Coming Soon to America: Big Push for Austerity

[marmar]

from In These Times:



Coming Soon to America: Big Push for Austerity

Tuesday
26 Oct 10
11:24 am

By Roger Bybee


While big crusades for austerity—reserved for workers only, of course—are being waged in France and Great Britain, working people in the United States can also look forward to a major push for cutbacks in social spending and a longer wait before retirement.

Despite the evident need for vastly expanded government spending
and consumer buying power to lift each nation out of recession, the "austerity fad"—as economist Paul Krugman labels it—has been embraced by the corporate and political elites of major nations.

On December 1, the Deficit Reduction Commission, which Obama stacked with opponents of the American social safety net, will be releasing its recommendations. Expect the worst. The battle certain to follow the Deficit Commission will be a test of the AFL-CIO's resolve and ability to organize on behalf of hard-won workers' rights to a reasonable retirement age and a secure retirement.

LITTLE FIGHT THUS FAR IN BRITAIN, UNLIKE IN FRANCE

Despite draconian proposals in Great Britain, there have been few visible protests by the labor movement or others to proposals. The new Conservative government, and its Liberal Democratic accomplices, calls for cutting all segments of government—except for healthcare—by 19% They also plan to lay off 490,000 public workers (the equivalent of 3 million in the U.S.) and a more rapid increase in the retirement age. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/6587/coming_soon_to_america_big_push_for_austerity/

[Starry Messenger]

1. Who didn't see that coming?

The big fist is squeezing harder now. Who is going to stop them, if not us?

[DJ13]

2. Oh that will help our economic recovery

:eyes:

Is the WH really that friggen stupid?

[Hannah Bell]

3. Catfood Commission recommendations coming 12/1.

On December 1, the Deficit Reduction Commission, which Obama stacked with opponents of the American social safety net, will be releasing its recommendations. Expect the worst. The battle certain to follow the Deficit Commission will be a test of the AFL-CIO's resolve and ability to organize on behalf of hard-won workers' rights to a reasonable retirement age and a secure retirement.

[blindpig]

4. People, get ready

We are all French

We are all Greeks

We are all working class

[sadbear]

5. They can start by ending those two EXPENSIVE wars

[necso]

6. Hard times offer a good opportunity to screw the people. /nt