Shocker: President Obama's newest 'Grand Bargain', lands with a thud

[ljm2002]

46. I suggested a different interpretation...

...of the OP, without going into details, because your interpretation was absurd in my estimation. That is, you created a false either/or choice, where criticizing Obama's current attempt at a grand bargain is tantamount to saying he should do nothing.

So yes, you are changing the subject when you try to engage me on specifics. I was objecting to your characterization of the OP and suggested another more reasonable (IMO) interpretation.

But sure, I'll play. From the article:

"House Republicans have long opposed a tax overhaul that changes the code for corporations but not for individuals. Owners of small businesses who use the individual tax code would be at a disadvantage if only the corporate tax rate were cut, they say."

So this latest proposal seems to be to cut corporate tax rates; the Republicans are objecting because it doesn't go far enough -- they think we should also cut rates in the individual tax code.

The Republicans, seeing that corporate tax rates are on offer, will of course now insist that further rate cuts be offered. If Obama does offer such a thing, they will of course then insist that the cuts aren't big enough. And so on. That is why I say it is futile.

I am against cutting corporate tax rates in the first place; they should be raised, not lowered. That is why I say it is wrong.

What would not be futile and wrong, would be a full court press for a truly progressive agenda that would include a living wage, a guaranteed minimum income, massive spending on infrastructure, and many other things. Yes, of course it would be met with fury and outrage by the Republicans in Congress. So what! Get the people behind it first, push it, fight for it.

This constant chipping around the edges is ineffective to say the least. Furthermore, the only way to promote our own agenda is to actually propose and fight for our own agenda. What we see instead is olive branches offered to rabid jackals, who have no interest whatsoever in doing anything productive. So call them out on it directly, not by constantly offering them a bit of this and a bit of that, apparently thinking that the electorate will be impressed and will somehow connect the dots to see the Republicans as obstructionists.

Yes, the Republicans are obstructionists. The only way to fight it is to go on heavy offense. Instead we get "grand bargain" proposals, offering cuts to corporate tax rates for crying out loud. That is weak.