Former President Bill Clinton: "The American Dream has been under assault for 30 years"

[ProSense]

President Bill Clinton: Yes, The American Dream Is Under Assault

By Aaron Task | Daily Ticker

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"The American Dream has been under assault for 30 years," says former President Bill Clinton.

I spoke with President Clinton on the eve of the Clinton Global Initiative's annual meeting in New York Monday, where "jobs jobs, jobs" is one of the main topics of the conference.

While the development of a global economy and the information technology revolution caused upheaval for many workers, Mister Clinton says these trends were accelerated by "the adoption of two bad ideas":

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Government as the Enemy: Clinton cites a "30-year anti-government rant," which is a uniquely American phenomenon, as another root cause of joblessness. "Instead of figuring out how the government and the private sector can work together, saying that 'government is the source of all problems and if we just choked it off, never another regulation, never another tax, never had another program all will be well.' There is not a single, solitary example on the planet where that's worked, including in America."

more

Robert Reich: A Good Fight

Edited to add: Michael Tomasky: "This tax fight will be the great test of the Obama presidency."

[izquierdista]

1. Look in the mirror much, Bill?

You trotted out those rants when you thought they would work for you.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. Yeah, I don't remember Clinton ranting against government

at all. He had some sucking policies, such as NAFTA, and lots of compromise/capitulation such as DADT, which gets mention to day for the first time as a thing of the past.
But 'anti government rants'? Please do share a link or two. I remember that he sat next to Hillary as she spoke of the 'vast right wing conspiracy' and by the way, to this day, she is the only major Democrat to use such language of truth. Was Bill's anti government rant before or after they called out the right wing for dirty tricks, by name? Note the current President is getting accolades for merely saying 'Republicans' when he means Republicans.

[izquierdista]

6. The era of big government is over

The 1996 State of the Union speech (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/states/docs/sou96.htm) was pretty much a capitulation to the right wing. Appeasing the right wing by using phrases like "smaller, more efficient". How can you provide health care, educate more students, and build mass transit when you can only make existing programs "smaller and more efficient"?

It was clear to me then, that Clinton was not going to carry on LBJ's "Great Society"; he was going to cut it so it was the "Smaller, more efficient Society". If you need any more convincing, do your own homework on Gramm-Leach-Bliley.

[workinclasszero]

9. No shit! NAFTA anyone???

Hope I dont get banned for this but...

Sorry Bill Clinton has no right to talk about class war after ramming NAFTA into law to begin the destruction of the American middle class!

FU Bill!

[bread_and_roses]

2. and he was one of the assaulters - Prez. "Free" Trade/Prez De-Regulation

Not to mention Prez "Welfare Reform."

I remember how happy I was when he was elected. And when we in NY got rid of that Troglodyte D'Amato and elected Schumer. I had a long day and got my vote in for Schumer at about 8:59pm - he'd already won but I damn well wasn't going to miss the chance to vote against that slimy R. And both of them Corporate Shills.

[Arctic Dave]

4. Facepalm Bill, facepalm. nt

[disillusioned73]

5. Bill Clinton is a bit tone deaf..

when it comes to the American dream issue.. NAFTA, Glass-Steagle.. among others

Isn't it sad that he is best we can hope for at this point

[Arugula Latte]

7. Remember that old Shake 'n' Bake commercial? "And I helped!"

There were those little things called NAFTA and welfare "reform" and repeal of Glass Steagel, eh, Billy Boy?

[_ed_]

8. Maybe he should have run for President during this 30 year

period and tried to do something about it.

[MrSlayer]

10. Imagine if he had the ability to do something about it somewhere along the line.

Oh wait..........