Third Way Founders Jon Cowen & Jim Kessler tell us: Economic Populism is a Dead End for Democrats

[sabrina 1]

Before we can reform the Democratic Party, it is necessary to identify the problems that need reform.

Primarily the increasing swing to the Right.

That is why people are looking a lot closer at the Third Way who have gained so much power within the Party.

Jon Cowen and Jim Kessler - Economic Populism Is A Dead End For Democrats.

If you ever wondered where the Right Wing talking points against the Left were coming from within the Democratic Party look no further than the Third Way.

Remember as you read these pronouncements from two of the Third Way's founders, that these are the people making policy decisions and choosing candidates for YOU:

If you talk to leading progressives these days, you'll be sure to hear this message: The Democratic Party should embrace the economic populism of New York Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Such economic populism, they argue, should be the guiding star for Democrats heading into 2016. Nothing would be more disastrous for Democrats.

I always wondered about these attacks on FDR's policies coming from members of the Party who should be proud of them, especially considering how popular they are with the American people.

The political problems of liberal populism are bad enough. Worse are the actual policies proposed by left-wing populists. The movement relies on a potent "we can have it all" fantasy that goes something like this: If we force the wealthy to pay higher taxes (there are 300,000 tax filers who earn more than $1 million), close a few corporate tax loopholes, and break up some big banks then—presto!—we can pay for, and even expand, existing entitlements. Meanwhile, we can invest more deeply in K-12 education, infrastructure, health research, clean energy and more.

And there it is again, the derision of Liberals and their "retarded ideas" we expect from Fox News!

And right from influential members of our own Party!

You will probably find a lot of this to be familiar. Does 'you are not living in the 'reality based community' sound familiar eg?

I'm sure as a Liberal you have been attacked with some of these 'talking points'.

'Liberals live in a fantasy world, where they want PONIES and EVERYTHING!'

Well the Third Way is a Think Tank. They come up with ways to manipulate language. But this is supposed to be a 'liberal think tank' who uses these talking points against the Left?

Aren't they supposed to BE Left?

Anyhow, let's keep going, it gets better. They are coming to the lies we've become so familiar with regarding Social Security:

Social Security is exhibit A of this populist political and economic fantasy. A growing cascade of baby boomers will be retiring in the coming years, and the Social Security formula increases their initial benefits faster than inflation. The problem is that since 2010 Social Security payouts to seniors have exceeded payroll taxes collected from workers. This imbalance widens inexorably until it devours the entire Social Security Trust Fund in 2031, according to the Congressional Budget Office. At that point, benefits would have to be slashed by about 23%.

Undeterred by this undebatable solvency crisis, Sen. Warren wants to increase benefits to all seniors, including billionaires, and to pay for them by increasing taxes on working people and their employers. Her approach requires a $750 billion tax hike over the next 10 years that hits mostly Millennials and Gen Xers, plus another $750 billion tax on the businesses that employ them.

There are so many lies contained in those two paragraphs they have outdone Fox News on distortions of the reality of the Social Security Fund, which has more than one source of income, and a two trillion dollar surplus, not to mention, the Baby Boomers (see how they drop that in, just like their Right Wing friends) more than paid for their SS benefits.

And the subtle reference to Warren 'wanting to include Billionaires'. So transparent, seriously, I thought these people were at least smart enough not to try to put this garbage over on actual Democrats.

And they are so frightened that their Wall St backers might have to contribute some taxes to this country.

How ANYONE can believe that the Third Way belongs in the Democratic Party in any kind of policy making capacity, or in the choosing of candidates, is beyond me.

I suggest reading the entire article, it is short. But far more revealing than they thought it would be. '

No surprise they chose Murdoch's Wall St. Journal to publish it in.

I would like to invite them here to this group and try to make those claims.

But they don't mix with the little people, so I doubt we'll ever see that.

They are so scared. Their policies are being rejected, their dreams of the privatization of SS are facing what those dreams always face, see Bush, failure.

And their Wall St backers are no doubt angry at the rise of the new Populism and definitely at Elizabeth Warren for being the voice of the people when it comes to Wall St corruption.