Obama should have shifted the conversation to jobs and the failing economy. Here's how he could have

[David Gill]

done it: http://www.politicsundelivered.com/2011/07/presidential-address-on-debt-ceiling.html">Click to read: A Presidential Address on the Debt Ceiling Negotiations

[dkf]

1. In all honesty keeping away from jobs is probably better.

He doesn't have many options there.

[David Gill]

2. He doesn't have enough power to force job creation

But he can prevent job destruction. Political power aside, he needs to be talking about jobs, and comvincing people that budget talks directly affect job creation

[dkf]

3. He can prevent job destruction? How?

You mean federal jobs or jobs from federal spending?

[David Gill]

4. Prevent job destruction resulting from a deficit deal

In the speech I suggest he threatens to veto any bill that would result in fewer jobs in the near term.

[RC]

5. He can talk about getting our Living Wage Jobs back into this country.

Living Wage Jobs that paid taxes. Living Wage Jobs that kept Social Security solvent. Living Wage Jobs fueled a thriving economy until little bu$h wreaked the economy with his wars of choice and tax cuts.

Oh yes Obama can talk about Living Wage Jobs. Without Living Wage Jobs, nothing is going to get better for the people of this country.



To answer DKF, the answer is yes and yes. Jobs get money into circulation. It does not matter whether thy are public or private. Money in circulation creates demand. Demand drives the economy.

[chill_wind]

6. What all of you are suggesting- were thought to be good ideas

Just can't seem to get anybody in Washington to do it.

- Let the Bush administration tax cuts expire and use the savings for additional targeted stimulus.
- Cauterize the housing market.
- Cauterize the trade deficit.
- Restore the wage – productivity growth link.

http://growth.newamerica.net/publications/policy/plan_b_for_obama

And there have been many others:

Thoughts on a Plan B: James Galbraith and others

#4. Let people retire! Full employment is the right goal but job losses have been so severe that practically we are not going to get there by any known measures. So we need to choose who gets the first crack. The right thing is to allow older workers who wish to exit the labor force to do so, opening jobs for younger people. Enact a three-year window during which workers aged 62 and older could retire on full Social Security. Enact Medicare at 55, allowing workers with health problems but sufficient resources otherwise to escape into a comfortable retirement.

(see all)

http://growth.newamerica.net/publications/policy/thoughts_on_a_plan_b

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=560332&mesg_id=560347

[David Gill]

7. Those articles are right.

Absolutely right. If Obama had the political power of, say, George W Bush after 9/11, and could do half of these things unemployment certainly wouldn't be going UP. I really like the retirement holiday idea- that's creative. It not only lowers unemployment but is also an investment in a new generation of Americans.

Those links make the right way to govern clear. I'm trying to take into account both governing and politics with the speeches in this blog. In other words, "How would Obama, or someone else, sell this?" I recommend you read this particular speech I posted on the site, http://www.politicsundelivered.com/2011/06/call-to-increase-minimum-wage.html">"A Call to Increase the Minimum Wage". I argue that the minimum wage should be raised- but I try to do it by turning the common rhetoric of the Republicans against them.