The American people are clueless: Why income inequality is so much worse than we realize

A wealth of new research confirms the rich and the poor have no idea how good and how bad the other have it

Nicholas Fitz, Scientific American

A Deepening Democratic Party Divide

Posted on Apr 4, 2015

By David Sirota

For those pining for a Democratic Party that tries to represent more than the whims of the rich and powerful, these are, to say the least, confusing times.

< ... Read more »

How the 1 percent always wins: “We live in a faux democracy, which is why everyone’s so cynical and nobody votes”

The rich get richer, the middle class gets hollowed out. We all stay quiet. Steve Fraser explains why we allow it

Scott Timberg

On Friday, we learned that the official “unemployment rate” has fallen to 5.5 percent. Since an unemployment rate of 5 percent is considered to be “full employment” by many economists, many in the mainstream media took this as a sign that the U.S. economy has almost fully “recovered” since the last recession.  In fact, according to the Wall Street Journal, some Federal Reserve officials believe that “the U.S. economy is already at full employment“.  But how can this possibly be?  It certainly does not square with reality.  Personally, I know people that have been struggling with unemployment for years and that still cannot find a decent job.  And I get emails from readers all the time that are heart ... Read more »

“What are we going to negotiate about? What I would say is, ‘Listen, you see that desert out there? I want to show you something,'” Adelson said at Yeshiva University. “You pick up your cellphone, and you call somewhere in Nebraska, and you say, ‘okay, let it go.’ So there’s an atomic weapon goes over — ballistic missiles — in the middle of the desert that doesn’t hurt a soul.”

 

Adelson continued: “Then you say, ‘See? The next one is in the middle of Tehran.’ So, we mean business. You want to be wiped out? Go ahead and take a tough position and continue with your nuclear development.

 

– From the Washington Post article: Adelson: Obama Should Fire Nuke to Send Mess ... Read more »

Koch-Supporting Texas Billionaires Explain What Richest Americans Are After
They complain and complain, but can't recognize themselves in the mirror.
By Steven Rosenfeld / AlterNet

This is rich. Some of the wealthiest Texans who attended the Koch brothers’ political donor conference last month—where participants set a goal of raising $889 million for the 2016 elections—are saying that all the Kochs really want is to end “special interests” influence in Washington.

“We attended that meeting — and we have an answer,” wrote Doug and Holly Deason of Dallas, in a Dallas Morning News column co-signed by eight other wealthy Texans. “We want Washington to do what it hasn’t done for years: work for, not against, the American people.”

Um, nice try. But if you are as wealthy and powerful as s ... Read more »

Obama Budget Plan Would 'Benefit the Worst Corporate Tax Dodgers'
'This is how the rules get rigged.'
by
Nadia Prupis, staff writer



President Barack Obama's corporate tax plan does not go far enough to close wide loopholes for corporations, critics say. (Photo: Barack Obama/flickr/cc)

President Barack Obama on Monday announced a new proposal as part of his 2016 budget to tax the trillions in offshore profits made by U.S.-based multinational corporations, but critics say the plan leaves in place a system that "encourages companies to game the system to avoid U.S. taxes."

The proposal would impose a 19 percent tax on the future overseas earnings of U.S.-based companies, as well as a one-tim ... Read more »

On the heels of leftist Syriza’s victory in Greece, Spain’s own left party Podemos garnered outstanding support at a Madrid rally attended by tens of thousands Saturday. Podemos, considered a “close ally” of Syriza, is led by former university professor Pablo Iglesias and espouses an “uncompromising message a ... Read more »

Just like the Grinch was shocked to hear that he hadn’t ruined Christmas by stealing all of the presents, Republicans seem livid that their midterm election victories haven’t given way to the broken spirit of the Democratic Party. Just the opposite, in fact. In a way, the midterms are being hailed by many in the progressive movement as a wake up call. After years of running to the center, the Democrats seem poised to finally turn left.

No serious discussion about a more liberal liberal party can take place without first mentioning the astonishing work Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has done. Her populist, anti-big business message resonates with everyone (I suspect even many conservatives) in the wake of the financial collapse. At a time when big banks and megacorporations were begging to be allowed to start doing the same risky business that led to trillions of dollars in losses before, Warren is the voice of reason. A lighthouse warning those same ships away from ... Read more »

(Address by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Washington, March 4, 1933)

 

I am certain that my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our Nation impels. This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour ... Read more »