Ed Schultz has a new big screen with all sorts of visuals, which he uses to his advantage, showing how CEOs pay has increased, middle class income has decreased right on the same curve as union membership decreases.
It's interesting, because I looked at the names of the Bush tax cut bills and lo, it seems that there was a promise contained in them that just hasn't been realized.
- Cut #1: Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001
- Cut #2: Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003
- Cut #3: Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (See, by 2005 they'd given up on the pretense altogether)
We've had no economic growth or jobs, but plenty of tax relief, at least for some. I don't really know how to do this when we're swimming upstream against the likes of Faux News, policy peddlers from right wing think tanks and an electorate that wants to tune out until they actually have to figure out their taxes at which time they decide anything is too much, but we have to find a way to get the message out: Taxes are patriotic. They're part of living in a society where we have the freedoms we do.
The Progressive Caucus is unveiling their budget proposals today. It's important, compassionate, and cuts taxes for the middle class while putting them on the people who should be paying them: CEOs, Wall Street fat cats and the banksters.
With this Congress, it's unlikely that they'll get traction unless we get out there and start talking about this inequity in a way people understand. For all the nonsense the Republicans peddle, I give them credit for doing it in a way that sells. Us? Not so much. But we can do it. This video clip alone should be a great place to start.
