The word most politicians ignore: Jobs - By Eugene Robinson

[kpete]

The word most politicians ignore: Jobs

By Eugene Robinson, Monday, April 25, 8:00 PM

What is it about the word “jobs” that our nation’s leaders fail to understand? How has the most painful economic crisis in decades somehow escaped their notice? Why do they ignore the issues that Americans care most desperately about?

.............

The wise men and women of Washington complain that the American people are sending a contradictory message — that, essentially, they’re acting like spoiled brats who want luxuries they can’t afford. But I think the people are speaking quite clearly and sensibly, and I think politicians had better start listening.

We want an America that takes care of senior citizens in their retirement. We want an America that ensures medical care for the elderly and the poor. We may not yet know how to guarantee these benefits decades from now, but we know precisely where to start: In both surveys, 72 percent of respondents favored raising taxes on households making more than $250,000 a year. Both polls showed some doubt about deep cuts in military spending, but suggested that after the wealthy are asked to contribute their fair share, the defense budget would be the next place to look.

Obama is being slammed by the deficit hawks for not providing “leadership” on the debt. But it turns out that Obama’s position is much closer to that of the American people. A president’s job is not to lead us off a cliff.

the rest:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-word-most-politicians-ignore-jobs/2011/04/25/AFrUC1kE_story.html

[Poboy]

1. R'd

[highplainsdem]

2. K&R

[LiberalEsto]

3. +1000

I read it this morning in the Washington Post.
Interestingly, in the same section there was a column by business writer Ezra Klein insisting that Obama is really a moderate Republican.