Lately we've heard both republicans and Dems tout the meme that this latest budget deal is a small but good first step that protects us from future government shutdowns.
We've also heard claims that this latest budget will lessen the chances of a debt ceiling crisis.
That we must avoid jumping from crisis to crisis coming from both sides.
Three empty republican threats - that are being sold as leverage
1) Republicans will not hold the debt ceiling hostage again.
2) Republicans will not shut down the government again.
3) Republicans will not slash Social Security or touch Medicare
And here is why
1) The last debt ceiling hostage taking cost the republicans dearly; maybe even the house come 2014.
2) The last government shutdown over the PPACA cost the republicans dearly; maybe even the house come 2014
3) The party that slashes Social Security and or Medicare will pay dearly will lose big time and for many years to come will be remembered as the party who slashed and lied. And that lie will be remembered long after 2014 or 2016 elections. It will last as long as people suffer for that cruel decision
Every statement from the republican party about "saving Social Security for the future"; all the years of effort put into creating the fiction that they are responsible and are true in their desire to preserve the social programs comes to an end. The pretense will be gone. They will never again be believed on this (and there are not that many who strongly believe republicans on this "protecting the future of the social programs" gambit today - imo - when you get right down to it)
The republicans have zero leverage that Dems don't allow to be leverage.
That is why our stance should remain focused on our solutions
Now we promote our must do list. I have many but it's nothing that hasn't already been laid out by Kossacks with the skill to make it fly, but a few in the immediate are:
♦ Make sure that defense cuts go forward full tilt. Period.
Use Paul Ryan's or Rand Paul's line. These defense cuts are cuts in the rate of increased spending - we're cutting the rate of increase. Non-negotiable
♦ Insist on a higher marginal tax rate schedule on top incomes - Reagan era rates perhaps just before he did this: (Reagan significantly reduced the maximum tax rate, which affected the highest income earners, and lowered the top marginal tax rate from 70% to 50%;) , for the RWNJ sycophants ears to hear it. It's time to pay for the Bush/Cheney wars - that caused the "deficit" with the first in history tax holiday enacted during war
♦ close corp loopholes (tax expenditures - spending for corpo welfare) - very populist and a winner, Make that a red line. Non-negotiable
Both these are needed to "reduce the deficit" (I'm purposefullu using "reduce the deficit" BS - a non problem for rhetorical effect)
♦ Also too - extend the conversation to more rule changes. We now have a simple majority for more than judicial nominations and cabinet appointments lets extend that for all legislation too.
Let the GOP consider that scenario of negotiations from Dems
There are many more ideas - here are a few more listed towards the end of linked Diary
Let the GOP consider that scenario of negotiations from Dems
So now what happens when the RWNJ refuse to budge? Do the republicans get their way some will say; that government doesn't work?
Temporarily only. If Dems continue pushing for what has been proven poll after poll; from right wing polls to MSM polls; to the more progressive polls, and refuse to accept the framing of or identifying of what are so called problems as spun/developed by the RWNJ think tanks the word will get out. What people want matters.
The republicans will be forced to lop off the teabag fringe; Hastert rule abandoned; and every threat against society, all of the spun-up crisis the GOP uses to change and develop a narrative to fit their agenda will be orchestrated completely by themselves - alone
We will not help them. We do not accept their diagnosis of doom.
We will not jump from GOP manufactured crisis to crisis.
Dems stand for what matters to people. The republican party does not. They represent corporations, Wall Street, and the 1%ers.
We have the numbers
And the votes for our Dem agenda are there in both upper and lower chamber despite the republican/teabag fringe. Republicans will be forced abandon the "Hastert" - majority republicans rule to put up for a vote what the people want.
We will win this, but let's do it now. Reject this latest budget.
- end of rant