The Public on How to Do (and Not Do) Deficit Reduction

[Tennessee Gal]

Public Opinion Snapshot: The Public on How to Do (and Not Do) Deficit Reduction

TAKE A LOOK AT THE CHARTS IN THE LINK

It really is quite remarkable, even by the standards of today’s conservatives, how far their plans for reducing the deficit are from the public’s. Conservatives don’t want to raise taxes in any way, especially on the rich and corporations. They don’t want to touch the military. And they think it’s a dandy idea to take a meat axe to domestic spending programs and Social Security. The public is exactly the opposite, as a recent Pew Center poll shows.

So what does the public approve of for reducing the deficit? They approve of reducing U.S. assistance to foreign countries (72 percent), raising the cap for Social Security contributions (67 percent), raising income taxes on the rich (66 percent), reducing military commitments overseas (65 percent), and limiting tax deductions for large corporations (62 percent). That sure doesn’t sound like the conservative agenda.

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/06/snapshot061311.html

[Tennessee Gal]

1. Could someone help me here?

I would like to post the charts from that site, but do not know how to do it. If someone knows how, would you please do it for me? Thank you in advance.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. Here you go.

[jwirr]

5. I would feel better about this is the first on was referring to military

assistance to foreign countries. I have nothing against social safety net help for foreign countries.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. I wholeheartedly agree. But, 65% want to cut back on foreign military assistance.

A hopeful sign.

[Tennessee Gal]

6. Thank you!!!

Charts help so much!

[grahamhgreen]

3. What you do is

1-right-click on the image
2-select "copy image location"
3-past that into you post
4-it will automagically appear!

(At least, that's how it works in OSX with Firefox)

[socialist_n_TN]

4. And people even on HERE say that the USA is

a center right country? That is SUCH bullshit. You can make the argument if you want to ONLY talk about self identification (labels), but ONLY there. On positions on issues, we are a center-LEFT country. All these positions are "leftish". Not left as I see left, but trending left nevertheless.

We ARE the New Silent Majority.

[Tennessee Gal]

8. Yes, they definitely are leftish. Certainly do not support the rightish

positions in any way whatsoever.

[saras]

9. So how come Obama, as a Democrat, isn't in the middle of this?

As a Democrat, I'd expect him to be in the middle of, or slightly to the left of, the "average" public position, which, it is important to note, already factors in the Tea Party and their positions. They don't need any special accommodation.

[The Big Vetolski]

10. Because Jamie Dimon is a friend of his.

FDR welcomed the hatred of people like Dimon. Truman called them lying, greedy sons of bitches. Obama has dinner with them at the White House. Think long and hard on that.

[Tennessee Gal]

11. Not from what I have read. nt

[The Big Vetolski]

12. You're cherry picking. Even if Obama has never actually invited

Dimon to the White House(I think he has) he WAS referring to him when he said "I know these guys. They're friends of mine. They're savvy businessmen." He went on to say Americans did not begrudge them the rewards of their "success" any more than Americans begrudge baseball players their salaries. And that Americans "celebrate wealth" and that we SHOULD!

I don't celebrate wealth. Especially unearned wealth, wealth built upon the work of others. I know many will find this quote distasteful, but I'm going to use it anyway. It's an oldie but a goodie.

"It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven."
--Jesus of Nazareth