American Public to Politicians - LISTEN TO US gODDAMMIT!!!!!

[kpete]

* What if the American people declared that they think the best way to fix the deficit is to cut defense spending and hike taxes on the rich, and no high level politician in either party cared?

Study: Public Sees Both Parties Cutting Deficits The Wrong Way

http://www.public-consultation.org/studies/budgetcomparisons_mar11.html
First Posted: 03/ 3/11 03:52 PM Updated: 03/ 3/11 03:52 PM

WASHINGTON -- If the public actually set the public agenda, we'd be cutting the deficit much differently than either the Democrats or the Republicans are proposing to do it.

That's according to a comparison of President Barack Obama's fiscal year 2012 budget proposal, the cuts for the remainder of fiscal 2011 proposed by House Republicans, and the results of an ingenious study of public opinion where a representative sample of Americans, asked how they would reduce their deficit, were presented with actual budget numbers and worked their way through a series of tradeoffs. (Try it yourself.)
http://public-consultation.org/exercise/

While the details vary, the White House and Republican leaders both basically want to reduce the deficit by cutting social programs, preserving defense spending and raising taxes relatively little or not at all.

The public, by contrast, would do it primarily by cutting defense spending and imposing significantly higher and more progressive taxes on the rich -- while at the same time dramatically increasing spending in such areas as job training, higher education and humanitarian aid.



http://public-consultation.org/studies/budget_feb11.html

the rest (plus links):
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/03/deficit-public-sentiment_n_830986.html
FULL REPORT: http://www.public-consultation.org/pdf/Budget_Feb11_rpt.pdf

[polichick]

1. Fat chance! Cenk just pressed Debbie Wasserman Schultz about this...

...saying that Dems need to counter Republican demands with things the public wants (taxes on wealthy, getting rid of corp. subsidies, etc) but she kept talking about how Dems have to "be responsible" - he was as frustrated as we are, watching Dems cave for no reason except that they are playing to the same folks Republicans serve.

[Newest Reality]

2. If the people agree, overwhelmingly on the issues

and the government refuses to act on that, when demanded to, then what does that say?

Kiss the illusion of democracy goodbye for good. We can't call it that when the government refuses to bow to the will of the people in a crises. That is clearly not representation, but it is a lot like being ruled.

If we, then, are not represented and our needs and grievances are not acknowledge or addressed this creates a rather serious split between the people and the government and creates a threat to the honoring of the social contract implied by it.

[BeFree]

3. What counts your vote?

They don't have to listen to us. They have it pretty well rigged as to who our new rulers will be.

[ladjf]

8. From a programming standpoint, the voting machines are child's

play to rig. However, if anyone who is charge wanted to, the integrity of the machines could be
successfully monitored. Politicians on both sides don't seem to want to worry about vote counting fraud. What does that suggest?

[BeFree]

10. it suggests

They pretty much decide who our new rulers will be.

OMG!? Crooked politicians? Not here, not in America! That's banana republic stuff!!

<.snark>

Thank you for informing the computer illiterate about the ease of altering the integrity of the machines. You know it, bro/sis. Sing it!

Which brings us to the solution: how do we ensure the integrity of the machines? And do the politicians really want to give us back the power to select our rulers?

[ladjf]

14. There are some good programming safeguards against computer

hacking that could be used. But, politicians don't seem to be interested.

[hootinholler]

16. Bullshit...

I've been in the industry too long to believe that electronic voting can be secured. I've seen too many secure systems cracked.

The fact remains that only a paper ballot that can be hand counted is secure. Random audits of any count by any means is also required.

-Hoot

[ladjf]

17. Are you speaking from experience?

I wasn't implying that software safeguards were infallible. But, by in large, important electronic data is well protected. Try hacking into a bank and stealing some money. Yes, it has been done but not often. Any decent system would be far better than what we now have, which is next to nothing.

Personally, I also would prefer paper ballots. I even think that tying the votes into a personal identification system would work. Many people diss this approach because the fear that their vote wouldn't be confidential. But, the present system has the same potential.

[hootinholler]

15. Well we tried to get rid of them in Md...

One of the more liberal states. It just doesn't get traction in the public. The bill passed the state house and was killed in the state senate.

I think it's going to take a huge push with a referendum on the ballot.

-Hoot

[annabanana]

9. Yes. and yes.

We have been operating under an oligarchy for awhile now. This conclusion becomes clearer and clearer as more people understand that their interests are not being served.

[Initech]

4. $400 billion for new fighter jets and they can't scrape a few measly bucks for education?

Fuck them if they can't do that! Our populace is getting screwed by these greedy, out of control pieces of shit (but we can't hate the "job creators!" :eyes: ). I think we as a country need to just completely stop every dialogue we've come up with until we get our priorities straight. It's seriously FUBAR at this point.

[mike_c]

5. that's because political leaders work for the industries who profit from war, terror, and fear...

...rather than the people who are harmed by their greed and misgovernment.

[fittosurvive]

6. Politicians will never agree on what to cut. To them a cut is potential lost vote.

Based on this chart, we need to cut 40% across the board to balance the budget. Obviously, that is not possible; however, the only way to to ensure that everyone feels the pain (loses votes) is to cut everything by the same %.

[ladjf]

7. Very good post. It addresses the worlds number one problem,

the shift of wealth toward the ultra-rich. Keep it up.

[RainDog]

11. k&r n/t

[Kurovski]

12. It must be very obvious by now to most that are asses are owned.

[Mojorabbit]

13. I am surprised on the veterans benefit cut. nt