@davidsirota It's important to point out that austerity is part of a game our two political parties play with one another as part of the 40+ year class war by the rich and corporations against the 99%
Here's how the game works...
Here's how the game works...
@davidsirota When a Republican becomes president, we are told deficits don't matter. They then, with the help of Democrats, pass tax cuts, bailouts, etc., all of which create a massive transfer of wealth from the bottom to the top 1%. The deficit and debt skyrocket...
@davidsirota We are told that important social programs that benefit the poor and working class must be cut because of our debt and deficit.
This sets the stage for round 2 of the austerity game. Can you guess what that is, children?
This sets the stage for round 2 of the austerity game. Can you guess what that is, children?
@davidsirota Round 2 of the austerity game begins the moment it appears as though a Democrat may win the White House. Republicans and all of the conservative, corporate and neoliberal media then begin shrieking about "zomg look at the deficit and the debt!! We're going broke!"...
@davidsirota This creates pressure on the Democratic nominee to adopt austerity as part of his platform. And neoliberal Democrats secretly WANT to include that because it gives them a ready made excuse to never ever enact policies demanded by progressives (and a majority of Americans)...
@davidsirota Policies like, you know, #MedicareForAll and a #GreenNewDeal.
It also allows them to justify helping Republicans cut social program spending. But don't worry, Democrats are benevolent enough to only cut them by half of what the GOP would...
It also allows them to justify helping Republicans cut social program spending. But don't worry, Democrats are benevolent enough to only cut them by half of what the GOP would...
@davidsirota Like that time Republicans tried to cut food stamps by $36 Billion during the Obama/Biden presidency and Obama "pragmatically compromised" on a cut of $18 Billion...
@davidsirota Or like that time that Obama created a deficit commission, stacked it with people who want to abolish #SocialSecurity, and surprise surprise, the chairs of that commission recommended cuts to SS! And Obama tried to get those passed. Know why he failed to accomplish that?
@davidsirota Because his cuts were half as much as the GOP wanted and they said nope! Either we destroy SS more quickly or no deal.
But back to my original point. You see how Obama played the austerity game? He bought right into it...
But back to my original point. You see how Obama played the austerity game? He bought right into it...
@davidsirota And then Trump became president and immediately ran up the deficit with another round of huge tax cuts for the rich followed by a #COVID19 bailout for the rich. Next thing ya know old Jed's a zillionaire and the rest of us are closer to penniless as debt and deficit skyrocket...
@davidsirota So, of course, with Biden potentially the next president, it's time for another round 2 of the austerity game!! And Joe Biden is doing what Barack Obama turned into an art form - pre-capitulating to Republicans, in this case on austerity.
I hope you enjoyed today's bedtime story
I hope you enjoyed today's bedtime story
