- A previous article explained his sellout to Republicans
last year on extending tax cuts to America's aristocracy, accessed through
the following link:
-
- http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2010/12/obama-capitulates-to-republicans.html
-
- It shouldn't surprise that on April 8, he repeated what's
become a habit - breaking every major campaign pledge by backing reactionary
Republican measures, harming working Americans most, besides governing
lawlessly at home and abroad and much more, hurtling the nation dangerously
far right, tipping it toward neoserfdom enforced by repressive harshness.
-
- Last December he said:
-
- "(W)ithout a willingness to give on both sides,
there's no reason to believe (the current) stalemate won't continue well
into next year....I am not willing to let that happen....it would be the
wrong thing to do. As a result, we arrived at a framework for a bipartisan
agreement," what, in fact, was assured well in advance of his announcement.
-
- Obama's notion of "tough choices" includes:
-
- -- permanent wars;
-
- -- greater super-rich enrichment;
-
- -- temporary social benefit crumbs; as well as
- -- class warfare through neoliberal austerity for working
Americans, mainly middle class ones, targeted for elimination.
- Neither Obama or congressional allies explain, or that
both parties accelerated it in recent years, most recently on April 8,
again betraying loyal constituents who support him, besides America's most
needy.
-
- On April 9, a White House Office of the Press Secretary
announcement said:
-
- "Obama praised the agreement reached to avert a
government shutdown, which will invest in the country's future while making
the largest annual spending cut in history."
-
- In other words, Obama claims credit for benefitting working
Americans by depriving them of vital social services. It's the corrupted
logic driving both parties in lockstep to hand America's wealth to powerful
interests by stealing it from all others.
-
- In his weekly radio address, Obama said:
-
- Cutting spending will "invest in our future."
How he didn't say. "This is good news for the American people,"
naming supposed benefits, in fact, entirely absent.
-
- Disingenuously he added:
-
- "Reducing spending while investing in the future
is just common sense. That's what families do in tough times. They sacrifice
where they can, even if it's hard, to afford what's really important."
-
- With Main Street in deep depression, they've sacrificed
plenty because Washington ignores them, spending recklessly on militarism,
imperial wars, and lavish handouts to Wall Street and other corporate favorites
- sacrosanct untouchable budget (off-budget, and hidden) priorities excluded
from compromise.
-
- A real one would have waged war on concentrated wealth
and power, slashed defense spending radically, notably by ending imperial
wars and occupations, replaced today's dysfunctional tax code with a progressive
one, guaranteed a living wage for everyone and enough income for the indigent,
as well as other socially beneficial measures. In fact, no responsible
policies were considered, just reactionary ones agreed to with much more
to come.
-
- On April 8, New York Times writer Carl Hulse headlined,
"Deal to Cut $38 Billion Averts Shutdown," saying:
-
- Republicans and Obama "headed off a shutdown of
the government with less than two hours to spare Friday night under a tentative
budget" sellout to working Americans hurt most, described as a "compromise."
-
- Even Obama admitted, "Programs people rely on will
be cut back," saying they'll have to begin "liv(ing) within (their)
means" or, in other words, do without vital services eroded or lost
ahead of much greater ones coming. He practically bragged, in fact, about
"making the largest annual spending cut in our history" on the
backs of those least able to afford it.
-
- The "deal" involves social spending cuts for
a stop-gap continuing resolution to fund government through April 14, as
well as a broader agreement to do it through September 30, the end of the
fiscal year. Next week, Congress will finalize the details, pass the measure
and send it to Obama for his signature.
-
- At least $38 billion in mostly unspecified social spending
cuts were made, perhaps more, a down payment before greater ones coming,
involving Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Along with other vital
programs, they're headed for incremental elimination to return America
to 19th century harshness, an idea Republicans, Democrats, and Obama support.
-
- Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com
and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the
Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays
at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs
are archived for easy listening.
-
- http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/.
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