Two Contrasting Sets of Economic Values

[kentuck]

<snip>
Certainly there are conservative Democrats -- and Democrats that do the will of major corporate interests. But at their core, there is a fundamental difference between the economic philosophy and underlying values of the Republican and Democratic Parties. Which party's world view sets the course for American economic policy will have a profound effect on the lives and livelihoods of everyday Americans.

Perhaps the sharpest contrasts is that Republicans and the Right believe that economic growth is driven from the top down, while Democrats and Progressives believe that growth is driven from the bottom up.

Progressives do not believe that the engine of economic growth is supply. It is demand. Productive investment in innovation responds to the presence of demand, not the other way around. "Trickle-down" -- or "supply side" economics has never worked to stimulate long-term economic growth, and it never will. It only works to legitimate the insatiable appetite of the very rich.

For almost a decade, the American Right conducted a massive experiment in "trickledown" economics. The results are in. It was an abject failure. It resulted in a reduction of the real incomes of average Americans and it ultimately lead to the collapse of the economy, and cost eight million Americans their jobs.
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-creamer/two-contrasting-sets-of-e_b_732550.html

[el_bryanto]

1. I would agree with that

It's tempting to say that Moderate Democrats are just like Republicans, but underlying it all, there are still some pretty deep divisions.

Bryant

[zazen]

2. & some of us question the neoclassical model of endless growth

I think most elected officials aren't on board with the new reality of Great Contraction, and while trickle-down economics exacerbated any attempts to proactively handle the limits to growth, I'm not sure either party has been very honest about the radical restructuring that's going to take place, whether we responsibly manage the "Long Descent" or let the chips (and governments) fall where they may.

[Tippy]

3. K&R...Good catch Kentuck

[Winterblues]

4. If that were the truth Obama would have handed out billions to ordinary people instead

of the Banks and Investment Houses..Give the money directly to the people to pay their mortgages and debt and the Banks will get the money anyway but the people would have gotten something as well.. Obama did not do anything like that. The closest he has come is in giving direct Student Loans instead of bank subsidies for them..