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Populist Reform of the Democratic Party

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sabrina 1

(62,325 posts)
Tue Jan 6, 2015, 07:04 PM Jan 2015

Third Way Founders Jon Cowen & Jim Kessler tell us: Economic Populism is a Dead End for Democrats [View all]

Before we can reform the Democratic Party, it is necessary to identify the problems that need reform.

Primarily the increasing swing to the Right.

That is why people are looking a lot closer at the Third Way who have gained so much power within the Party.

Jon Cowen and Jim Kessler - Economic Populism Is A Dead End For Democrats.

If you ever wondered where the Right Wing talking points against the Left were coming from within the Democratic Party look no further than the Third Way.

Remember as you read these pronouncements from two of the Third Way's founders, that these are the people making policy decisions and choosing candidates for YOU:

If you talk to leading progressives these days, you'll be sure to hear this message: The Democratic Party should embrace the economic populism of New York Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Such economic populism, they argue, should be the guiding star for Democrats heading into 2016. Nothing would be more disastrous for Democrats.


I always wondered about these attacks on FDR's policies coming from members of the Party who should be proud of them, especially considering how popular they are with the American people.

The political problems of liberal populism are bad enough. Worse are the actual policies proposed by left-wing populists. The movement relies on a potent "we can have it all" fantasy that goes something like this: If we force the wealthy to pay higher taxes (there are 300,000 tax filers who earn more than $1 million), close a few corporate tax loopholes, and break up some big banks then—presto!—we can pay for, and even expand, existing entitlements. Meanwhile, we can invest more deeply in K-12 education, infrastructure, health research, clean energy and more.


And there it is again, the derision of Liberals and their "retarded ideas" we expect from Fox News!

And right from influential members of our own Party!

You will probably find a lot of this to be familiar. Does 'you are not living in the 'reality based community' sound familiar eg?

I'm sure as a Liberal you have been attacked with some of these 'talking points'.

'Liberals live in a fantasy world, where they want PONIES and EVERYTHING!'

Well the Third Way is a Think Tank. They come up with ways to manipulate language. But this is supposed to be a 'liberal think tank' who uses these talking points against the Left?

Aren't they supposed to BE Left?

Anyhow, let's keep going, it gets better. They are coming to the lies we've become so familiar with regarding Social Security:

Social Security is exhibit A of this populist political and economic fantasy. A growing cascade of baby boomers will be retiring in the coming years, and the Social Security formula increases their initial benefits faster than inflation. The problem is that since 2010 Social Security payouts to seniors have exceeded payroll taxes collected from workers. This imbalance widens inexorably until it devours the entire Social Security Trust Fund in 2031, according to the Congressional Budget Office. At that point, benefits would have to be slashed by about 23%.

Undeterred by this undebatable solvency crisis, Sen. Warren wants to increase benefits to all seniors, including billionaires, and to pay for them by increasing taxes on working people and their employers. Her approach requires a $750 billion tax hike over the next 10 years that hits mostly Millennials and Gen Xers, plus another $750 billion tax on the businesses that employ them.


There are so many lies contained in those two paragraphs they have outdone Fox News on distortions of the reality of the Social Security Fund, which has more than one source of income, and a two trillion dollar surplus, not to mention, the Baby Boomers (see how they drop that in, just like their Right Wing friends) more than paid for their SS benefits.

And the subtle reference to Warren 'wanting to include Billionaires'. So transparent, seriously, I thought these people were at least smart enough not to try to put this garbage over on actual Democrats.

And they are so frightened that their Wall St backers might have to contribute some taxes to this country.

How ANYONE can believe that the Third Way belongs in the Democratic Party in any kind of policy making capacity, or in the choosing of candidates, is beyond me.

I suggest reading the entire article, it is short. But far more revealing than they thought it would be. '

No surprise they chose Murdoch's Wall St. Journal to publish it in.

I would like to invite them here to this group and try to make those claims.

But they don't mix with the little people, so I doubt we'll ever see that.

They are so scared. Their policies are being rejected, their dreams of the privatization of SS are facing what those dreams always face, see Bush, failure.

And their Wall St backers are no doubt angry at the rise of the new Populism and definitely at Elizabeth Warren for being the voice of the people when it comes to Wall St corruption.
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Thank you, Sabrina. Maedhros Jan 2015 #1
They PRETEND to be Democrats. Enthusiast Jan 2015 #36
+1 Scuba Jan 2015 #44
Agreed! Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2015 #66
They're the ultimate Pretendems. RiverLover Jan 2015 #67
The triangulating, greedy sob's are more responsible for our problems than are the Republicans. Enthusiast Jan 2015 #69
This just proves they are Republicans trying to make it so that whichever "team" wins in elections, RiverLover Jan 2015 #2
Those 3rd Way guys are seriosly afraid of Populism Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #3
Fear of ANY Democracy, as far as that goes. Ken Burch Jan 2015 #9
Apparently they feel some pressure or they wouldn't bother to say something. L0oniX Jan 2015 #4
The heat is on. NYC_SKP Jan 2015 #5
Thanks Sabrina for spelling this out. Phlem Jan 2015 #6
I've been battered with this BS right here on DU, and so have many others Demeter Jan 2015 #7
I couldn't agree more, and if this was 2003, that is exactly what would have happened to those sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #30
No-Way To The Third-Way!!! supercats Jan 2015 #8
Well, that's it then. It will be a Republican. nt silvershadow Jan 2015 #10
If they have any say in it, it WILL be. sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #24
GOTV! frylock Jan 2015 #11
Steal their voters. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jan 2015 #47
Third Way is a Republican front group, don't give them refuge here, they can tea bag over there whereisjustice Jan 2015 #12
In my eyes, the failure of their thinking Curmudgeoness Jan 2015 #13
Social Security is NOT in trouble. They are lying. That's what people have to remember. Lying and sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #25
+1,000 Scuba Jan 2015 #45
The TPP will mean the loss of jobs and lower wages and thus, hurt Social Security and Medcare. JDPriestly Feb 2015 #74
What they are hoping to do is to equalize wages for Corporations across the globe. I think they are sabrina 1 Feb 2015 #75
Right! JDPriestly Feb 2015 #76
"pull money from the war machine to fund the peace machine" Enthusiast Jan 2015 #37
"entitlements" is a word that needs REFRAMING Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #46
Exactly, the Right Wing Think Tanks turned the word 'Entitlement' into an epithet aimed sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #49
Wolves in sheepskin. JEB Jan 2015 #14
They appear to be in control of the party. Enthusiast Jan 2015 #38
Great Insight in this post Thespian2 Jan 2015 #15
No, as Bill Maher has pointed out the Democtrats will take the place of the Republicans.... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2015 #22
Thanks Thespian2 Jan 2015 #48
It started with the "New Democrats" like Harold Ford and Bill Clinton.... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2015 #58
vichy ekonomikkks. pansypoo53219 Jan 2015 #16
Is this the Third Way or... Oldtimeralso Jan 2015 #17
Economic Populism? It's just a fad that Third Way Democrats who cultivate Wall Street don't have to TrollBuster9090 Jan 2015 #18
They're getting scared of the peasants. That is why they made the mistake of publishing that sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #32
Such a pretty dress! <Swoon> Enthusiast Jan 2015 #40
Lol! sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #50
LOL, good one! (n/t) bread_and_roses Jan 2015 #41
I had a pony.... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2015 #19
Corporatist "Democrats" can go suck shit. GaltFreeDiet Jan 2015 #20
These people are not Democrats. They may claim to be but they are not. sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #26
"there are 300,000 tax filers who earn more than $1 million" PSPS Jan 2015 #21
They're trying to get people to think the rich aren't THAT rich. (But they are).... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2015 #23
The Third Way works for them. The ultra rich already had the Republican Party all bought up. sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #28
Since they hide their money offshore, it is hard to know how rich they really are. sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #29
I say... nikto Jan 2015 #27
Ha! The thing about populism is - you can't really stop it. Neon Gods Jan 2015 #31
They are scared and angry now. They let their mask drop when they wrote that article. sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #33
But no matter how stupid, no matter how wrong... Neon Gods Jan 2015 #53
Well, not so far. But things have a way of changing. I am looking forward to the day sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #70
Different name, same old corporate shell game. hedda_foil Jan 2015 #34
Third Way, a Grover Norquist approved think tank working for you 24/7. Enthusiast Jan 2015 #35
kick rec Teamster Jeff Jan 2015 #39
And of course it's published in WSJ bread_and_roses Jan 2015 #42
We need to toss these asshats out of OUR party, lift the cap on SS, apply SS taxes to capital .... Scuba Jan 2015 #43
They are full of it. Because if it is a dead end then we are doomed. These are people we cannot jwirr Jan 2015 #51
They are really a Third Party who rather than form their own, chose to reside in OUR Party sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #52
Yep, and that is what wedge politics are used for Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #54
It's true, and it's strange that the Third Way would be defended at all by Democrats sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #57
do a comparison of both these groups... Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #61
I haven't studied the Heritage Foundation on policies. I just assumed they were sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #62
That is exactly what rwers did to the old R Party. I agree they have to go. jwirr Jan 2015 #65
Been saying this for years fredamae Jan 2015 #55
+1 Cosmic Kitten Jan 2015 #56
Third Way is funded by the Street - TBF Jan 2015 #59
And they lie about that also. They deny they are 'working for Wall St' sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #60
Thank you sabrina for your constantly great threads and posts. rhett o rick Jan 2015 #63
+1 !!! RiverLover Jan 2015 #72
HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!! WillyT Jan 2015 #64
When two politician agree, you don't need one of them. n/t jtuck004 Jan 2015 #68
They've been saying this about SS ever since the 1980s, Waiting For Everyman Jan 2015 #71
It works only because people don't understand how SS works. Once they do, that lie doesn't work sabrina 1 Jan 2015 #73
These Vichy-Dems, who betray every traditional principle with every word they spew, will be the Bad Granny Feb 2015 #77
I'm unable to understand your point of view. delrem Feb 2015 #78
I think you do get it. "Normal" politics, especially as malpracticed by the Vichy-Dems in office Bad Granny Feb 2015 #79
The term: 'agent provacateur' aka 'wrecker' delrem Feb 2015 #80
Thank you. RiverLover Feb 2015 #81
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