In Response to Re: Assult on America : The "progressives" have been trying to awaken Americans to seeing how corporate America is in contol of the country even more so when Bush took office back in 2001. Just ask Americans when they started to notice a real decline.  The Bush tax cuts weren't needed as most people were employed and had insurance and benefits. Bush squandered the Clinton surplus by returning it to the American people in checks amounting to $300. The terrorist attacks cost us money, but just think of how that Clinton surplus could have covered them.  After 2 major tax cuts that started to drain money from our public services and "entitlements", Bush got us into a decade of 2 very costly wars, losing almost 7,000 Americans and spending trillions of $$$ for military contractors and defense spending. I admit that Clinton was wrong for enancting NAFTA which would accelerate under Bush when 800,000 jobs a month were being eliminated or outsourced to China and other countries for the cheapest labor possible. Corporations hid their money in foreign banks. It's no wonder why the CEOs made 400X what their average employee made. The loss of so many good jobs left Americans without a decent salary, health insurance and the ability to save.   At the same time, he created a real estate bubble where people were encouraged to buy homes or re-finance mortgages at very low interest rates. However, home prices soared when an average home went for $400,000 and a condo for $200,000. It's true that some people never should have owned homes, but many were "baited" to buy one as Wall Street created a worldwide casino gambling our money away. More people lost their homes due to job loss and interest rates that creeped up. Today, many people are stuck with high mortgages and taxes on a home or condo that is now half of what they bought it for. Most can't get a lower interest rate, so they're in a lot of trouble. Was it their fault for being "greedy"? No, more like Wall Street who knew how to manipulate people. That's like a doctor telling a person that he needs surgery, but how does the patient know when he trusts his doctor? Even the medical industry has profited while blaming patients when they're the ones doing the diagnosis.  Medicare Part D could have helped seniors, but it was a blessing for big Pharma. How many seniors fell into the "donut hole" after spending for exhorbitant drugs that weren't being negotiated? After all that, the stock market crashed in 2008 while being told by the Repubs that our economy was fundamentally sound. How many lost their retirement savings or a big chunk of it? They lost, but Wall Street was bailed out with billions, if not trillions, of $$$.  Yes, there are many social programs that have been foolish and useless over the years. However, many hard-working and responsible Americans started to fall into poverty and a lower class status when they lost their jobs. Many can't afford insurance premiums so any health care issue can send them into bankruptcy.  These massive debts have been created mainly by the Republicans who still want to preserve the all the wealth for those at the top who support them with massive campaign donations. 
Posted by intersan

It is so simple to see who wants to destroy Medicare and Social Security yet many seniors still believe the Republicans are looking after their best interest.  In the last election women, minorities, and the young put Obama over the edge while most seniors voted for the loser.  As here in Louisiana where the poverty level is above the national average and the Republican governor "Bobby JIndal" continues to close public hospitals.  Don't people see what is going on around them?  Republicans have fought everything that has mattered and will matter for generations to come such as Climate Change, Gun Control, Taxing the Rich,  Health Care Reform,  Education, but they also loved to start wars but wouldn't dare fight in one.  These politicians are in it for themselves and themselves only.  They get rich off of Big Business so they protect their rice bowl.  They finance each other during reelections as long as they back each other during debates in the senate and house.  They are not looking after the people who elected them to office.  It's about time that we all show a united front but that also will never happen and that is exactly what these crooks count on.  I don't hear of these lawmakers taking any cuts or term limits or limiting campaign funds.  Isn't that cutting cost also.  After all if a business can dish out millions on campaigns for these thugs, they should be able to pay taxes. In Response to Re: Assult on America :
Posted by creppelrm

In Response to Re: Assult on America : the top 1% in America own 37% of all the wealth .   That the top 1% enjoy more than 20% of all the income. So – who made it this way?   The nurses, fast-food workers, teachers, cashiers, police officers and secretaries?      Or the 1 percent at the top?    Today, 15% of the USA -- nearly one in seven Americans -- are considered poor, the highest rate of poverty since 1993.    Now among the poor are the college-educated, the former middle-class worker, the suburbanite and the homeowner.   They've been hit by layoffs, cuts in work hours, health problems and other crises.   They've gone through savings and 401(k)s. They live off food stamps or other government benefits and rely on help from family members and friends. IF Obama isn't re-elected and one of the GOP gets into the White House, we had better PRAY loudly that the Congress isn't lost to the Republicans.       Otherwise, this country is going to be in a deep depression within a matter of a year or 18 months after the GOP--- takes over the government.    NEVER FORGET  THE EIGHT YEARS under the GOP  WHEN WE ALL FELL THROUGH THE FLOOR   VOTE OBAMA 2012---- 
Posted by JANMB