary.

[badtoworse]

99. Your's is the most offensive, asinine thread I've seen on DU in a very long time.

[NM_Birder]

62. "Central Managed Asset Distribution" nice ring to it huh.......

I can hear the boots marching down the halls. No thanks.

[badtoworse]

64. Stalin would have loved it.

[arely staircase]

75. at least we can all agree that liberarian style capitalism sucks

And the government is needed to make sure workplaces are safe and workers are paid fairly.

[NM_Birder]

90. well...sort of I agree, however I am a believer in Capitalism.

regulation to ensure safe practice, and fair pay acts are absolutely critical, and necessary.... That said.

The federal Government in general is the most corrupt and lopsided application of the clear blueprint for equal opportunity and a fair chance for success. Labor Unions and government regulation should work in a complementary role with each other to maintain a fair, safe and equal opportunity. The reality is that closed door policy making/breaking is polluting the unlimited potential the United States has chained up.

Until it's acknowledged that there is BS being pushed on the people by all angular sides of the Federal Government, it's hard to imagine things getting much better than they are now. We have only two parties to believe in, and one is only slightly less disappointing than the other.

When shit is wrong under a Republican president, the same shit is wrong under a Democratic President. What gets ignored for the sake of gaining control of the White House is what sucks, and it sucks for everybody.

[arely staircase]

91. so what would you raise the minimum wage to

I think it should be at least twelve dollars an hour.

[NM_Birder]

97. why not 25 ?

25 bucks an hour here in NM makes you middle class, 25 bucks in NY would be barely survivable on your own.

that is my problem with people arbitrarily throwing minimum dollar amounts around. The Minimum wage in Santa Fe is 10 something an hour, 12 bucks an hour is relative to at least two roommates to have a home and some semblance of a life.

Why do you think 12 is the magic number ?

Doesn't it make more sense to do things like make tax structures for manufacturing MORE advantageous to open factories here in the US than to GIVE tax incentives to foreign companies ? Creating a more lucrative business atmosphere will bring back the manufacturing opportunities we no longer enjoy, and thus increase the potiential and opportunity for better paying jobs.

12 dollars an hour is still not enough to enjoy even the minimum opportunities available. It never will be, waving 12 bucks an hour to people that make 9 bucks an hour will give them a fuzzy feeling, but the reality is that they will still simply "exist" 4 dollars an hour underwater instead of 7. Meanwhile the opportunities for GOOD paying jobs will continue to go to American controlled companies, paying foreign labor forces to ship crap back to the States cheaper than if we produced it here.

[arely staircase]

103. you are right it should be 25. lots of people here make only the current federal minimum

which is less than eight. It doesn't cost as much to live here than in other places and I forget that. I agree with you that twenty-five should be the minimum.

[PowerToThePeople]

108. 25 is what it would be in my scenario

GDP per capita currently is 51k/year. That is about 25$/hour full time. My plan would just give it to every citizen.

[NM_Birder]

112. That is the funniest post you've made so far, I want to play

Which country should we quash, and seize first to pay for that 50K "GDP supported salary" you want to "give" everybody ?

[PowerToThePeople]

113. The United States of America. n/t

[NM_Birder]

122. No kidding....lol...or more appropriately ...DUH !

that is the point of your entire fiscal theory.
But how are you going to pay everybody 50k, if we don't plunder someone else ?

Bear in mind the "rich" have left the plane and pulled the cord the moment your fiscal wizardry hit the blocks. So who do you tax to oblivion now ? lots of people gonna want that 50k per year....MINIMUM.

[PowerToThePeople]

125. The moment it hits the blocks

All their stored wealth (in current US currency) will be worthless. They can leave the country for all I care. Let them go Galt. The country will continue. Business will continue. The spoils will be split in an equitable fashion between those that remain.

[NM_Birder]

127. bummer............ thought you might have at least thought it out THIS far.

National suicide is your answer ? What's you plan for the investors of the world that hold TRILLIONS in us debt that overnight become worthless ? Make friends quick, the new invaders, I mean "investors" are not going to be as generous with 50k of their currency that you were. and you created a slaughter house labor camp for them to utilize.

I see the flaw, you don't understand money do you ? When the US currency is worthless, .....again....how you gonna pay everybody 50K, and what exactly IS 50K in worthless money gonna provide ?

Ask someone for advice before you enter the world of financing a home or a car or a credit card or anything that requires money, you are in for a very unpleasant reality. If you wait too long to realize you need to be responsible for what you want, it may be too late, and the choice of having more than the minimum the government will give you will be a distant memory.

good luck, you're gonna need some before the light shines down.

[PowerToThePeople]

129. Is there anything besides personal attacks that you have to offer?

No.

You are a capitalist. You are a lost cause. You did not read, or already forgot the content of my first post. Foreign holders will be compensated for their investment in the new currency. The "equalizing" will only occur with US Citizens. Our external debt will still be honored.

[NM_Birder]

131. No, not a lost cause, gave you opportunity

to explain what the hell you were thinking, probably caught you off guard which is why you made up a lot of it as you went. You cannot devalue the currency, then "compensate" everybody...with what ?

the ideals and dreams you have, ...hold a certain imaginative utopian quality, to a certain degree, ....the method and reality you propose is pure fantasy. your new currency will be whichever forigen investor plants his flag first, your people just became someone else's slave labor and the promise of compensating credits won't get you any help. The military will be the first to be bought in the United States rummage sale, that animal can't function on equalizing compensation, and sure as hell can't survive without foreign traded materials.

like I said, get some financial advice before you do anything of any real consequence, you'll need it.

[PowerToThePeople]

136. You continually say nothing of consequence.

There is nothing backing up anything you say. It is only your personal theory as to the outcome of implementing an idea similar to what I propose. And then you toss in some personal digs to top it off. Next I will have boxes in my garage and be dating pole dancers with Putin.

[NM_Birder]

138. lol...

not too many boxes, remember, got to redistribute the assests,........ you included unless you want to sow the seeds of an overthrow ...lol

the Putin and pole dancing thing tells me at least you still have your sense of humor. A little odd, that you chose Putin and pole dancers but if I can admit anything, it's certainly that you have a vivid imagination.

lighten up over the personal digs thing, you propose to:
1 devalue the domestic dollar.
2 Honor all external debt with a new currency, which will somehow have the same value as the previously devalued dollar.
3 Have,..I assume an idea on how to keep the world from sucking up your new country with the external currency, that will be of a higher value than the domestic currency.
4 Again I assume have an idea on what group will enforce and regulate the "redistribution" of the assests.
5 Again , have some idea on how to keep foreign threats at bay, while maintaining a fiscal neutral military force.

I could go on regarding the flaws in your thinking, but you won't understand. I have got to believe you are smarter than to actually think your proposal is anything but raw fantasy.

[PowerToThePeople]

141. It is extreme

And likely, at this stage of things, raw fantasy. But, as a nation, we have shifted to the far right and get a constant barrage of fascist propaganda lobbed at us. So, I inject what I can to the discussion from the other side in hopes that maybe we can get to a sane solution to our problems.

[NM_Birder]

143. the Putin pole dancing thing is still funny. take care.

[clffrdjk]

137. What do I have to do to get my share?

That first year when you are still grabbing the money in order to pay it out later how do you avoid collapsing the economy?
Your plan is to both pay off our debts and devalue the currency in one fell swoop where are you getting the funds for that? I hope you don't ever run a deficit because honestly who would lend to you, you couldn't even sell bonds to the citizens! All you could do is give the people less and that will work out real well.

[PowerToThePeople]

139. That may be true

We may have to do with less, since no deficit would be run. First on the chopping block, military spending. As stated in my first post, it is not fully a planned out strategy, it is just a rudimentary idea I toss around a bit.

[clffrdjk]

144. Again what do I have to do to get my share?

You tossed it out into the ring why don't we try and flesh it out.

Military is always a good place to start with cuts but you have bigger problems to deal with first.

[PowerToThePeople]

146. You will work.

You will have a job, or be self employed, or be a homemaker. There would be some way to account for it, not sure specifically what that would entail. Many current career fields would cease to exist. Those that service capital as it exists now would go the way of the dodo bird. There would need to be a re-organization of labor and resources to achieve full employment. As I have said several times, it is not a fully flushed out plan, just an idea.

Resource management, both human and natural resources, would be tagged to the distribution of newly supplied credits. Those industries that took in more credits would have more resources supplied to balance. Those that took in less credits, would have less resources available. This would be all managed from a central database similar to how a large retailer would manage inventory. It would just be expanded across all companies and industries instead of isolated to each individual corporate unit.

[clffrdjk]

149. Are you going to put me in jail if I don't find a job I like?

Or just take away my portion of what I am entitled to?

What is your plan to deal with corruption, black market, rebels, you know the small things?

[PowerToThePeople]

150. What do you do now?

Unless you inherited all your resources and do not do anything productive currently, you are likely doing something to earn income. There is a high probability you could continue doing the same thing.

I do not have all the answers. How does any system deal with corruption?

[clffrdjk]

152. I am a trained monkey for Autozone

When you said I could do that for the rest of my life I had a moment of deep depression. You might want to keep that idea away from the younger folk, it is not going to be too popular.

[PowerToThePeople]

154. Please do not add words to my statement.

You could still get an education and another career.

[clffrdjk]

156. I didn't add anything

I asked you what would happen if I couldn't find something I liked and you suggested that I do what I do now. Please tell me what I added.

School is paid for right? So I quit my job and take a year to find myself before going to school do I still get my share? If so what is the cut off, is there one? Who gets to decide what qualifies as a job?

[Adrahil]

166. Why would I continue to do the same job for less than half the money?

No offense, but screw that. I'll become a professional "artist."

[Adrahil]

164. So basically you're advocating communism. Yeah.... NO. NT

[NM_Birder]

140. easy don't spook him,

We are in "Putin and pole dancer" territory.

[Adrahil]

162. This perplexes me. EVERY citizen?

I mean, I am for raising the minimum wage. But I make more than $25/ hr now. I like my job, but sometimes it's pretty high stress. I'd seriously consider a less hard job if it didn't pay well. Who would want to do the hard/crappy jobs if every job paid the same?

[NM_Birder]

110. Point missed. Your fiscal understanding is zero. take care.

[arely staircase]

159. ok maybe 25 is too high (I would likebto hear what a Keynesian economist like Krugman thinks it is)

I said at least 12 because I think that is what it was when I was born in 1968. It is now 7 something and so that is a big big drop in income for working people. Minimum wage jobs aren't the jobbs of just teenagers making a little beer, car note money over the summer. And higher minimum wage pushes up salaries of other workers, giving them more disposable income and creating more demand for goods and creating jobs. In retrospect agreeing that 25 is the number was probably very wrong. 50 GRAND is 8 grand more than I make teaching school so yeah raising a burger flipper's pay to that much more than teachers make now would probably be a shock to the system of the economy. And Inam certainly not agreeing with the other poster's Marxist utopian bullshit.

[NM_Birder]

160. the solution is not to raise the pay of a minimum skill job

as much as it is to increase the number of high paying, high skill jobs available.
When highly trained people are competing for low wage jobs, a crash is all but guaranteed.

giving the incentives we offer foreign companies to import goods, to American companies would help bring manufacturing back, Americans FIRST is not the same as "fuck the world"

make the money here, pay the taxes here. Another pretty simple starting point to increase domestic funding. Again, pretty simple but neither a Republican nor Democratic president seem willing to wade the waters of common sense, so long as getting elected depends on funding from the very sources of tax evasion.

Accountability and prosecution of broken laws ... ALL people who break the laws, not just us peasants but political "leaders" on both sides of that corrupt isle.........prob more than 1/2 the entire problem solved just by doing what should already have been done.

[Adrahil]

168. Mostly agree.

The minimum wage needs to be raised. But the minimum wage is a economic backstop, not the foundation of economic reform. We need direct investment in infrastructure, clean energy, scientific research, space exploration (a huge technological driver), and even the arts. We need to treat symptoms, but we also need to treat the disease.

[arely staircase]

94. the gold standard?

Seriously, that is your answer?

[PowerToThePeople]

95. read the post before responding please. n/t

[oldhippie]

148. Why aren't you in Davos?

The folks there need to hear this approach.

[PowerToThePeople]

153. I had never heard of Davos.

They appear to all be Capitalists & plutocrats.

http://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2014?partners=4729

But, there are some interesting articles...

Why we need a circular economy

In the 16th century, the German astronomer Nicolas Copernicus made a profound discovery: the sun and not the earth was the centre of our universe. At the time, this idea went against established Christian doctrine and was heretical to many. It was also an audacious insight that sparked a revolution in science, ultimately paving the way towards a new world view and great improvement of prosperity.

For all the good it has brought us, our economic model is in need of a new direction. The global population will continue to grow, the middle class is set to top 5 billion by 2030, and many emerging nations will look for increased prosperity. This is putting enormous stress on our environment and our resources, which are becoming more difficult to extract. Our myopic focus on producing and consuming as cheaply as possible has created a linear economy in which objects are briefly used and then discarded as waste.

(snip)

This requires a fundamental redesign of business and our end-to-end value chains. Instead of selling products, we should retain ownership and sell their use as a service, allowing us to optimize the use of resources. Once we sell the benefits of the products instead of the products themselves, we begin to design for longevity, multiple reuse, and eventual recycling.

(snip)

Society needs to play an active role, too. We need to shift from optimizing on lowest initial cost towards maximizing the total value and total cost of ownership, while at the same time taking the health and wellbeing of people into account. Governments should change their tendering processes and implement requirements for circularity that can drive demand for new solutions. Customers and consumers should change their consumption patterns and move from owning to using products. And since the circular economy is inherently systemic, it can only succeed if all stakeholders co-design, co-create and co-own.

http://forumblog.org/2014/01/need-circular-economy-revolution/

[Demo_Chris]

7. Permanent tax cuts for the wealthy, austerity, cuts to SS, and more "free trade" nt

[Puzzledtraveller]

58. YES!!!

Hey, my guv just annoucned we may get a 1% increase in 2015, only after having raises suspended for over 5 year. Yes, 1%, that will make up for it!!

btw, my guv is a dem and we are the ones making the system work that he is taking all the credit for. Rhymes with connect.

[arely staircase]

105. what democrat is promoting the first two.

Taxes on the wealthy have gone up and social security has not been cut under this president. You are rihht about trade.

[alarimer]

8. MUCH higher taxes on wealth.

We need to go back to the 99% top marginal rate.

[Adrahil]

169. In the age of very mobile wealth, that doesn't make sense...

... but we DO need to treat capital gains as income, and the top rate needs to go up.

[frwrfpos]

9. The Democratic Party has been infiltrated

to such a degree that I think its only when its gets very bad will something be done. The 1% are not done pillaging from us yet and the DP is silent or in agreement with the repukilickan party on economics. Thats a very bad omen for this country

[KoKo]

10. According to This...PBO thinks the "Earned Income Tax Credit" solved all the problems...

and for NOW he is our President and if it's his view that Johnson's Programs and FDR's Programs were not as important as Ronald Reagan's....then I think we might presume our Democratic Party is with Obama on his view, (because we Democrats Elected Him, here:

---

Snip from David Remnick's article on interviews and road trips with PBO in the "New Yorker:"

One of the things that I’ve learned to appreciate more as President is you are essentially a relay swimmer in a river full of rapids, and that river is history,” he later told me. “You don’t start with a clean slate, and the things you start may not come to full fruition on your timetable. But you can move things forward. And sometimes the things that start small may turn out to be fairly significant. I suspect that Ronald Reagan, if you’d asked him, would not have considered the earned-income-tax-credit provision in tax reform to be at the top of his list of accomplishments. On the other hand, what the E.I.T.C. has done, starting with him, being added to by Clinton, being used by me during the Recovery Act, has probably kept more people out of poverty than a whole lot of other government programs that are currently in place.”

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024358150#post4

[arely staircase]

106. and yet he didn't say that at all

Keep trying, though.

[kelliekat44]

11. Windfall profit surcharge (since the word "tax" is a no-no), higher income taxes over 5 million, and

expansion of Medicare and Medicare and raising the medicare payment ceiling on incomes above $300,000. No tax breaks for companies out-sourcing call center jobs and manufacturing jobs to foreign countries. For starters.

[Fumesucker]

12. Promise zones with tax breaks for job creators?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/10/us/politics/obama-announces-promise-zones-in-5-stricken-areas.html?_r=0

[1000words]

15. Being slightly less offensive than the GOP still makes them the "opposition."

The "beauty" of the two-party system.

[Adrahil]

16. My solution.

- Tax capital gains as income for the wealthy.
- raise top marginal rate to 50%
- directly invest in jobs.... transportation infrastructure, energy infrastructure, etc.
- directly invest in science. Fund basic research out the wazoo.
- Vastly expand NASA. Mission to Mars. Build Asteroid deflection system. Explore asteroids.
- Fund NASA expansion with DoD funding cuts.
- Cancel free trade agreements.
- Watch the economy expand like crazy!

[WillyT]

17. THE One And ONLY Question...

& Rec !!!

[ProSense]

18. Health care

and redistribution. Krugman:

And let’s be clear: the health reform fight has always been about more than health reform. Liberals have long viewed health reform as the opening wedge, a sort of proof of concept, in a campaign to strengthen the US safety net and reduce income inequality; that was basically what I was urging in Conscience of a Liberal, which gave its title to this blog.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023769054

Leonhardt:

A big chunk of the money to pay for the bill comes from lifting payroll taxes on households making more than $250,000. On average, the annual tax bill for households making more than $1 million a year will rise by $46,000 in 2013, according to the Tax Policy Center, a Washington research group. Another major piece of financing would cut Medicare subsidies for private insurers, ultimately affecting their executives and shareholders.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/business/24leonhardt.html

Net Investment Income Tax

A new Net Investment Income Tax goes into effect starting in 2013. The 3.8 percent Net Investment Income Tax applies to individuals, estates and trusts that have certain investment income above certain threshold amounts. The IRS and the Treasury Department have issued proposed regulations on the Net Investment Income Tax. Comments may be submitted electronically, by mail or hand delivered to the IRS. For additional information on the Net Investment Income Tax, see our questions and answers.

Additional Medicare Tax

A new Additional Medicare Tax goes into effect starting in 2013. The 0.9 percent Additional Medicare Tax applies to an individual’s wages, Railroad Retirement Tax Act compensation, and self-employment income that exceeds a threshold amount based on the individual’s filing status. The threshold amounts are $250,000 for married taxpayers who file jointly, $125,000 for married taxpayers who file separately, and $200,000 for all other taxpayers. An employer is responsible for withholding the Additional Medicare Tax from wages or compensation it pays to an employee in excess of $200,000 in a calendar year. The IRS and the Department of the Treasury have issued proposed regulations on the Additional Medicare Tax. Comments may be submitted electronically, by mail or hand delivered to the IRS. For additional information on the Additional Medicare Tax, see our questions and answers.

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Affordable-Care-Act-Tax-Provisions

[arely staircase]

20. a significant increase in the minimum wage would be a start

Obamare will actually take a huge load of the working class.

[woo me with science]

23. Not while supporting TPP, it won't.

Last edited Thu Jan 23, 2014, 12:10 AM - Edit history (3)

Saying you are fighting to reduce income inequality by raising the minimum wage, while you are SIMULTANEOUSLY pushing for the TPP, is like giving a man a quarter and then beating him up and emptying his bank account.

[arely staircase]

24. raising the minimum wage is the first step that needs to be taken

to correct income inequality. Is it enoug? No.

[woo me with science]

29. If accompanied by a fight FOR the TPP, it means LESS than nothing.

Yes, raising the minimum wage must happen, but seeking it while also pushing for the TPP yields a net MASSIVE ASSAULT on Americans. These bids to raise the minimum wage can only be construed as a cynical attempt at PR if they are accompanied by a fight for this mammoth, predatory agreement that will render the increase less than meaningless.

You cannot CLAIM to care about income inequality and continue to push for the TPP.
As Manny put so well, caring about inequality and pushing the TPP are VIOLENTLY MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.

Fuck the TPP. It's worse than you think.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023401331

The TPP: If you want to see how corporations and government work together to screw their citizenry
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024062919

Why the Tribunals in the TPP are so bad and how we know that.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023216358

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): An Extremist 1% Global Attack - IMPORTANT
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002936339

Thom Hartmann: TPP...fast track to poverty in America
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017169491

Study: Mega-Trade Deal Would Make Most Americans Poorer
http://billmoyers.com/2013/09/17/study-mega-trade-deal-would-make-most-americans-poorer/

TPP Is a Race to The Bottom -- We Need a Race to the Top
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023826847

Charlie Pierce: The TPP is a Million Ton Dunghammer Aimed at the Middle Class
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024340998

Nothing demonstrates the corporate control of our government like the TPP
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4042753

Because corporations don't have enough rights and power: The TPP & "investor rights"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023455457

TPP: Corporate rights expand and democratic rights decrease.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101649524

"A Corporate Trojan Horse": Secretive TPP Trade Pact, Would Rewrite Swath of U.S. Laws
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017159011

How bad is the Intellectual Property Rights Chapter of the TPP? Beyond odious and beneath contempt
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024030797

Secret TPP Deal will void democracy.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023209078

Wikileaks Exposes the TPP as a Capitulation to Corporate Interests
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017159214

TPP: The Terrible Plutocratic Plan
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023314206

TPP -- if this doesn't scare the crap out of you, nothing will. NAFTA ON STEROIDS
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023737075

Obama's TPP Disaster for Labor, Environmental Protections, Consumer Protections, Human Rights, and Democracy Itself
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101734264

Workers Speak Out about the TPP
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017142588

TPP. TPP. TPP. Bad for the U.S., Bad for other countries. Excellent for big Pharma
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024124545

TPP: The Biggest Threat to the Internet You've Probably Never Heard Of
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023092564

The TPP in less than 4 minutes
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024059278

Three Things about the TPP you need to know and share.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017126764

What the TPP means for you regarding the internet
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023734769

Trans-Pacific Partnership undermines health system
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023270583

The TPP's potential impact on the ACA
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024068410

Monsanto, the TPP, and Global Food Dominance.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101679408

Control over food is at stake with Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/112747655

The TPP and ill health
http://www.democraticunderground.com/111644140

Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders): Don't Trade Away Health With The TPP
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023788866

TPP threatens access to generic affordable medicines, say NGOS, Doctors Without Borders
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023182266

Another Reason to Hate TPP: Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023925427

Rep. Zoe Lofgren: TPP 'would lock in really backwards provisions' of copyright law
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024144674

Tobacco "Smoking Gun" Shows Real TPP Agenda
http://www.democraticunderground.com/111640155

Krugman does a no-show on the TPP - Dean Baker rebutts, NC digs deeper.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024193197

"Of The TPP's 29 Draft Chapters, ONLY 5 Deal With Traditional Trade Issues."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024324994

The Corporate Propaganda Machine: TPP Defenders Take To The Internet To Deliver Official Talking Points
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024115535

Not only will Obama's TPP make you and your family poorer, it will make you more unsafe
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024360384

Association of University Faculties: TPP a Trojan Horse
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101674503

By Pushing the TPP, Obama is Extending the Assaults of NAFTA
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024317882

Trade Expert: Why TPP — “NAFTA on Steroids” — Must Be Stopped
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024308737

What is wrong with the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023820069

The Impact of the TPP on One State: Maine
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024275215

Madison Mayor on TPP: 'Enrons Will Become Commonplace'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023892026

Screwing Over America with TPP "FAST TRACK"--Bi-Partisan Senate Does the Deed..
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1269569

13 Cities Mobilized to Shine a Light on TPP: “Don’t Fast Track a Train Wreck – FLUSH the TPP!”
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024037394

Noam Chomsky: The TPP: Corporate Attack on Democracy
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101782234

Noam Chomsky: The TPP: Kicking Away The Ladder (TPP)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017169091

Major Political Donors Have Access to TPP Documents. Everyone Else? Not So Much.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024347897

The TPP: 600+ "Trade Advisors" with access- Practically all of them corporate
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023734647

Industry powers with access to TPP plans lavish money on Congress
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024360863

Preventing TPP essential for all workers.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/01/16/sen-bernie-sanders-lambastes-democrats-and-republicans-over-trans-pacific-partnership/

Bloomberg columnist questions "why the secrecy" surrounding TPP negotiations....
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024211801

TPP: Obama's Free (but not Fair) Secret Trade Agreement
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023182246

Papantonio: Obama MUST Drop the TPP
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017158723

TPP: Poison for Community Resilience
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024335233

Thinking About What the TPP Threatens
http://www.democraticunderground.com/111643896

Bill Moyers: Yves Smith and Dean Baker on Secrets in Trade (TPP)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017155918

Bill Moyers: Why are the contents of the TPP being deliberately kept from the American people?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023964411

The defenders on the TPP: "You don't know that" and "It's just speculation". Bullfuckingshit.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3688119

What TPP will bring: Some Awful NAFTA Chapter 11 Arbritration Cases- and a chart
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3701483

[arely staircase]

47. I support a minimum wage increase, regardless. nt

[1StrongBlackMan]

155. You don't get it ...

you can't have both it's kill the TPP (that the one time DU hero, and economist of note, Paul Krugman, doesn't really think is a big deal) or don't do anything ... No U/C extensions, no MW increase, no increase in infrastructure repair spending, no nothing ... Must Kill The Deal!

[arely staircase]

158. oh I know

Always the same with that one. I get it. Trust me.

[pampango]

44. It sure would. Studies show that such an increase not only helps low-wage workers but

is good for the economy and employment on a larger scale.

[arely staircase]

48. exactly

Jobs are created by more demand for goods and services which is in turn generated by more spending power.

[1StrongBlackMan]

157. This ...

http://www.ontheissues.org/Blueprint_Obama.htm, to start. Maybe, we'll get enough Democrats in Congress (House) to make it happen, this time around.

[solarhydrocan]

22. Just keep blaming Republicans

Since 2009, here are the priorities of the D's

Mandate everyone to buy corporate insurance
intensify drone strikes
Bail out Big Banks (too big to fail)
Legislate (in secret) and defend (when caught) 24/7/365 total surveillance

The Democrats say "The Jobs aren't coming back"

So blaming R's might work

[arely staircase]

25. have you called your congressional rep about the minimum w age?

[Marr]

80. Have you called yours about the TPP? /nt

[arely staircase]

96. of course not

He is Louis Gohmert. I stopped talking to the abusive freaks in his office years ago.

[uppityperson]

27. Minimum wages hurt the poor because companies will move offshore and they won't have jobs? Better

a shit job at crap wages than no job at all?

[Shandris]

28. It is physically impossible to have a 'solution' to income equality...

...when some people, for any reason, do not have incomes. So until that problem is looked at, -anything- else is just talk. And since that solution can not come from every single person working, then any solution that focuses on 'jobs' is likewise just talk.

[Puzzledtraveller]

59. One of the most honest assessments I have seen here.

[hrmjustin]

33. Do you favor raising taxes on the rich?

[TheKentuckian]

31. I'm eager to see one, a plausible, structural, direct one anyway.

I find it difficult to imagine such a plan coming from this "leadership" because to my eye most of the current group are actually ideologically opposed to most ways to make any serious impact even over two or three decades.

A little boost to the bottom, push the education extraction system, some lame tax breaks on a good day.

[demosincebirth]

37. What ever it is, it will never get a start as long as the crazies control the House.

[randome]

49. Absolutely true!

This November is the most important step to getting any of these things done.


[hr][font color="blue"][center]"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."
Leonard Cohen, Anthem (1992)[/center][/font][hr]

[pampango]

43. What FDR did in the 1930's and what Europe is doing today. Don't have to reinvent the wheel.

High/progressive taxes, a strong safety net, legal protection for unions, tighter regulation of corporations and the finance industry.

[El_Johns]

98. Greece & Spain, 26% unemployment & the rest of Europe ain't doing so well either.

Europe is cutting its safety net.

[pampango]

101. Europe has its problems but still has among the world's best distributions of income.

They are suffering from ill-conceived conservative austerity politics. FDR made the same mistake in 1937. I trust Europe will get back to its liberal roots in the near future, just as FDR did.

[demosincebirth]

102. We had a good chance of what you say, especially protection for unions and the card-check

implementation in the first two years of Obama's first term. Some democrats in the House and Senate didn't have the balls to even consider this legislation that the unions have backed for years. As hard as Unions across the U. S. had worked to elect Obama and democratic legislators and they backed away on this important task. Unions are what made the Middle Class in this country. Many forget that.

[pampango]

111. Well said. n/t

[B Calm]

45. Another insane trade deal.

[Scuba]

46. What SHOULD it be? This ...

The Progressive Caucus Budget

http://www.washingtonpost.com/r/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2013/02/05/Editorial-Opinion/Graphics/Balancing%20Act%20-%20Executive%20Summary.pdf

[pampango]

51. The Progressive Caucus' Budget would be a wonderful thing. Thanks for posting it, Scuba. n/t

[fredamae]

54. Here's the one from 2012

http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/the-peoples-budget/

You'll never hear about these much tho-because it might be "doable"?
Good luck getting so much as an acknowledgement that these exist--cuz all I seem to hear is that "The Dems Have No Budget on the Table for X Years"....

[grahamhgreen]

121. +1

[LWolf]

52. That's 2 different questions.

What IS: Seems to be the Reagan Democrat neo-liberal bottom line: protect the well-to-do and corporate interest at the expense of the rest of us and continue to widen those economic gaps.

What SHOULD be: Put our attention and resources into domestic programs. Start with banning "free" trade in favor of fair trade based on environmental and labor standards. Add a national health CARE program that provides ALL health care free at point of service to ALL, paid for by taxes. Add truly universal, FREE, PUBLIC, not-controlled by special corporate interest education pre-school through trade school or university.

Those 3 things right there would narrow the gaps considerably. Now add guaranteed safe, healthy public housing, utilities, and food for any who need them, a minimum income for all, a living wage for all, union representation for all workers, and expansion of Social Security.

THAT'S what the Democratic Party solution SHOULD be, because THAT'S what will eradicate poverty.

[randome]

53. 'Banning' trade will hurt us, as well.

But I think the points you mention can be used as leverage and I would add to them. Include human rights issues, such as equality for women and gays. We won't be able to dictate these things to other countries but we can at least pressure them on it, withhold favored trading status, for instance.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."
Leonard Cohen, Anthem (1992)[/center][/font][hr]

[LWolf]

161. I don't want to ban trade.

I want to ban "Free" trade, which is not free at all. I don't think we can bear the cost. I want trade based on environmental and labor standards; it's a great idea to add human rights to that.

[Arkana]

55. Kill all the rich people and feast on their entrails.

[demwing]

57. Calling Bill Gates an idiot seems to be a popular response /nt

[ananda]

61. OK, we all know what the solution is.

A new New Deal, a renewal of the Great Society,
and a back away from the exploitative aggression
mentality overseas.

[kentuck]

63. I'm afraid there will be no solution until Republicans take control of the entire government...

...and cut food stamps and do away with the social safety net as it is known today.

They would create a situation where people had no food, no shelter, and no hope. Only then, out of desperation, would the people make any demands upon their government.

People were starving during the Great Depression and they did not revolt against their government or political structures. However, we have become familiar with some token of a safety net, like food stamps, and I'm not sure the citizens of today would be as meek as the citizens of 1932?

In other words, change will only come out of hardship and necessity. It's the nature of our propaganda system to promote the "two team" concept of political Parties. If things get too unbearable under one Party, we will simply choose the other.

[uponit7771]

116. +1

[lumberjack_jeff]

66. Change FLSA laws.

Overtime should be double-time and everyone except executives should be subject to it.

Or, shorten the work week to 32 hours.

Or, mandate three weeks of paid time off, that can't be cashed in, annually.

Any of the above would make labor more expensive and would encourage employers to hire more people.

[raouldukelives]

67. We have to figure out a way to address this issue as well as climate change.

People really only need very little to be happy. A roof, running water, food, medical and the feeling that they are contributing to something.
The current system and support of it is entirely unsustainable. We have to find a way to provide people with a decent life while at the same time encouraging less expenditures of carbon.
Perhaps a guaranteed income with more for those who produce less pollution. We need to be more localized, more opportunities for people to find outlets in creating art and remediation instead of assured global suffering.
We waste so much in the pursuit of wealth. At a time when the call for any person of even the slightest liberal leanings is screaming to act we seem destined to wait for a mythical political leader who will guide us.
The only guidance we will receive is from Wall St. The only time to follow in the footsteps of MLK is now.

[L0oniX]

73. Which part of the Democratic party?

[Marr]

79. Their solution is Third Way politics.

They just aim to get most of their money from the 1%.

[G_j]

84. they don't have one..nt

[Proud Public Servant]

87. How about treating a corportist DC insider

as their only viable presidential candidate? Will that work?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

93. Aggrieved frowns, platitudes, and pleas for campaign contributions.

[Rex]

104. Um, er, uh, hmm...

So far all I've seen is speeches, which are free and don't speak as loud as actions.

[Gothmog]

107. I like the Buffett plan

I believe that the rich should pay the same tax rate as their secretaries. The Buffett plan would help to reduce income inequality

[BKH70041]

117. Listen to their high dollar contributors

And do what they say.

Everyone else just need to vote Democratic (as they did in 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, etc...) and not worry about it.

[grahamhgreen]

120. Tax the wealthiest & their corporations, increase minimum wage, end the costly trade agreements.

[Armstead]

124. They shoukld talk to peopel like Bernie Sanders and get their minds right /nt

[Phlem]

126. Apperently this is the solution

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4378200

[beachbum bob]

128. nothing can be done for those outside of america....understand that first

what can democrats do?

throw of the elitist shackles and revamp the taxcode


that in itself can go a long ways

[Oakenshield]

130. Apparrently, the solution is the TPP.

Honestly, the answer ought to be socialism. Not a mixed a economy. SOCIALISM. We've tried reforming capitalism, and it won't STAY reformed. So bugger it. Let's start over with a economy based primarily on the rights of workers and their ability to live prosperously. Entrepreneurship can kiss my ass.

[TBF]

167. ^^ best answer in the thread ^^ nt

[NCTraveler]

133. During the recession/depression is when the serious work on income inequality...

should have happened within the Democratic Party. It wasn't even a part of it. Such a lost opportunity.

What every Democrat should be fighting for daily when it comes to income inequality.

livable wage
Universal healthcare
progressive taxation
improved education system
access to advanced education for all
stronger labor laws
Trade agreements only when our own labor standards are met
Proper tariffs

I am sure you can add to the list. Good op.

[Alkene]

135. A sternly worded internet petition...

with key phrases IN UPPER CASE.

[kentuck]

142. It would have to be a political solution.

We have to elect leaders that understand the nature of wealth distribution and the fact that wealth tends to accumulate at the top and away from the bottom. That's just the way it is.

Once these leaders understand this simple fact, they need to negotiate trade treaties with our allies and friends around the world. But the number one demand in any treaty is that any country that accepts the establishment of any corporation or business upon their territory will see that they pay 20% in tariffs to the US Government, meaning the People, and that be the pre-condition for any other type of assistance or military aid these countries might be presently receiving from America.

We can no longer tolerate the transfer of wealth out of our country by these ravenous corporations that take the wealth created in this country, by the workers of this country, and move it to these cheap labor markets around the world, without a penalty.

The Democrats would need to control all three branches of government, including a friendly Supreme Court, in order to pass such a law. Those with power tend to co-opt anyone that might challenge their wealth creation.

I fear there is no solution within the present two-Party system. The fund managers and the millionaires will continue to make hundreds of millions of dollars and hide it in overseas accounts, so as not to pay any taxes to the United States of America. They are loyal to their bank account, not the Stars and Stripes or some silly patriotic symbol.

The bottom line is that the tax code is the only weapon we have at this time to level the playing field. Those that go into Republican hysterics about transferring wealth do not understand the nature of our government and especially, the Democratic Party. If you cannot understand that, then you are not a Democrat. I hate to break that news to you.

[Taitertots]

151. The only reasonable solutions are opposed by everyone in the government

The biggest problem in America is the structure of corporations. The whole idea that we should limit the liabilities of the owners of corporations is the root cause of the economic collapse. It creates a disconnect between the people who are making decisions and the possible negative outcomes from that decision.
Just as an example:
Dick Fuld ran Lehman into the ground and retired with more than $100,000,000.

One major inequality driving factor that is generally ignored is the ubiquitous nature of regressive tax structures. Fees and fines are just a trick to shift the tax burden away from the rich by targeting marginalized groups. The only reasonable form of taxation is the progressive marginal income tax.

In summation:
-Destroy the corporate structure
-End Regressive taxation schemes

[TBF]

165. Triple the minimum wage & tax corporations

rather than giving them subsidies. Raise capital gains taxes back to being taxed as normal income.

You asked what they should do - we all know what they will do is "compromise" with the pugs so that we continue to get as little as possible.