Is it fair to say, then, that the "Grand Deal" is a euphemism for Debt Ceiling + Austerity Cuts?

[Poll_Blind]

I mean, am I missing something? If it's not, then what in the nine hells is that (austerity cuts) legislation going to look like?

PB

[The Magistrate]

1. Hard To Argue With That, Sir, On The Present Going

Everything seems to be aimed at finalizing the looting of the pension fund (the Social Security Trust Fund), and converting the regressive pay-roll tax officially into the main prop of Federal expenditures on war and on tax credits and rebates to big business.

[Poll_Blind]

7. Well, at least I'm not the only one this seems to be the case to. That's really concerning...

...because all these things will throw a long shadow and I don't think there's nearly been the amount of debate for a piece of legislation (the defacto austerity cuts) which should be considered separately. As with the bailouts of the banks, I'm worried about another round of cuts coming under the phrasing of "austerity cuts" so they can double dip and maybe get away with it.

PB

[xchrom]

2. Recommend

[earthside]

3. No doubt about it.

The 'Grand Deal' and probably the 'Gang of Six' deal is just the beginning of austerity.

No one is talking about breaking-up the mega-banks; restoring Glass-Steagal; renegotiating NAFTA; imposing tariffs on job-killing imports; reforming Wall Street (real reform); taxing the super rich; making serious cuts in the military budget ........

The kinds of things that must be done to restructure our economy are completely outside the scope of Pres. Obama, the Democrats, Republicans and Tea Partiers in Congress.

This 'debt ceiling' controversy is ALL about conditioning us for austerity.

No doubt about it.

[Poll_Blind]

8. That's the part that gets me: This could arguably be just the beginning of...

...austerity measures. As I said, I hesitate to think about what self-described "austerity legislation" would look like if this is the "Grand Deal"...(!)

About the "conditioning"...I think you're right. Again, if these are the Good Ole Days compared to what's down the road, I'm not altogether sure I'm interested in keeping on walking...

PB

[originalpckelly]

4. Yes, basically, they had to manufacture an emergency to get austerity through.

[StarburstClock]

5. and "Austerity Cuts" means we pay for criminal banks and chickenshit politicoes

It's not surprising at all though considering we, the USA, established torture camps and WMD lies and did nothing about prosecuting anyone. The U.S. is a criminal country run by criminal interests who will surely be coming for all of our money.

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

6. named the grand (my ass) deal to associate with

new deal.

which is kind of funny, because the new deal is really the target after all.