If the Democrats on the "Super Committee" actually held the values of the Democratic Party....

[Scuba]

... they would seize this moment and demand...


1. End the Bush tax cuts

2. Close all corporate loopholes, allowances for jets, etc.

3. Ending "tax rebates" (also known as taxpayer give-aways) to corporations like GE and Exxon.

4. Strengthening Social Security by lifting the earnings cap.

5. Strengthening Medicare via a financial transactions tax.

6. Raising the capital gains tax rate to match payroll taxes.


And then every time the Republicans push back, demand another half-percent tax on the highest incomes, payroll and capital gains.

Take this fight to the public and let's see who wins. This is the time. Sentiment across the Country supports this.

If not now, when?

[lob1]

1. K&R. I'd say the same about all dems, including our president.

Otherwise, they really aren't democrats.

[kentuck]

3. Naw ! The Democrats will let the taxcuts expire...

Nothing to worry about. That's what I've heard on DU for months and months. They would never let the Bush taxcuts be made permanent, as bad as we need revenues. Would they?

[Octafish]

10. That's what was said during the 2008 campaign.

Here it is, almost 2012...and the rich are much richer and the middle classes are much poorer.

Must be a coincidence.

[karynnj]

2. No amount of public preassure would get enough Republican votes for that plan

You just saw them vote against the full Obama plan and two pieces of it - all of which had more enormous support. They are ideologues. I suspect that the committee will fail - but in failing they will at the end be seen to be supporting two very real agendas.

This will not be a desirable outcome, but it may be better than what the Republicans will agree to. The problem is that the cuts to programs that hurt the poor will suffer the most. Where the Democrats CAN win is to refuse to give a single vote to extending ANY of the Bush tax cuts. They could filibuster the Republicans and Democrats who are concerned because it would raise taxes for most people. However, if they had the guts to do that (maybe after the 2012 election) they would not have to sacrifice every bit of progressive legislation written.

[kentuck]

4. Without revenues for programs that are needed...

there is no need for a Democratic Party. I cannot believe they would even talk about such a surrender? Of course, the Democrats could let the entire Bush taxcuts expire on the last day of 2012, then 3 weeks later when they come into session, they could pass a new taxcut for those under $75,000 per year in income. Nobody making over $75K is going to suffer a real hardship at the demise of the Bush taxcuts.

[karynnj]

5. That is why the deal last August was so bad

and why the Democrats on the committee have taken on a thankless, and impossible task. Their goal is to prevent those cuts that were ALREADY AGREED TO if the committee did not succeed.

Last year, I thought that was what would happen, but the problem was there were too few Democrats willing to vote against all the taxes. I think it was a huge mistake not to, at least, force everyone to vote on restoring all but the top 1%'s tax cuts.

[kentuck]

7. Funny how Democrats start thinking like Republicans...

Once they become very wealthy, isn't it?

[karynnj]

11. Not sure that was it

From the rumours then, it was that many centrist Democrats felt that it would hurt their reelection chances because too many had bought the Republican idea that not keeping all of them was not fair (?!?) Supposedly there were very few Democrats arguing strongly for it - and the only 2 two to allow their names out were Kerry and Durbin - and it is hard to be wealthier than Kerry!

[saras]

6. Sure it will - as soon as we get the police out from in between the public and the legislators.

[Tesha]

8. ...they would never been placed on the Committee. (NT)

[Scuba]

9. We have a winner. n/t

[RainDog]

12. k&r n/t

[indepat]

13. The Democratic members of the Super Committee were selected imo because

they did NOT hold the values of the Democratic Party as does not anyone imo a party to cutting social security and Medicare all the while allowing the uber-wealthy and large corporations to continue to suck furtively at the public welfare teat. This is morbidly, obscenely, and cowardly depraved imo, a misfeasance of office so severe, it gives the figurative middle finger to the American people, the OWS movement, and the promote the general welfare doctrine. Otherwise, it is peachy-keen. :patriot: