The State of Phony Populism

[Jefferson23]

Barack Obama put on a deft performance Tuesday night. With trills of empathy, the president’s voice soared to hit the high notes. He easily carried a tune of economic populism. But after five years of Obama in the White House, Americans should know by now that he was lip-syncing the words.

The latest State of the Union speech offered a faint echo of a call for the bold public investment that would be necessary to reduce economic inequity in the United States. The rhetoric went out to a country that in recent years has grown even more accustomed to yesterday’s floor becoming today’s ceiling.

The speech offered nothing that could plausibly reverse the trend of widening income gaps. Despite Obama’s major drumroll about his executive order to increase the minimum wage for some federal contract employees, few workers would be affected. The thumping was loud, but the action was small.

Obama of course blames congressional Republicans for obstructing needed reforms — and they certainly deserve blame. But for Americans struggling to make ends meet, the record of the Obama administration is littered with wreckage from its refusal to fight for people of modest means.

remainder: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2014/01/29-8

[Doctor_J]

1. Wow. K/R for pinpoint accuracy

a country that in recent years has grown even more accustomed to yesterday’s floor becoming today’s ceiling

few workers would be affected. The thumping was loud, but the action was small.

Good overview of the first 5 years (plus 2008)

the record of the Obama administration is littered with wreckage from its refusal to fight for people of modest means.

Nearly everyone can see this

[blkmusclmachine]

2. Chains You Can Believe In!