A rare sight: actual TV coverage of the Progressive Caucus budget (MSNBC, 3/12/14)
What if lawmakers put forward a federal budget plan to tax big financial institutions, enact a healthcare public option and increase spending to put millions of Americans to work on badly needed infrastructure projects?
They did. You just didn’t read or hear much about it.
We’ve pointed out in the past (Extra!, 6/11) that budget plans put forward by congressional Republicans–especially GOP “wonk” Paul Ryan–get a lot of press attention. But the other “side” of the debate over the federal budget is the one put forth by the congressional Progressive Caucus. And its budgets (which one could argue are more closely aligned with public opinion) tend to be either ignored by journalists (FAIR Blog, 3/27/12) or ridiculed–like when Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank wrote that calling it “The People’s Budget” was painfully reminiscent of “other socialist undertakings” (FAIR Blog, 4/14/11).
This time around the media dynamic wasn’t different. The Progressive Caucus’ “Better Off” budget was released on March 12. And, according to a search of the Nexis news database, it was hardly picked up anywhere.
David Dayen wrote a column for Al Jazeera America (3/12/14) explaining what the budget sought to do. And he noted this phenomenon:
There’s no shortage of news coverage when Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and his Republican colleagues in the House release their own version of a national budget, despite the fact that the document has little chance of being passed. But when the 70 liberal Democrats of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) do the same, it passes largely unnoticed in the media–thereby limiting the scope of the debate presented to the US public.
The budget was also covered by Cole Stangler at In These Times (3/13/14) and Pat Garofalo at US News (3/12/14). It was covered on at least one MSNBC show, Now With Alex Wagner (3/12/14), where the host declared:
Will it pass? No. But should it be discussed? Most certainly.
When Barack Obama released his budget, a New York Times headline (3/4/14) dubbed it a “Populist Wish List.” While they don’t mean that as a compliment, that might more accurately apply to the Better Off budget–which the Times didn’t cover at all.
Tax big financial institutions?Toward what end?You could grant 100% of Obamas tax wish list and it would fund the government for a few days.Same old progressive answer.Tax somebody/anybody.Enact a healthcare public option?Was it not Rush who said that before long progressives will be saying all we must do is “fix” the healthcare plan (once it collapses)to get it back on track.He said that 3 years ago.As if this monstrosity is fixable.Notice with all the changes that this plan bears no resemblance to the plan/law passed.That is unconstitutional.(Hence the legislation this week to stop Obama from changing laws past by Congress.)But does no one notice that all the problems people like Paul Ryan spoke of have now come to pass.Folks we were lyed to.That much is obvious.Now we are asked to change this mess till some part of it works?Why?Scrap it.Now.Or later.Your call.Increase spending to put people to work on infrastructure?Same old song and dance.We spent trillions for shovel ready infrastructure jobs.We heard this song many many times before.Fool me once shame on me.Fool me twice…..Look big government keneysian economic socialistic policies(progressive) have had their day.Wade through the burnt wreckage see if you ca find anything that worked
michael e, you are full of it! The burden is on YOU, one of the austerity wimps who troll websites spewing their revisionist history. For starters, name THREE of the “problems” Paul Ryan, supporter of the Bush tax cuts, Alan Greenspan’s “see no evil” regulation policies and off-budget wars, identifies that “have come to pass.” Beans to you, “sir.”
Rat patrol.Listen to Paul Ryans last speech before the election.This boring ass wonk -threw out one figure after another that proves either he had a crystal ball or a time machine.Im amazed at how right he was.Look your ideas about tax hikes and all the rest have been tried now.Your guy won.He had a super majority for a time.He has barely lost a piece of legislation.IT DIDNT WORK.Time for the next up to bat pal.We must cut taxes(especially corporate taxes)and let wealth be recreated.Enough people listened to you but now the fraud is there for all to see.We must stop printing,borrowing, and spending.A flat tax would be fantastic.Hit our natural resources like a ton of bricks.And STOP recreating this country.November the right takes back the house.Tea party values will become more entrenched.And this nincompoop will either except realistic ideas, or be stopped dead in the washington soup he swims in..
For the record, you started this fight. So, you can’t or won’t come up with three predictions Ryan has made that have come true? You are Mr. Empty Assertion, aren’t you?
Here is an actual fact: Paul Ryan represents 750,000 people in Wisconsin. The Congressional Progressive Caucus represents over 52,000,000 Americans! While the former (Ryan) gets prime time coverage in the Liberal-Corporate media, while the latter (those who represent 52 MILLION) is ignored. This fact is one important reason why FAIR, even exists. Frankly, you have nothing to offer but FOX talking points.
You are soooo, in the wrong place, e!
Goshdurned librul media.
michael e,
Your “fund the government for a few days” is untrue. “Folks we were lyed (sic) to” by michael e.
If it weren’t for ODS, unpatriotic, impotent, GOP obstructionism the ACA would have already been improved.
Almost all legislation gives the executive some wiggle room with “laws past (sic) by Congress.” Civics much?
The stimulus helped pull us out of your Shrubcession.
You have no clue what is and isn’t “socialistic”.
With Byrd so old and Kennedy so sick Obama never had a real super majority. Recent history much?
How can “the right” take “back the house (sic)” it already controls?
I get that you have opinions but it mystifies me why someone so inaccurate and illiterate as you are imagines he can sway anyone with them.
Wow! M. E. can certainly spout gibberish, can’t he. He must be a tea bagger.
So a few of you bleat back at me as you cry for bigger government.More taxation.More government involvement in our lives.More regulations.You want to print,spend and borrow unfettered.Ignore the constitution(when it suits you)You want to turn this country into one huge nanny state.Unarmed populace, with an eviscerated military.A foreign policy based on retreat,defeat ,and surrender.A domestic policy based of redistribution of wealth toward socialist programs.And of course a throwing down of faith based people.A silencing of opposition with personal attack.See many of us know the progressive platform.We simply mean to win at the polls and show America a better way,as we wish you happy trails.First step is the Senate.
Geek Hillbilly Read the article out this week in wall street.They put out a top list of political donors.Top 14 are unions.17 out of top twenty are Dems.Kochs fall at 59.Look at the list of top 100 and see how many are left.It will leave you scratching your head with all the nonsense you believe.Look how many are tea party.ONE!!!!And walls street after intensive investigation could not find one policy the koch brothers have effected in any way.That includes legislation.This is all a liberal smoke screen.Nice try though….NEXT!!!!
Here is one other little tidbit.Sell everything in this country.Confiscate all the wealth.Times it by 5.You cant pay down the real debt.Not even the interest on it.17 trillion up front.And 170 trillion in unfunded liabilities.That is more money than now exists in the world.We have never had a fiduciary problem.Not under Carter,Reagan,Bush sr or Jr.Not under Clinton or Obama.We have always taken in plenty.We have a spending problem.A printing phony money problem.And a borrowing problem.A your lot is not interested in turning off the taps.You have to go.
1) Agreed. The debt will never be repaid. NEVER. Neither Democrats nor Republicans seriously will tackle that monster, which they BOTH created. So, let’s move on, OK? (See Breton Woods agreement.)
Who OWNS the $100-400 TRILLION of debt, michael e? Hint: It’s not the US government.
2) So, is there any reason at all to PAY FOR A-N-Y GOVERNMENT? I’ve always wanted to ask a Paul Ryan acolyte that question… For starters, who should pay for, say, military weapons systems? Who says we need them all, anyway? Paul Ryan loves military spending and foreign aid to his friends and thinks the working poor should pay “their fair share.” Where are you on this? I bet you have an opinion, right? Is there a basic tax policy you subscribe too? How are you with corporate subsidies, the biggest form of welfare in our society, by far? You are correct that we are spending too much. Corporate welfare is the biggest “cost” to government by far – over $100 Billion a year and for this the American People get NOTHING! Next we have the oligarchs and corporations hiding money in tax havens, such as the Bahamas. Can I do that “legally” too? (I thought so.)
3) The budget proposed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus is far closer to BALANCED between taxing and spending than either the Obama or Ryan budgets. If you cared to know more, you’d actually read the highlights (and details) of their proposal.
So, while Paul Ryan screams “spending cuts,” he remains mute on corporate welfare for one simple reason, he and all other Washington insiders suckle at the teat of Wall Street.
You know what would really scare Washington? When/if the day comes when the American People realize that they are being duped by Washington (read, Democrat and Republican leadership) and their paymasters on Wall Street and their toadies in the “liberal” media (which includes Fox News, btw).
In short, austerity is a ruse on the American people, just as it was on the people of Greece, who continue to suffer at the hands of international bankers and their cronies in high places in Athens. Happily, Iceland’s story is much more hopeful and instructive for those who are looking for solutions, instead of simply promulgating financial theory.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%80%9311_Icelandic_financial_crisis
media? well? off the map? We’ll see?
I’m sure most people know the following:
Our nasty mess is happening by allowing the psychopathic oligarchy billionaires controlling the country through over 98% of republican party and about 40% – 60% of the democratic party. The lowstream/midstream/highstream ice ball fighting should be set aside since it won’t get the truth realized by the brainwashed($$$$$) elected and ourselves till we severely severe the ties of the corporate strangle hold on OUR Government and become a Democracy Republic again!! Poorly written but You get the drift.
Instead of this current fascist control get back to what the country was founded for as a Democratic Republic for WE THE PEOPLE and not the corporations(east india company – koch brothers etc.) and Grow and Strengthen the Middle Class!! That’s how they started out the country by getting rid of those fascist bastards – ECONOMIC ROYALISTS from England. As we know it’s been happening here again internally & externally for a number of decades since we turned the corner away from a Democracy. It would take a lot to unpack the immense toxic sewer sludge collected that is here now that comes from a little Nixon through Carter drinking a little of the cool aide but nasty big time corner turning starting with ray-gun-omics, help with some bill-omics and george putting it all an steroids!! That’s the big nut shell historical turn away from We The People Democracy.
The Antidote:
Get Rid of citizens united – corporations are NOT PEOPLE & MONEY IS NOT SPEECH!!!! AND GET THE MONEY OUT OF POLITICS!!! with a progressive tax which wouldn’t be much out of our pockets(a few dollars on average each yr. ) with all of us in. And No lobbyist can become an elected and no elected can become a lobbyist or face high prison time!! All of this is the cancer that is deteriorating the U.S.A.
Nearly impossible, but if 80% – 95% of the voters go to vote in Nov. the one tenth of one percent wouldn’t matter!! Power back in our hands to stop them backstabbing us.
Start there and get it done to REGROUND ourselves before we go back to the ice ball & stone throwing & stick fighting of the diversionary topics. We can go back to that latter on!! It takes too much time away from the stated above to get us grounded again. Have a sound basement!
Study and know the Truthful History to get the answers to what works and what doesn’t work. History has been worked over lately into untruths and omissions by those bastard psychopathic oligarchy billionaire through the their paid off pun-dent people.
Blast it! This is simple; but a high percentage doesn’t know.
Ah shit, people have to understand and they can’t with a monopolistic media. No thanks to clinton. Ah shit, people have to understand and they can’t with this monopolistic media. No thanks to clinton. Oligarchy billionaire media is about 90% and Progressive is about 7 – 8% and some odd ball other few %. Very lopsided!!
Oh, bring back the Sherman Anti Trust Act!!
michael e, no one cried for bigger government. In fact, I’d shrink the corporate welfare and police/military-industrial complexes you cons love. Since you proved your dishonesty and/or illiteracy, again, with your very first responding sentence and will never man-up about it, I did not bother reading further. It’s a shame that you wasted all that time and effort, at least regarding me.
I believe that the lot of us have been carefully manipulated into seemingly irreconcilable camps, distracted by marginal wedge issues, and baited by superficial treatment of core functions of governance. This has been facilitated by a system of influence that affects every level of government, made worse by the activism on part of the supreme court (something Chief Justice John Roberts explicitly said he would avoid), a popular media that has been transformed into a machine that, in order to cater to owners, stockholders and entities of corporate influence, only tells us what it thinks we want to hear, while remaining apparently “balanced and neutral” on political topics, and, to come full circle, a population that is disengaged, overworked and distressed due to the new power of business over working citizens due to high unemployment – supported by corporatists in government and supplemented by unprecedented GOP obstruction, distracted and placated by overwhelming neo-capitalist fashions and ideas that take advantage of our ancient psychological fundamentals, and whose consumption of media and information necessary to support true democratic self-governance has been hijacked.
Capital influence has been entrenched into core institutions of government in our country, our unsolicited gift for supporting a political system adulterated by unfettered capitalism. We are seemingly given true choice when the opportunity arises to assert our influence by voting, but the candidates are groomed by the parties in power, dissenting voices are censored by the establishment and ignored by the general media. After all is said and done, half of us are satisfied and the other half incensed.
We can all agree then that money has proved more powerful than democratic ideals in a political system open to capitalisation, and simply has no business being of any influence over government. This should be the one uniting issue of all Americans, and might be once the capitalist machine (greed) inevitably reaches so far that nothing might disguise it to us all.
It is plainly evident that those with the most potential profit to concede (future profits) are successfully guiding us toward their end, with money as the dominant source of political influence, supplanting the will of the commons. I’m not an economist, but I think such a system has no need for democratic governance of any magnitude, except as needed to convince the People that the People govern themselves.
This article is an example of how the mass media and the forces (capitally motivated) which control it are successfully defining our politics for us.
We can and will some day become aware of this circular maze in which we run – constructed with the consent of our lower brain functions.
Truth cannot forever be obscured. Michael E. and company: I agree that there is something wrong with our government, but you are only helping to obscure the truth in unknowing service to capitalistic excess. You run this maze with the rest of us, so let’s work together to solve our core problem: the influence that currently lies outside the will of the People – because most of us don’t have money to inject into politics, and certainly it is not equal, as is speech.
Overwhelming odds are that you are not extremely wealthy, and thus will have to confront the consequences of a world in which Capitalism is unabated, unmet by the economics of Restraint. In that world, which will be reality if nothing changes, you and I could not possibly afford to live as we might now, what with populations multiplying, climate change making swaths of land uninhabitable. In that world we don’t have the influence that could allow us to avoid serious sacrifices of livelihood. Opening the door of our political system to Capitalism is the first step on this very slippery slope we find ourselves on. There are just some things that should be out of reach of Capitalist forces (public health should be insulated to these forces, to what degree should be debated) and our system of governance is the first thing that should come to mind. If nothing comes to your mind, I am afraid the tools of pure Capitalism are as sharp as I fear. If nothing at all should be insulated from the influence of money, then at the very least admit that you and those who convey the same line of thinking throughout Congress and the media, are in the fringe, not Obama, Reid, Pelosi, or even Bernie Sanders. While people like Paul Ryan profess the need for pure, unregulated Capitalism, there is not one person in Congress supporting the opposite, pure Socialism, which to this day has never truly existed. The “socialist” you might call President Obama is far more a Capitalist, and the fact that you don’t see that is but a symptom of the unsought and unwarranted power that Capitalism has over us.
In response to the comments concerning Affordable Care Act, I agree that the Act not deliver what we all look for in its current state – universal, affordable health coverage. That is not a reason to abolish it. As it is, more people today (and the number will grow) have health coverage than a couple years ago. The problem with it (and this speaks to the viability of unrestrained Capitalism in general) is that there is not enough competition to ensure that prices remain affordable. This problem was not created by too much regulation, and asserting such would be ludicrous. If we agree that the problem is lack of sufficient competition, allowed for by deregulation, then there is only one other path to walk.
Some people think that unrestrained Capitalism will create the greatest benefit for all, but if it is an effect of unrestrained Capitalism (lack of competition due to regional monopolization, as is evident) that is hurting the viability of our attempt at affordable universal health coverage WITHOUT the competitive intervention of the government (the public option), then those who speak of MORE deregulation are, in my opinion, caught in a logical fallacy.
The solution: conditions on the free market. Let it breathe, let it compete, but within reason. What we see today is the product of years of deregulation. An even more deregulated free market will benefit mainly the richest among us. It is frustrating to see so many people speak and vote against their interests.
Vrede here is where we differ………..We must shrink it ALL.Not just what the left wants.Not what the right wants.All of it!Just like you and i cant go out a buy a couple of rolls royces,so too must this government understand there is no money left.We are broke.Evan you dance about a simple fact.There are people who could of done far better than this man now in office.He has been one huge failure.We may never reach perfection.But we never had perfection.Not in the fifties when most though life was great.We can do better.We do not need pure capitalism.No one has asked for that.But this country was built on certain principles.They don’t need to be re created.They work pretty well.In contrast to those principles Obama Is a socialist.People like myself in the tea party want our leaders to adhere to the constitution they took an oath to.We believe this ship of state will be more sea worthy once that is done.We really dont care about right,left or the past.Adhere to it now!If you dont know about me …I think climate change as a political football or lever is a waste of time.And the corporate (what ever or whom ever you think that is)footprint massively over blown.
Michael, you simply deny the magnitude, or the mere existence of monetary influence on our politics.
When we allow the military industry access to our foreign policy, we get more violence abroad and further economic stagnation at home. When we allow corporations to become monstrous in size, they do damage to the free market that both agree is of benefit to us all. As is implied, that means that the “free” market cannot be truly free if we intend for it to remain of the greatest benefit to the people.
I agree that this President has been woefully ineffective. He has not engendered true change. Any meaningful change should be in the form of reducing outside influence on our representative government. Whether you like it or not it is the power behind this influence, money for the sake of more money, that writes policy more than any legislator; that steers policy, foreign and domestic, more than any President or Federal Reserve Chairman.
This is not a demonization of Capitalism or the free market, but an acknowledgment of the limitations of such a system. The current power influencing government, unsought by its representees, is a product of a corrupt way of thinking originating with the same power that guides the government hand. If you are not against any and all regulation, then may you be supportive of regulation to give the power of self-governance back to the people, as was originally intended? Only then can we begin to flesh out the true will of the people, and move the discussion onward. But as of yet, we are distracted, eyeing future debates that will never take place unless we clear the toxic influence that affects our political system.
I believe there to be certain areas of policy that must be insulated from undue influence, both public and private. One is that of health. Another is that of peace. And another, it can be said, is freedom. But freedom for whom? For the average working person, or for the billionaires whose hands we find steering public policy?
We must also agree that the abuses of the private sector are equitable to the abuses of the public sector, especially when the private sector has such influence over our government.
Poor michael e has no clue what is and isn’t “socialist”, but he does know that he should wet his pants over what he thinks is socialist. And, he’s so gullible as to still think the right is more likely to shrink government.
This same gullibility explains his still being so foolish as to parrot AGW denial.
I see that he ran away from his false claim that someone here had cried “for bigger government”. Why do cons like him repeatedly shun personal responsibility?
For making sense of Paul Ryan’s oft-cited political positions, I recommend “Dog Whistle Politics” by Ian Haney-Lopez.
For discouraging bloviation on this site, I recommend that FAIR revise it. Means to respond or click approval-disapproval directly under reader comments might help.
Also, I for one find the TV format inappropriate. Staring at FAIR staffer mugs behind arrows several times a day gets tedious.
That said, I find FAIR to be the best researched and written blog out there and nothing short of essential to the restoration of democracy in the U.S.A.
Vrede first lets not even argue that Obamas policies are far more socialist than lets say Ronald Reagan for instance.Or Rand Paul for sure.The progressive need for government involvement in our lives is simply overblown and unexceptable .To argue semantics is another waste of time.Or do you see Obama as a rock solid constitutionalist/capitalist -free market,low tax,small government sort of guy?the type that will stop spending,borrowing and printing?The type that will keep our military strong.Because I missed that.When I worked for Clinton I must say that when I compare any standard of that presidency with this……Obama has slipped miles down the progressive liberal nanny state ladder.But here is a surprise for you.I agree with you that the right is not strong as they would like to seem on smaller less obtrusive government.They are infected with the progressive slippery slope.Not so the tea party.These people seem to understand the simple truths of our constitution.And thats why they are hated by the snakes on the right as well as the left.I would say it is even more important to remove this type on the right than the left.As the left is a lost cause.
michael e, Reagan?
Do you mean the same Reagan that increased the size of government and tripled the national debt, backed Saddam, threw billions at the still unsuccessful Star Wars, funded drug-running death squads throughout Central America, and spit on the Constitution while supplying arms to Iran?
Vs. Obama who has decreased the deficit every single year in office while your Shrub only managed that 3 times out of 8.
Of course, none of the 3 are/were “socialist” by any sane and honest definition of the word, but it’s become clear that truth, accuracy and basic English and economic literacy are of no concern to you.
“spending,borrowing and printing…keep our military strong.” – Yep, you are actually dumb enough to think the latter isn’t the chief cause of the former. Wow.
The TP has always been Koch brothers astroturf and any pretense its dupes had to real fiscal conservatism was abandoned years ago to co-option by the GOP and social RWNJs. Didn’t you get the memo?
I see that you’re still running away from his false claim that someone here had cried “for bigger government”. Why do you detest personal responsibility?
I like the Better Off Buget, especially the Robin Hood Tax idea that the Wall Streeters should pay a transaction tax with each move. That would fund a lot of things which need to be accomplished, such as fixing buildings, bridges and the elecrtic grid too. Don’t forget that India’s went down not so long ago.
WHY do so many employees of Walmart and other Simon Legree type corporations, why do these employees need public assistance from one of the biggest corporations in the world?
There is also a really big problem with college education costs turning graduates into escapees from a Charles Dickens novel. We have debtors prisons now in many places, and really college grads should not be beaten into the ground just so that the oil, gas and coal lobbyists and corporations get more money.
Also, michael e. how many tolls use that name because the writing style and voice differ so much over time, that a michale e sounds like a mulitple personality mutiplied by a googol.
—Not in the fifties when most though life was great.
Really? Again it must be an amazing world that you live in, inside your head. The world is completely overturned and on fire, Nations are barely able to stand up and commence again, in conjunction with the Korean War in 51, and the Start of Vietnam in 58, the nuclear arms race, Race Riots, Major Civil Disobedience, McCarthy, and on and on, But you think it was a wonderful time. I don’t think I have seen such a Cognitive Dissonance, except in several autistic people.
Like always, your entitled to your Opinion, not our own facts that you just made up.
michael e meant 1950s “life was great” for imaginary straight, white, Christian conservative middle class male TV characters too old for the military like Ozzie Nelson.
WOW just what I was looking for. Came here by searching for optimum 9200