Coming Soon to America: Big Push for Austerity

[Better Believe It]

Coming Soon to America: Big Push for Austerity
By Roger Bybee
October 26, 2010


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.

The destructiveness of such cutbacks on consumer spending power would seem obvious, but the Cameron government is dutifully carrying out the mandate of Britain's corporate class. No matter that budget-balancing would be both easier and more sensible after conquering the recession and enjoying vastly increased tax revenues. Britain is perversely set on a course which will instead stretch out the recession.

Read the full article at:

http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/6587/coming_soon_to_america_big_push_for_austerity/

[soryang]

1. The biggest "unfunded liability" is the war budget

Why is it that the Pete Petersen pukes never put that on the table?

[txaslftist]

19. EXACTLY.

Cut defense to reasonable levels, bring home the troops, close foreign bases and we'd see a peace dividend that would ...

... well, it would enable the congressmen the breathing room to borrow even MORE money for earmarks and pork, I suppose.

Same as last time.

[Hannah Bell]

2. knr

[aquart]

3. Yes, every CEO needs to be stripped of his luxurious bonus money,

Nor can we afford all the perks and extras, either. Sorry, sports, but sky boxes are ridiculous.

[DJ13]

4. Coming Soon After Austerity

An even DEEPER depression.

This is the wrong economic environment to slash spending.

[OHdem10]

5. Bond Markets pushing Countries to go fast and deep with cuts

layoffs whatever it takes to refill the Government Coffers.

[Rage for Order]

6. Based on the last couple of years...

I thought the "austerity" already happened

:shrug:


Notice how they use the word "austerity", as it sounds remarkably similar to prosperity so many people won't realize the government is bending them over until it's too late. How about using a layman's phrase instead: funding cuts to social services, safety nets, and worker protections. Austerity, indeed.

[glitch]

7. Someone has to pay for the excesses of the elite.

And it certainly won't be the elite.

(war for profit, finance, housing, derivative and now commodity speculation are all included in "elite excess")

[socialist_n_TN]

11. Ah yes. They put us into another Depression...........

while getting bailed out by government, so that they don't lose anything. Because of the Depression that THEY caused, there's less tax dollars coming in. Because of less tax dollars, there's bigger deficits. So now, after THEY'VE been bailed out, WE have to bear the brunt of taking care of this deficit. It all makes perfect sense.

[txaslftist]

20. You get it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJGlrz_mlhg&feature=player_embedded

[Stinky The Clown]

8. Dear Middle Class/Working Class/Underclass Schlub: Fuck you. Dear CEO: smooooooch

[gratuitous]

9. Now that the Treasury has been emptied into the overstuffed pockets of the ultra affluent

It's time for all you proles to get off your backsides and replenish all that money so it can be stolen again. It's classical economics! You don't want to go against the invisible hand of the free market, do you?

[txaslftist]

21. That's the theory.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJGlrz_mlhg&feature=player_embedded

[Poboy]

10. k&r

[toddwv]

12. It's all part of the right's plan to "starve the beast"

Get us involved in two protracted military engagements, tank the economy and then cry that social programs need cut.

[Better Believe It]

18. They expect to take another giant step in that direction next year.

[billlll]

13. "POPULATION REDUCTION" - world down to 300 million

That is all that is needed to produce goods for the elite.

Draconian prediction heard twice from
George Noorie and guests on "Coast to Coast am" nite radio show.

am is time not radio band.

If truly the plan, then austerity fits into it.

Anyone have original source for this info? Wonder if it is valid.

[inna]

14. kr

Good old U.S. has been the champion of "austerity" (class war) all along, of course, but that is beyond the scope.

[maryf]

15. K&Rnt

[blindpig]

16. Capitalism rules

our time is coming. Let us become French, Greek.....

[Starry Messenger]

17. k & r

[Poboy]

22. kicking again.