USA Today - "Americans' message on joint debt panel: Let's make a deal"

[TomCADem]

I think that Democrats should loudly link taxes to proposed cuts to Medicare and Social Security. In other words, giving tax cuts to the rich, creating a ceiling on social security taxes, has a price. They are not cost free. They leave Medicare and Social Security underfunded. Thus, every dollar of tax cuts you give to the rich, oil companies, etc., is a dollar less for programs that benefit most Americans.

We need to make this linkage clear to fight back against the Republican matra that taxes kill jobs. Instead, austerity and cuts hurt mainstream Americans and generate unrest as the London riots demonstrate.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-08-09-debt-poll_n.htm

In a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll, six in 10 of those surveyed say members of the joint panel established in the debt-ceiling negotiations should be willing to reach an accord, even if it means making major compromises. Just over a third say the members should stand firm on principle, even if doing so blocks an agreement.

While a majority of Democrats, Republicans and independents endorse doing what it takes to reach an agreement, supporters of the Tea Party disagree: 53% say they want committee members who will stand on principle no matter what.

* * *

The USA TODAY Poll finds solid majorities in favor of raising income tax rates on top earners (66%), raising revenues by making changes in the tax code (60%) and cutting domestic spending (59%)

There was a closer divide and higher opposition to more controversial steps. Fifty-one percent oppose cutting defense spending; 47% support it. And on making significant changes to Social Security and Medicare to save money, 56% oppose, 42% favor.

[durablend]

1. Meanwhile the American public will just get ZONKed n/t