Obama Digs His Own Grave, Promises To Maintain Status Quo

[Modern School]

Obama’s Jobs speech should have been no surprise to anyone. In fact, the only thing that was surprising was how redundant and tedious it was. “You must pass this bill now,” he said at least half a dozen times, suggesting that he expected to fast track the legislation without debate or criticism.

He did channel FDR with offers to put Americans back to work rebuilding roads and bridges. However, FDR created 11-12 million jobs through massive spending on the order of $1-2 trillion in today’s dollars. Obama, in contrast, is only offering a few hundred billion. By appealing to Republicans with the promise that the legislation will not cost a penny, he ensured that the best he will accomplish is maintaining a status quo of stagnant growth and relatively high unemployment.

This was probably Obama’s last opportunity to do anything to actually help struggling Americans and he blew the opportunity, thus ensuring that by election time he will be as unpopular as he is today. He essentially dug his own grave by not offering a plan that was much more bold and aggressive.

The aspect of his plan that should be of most concern to working Americans, however, is his commitment to cutting payroll taxes for businesses that start hiring. He said there were only two conditions for this gift: businesses must create jobs and do it in the communities most in need. However, this leaves open the possibility that the jobs will be dangerous, low paid, tedious, short-term and lacking in benefits.

In fact, Obama’s jobs bill sounds a lot like a plan to exploit the large army of unemployed workers to drive down wages and working conditions for everyone else.

Modern School
http://modeducation.blogspot.com/2011/09/obama-digs-his-own-grave-promises-to.html

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Bullshit.

[stillrockin]

2. Sadly, it is not.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Happily, yes it is.

But you know what they say about opinions....

[stillrockin]

7. We'll see.

[Hawkowl]

9. A supply side fan I see

So 32 years of failed tax cuts aren't enough for you? :puke:

[napi21]

3. That's crap! Looks to me like you should be posting on the

repug site!

[Frustratedlady]

5. Amen! n/t

[Tx4obama]

6. Krugman: "Obama jobs plan...significantly bolder and better than I expected"

Krugman: "Obama jobs plan...significantly bolder and better than I expected"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x767535



p.s. I unrec'd your OP cause it is full of BULLSHIT ;)

[bbgrunt]

8. Sadly, I have to agree. piss poor policy.

[liberalmuse]

10. Lot's of interesting people here on DU tonight.

How much are you getting paid by Rove?

[movonne]

12. I was thinking the same thing...the repugs have paid trolls they are

like cockroaches...hiding in dark places...

[jwhitesj]

11. unreced for stupidity

[bemildred]

13. I did enjoy the pained looks on all the Republican faces.

They all looked like somebody had just run over their dog and threatened to slap them around if they said anything about it.

[golfguru]

14. rec'ed for dripping with reality.

[Modern School]

15. I Wish I Was a Paid Shill

I'm a low paid teacher and a public sector union organizer. I hate Republicans. But that doesn't mean I should worship Obama or be grateful for moronic policy.

Without spending trillions, the chances of a quick recovery or massive increase in jobs is unlikely.
Without these things happening, Obama will have trouble come election time.

Regardless of which corporate puppet you prefer in the White House or state house, jobs in of themselves are not a social good. We do not need more jobs producing nukes, petroleum, warfare, insurance, banking or speculation.

We do not need more poverty wage jobs that require 10-14 hours per day AND soup lines.

We do not need more jobs that pollute communities, shorten the lives of workers and community members, add stress and powerlessness to workers.