CONGRESS IS NOT LISTENING TO AMERICA'S MAJORITY

Rochester, N.Y.-- Phew! Now we can take a step back and take a breather-- that was a close one.  Last Friday night, Congress found the "grand budget compromise" they were looking for. Thank god we avoided that government shutdown we were all dreading, right?  Well, not so fast.

Problem is folks, this evil budget compromise will cut nearly 39 billion dollars in needed government spending and gut vital public services, which proves how serious everyone is about reducing the deficit. 

Deficit-schmeficit. Only six percent of those polled in a recent survey think that reducing the deficit is Congress' highest priority. Congress could have cancelled the next ten years of tax subsidies for oil companies and cut the deficit by 53 billion, but apparently that's not how serious people do things in Washington. Congress could of let the Bush Tax Cuts expire in the lame duck session of the 111th Congress-- but instead, gave millionaires and billion dollar corporations a tax bonus and immediately added 700 million dollars to the deficit.

Most economists say when the economy is in a recession coupled with high unemployment, tax breaks for the rich just don't jive. The best way out of a national financial quagmire is to give unemployment benefits to the people who need it most-- it's the best way to stimulate growth and build our economy.  The national conversation has been hijacked-- Congress should be listening to the majority of Americans who are screaming from the tops of their lungs--  we need jobs, jobs and more jobs.  And here we are, fighting a culture war and worrying about future deficits while the middle-class crumbles into oblivion.

Spending is not America's problem-- we are the wealthiest nation on earth.  Unfortunately for the majority of the American people, right now our political polarization has caused a dilemma for us adhering to our moral, ethical and constitutional beliefs.

Sorry folks, this FY2012 Federal Budget just won't do

For some reason, conventional media types are telling us we should be celebrating this "compromise" in which Democrats gave up $38.5 billion in spending cuts, when the original Republican demand was for $100 billion. We at the Voice Reporter cringed when we saw both Democrats and Republicans backslapping their way to the press conference podiums just minutes before the shutdown would of gone into effect.

This is just lunacy-- how can you sensibly negotiate with irrational people when they propose such unpopular and plain ridiculous spending cuts? The GOP has moved the goal posts so far to the right that there is no realistic chance that a rational compromise can be reached.  Ultimately, this budget will wreak havoc on those individuals and families who are most vulnerable.

Don't take our word about the federal budget deal.  If you’re confused about whether the budget deal Friday night was good or bad, give this rundown of the Republican victories by House Speaker John Boehner a read, from the Speaker’s blog.

Why are the Tea Partier's having their way?

photo:  Ove Overmyer

Once again the popular views of the American majority have been hijacked by the few and moneyed elite. Others will rant and rave about the Democratic leadership caving in, and in fact that process has already begun in the progressive blogosphere-- including us here at the Voice Reporter.

However, labor folks and progressives in this country should be asking themselves more serious questions right about now: Why does the Tea Party seem to be so much more effective than the left as a movement right now? Why does such a small extreme minority get the platform they do when Democrats have control of the Senate and the White House? Why is it when extreme crazy radicals like Minn. Rep. Michelle Bachmann, S.C. Sen. Jim DeMint, and Wisc. Rep. Paul Ryan incite loony propositions like dismantling Medicare and ending Social Security as we know it, that we have to give it any credence at all?  What they fail to realize is that that Medicare and Social Security are governmental trust funds.  They are not paid for through income tax.  They are supported by direct contributions from those who benefit from them.These two federal programs are self-sustaining and do not add one dime to the federal deficit.

We know that these are complicated questions that deserve in-depth discussion, but some of the things that may be impeding the labor movement include excessive party loyalty to the Democrats, poor turnout at election time, the desire for an emerging charismatic leader and the urge to prematurely celebrate and accept compromises that are flawed, unacceptable and incomplete.  Why don't more Democrats feel accountable to working families?  I guess that is our fault.

Speaking of Democrats, how many elected Democrats today could even tell you what the DNC Party platform said in 2008? They certainly are not voting, legislating or living up to those beliefs. What ever happened to protecting the middle-class?  Have they forgotten who their base members are?

And, we have to ask ourselves the question, "Why are the Tea Partiers having their way right now?" Well, money of course, for starters. The Tea Party's generously funded by billionaires like the Koch Brothers, and ultra-conservative policies are given "nonpartisan" ideological cover by right-wing billionaire Pete Peterson and his network of allies and paid savants.

The Tea Party did a very smart thing last year. They kicked out a few independents who didn't support them politically. Too many progressives followed the President's lead and pledged their faith to Democratic incumbents who had devoted themselves to undermining causes supported both by progressives and the majority of Americans across the political spectrum.

Corporate campaign financing, now made limitless by the GOP's ideological packing of the Supreme Court, allows the mega-corporations of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to impose policies that crush the middle class and smaller businesses. Plus, decades' worth of funding for ad campaigns and "conservative think tanks" continue to lay the groundwork for destructive moves like the temporary budget agreement Congress just agreed to last week.

What is a good progressive supposed to do?

Progressive flags fly high over the National
Mall in Washington, D.C. at the One Nation
Working Together rally on Oct. 2, 2010.
photo:  Ove Overmyer

Progressives won't change the money equation without campaign finance reform, so that needs to be a priority. And if we don't get off our labor ass and organize for 2012, well-- we're afraid we are all going to hell in a hand basket. The only thing that can beat back the assault on the middle-class is people power at the ballot box.  This is one bright spot-- there are definitely more of us than there are of them.

But it's not as if progressives and the labor movement don't have any options.  Our policies are centrist, very popular, while those of the Tea Party and the Republicans are equally unpopular. Strong majorities in both political parties oppose cuts to Social Security, everyone wants Congress to create jobs, eliminate poverty and want to see the payroll tax cap raised, for example.  So, perhaps, there is some glimmer of hope down the road. 

Unfortunately, the GOP has not produced one bill to create jobs since they took control of the House in January-- like they promised voters.  They have been focusing like a laser on fighting a culture war-- targeting Planned Parenthood, NPR, gays and lesbians, labor unions and poor people.  Moderate and Independent voters all across America probably want a 2010 election do-over right about now.  That scenario is playing out in Wisconsin and Ohio as we speak.

And, it must be stated that progressive groups like MoveOn.Org have done a brilliant job of targeting problem Democrats and promoting progressive challengers, and the union movement performed a valuable service for all Americans by supporting Sen. Blanche Lincoln's challenger in the Arkansas primary.

Challenging incumbents doesn't just help the progressive cause. Paradoxically, it helps the Democratic Party too, by forcing it to clarify its "brand" and espouse more popular positions than those it now holds.


photo:  Ove Overmyer

If labor unions and progressives want to identify and work within the Democratic Party, that's a worthwhile endeavor. But their relationship to the party should mirror what Henry David Thoreau said about his relationship to the world: "Be in it, but not of it."

One thing's for sure: The old definition of insanity, "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results," resonates more than ever today for the labor movement.  And, whatever the progressive movement's doing right now, it's not working as well as it should.  Sure it's frustrating, but it's no reason to give up hope.  In the past few months, we have seen massive grassroots actions all over the United States that support working families.  And, if you need a moment of inspiration here, remember the the early labor songs of the 20th century that went something like this: "Don't mourn, organize people-- organize."