Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Economy
In reply to the discussion: Weekend Economists Deck the Halls Christmas Day 2013 [View all]Demeter
(85,373 posts)11. Trojan Horse: Chuck Schumer Talks About Talking About Inequality
http://news.firedoglake.com/2013/12/23/trojan-horse-chuck-schumer-talks-about-talking-about-inequality/
Senator Charles Schumer is one of the more successful saboteurs of progressive policy in the Democratic Party. His tactic is tried and true pretend to agree with a progressive reform, get on the inside of the group of supporters, undermine and destroy it, then walk to a battery of cameras to lament the failure and collect contributions from the industries who benefited from the death of the bill. Schumer has perfected this when it comes to progressive financial reform which is why no one in the Senate or elsewhere trusts him on it. His strongest supporters and biggest contributors are from Wall Street which is, after all, a legitimate segment of his constituency as an elected representative from New York.
So now that Americas record inequality is up for debate inequality due largely to the dominance of Wall Street over the real economy Schumer is concern trolling the issue to death. Surprise. In an interview with Buzzfeed Senator Schumer says he supports fixing inequality in theory but doesnt think anyone should mention inequality.
Right Chuck, lets not talk about class lets just jargon off about technicalities. One dare not mention class, people might realize we have classes and then gulp might understand Ronald Reagan was wrong about the economy and wealth doesnt trickle-down.
What will do then Chuck? What-will-we-do-then?
Schumer would rather speak Republican on class issues: America has no class, we just have a slew of singular topics like raising the minimum wage, poverty, unemployment, and immigration that exist completely independent of each other and a wider context or narrative. What a coincidence. Because thats how you win political battles buying into your opponents frame and reinforcing it while asking for things that make no sense from the perspective you just validated. If we dont have class, if inequality isnt a problem and people can get ahead if they just work harder who cares about unemployment insurance, a minimum wage, poverty, or helping immigrants that are being treated like property? Let the market sort it out.
Thanks but no thanks Senator Schumer. No one wants your view on talking about inequality and class. If we want your view, well just go to the source Goldman Sachs PR department.
Senator Charles Schumer is one of the more successful saboteurs of progressive policy in the Democratic Party. His tactic is tried and true pretend to agree with a progressive reform, get on the inside of the group of supporters, undermine and destroy it, then walk to a battery of cameras to lament the failure and collect contributions from the industries who benefited from the death of the bill. Schumer has perfected this when it comes to progressive financial reform which is why no one in the Senate or elsewhere trusts him on it. His strongest supporters and biggest contributors are from Wall Street which is, after all, a legitimate segment of his constituency as an elected representative from New York.
So now that Americas record inequality is up for debate inequality due largely to the dominance of Wall Street over the real economy Schumer is concern trolling the issue to death. Surprise. In an interview with Buzzfeed Senator Schumer says he supports fixing inequality in theory but doesnt think anyone should mention inequality.
I wouldnt call it income inequality so much, although that is certainly true, Schumer said Friday in an interview with BuzzFeed. Because most Americans dont care how other people are doing, if theyre doing okay. But when middle class incomes are declining, thats a very bad thing. And the countrys really never experienced it.
Right Chuck, lets not talk about class lets just jargon off about technicalities. One dare not mention class, people might realize we have classes and then gulp might understand Ronald Reagan was wrong about the economy and wealth doesnt trickle-down.
What will do then Chuck? What-will-we-do-then?
But even as the Democratic Party, led by the White House, prepares for an election cycle dominated by talk of growing divide between rich and poor, there are signs that the party is wary of engaging in the kind of rhetorical battle Republicans brand class warfare.
Schumer said the best way to encapsulate the wage rhetoric is with a push to raise the minimum wage.
Schumer said the best way to encapsulate the wage rhetoric is with a push to raise the minimum wage.
Schumer would rather speak Republican on class issues: America has no class, we just have a slew of singular topics like raising the minimum wage, poverty, unemployment, and immigration that exist completely independent of each other and a wider context or narrative. What a coincidence. Because thats how you win political battles buying into your opponents frame and reinforcing it while asking for things that make no sense from the perspective you just validated. If we dont have class, if inequality isnt a problem and people can get ahead if they just work harder who cares about unemployment insurance, a minimum wage, poverty, or helping immigrants that are being treated like property? Let the market sort it out.
Thanks but no thanks Senator Schumer. No one wants your view on talking about inequality and class. If we want your view, well just go to the source Goldman Sachs PR department.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
68 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
Retired cops, activist pensioners, and the economic blowback over Snowden By David Sirota
Demeter
Dec 2013
#4
America’s Shopper-in-Chief Has His Staff Sign Him Up for ObamaCare (But Not His Family)
Demeter
Dec 2013
#14
Market Participation, aka Shopping, as a Toll of Neoliberalism: Obamacare as Case Study
Demeter
Dec 2013
#26
Sen. Elizabeth Warren Introduces Bill To Stop Credit Reports For Job Applications
Demeter
Dec 2013
#9
Susan Rice: NSA Officials Didn’t Lie, They ‘Inadvertently Made False Representations’ 60 MIN
Demeter
Dec 2013
#13
American Express to pay $75 million in deceptive practices case FINALLY! By Stuart Pfeifer
Demeter
Dec 2013
#15
The Government Is Quietly Giving Way More Housing Aid To Rich People Than Poor People
Demeter
Dec 2013
#25
US Government Pays Contractors Twice as Much as Civil Servants for the Same Work
Demeter
Dec 2013
#30
“Violent And Terrifying Criminal Stunt” At JP Morgan More Of A “Musical Presentation”
Demeter
Dec 2013
#40
The Church of "Stop Shopping": Meet the Man Leading An Uprising Against The World’s Biggest Banks
Demeter
Dec 2013
#45
The Real Reason Healthcare Insurance Companies Are Now Encouraging Obamacare Enrollment
Demeter
Dec 2013
#50
The 7 Most Important Things Congress Did in 2013 (and the Top 25 Things It Didn’t)
Demeter
Dec 2013
#51
A New Twist in International Relations: The Corporate Keep-My-Data-Out-of-the-U.S. Clause
Demeter
Dec 2013
#53
Jimmy Fallon And Cecily Strong's Adorable 'Baby It's Cold Outside' Parody Will Make You Smile
Demeter
Dec 2013
#58
Ghost Ship Sinking: US To Sink Abandoned Boat From Japan Tsunami With Explosives
Demeter
Dec 2013
#59