US Asset Distribution

This is the pie chart featured in the recent PBS report on Income Inequality in the US. GW Bush said that it's no use trying to tax the rich, since they have tax lawyers and will do everything they can to not pay (their fair share).

A meme is also going the rounds that you couldn't possibly get enough out of the rich to alleviate our problems, even if you took all they have. (wtf?)

The answer, for these people, is to tax the lowest 40% - that would be the tiny sliver top center with two arrows pointing to it.

HUH?

Jon Stewart pointed out in his recent, excellent segment that if the government were to take ALL of the assets of the lowest 50%, it would equal $1.5 Trillion, or the amount they want to cut from the budget in the near term.

Me? I say TAX THE RICH - it's a no-brainer.

Open Letter to Pres Obama

Dear Mr President,

We hired YOU to fight for US in Washington.

First You negotiate away all of our most important ideas - Medicare for all, adequate stimulus, tax the rich... then you "put on the table" our most cherished programs - Social Security, Medicare, support for the destitute...

Now you want US to fight the republicans for YOU? have you not been listening and learning these last three years? The republicans do what their corporate overlords want as expressed through their oracle the tea party. They don't even listen to their own constituents, why would they listen to an out of state liberal?

I thought that fighting for Democratic values was YOUR job. YOU have the bully pulpit.

If you don't want to do the job, please step down so someone else with intact balls could do it. Maybe we could get Alan Grayson or Mr Weiner to fight for our values. At least they know what the Democratic Party stands for.

Signed: Who's our champion now

I swear, if a real progressive populist would throw his/her hat in the ring, I'd vote for them without a second thought.

So, i went to a block party this weekend...

... and every time the tax cut cut cut issue came up, I made sure to say - "and you know that all these cuts they are talking about are JOBS that they are cutting...

Remarkably, I got lots of nodds, and no head shakes at all.

Quote of the day

Question, how come the Anti-Christ gets to be president and Jesus only shows up on moldy cheese sandwiches? You ever wonder about that?

~Jim Wright @ Stonekettle Station

Quote of the day

The only way this deal was two sided was that the Dems had to take it at both ends.

~ Stephen Colbert