Bernie Sanders: Disaster Warning

[tpsbmam]

Disaster Warning: 'Gang of Six' Deal Sacrifices Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid to GOP Madness

The latest idea to emerge in negotiations over a deficit-reduction package came from a group of senators that calls itself the Gang of Six. The proposal would be a disaster, Sen. Bernie Sanders warned. "The plan would result in devastating cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and many other programs that are of vital importance to working families in this country. Meanwhile, tax rates would be lowered for the wealthiest people and the largest, most profitable corporations."

Summary of the "Gang of Six Plan"
Provides major tax cuts to the wealthy and large corporations.

1. The Gang of Six plan reduces the top marginal income tax rate for the wealthiest Americans and most profitable corporations from 35 percent to as low as 23 percent (about 34 percent lower than the top tax rates under Bush).
   
   
2. Instead of reforming the Alternative Minimum Tax, it abolishes it altogether providing a major tax cut for the wealthiest Americans.
   
   
3. It reduces the deficit by about $3.7 trillion over 10 years, while providing a net tax cut of $1.5 trillion that will mainly go to the wealthiest Americans and most profitable corporations.
   
   
4. In other words, 100 percent of the deficit reduction achieved by the Gang of Six plan is through spending cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, education, child care, Head Start, LIHEAP, the environment, and other programs that the sick, the elderly, the children, and working families need.
   
   
5. Any tax revenue that is raised by closing tax loopholes for large corporations must be used to lower tax rates.
   Revenue raisers cannot be used to increase spending at all. Revenue raisers can only be used to lower tax rates or reduce the deficit.

Ugh.....so much more at the link above. I didn't think it was possible for me to be any more disgusted with our President. I was wrong -- my disgust has reached a whole new peak.

:grr:

[AzDar]

1. Sanders for Prez

:patriot:

[Jack Sprat]

6. Maybe a combined internet campaign

by all the progressive sites can draft a "Sanders for Prez" movement outside the DNC. A massive 'write-in' campaign in the primaries all across the nation could free us all from the stranglehold of the new conservative DNC. A populist movement is needed to return the Democratic Party to its' core New Deal principles.

[MissDeeds]

13. Excellent ideas

I'm in.

[Lorien]

16. Agreed. nt

[Puglover]

2. I can't speak for the country but I can speak to this plan and it's authors.

They are morally bankrupt. I realize that is a huge understatement. I am not going to comment on Obama until something actually happens. I hope hope hope his consideration of this plan is yet more of his 26 dimensional chess playing.

[NorthCarolina]

7. You are sure to be disappointed then. n/t

[sad sally]

17. The President’s Position on the Gang of 6 Plan and Why the White House Is Optimistic:

July 20, 2011 1:57 PM

CARNEY: Well, what I would say is that -- again, as I said yesterday, it represents significant broad support along the lines of the approach the president took. There are -- as we look at the provisions within it, and as you know, the -- there was some level of detail provided, and more coming. You know, it's possible we may not agree with every aspect of their approach, but the issue here isn't which piece of paper will be the final piece of legislation because that -- you know, that's going to be up -- if the decision is made that we're going to take a bipartisan approach, that we're going to take a balanced approach, the framework that the president put forward, that the Gang of Six has now put forward, that Simpson and Bowles commission has put forward and others -- you know, are all available to create a process that produces a piece of legislation that we believe a majority in Congress would support, and certainly the American people would support and the president would sign, the details of that, obviously, would have to be worked out.

But the frame here -- savings out of the tax code, savings out of -- from entitlement reform, significantly reduced nondefense discretionary spending, reduced defense spending that's done in a way that protects our national security -- this is the way to go about it. And that's how you get to the 3.5 trillion (dollars) and above savings over 10 years that we've talked about and that the Gang of Six is talking about.

So as long as there's political will, the details -- there's enough substance out there now for a package to be crafted.

(another plum deal for the Wealthy Friends of the President.)

[hootinholler]

3. Don't miss the video of him from the well

Here.

-Hoot

[sabrina 1]

4. Let them do it, and see what happens.

This is the Global Capitalist plan for the US. We are no longer a sovereign nation, and it's sad to see anyone, let alone elected officials, succumb to this attack on our sovereignty.

[shanti]

8. chipping away at it a little at a time

that's how we got where we are today :(

[Cresent City Kid]

5. Some compromise

So they got the republicans to agree to a tax increase, the catch is that the increase is a negative number... everybody wins!

[jillan]

9. I sleep better at nite know that Bernie Sanders is in the Senate fighting for what is right.

[tpsbmam]

15. I'd sleep better if there were WAY more Bernies.....

We've lost some good progressives in both houses -- there aren't enough to make me sleep better at night! And, frankly, having a President who praises the Gang of Six makes me REALLY lose sleep!

[originalpckelly]

10. Are they just egging us on now?

Not only do they want austerity, BUT THEY ARE BASICALLY SAYING, "FUCK YOU!"

Good Christ, how fucking dumb are they? We're going to do something about this folks. It will not happen on the streets, it won't be televised, but we will get even. All we need to do is deal them out of our lives.

[annabanana]

11. goddam this is discouraging . . . . n/t

[bullwinkle428]

12. I thought nobody knew what the plan was? I guess Bernie should

prepare to be attacked as a "hallucinatory old man".

K&R.

[fascisthunter]

14. "That's the Problem with you Progressives...

you aren't a sellout like me."

Okay, not the actual quote, so I took liberties.

[kenny blankenship]

18. It's a "balanced" plan per Obama - meaning both Repukes & Dems contributed ways to screw us

They say we "got no place else to go"? Fucking anyplace is safer than being indoors with them.

[tpsbmam]

20. And our Democratic (HA!) President

has endorsed it. If he signs this bill, I don't care what anyone says and what they call me, I will NOT vote for him again.

[sofa king]

21. Ever offer a treat to get a dog to come over?

Then, once he's in your grasp, it's off to the vet to cut his fucking balls off.

That's what's going to happen once we get them into conference.

[AtomicKitten]

19. My money is on the House teabaggers to just say no.

I have asked my representative, Nancy Pelosi, to herd the Progressive Caucus and anybody then can persuade to just say no.

I don't know the political spin on this is. I'm just crossing my fingers that - and oh god what irony - the progressives and teabaggers stop this shit in its tracks.

[woo me with science]

22. Strong K&R