Today's Ideas & Actions

December 11, 2012

Photo by Ben Johnson We're fighting to make sure that working-class people aren't the ones thrown over the cliff during this month's fiscal showdown. Follow our writers as they counter the spin and show how we can turn the conversation about debt and deficits to what really matters: Putting people back to work, protecting the economically vulnerable and ending the giveaways to the wealthy that allow them to escape doing their fair share to rebuild the economy. Read the latest »

Robert Borosage In The Nation
On "The Grand Betrayal"

As many politicians demand steep cuts in spending to keep the economy from falling over a so-called cliff, Robert Borosage's cover story in The Nation warns, "Virtually every aspect of this hysteria is wrong." The problem is not deficits; it is "the lack of a foundation for sustainable growth that includes working people. Without a political movement to achieve the latter, very little progress will be made on the former."
Read The Nation cover story »

Follow our posts on "The Fiscal Swindle" »

Pete Peterson: The Man Who's Fixing The Debt Debate Against Us

Background photo by Wisconsin AFL-CIO. Creative commons. Peter G. Peterson is leading a "Fix the Debt" campaign that is aiming to put the fix in on people who depend on programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. We have talking points and resources you can use to push back against this multimillion-dollar effort to impose austerity on the working class. See our special report on Pete Peterson »

Economists Warn Against Austerity

About 350 economists and experts have signed a statement calling for "presidential leadership — and congressional action — to spur jobs and growth, not dangerous austerity." The statement warns Washington leaders to heed the lessons of European countries that have tried to cut their way to growth, "inflicting austerity on a weak economy leads to deeper recession, rising unemployment and increasing misery."
» Read the statement | See the press release

Win The Debate About The Economy

"Smart Talk" is our latest effort to arm you with the arguments you need to win the debate over our economic future. About once a week we will be bringing together the facts, analysis and the most effective message framing on the fundamental reforms vital to creating an economy of shared prosperity.

Go to the Smart Talk page »
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Blog.OurFuture.org

Four Bad Liberal Arguments For “Compromising” On the Medicare Age
by Richard Eskow | December 11th

It’s tempting to read these pieces by Matt Yglesias and Jonathan Chait and decide that, all things considered, liberals should at least consider raising the Medicare age to 67 as part of a budget compromise.
‘Gang Of Six’ Holds Progressive Line On Taxes
by Isaiah J. Poole | December 10th

This week six members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus will be strategizing over how to shift leftward the center of gravity in the debate over taxes and federal deficits.
Meanwhile, Back In The Real Economy
by Terrance Heath | December 10th

Howard Kurtz writes that Americans are "tuning out" the "fiscal cliff" debates in Washington because "the players haven’t gotten serious," about making a deal.
Day of Action
by Digby | December 10th

Today is a progressive "day of action" on the fiscal cliff negotiations with a bunch of organizations holding events around the country.
Time To Start Planning For After We Go Over The Cliff (AWGOC)
by Stan Collender | December 10th

Newsroom

Report: Federal Government Running Out Of Time To Show Leadership on Prosecuting Lawless Bankers

A new report released by the Institute for America's Future, "Rhetoric or Resources: It's Time To Get Serious," argues that the federal government has so far failed to show the leadership needed to address the fraud that led to the economic crisis that began in 2008. It also raises serious concerns that the window of opportunity is closing to bring legal claims against financial institutions and their employees for their role in the crisis.