Important words - consider carefully

John Cassidy at the New Yorker ..

"With Republicans in Congress still intent on pursuing a strategy similar to the failed one adopted by the Brits, this is a story that needs trumpeting. Austerity policies are self-defeating: they cripple growth and reduce tax revenues. The only way to bring down the U.S. government’s deficit in a sustainable manner, and put the nation’s finances on a firmer footing, is to keep the economy growing. Spending cuts and tax increases can also play a role, but they need to be introduced gradually. [...]

That austerity has led to recession is undeniable. … consumer and investment spending have remained depressed. [...]

In adopting a fiscal stimulus of gradually declining magnitude over the past four years, the Obama Administration has administered what was, until recently, the standard medicine for a sick economy. As one would have expected on the basis of the textbooks, the American economy, while hardly racing ahead, has fared considerably better than its British counterpart. [...]

Having adopted the policies of Keynes in response to a calamitous recession, the United States has grown more than twice as fast during the past three years as Britain, which adopted the economics of Hoover (and Paul Ryan)."

Programs at risk vs. tax breaks

Where the U.S. can cut spending

Republicans gone crazy

What Your Representatives Did While You Were Asleep

from Crooks and Liars by karoli

Here are some of the things your House of Representatives did early this morning:


* Voted to strip funding from just about every EPA project, including air quality, emissions, and water pollution monitoring.
* Defunded NOAA
* Stripped funds to administer the Affordable Care Act.
* Eliminated funds for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
* Continued $53 billion in oil subsidies
* Tried to eliminate Davis-Bacon rules for government projects (that failed)
* Stripped federal workers of their salaries in positions within agencies targeted for defunding


Of course, yesterday they defunded Planned Parenthood, FCC allocations for enforcement of Net Neutrality rules, and the entire Affordable Care Act.


They also managed to pass a budget 235-189 after the sorriest bunch of bullsh*t debate this writer has ever observed. The vote was down party lines, with the exception of 3 Republicans who voted against it. The most entertaining part of the whole entire screwed-up process was watching Republicans make love to Big Oil while the whole world watched.


Oh, note to the Tea Party...hahahahaha!!!! They only managed to cut $60 billion. Broken promises, broken promises. And so soon in your young reign of terror.


I hope it was good for them. I felt screwed without even so much as a kiss on the cheek.


With that said, all props to Rosa DeLauro for her 3AM rant with energy, passion and focus. Enjoy that moment. There weren't all that many.

Republicans growing more ferocious

They feed on their own greed and hatred at helping the less fortunate.