“Class Warfare” The Path to Prosperity

Aha. Paul Ryan is whining about people playing the class warfare card. That, folks, is the sound of desperation.

Actually, for the most part critics of his plan haven’t focused on the distributional issues so much as on the nonsense he’s talking; they’ve been playing the arithmetic card, not the class warfare card. But yes, the Ryan plan does impose huge sacrifice on the poor and the middle class, while cutting taxes on the rich and corporations.

And this is, of course, the game conservatives have played over and over again since Reagan. Without exception, their policy proposals call for sacrifice on the part of most people, but lavish tax cuts on high incomes — and when you point this out, they yell “class warfare”.

Again, the big problem with the Ryan plan isn’t the unfairness — although there’s plenty of that. It’s the fact that the plan is a fraud.

The budget debate we all deserve

By Paul Ryan

May 16, 2011

Despite Washington coming to grips with the fact that the debt threat is real, policymakers still are not having the debate Americans deserve.

The talk is too often restricted to "shared sacrifice." This sets up a debate where we are really just arguing over whom to hurt and how best to manage the decline of our nation. It is a framework that accepts permanently higher taxes and bureaucratically determined access to health care as givens.

A better name for this approach is "shared scarcity." It represents a deeply pessimistic vision for the future of this country — one that would lead us to a diminished future.

The House-passed budget — "The Path to Prosperity" — offers an alternative vision. It is rooted in the recognition that spending discipline and economic growth are the keys to balancing the federal budget.

Sick & Tired wrote:It seems to be a knee jerk reaction from the right to say we are playing the class warfare card whenever someone doesn't agree with their agenda.

I had right wing extremist (it says so in his profile) on twitter tell me I was waging class warfare because I think that they should make the rich sacrifice just like everyone else has. he also accused me of wanting to steal what is his.

I'm still confused as to what he THINKS I am trying to steal from him.

mistermunster wrote:

Sick & Tired wrote:It seems to be a knee jerk reaction from the right to say we are playing the class warfare card whenever someone doesn't agree with their agenda.

I had right wing extremist (it says so in his profile) on twitter tell me I was waging class warfare because I think that they should make the rich sacrifice just like everyone else has. he also accused me of wanting to steal what is his.

I'm still confused as to what he THINKS I am trying to steal from him.

he also accused me of wanting to steal what is his. What is HIS is the continued ABILITY to PROFIT at any cost. This stealing "OUR" money mantra is absurd. WHAT about all the MONEY "WE" paid for decades in income tax and GOT squat for???? We didn't give it to them, THEY took it and said TOO BAD. They took it and ENRICHED the thieves, started WARS of conquest and profit under the guise of protection. AND THEY STILL DO IT TODAY!!! We have NO voice. Stealing whats his...my

MaryKay wrote:The reaction from many Republicans when anyone opposes their plans, such as they are, is that we are playing class warfare and paying for people to stay home, live off the government etc. That is class warfare at it's best. Anyone living in this country who watches ten minutes of news knows that we are no where near a full recovery, we are slowly trying to climb out of a depression. Are jobs being created, yes, slowly, but not the jobs that pay the bills. The housing market could collapse again, which will be catastrophic and many states are now trying to cut off benefits which will put many, many more into the "99er" category, even if they haven't collected 99 weeks, they will be cut off from all benefits and thus be a 99er. After one year and two weeks of this, I can tell you, as many can, tax breaks for millionaires, large corporations not paying taxes and working people starving and becoming homeless IS class warfare and not one Republican cares. If they did, the benefits would not be cut and the 99ers would never have become the 99ers, they would have sponsored a bill of their own.

Not one unemployed person has stolen a thing from anyone. BP, GE, Exxon Mobile, Conoco Phillips, oh yes, although not technically stealing, have contributed nothing to revenue raising in this country. Townships, municipalities, cities all across the country are being forced to cut basic services, layoff employees, police, firemen, teachers, administrative employees and not one major corp is asked to make a small sacrafice. In PA, Gov. Corbett won't consider taxing Marcellus Shale Drillers and the reason . . . they won't stay here and drill???? They will go elsewhere - - only where they know that they have natural gas and are allowed to drill. Secret meetings, not allowing the EPA to regulate here, bad drinking water showing up all over. Who is stealing from who.

Our revenues are at an all time low and we have NO Real Jobs.

Who is stealing from who?

Sick & Tired wrote:It seems to be a knee jerk reaction from the right to say we are playing the class warfare card whenever someone doesn't agree with their agenda.

I had right wing extremist (it says so in his profile) on twitter tell me I was waging class warfare because I think that they should make the rich sacrifice just like everyone else has. he also accused me of wanting to steal what is his.

I'm still confused as to what he THINKS I am trying to steal from him.