Robert Reich: Beware the “Middle Ground” of the Great Budget Debate

[marmar]

Beware the “Middle Ground” of the Great Budget Debate
Thursday, April 21, 2011


How debates are framed is critical because the “center” or “middle ground” is supposedly halfway between the two extremes.

We continue to hear that the Great Budget Debate has two sides: The President and the Democrats want to cut the budget deficit mainly by increasing taxes on the rich and reducing military spending, but not by privatizing Medicare. On the other side are Paul Ryan, Republicans, and the right, who want cut the deficit by privatizing Medicare and slicing programs that benefit poorer Americans, while lowering taxes on the rich.

By this logic, the center lies just between.

Baloney. ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://robertreich.org/post/4810720801

[vi5]

1. Yeah, too late for a warning on any of this....

I'm fully convinced that there is zero chance of the debate on anything shifting back to what is reasonable. Thanks to our wonderful crop of Democratic party leaders, the debate on everything is strictly between center-right positions and extreme right positions. Our brilliant leaders of our courageous party have determined that the starting position for every discussion and negotiation is the center-right one on everything.

So now we've basically fully and firmly had this shifting of the spectrum solidified by having it be legitimized and made "bipartisan".

[Fearless]

3. +10000

[NorthCarolina]

8. What s/he said.

:applause:

[Demeter]

2. There IS No Middle Ground Between Looting and Rebuilding

The two are incompatible. You can't rebuild with one hand and tear down with the other, which is all that's happened in this country since Vietnam. The wholesale corporate looting was added in Reagan's era, and it's been like a yard sale ever since.

And we have YET to see one Administration Rebuilding Economy proposal. Forget expecting the GOP to notice the need.

Big deal if the Democrats "slow down" the GOP/Corporate depredations. They are getting their destruction licks in, too, as payback against anyone who looked askance at their own minor looting and massive enabling of corporate looting.

I wash my hands of all except a handful.

[Enthusiast]

4. Great article.

Robert Reich has the very same concerns that I do. I also believe this entire media circus on possible budgetary measures is just a ruse to accomplish what they really want.

[hay rick]

5. Kick.

The absolute, depressing truth succinctly stated.

[somone]

6. Recommended

[KoKo]

7. K&R