Kerry calls for Depression era public works program, calls some Rep cuts "unjust,, immoral

[karynnj]

and dangerous"

SAN FRANCISCO—The United States is falling behind in the global arena because, unlike Europe or China, it does not have the resources to move ahead and “if we don’t act, we won’t just temporarily fall behind, we’ll stay behind,” warned Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.).
<snip>
Its ( my comment for clarity - Its references the GOP in previous paragraph) proposed budget cuts, for instance, “will hurt our most vulnerable citizens,” he asserted.

Some of those cuts, which Kerry called “unjust, immoral and dangerous,” include $5.7 billion from Pell Grants for university students; $1 billion from the Head Start program, a cut that would prevent an estimated 157,000 children from receiving preschool care; $1.6 billion from the National Institutes of Health; $899 million from energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, and $1.3 billion from community health centers.

Kerry said that even though the country is going through a financial crisis, it cannot afford not to engage in ambitious programs. “The Golden Gate Bridge was built during the Great Depression – at a time when one in four people were unemployed,” pointed out Kerry.

http://newamericamedia.org/2011/04/john-kerry-calls-for-depression-era-public-works-program.php

[liberal N proud]

1. Great - but he should have been calling for that 2 years ago

[karynnj]

2. He was - arguing that that was what was needed in the stimulus bill

Even before that, he wrote an high speed rail bill and got bi partisan sponsorship in 2008. That bill used the same method of financing this infrastructure as what he put into the current infrastructure bank bill.

(The beginning of much of this were even there in 2004. )

Not to mention - even if it were new, his call here is the strongest I've heard from anyone.

[Donnachaidh]

4. the person who should have been calling for it 2 years ago is Obama

At least Kerry is saying *something* about the disappeared unemployed.

[karynnj]

9. So was Kerry , long before 2008 - as was Obama

More recently, Kerry was in the Senate in 2009 calling for the money to states and infrastructure spending. However, Kerry spoke of the need for good jobs in 2004.

Kerry has worked on issues related to unemployment since he went to the Senate - especially with regards to underprivileged youth. One thing he did was to sponsor and get funding for Youthbuild.

As several of us have posted many times to you, you really don't know Kerry's record. (I still don't get how so many believed Edwards, who wrote no legislation to help.)

We need many Democrats speaking out.

[politicasista]

18. The poster said that Kerry should build an industrial plant in HIS backyard

a while back.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=115&topic_id=243528#243532


Some people really hate that it is a Democrat they don't like and not their favorite liberal/pol that is doing this. IMO, it goes back to the primary wars and some people will always think that the Senator handcuffed Edwards or duct taped Dean or Clark from winning.

Then again, people will never get over the 08 primary wars.

[karynnj]

22. Given that the only house Senator Kerry owns is a townhouse on Beacon Hill, that is completely dumb

1) there is nowhere near enough "backyard"
2) it is in a densely populated city.

[politicasista]

27. And it has a rich history

The Underground Railroad runs (or ran) through Beacon Hill.

[blm]

11. He did...1yr ago, 2yrs ago, 3yrs ago, 4 yrs ago, 6 yrs ago, 8yrs ago. Corpmedia ignores these

statements for the most part. They make too much sense and are easily understood by all. Corpmedia has spent years telling people they don't understand lawmakers like Kerry and Gore, and they stick with that narrative to the benefit of the corporate elite who sign their paychecks.

[roguevalley]

17. yeah. It should have been done first and then health care when

people weren't distracted by the leak in the roof of their culvert.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. I think Obama has been attempting to do this with the high speed rail projects.

But the Republican governors are undermining his efforts.

[OHdem10]

5. Obama should speak up and explain what he is trying to do.

Remaining silent leaves the impression that he agrees
with the Republicans.

The American People can recite the Republican theory
and principles behind their actions. In fact this is
the only economic theory most Americans know.

If Democrats do not stand up and explain the how and
why theirs is a better idea for America right now, the
Republican Plan goes on.

Other Democrats should join Kerry.

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. I agree. He hasn't explained the mission.

Did FDR explain what he was doing before the government began the works programs?

[YvonneCa]

16. I couldn't agree more. n/t

[karynnj]

6. Exactly - Kerry is a strong Obama ally on this

Many people wanted and pushed for the HSR in the stimulus bill and later bills, including the President, the VP, and Kerry, who had written a bill in 2008 to create a high speed backbone network.

This is something where Obama and Kerry are going in the same direction. Kerry gave an incredible speech in early January that spoke of this in depth - and Obama pushed for infrastructure speaking of funding it via a means like Kerry's infrastructure bank legislation. (link to speech - http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2011/01/if_you_read_only_one_john_kerr.html

Obama needs the rest of the party to being out there advocating for things that are both their agenda and the president's. They also need to being speaking of the damage the Republican cuts will do - otherwise what people here most is that their grandkids will be hurt by the "high spending".

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. I think he needs to sell it to the public. They're ready.

[karynnj]

10. That is what he is trying to do - and what, with a far bigger megaphone, Obama is trying to do

[tavalon]

12. Very good idea

[flpoljunkie]

13. And, Ryan's 2012 budget proposal would keep Bush tax cuts and entirely eliminate capital gains tax!

Republicans, you know who they work for--and it's not the people!

[Vox Populi]

14. Isn't there an "N" missing?

Kerry calls for Depression era public works program, calls some Rep cuts "unjust,, immoral and dangerous"

[karynnj]

19. No, there is no "N" mossing - the sentence is as reported - and as the well mannered Senator said it

[politicasista]

15. Kick. What did Senator Kerry do today

to posters in this thread? Take their lunch money or dog/cat? Did Obama do the same too? :shrug:

Guess people will never forgive him for beating Edwards, Dean or Clark, or he isn't one of the favorite liberals here anymore, but their loss. :kick:

[Mass]

21. ??? I have no idea what your point is? This thread has 35 recommends, so I doubt people

disagree.

[politicasista]

28. No point. Just an observation n/t

[karynnj]

23. This is actually a pretty well received post - I think most pwoplw here agree with this

and it is completely consistent with Obama's goals.

[politicasista]

29. It is,

but there will always be a few seem to have some resentment with the Senator for saying anything! Their loss.

[cottonseed]

20. Honestly, most projects are so capital intensive these days. Most money won't got to actual people.

They'll go to the CEOs of the large engineering firms that will bring in large capital equipment, employee low wage and even illegal labor, and outsource most of the menial accounting and office jobs. We've got to think of a better way. I don't know what that is by the way...

I can't remember where I saw this but they said it would take about 1/10; maybe less, the manpower to build the Hoover damn today than it would then.

[KoKo]

24. Well...it could be simple "Butt Covering" for Kerry's Support of Libya Invasion...but then

who knows. Our Dems are so strange in these times...it could be something else.

I've given up wondering what they think. It's always the opposite of what this Dem who worked for Kerry (as Precinct Chair) and voted for him...and donated some Big Coin to that loser John Edwards.

So...I am nobody but a fool "who asks questions" after the fact of what they do. :shrug:

[karynnj]

26. Read the article - he speaks of Libya too - and he has said the same things he did here for months

The infrastructure bank has been a major legislative effort for him for at least the last half year. These comments are very similar to comments Kerry has made in and out of the Senate since at least early 2008.

[MasonJar]

25. Kerry and Gore are great citizens of the world. They could have been our president.

It still depresses me to think what we got instead.