The subhead sums up the point of USA Today‘s lead story today (2/14/11) about Barack Obama’s budget proposal:
Obama Proposes Cuts to Trim Deficit; GOP, Others Want More
The piece by Richard Wolf and Mimi Hall begins, “President Obama will send Congress a 2012 budget today that would trim the budget deficit by $1.1 trillion over the next decade, but Republicans and nonpartisan budget experts are already saying that’s not enough.” And that’s how the story is framed: You’ve got the White House vs. the Republicans, and “nonpartisan budget experts” who agree with the Republicans.
“We’re going to make tough choices,” promises the White House budget director—who is countered by USA Today: “Those choices aren’t as tough, however, as the ones made by Obama’s bipartisan fiscal commission in December.” Two sources—described a second time as “nonpartisan budget experts,” in case we missed it the first time—concur: Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, accuses the White House of “a political unwillingness to tackle the tough issues,” while Robert Bixby, director of the Concord Coalition, described as “a fiscal watchdog group,” charges that “the entitlement and tax reform agenda will apparently be deferred yet again.”
So everybody who’s not a partisan or an amateur, apparently, believes that Obama’s cuts don’t go far enough? Of course that’s not true; USA Today‘s “experts” actually occupy a narrow strip of ideological terrain, with both the groups they represent receiving funding from billionaire deficit hawk Pete Peterson. The Concord Coalition is a Peterson creation; the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, in addition to its backing from Peterson, is part of the New America Foundation, whose “Leadership Council”—people who give them at least $25,000 a year and as a result “participate in the intellectual life of the Foundation in numerous ways”—has included executives from such companies as Wal-Mart, Goldman Sachs and a variety of other financial industry firms.
It’s very clear that such entities have a definition of the kind of “tough” that would be desirable that is very different from the “tough” that would be advocated by equally nonpartisan experts at a group like the Economic Policy Institute, which is critical of the president’s budget for being too quick to cut spending during an economic crisis.
But the only other sources in the story, besides the White House and the Peterson-affiliated deficit hawks, are House Speaker John Boehner—who says Obama’s budget “will continue to destroy jobs by spending too much, borrowing too much and taxing too much”—and “150 economists” rounded up by Boehner who insist in an open letter that “to support real economic growth and support the creation of private-sector jobs, immediate action is needed to rein in federal spending.” That one could find far more than 150 economists who would give you the standard economic line that cutting federal spending at a time of depressed demand is not a way to create jobs, private-sector or otherwise, is not even hinted at by USA Today.
I agree that Obama’s cuts don’t go far enough. He should have cut $1 trillion from the budget in 2012, all of it from the Pentagon…
FAIR’s comment on the USA Today lead story is on target. The piece is a good an example of the biased journalism that has become commonplace on Planet Media. Apart from the grossly misleading lead and the exclusively far-right sources though, the question is whether the two journalists who wrote it were deliberately pushing the billionaire point of view or simply too ignorant to know what they were talking about. Since a sixth-grader can understand that when private spending lags, public spending must increase in order to stimulate the economy, I’d like to think that these two reporters are just dumb, which is unfortunate. It is far more likely, however, that they have sold out, which is despicable.
Roger Bloyce is right, and I am so sick and tired of “sold out” journalism. It is only the unintelligent people who believe what they hear on TV these days. Unfortunately, their numbers are legion.
It amazes me, when we all know that our tax-economic system is corrupt and convoluted and the work-ethic is a myth, that working-class folks vote in the corner of Special Interest that makes the rich richer and the rest of us are left bustin’ arse. // Jean Clelland-Morin
It’s sad that $ speak louder than the voices of the people who want justice and democracy.
Maybe the sudden, temporary, lack of $ would speak loudly, if 5 million “taxpayers” decided to withhold $.70 of every tax dollar until the wars are ended and the $2billion wasted each week invested in clean energy, infrastructure and other life-enhancing, productive, job creating endeavor? That’s the amount of every tax dollar funnelled to the Pentagon and other funds defined as “defense”, like nuclear weapons development (How hypocritical, when our government speaks of nuclear disarmament and abolition!) We should demand that tax revenues are used for the true benefit of all citizens. $2billion a week would go far in solving our economic woes!
USA today may or may not understand that the government does not create any jobs.Except in the government job sector.We have spent trillions and i believe we just gained 36 thousand jobs recently.What the president “oops” has forgotten to mention,is one word…..entitlements.It was on a page of his speech that got lost when his dog ate it.He hopes the Republicans will do his dirty work for him.And of course they must.The President is an economic paraplegic.Incapable and unwilling to do what must be done.So is it a political trap?Yes and no. Either way I believe the Tea party the conservatives, and the Christies of this world have got to tell the truth.Even if it kills them at the polls(and it absolutely will).We are broke- busted,and taxing the rich is just a nonsensical idea that is harbored by empty headed fools as a way to fix this problem.Everybody is gonna take a hit.That means Unions.(No more retirements at 45 payed for for 40 years by the rest of us).Public sector jobs….Everything is on the table including the Pentagon.Will the rich still be Ok?Better than you and me thats for sure.Of course we must try to lessen the burden on the old.We have to help each other.We will always do better at that than a government body.That has become obvious.
“equally nonpartisan experts at a group like the Economic Policy Institute” Jim Naureckas considers EPI non-partisan? On the board are 9 union execs including Stern of SEIU, Robert Reich, Robert Kuttner of American Prospect. These are among the most liberal public figures in America. Not a non-partisan in the bunch.
The December jobs report showed the 12th consecutive month of growth in private sector jobs. In the last year 1.3 million private sector jobs were added to the economy, the strongest private sector job growth since 2006.
Indeed, jobs have been added to the economy for just about every month since Obama got the stimulus program passed, reversing the decline in jobs that had occurred every month for Bush’s last two years.
http://www.examiner.com/populist-in-long-island/us-adds-1-3-million-private-sector-jobs-2010-holds-lessons-for-2011-policy?render=print#ixzz1EQdwPE3i
Right now it will be a fight just to keep republicans from harming and ruining what is good is America. We do have to care about those who are already in danger with no life lines and no hope of being considered as worthy by the republicans for greed and for profit. We now are seeing just how unconcerned republicans are about most Americans, but are determined to destroy everything that is not something they did or would do.
What is with this anal retentive Pete Peterson? The man is an old fart, 82 and the 149th richest man in America with $2.8 billion dollars in assets. Why is he picking on the segment of the population that is receiving about a thousand dollars a month from Social Security and who needs HUD section 8 housing assistance in some cases just in order to survive. He has spent $1 billion dollars through his foundation to attack SS, Medicare, and Medicaid. SS has no real problem and can pay out fully for the next 25 years if nothing is done to it.
The problem with the costs of Medicare and Medicaid being so problematic is because of the rising costs of healthcare itself due to the discretions of the insurance companies and the drug companies, where full price is paid to these drug companies with no negotiation over price. Great savings could be realized if the drugs were at the same cost levels as other countries. The Bush Medicare Part D program helped some elderly, but it was a big give away for the drug companies and it was also implemented to get the favor of the elderly and their vote in the 2004 election. One problem, it was established without being paid for through raising taxes or removing subsidies to the gas and oil companies, instead just loaded onto the deficit, and without regard for any negotiations on the drug prices, therefore it costs through the butt. That’s the rising costs of the “entitlements” that Pete Peterson wants to eliminate, but for the wrong reasons.
The healthcare industry in its insurance companies’ plan to deny coverage in order to increase the bottom line, each one has a department just for finding ways to deny claims, another reason for increased costs of healthcare. Then the fact that the administration of who and what is covered and under what circumstances is also added costs to the system. As go the private healthcare system, so go the public system of Medicare and Medicaid. Physicians for single payer healthcare says that up to 30% of total costs for healthcare could be realized if everyone was covered for every illness and treatment, leaving out the qualification mechanisms for the insured.
Pete Peterson could surely find a more productive area to lend his attention than to go after the 15% of the population that is required to live very close to the poverty level. What exactly would he want to do with these people if their SS was taken away? What is his plan that is better than the one that has been in place and been successfully implemented for 75 years? Why does he even care? He has more money than he could possibly spend in his remaining years, so why does he want to give so much grief to his fellow citizens? As for the talking heads and pundits who should know better than to agree with these conservative a**holes that want to press on in this austerity nonsense, don’t they know they are not being liberals? Yet the notion goes that there is a liberal bias in the media, there is a bias, but it is a conservative bias, or centrist bias, not liberal.
Peterson could have done a lot more good if he had put his money in a charity like Smile Train, or St. Judes Hospital, or even supported independent nonpartisan journalism outlets.
Peterson was disappointed at one of his town meetings in which he expected people to side with him and vote his way in polls he distributed, but in fact they were very supportive of the Social Security system and wanted it to be made even more equitable.
Well, I’m starting to think that it’s getting to be the time when the “people” of the USA (and Canada’s not far behind) need to have an “uprising” of their own, do what Egypt did and start insisting that they reverse the “martial law” the USA is now under and reverse all the rights they (Bush & Obama) have taken away from the people, otherwise in time, and not much time, it will be too late!
The US government claims their all for democracy so I wonder what would happen if you all did stand up to the cartels that control Obama and run the word, would the US military be with the people as they are suppose to be by law, or would they open fire as well and simply imprison the people who their suppose to protect? H’m, gun control!!! Personally I think the whole world should stand up and scream enough is enough, and withhold their services and oust all those corrupt dictators out of their comfy nests, worldwide, and start all over again, with the “people” making up the rules, not the governments and their appointed criminals! Well I pray for the people of Middle East that they will find the freedom they so, so deserve, because without their taking the control of their lives, they sure won’t find it through any government dictators that exists right now!
Woodward and Bernstien
Where in Gods name are you getting these figures?Last i saw the only growth was in Government.Aside from that we have created 36 thousand jobs,and unemployment is slightly down due to millions no longer looking.I see no sign of any real recovery in any figure.And I am comparing Bush to Obama charts as we speak and of course there is no comparison for many reasons.In fact name me jobs the trillions spent created.I cant think of any.Some said every job created ,(if you did the math) was each job cost government 185 thou for a paying job averaging 42 thou. Remember Pelosi tried the “Jobs saved” comedy routine?I would love to put a smiley face on my sunny side ups….but this economy is more like a burnt piece of toast, and a rotten egg
Well, Raymond, Pete P. is a sick, greedy old hack who wants to lord it over the undeserving poor–which in his case, is any body who collects S.S. You’ve nailed it in your last few posts; what we’re seeing now are the sociopathic, totalitarian types simply throwing down the masks and no longer pretending to give a damn about anything but themselves, their demented libertarian ideology, and their implacable, insatiable greed. They’re doubling down; they know that Fox will back them up, and Palin’s Lamestream media will keep their mouths shut and pretty much follow Fox’ cues. The fact is, Peterson is like a lot of super-rich people–he thinks his money makes him wise, and he’s got an ego as big as Gibraltar. I’ll bet he often gazes into the mirror and wonders, “Why does someone as magnificent as myself have to die, like all the undeserving mortals below me?” But die the bastard will, and not soon enough.
Speaking of dying, have you seen “Big” Dick Cheney lately? He looks like he’s aged twenty years over the last twenty months. Hmmm. Hopefully it’s because his conscience (a small thing in him, to be sure) is buggin’ him a bit. (I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt here.) Hopefully I won’t be sitting in a bar when his death notice arrives–I’ll have to contain the real urge of pounding my fist on the bar and declaring “Shots are on me!” Ditto for Peterson, though most Americans have no idea who this scoundrel is, so I’ll probably just get some looks of confusion, and then I’ll have to explain . . . .
Tim
Talk about the mask coming off?Wishing and parading at a mans death?You think people with money believe they are better than you?Well now i do believe i am better than you(never considered it before).Why?Because i never cheered anyones death.I am saddened by any death.You humanist liberal approach to life is as usual devoid of love for your fellow man.At least for those who don’t agree with you.To them you would easily pull the lever, and wish them a speedy trip to hell.Revealing.
the 1.3 million jobs created number in 2010 come directly from the government. your 36,000 is only for one month, jan. 11.
as for growth in the federal government, between jan 08 and nov 10, federal employment rose from 2,739,000 to 2,837,000 — 98,000 jobs in all.
http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/dec/16/tim-pawlenty/tim-pawlenty-repeats-questionable-statistic-growth/
The GDP growth for the fourth quarter of 2010 was 2.79%, the third quarter number was 2.55%.