Earlier this week, Paul Krugman wrote about the Republican threat to refuse to raise the debt ceiling unless the Democrats agree to huge spending cuts while ruling out any tax increases. Krugman found it "baffling" that President Obama instructed the Democrats not to draw any “line in the sand.” As Krugman said, "at some point — and sooner rather than later — the president has to draw a line. Otherwise, he might as well move out of the White House, and hand the keys over to the Tea Party."
Below, Robert Reich agrees. He contrasts "the reactionary and regressive" GOP plan that calls for "eviscerating Medicare, cutting Medicaid and programs for the poor, slashing education and infrastructure, and at the same time reducing taxes on the rich," with the Congressional Progressive Caucus' People's Budget, which we have talked about on Fair and Unbalanced before. (See, e.g., Obama's Deficits, Real Budget Alternative, Gangsters.)
Reich argues persuasively that it is the Democrats as the "People's Party" that should be making unconditional demands: "more spending on education and infrastructure. Pay for it and reduce the long-term budget deficit by reducing military spending and raising taxes on the rich." This is the line we should draw in the sand. As Reich suggests, we should do so even if it means the Republicans won't agree to raise the debt ceiling -- and we should be willing to mount primary challenges against the "incumbent Democrats who cave in."
The Battle Is Squared, And Why We Need Budget Jujitsu
by Robert Reich, originally published on his website, May 16, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Hostage Takers And Line Drawers
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