It was back on August 29, 2010 in an interview with that stellar journalist, NBC’s Brian Williams, that Barry "Almighty" then said he would be proposing a plan for jobs and economic growth as soon as he returned from his summer vacation. So does that sound familiar to anyone? Well it should, since it's the same claim he made regarding what he would be doing upon returning from his latest vacation this year. “We anticipated that the recovery was slowing – the economy is still growing, but it’s not growing as fast as it needs to. I’ve got things right now before Congress that we should move immediately, and I said so before I went on vacation, and I’ll keep on saying it now that I’m back,” Barry then told Williams when asked if he had a jobs plan. “There are a whole host of measures we could take, no single element of which is a magic bullet, but cumulatively can start continuing to build momentum for the recovery,” he said. I don’t know about anyone else, and memory is the first thing to go, but does anyone remember any great plan ever materializing? Anyway, does anyone seriously think that this guy really has any intention whatsoever of taking any action that would actually improve the prospects that would actually increase employment? The promise made then of a plan echoes a similar promise Barry made on Monday, saying that in the coming week he would present "concrete" proposals that would spur hiring and economic growth.
In making his latest promise, Barry said, “Next week, I will be laying out a series of steps that Congress can take immediately to put more money in the pockets of working families and middle-class families, to make it easier for small businesses to hire people, to put construction crews to work rebuilding our nation’s roads and railways and airports, and all the other measures that can help to grow this economy.” Barry said this while at a Rose Garden ceremony to herald in his new Council of Economic Advisors Chairman, and yet another supposed brilliant academic, yet with no real world experiences, Alan Krueger. Barry proposed only one "concrete" idea during the interview back in 2010, and that was legislation that would have “eliminated” capital gains taxes on small business. That idea did not make it through Congress. However, a similar measure allowing some small-businesses to write off 100 percent of their capital gains taxes on new investment was attached to the deal extending the Bush tax rates. Another less-concrete idea, to allow businesses easier access to credit, did eventually pass, making $30 billion available to small banks in exchange for increased lending to small businesses.
Then on Monday there was a rather pesky little exchange that took place when a question was asked about the Barry’s upcoming speech on jobs and economic growth. White House Spokesmoron Jay Carney had the "audacity" to say that only the most ‘fervent partisan’ would suggest the 8 million plus jobs lost in this recession were lost because of actions taken by Barry "Almighty." Too bad no one took the time to remind Mr. Carney that, unlike his boss, facts don't lie. Because like it or not, and no matter how energetically he may claim otherwise, the number of jobs that have been lost over the course of this recession are directly related to the policies put in place by this president. The question that started the little exchange was asked by CBS reporter Norah O'Donnell and appears in the official White House transcript of the press briefing:
Q -- Jay, the question is what is different in this new speech? What is going to be different?
MR. CARNEY: Well, you will see what the President proposes to enhance growth, enhance hiring, and you will judge then what's different about the new ideas that are contained within it as well as ideas that you've heard about. But I can't let the premise go uncommented on when you talk about the amount of job loss in the time since the President took -- was sworn into office. I don't think anybody except the most fervent partisan would suggest that the 8 million jobs lost because of this recession were lost because of actions that this President took. Those jobs were lost within the four months -- in the months prior to his swearing-in, his inauguration, and in the months thereafter. Since this President’s economic policies had a chance to take effect there have been more than 2 million private sector jobs created. The economy has grown, albeit not at a pace that satisfies him or any of us here in the administration. And that’s just a matter of absolute record and fact -- indisputable. The fact is that we inherited a terrible situation, a terrible economy, and an economy that threatened to become far worse than it did become -- because of the actions that this administration took with Congress in 2009 and perpetually since then in different measures that have been taken, as well as -- including December of last year.
Q: The President and you’ve made the case that the President inherited this economy. When does it become his economy?
MR. CARNEY: Look, he’s responsible every day for this economy. He absolutely understands that and makes it clear. And he’s responsible for working directly and with Congress to take every measure possible to improve the economic situation in this country to increase growth and job creation. But it has to be absolute --
Q: Is he responsible for the economy?
MR. CARNEY: -- he is not -- what has to be clear when you phrase a question like that in the way that you did, it has to be clear the situation that we have been -- the hole that we have been climbing out of as a country -- Democrats, independents, Republicans -- Americans have all been climbing out of because of the terrible, great recession that this country has endured. So he is on the job and responsible every day. And that’s why he is -- to go back to your first question -- why he is coming forward in the coming days with new proposals to further job creation and economic growth.
Have you ever heard anything more idiotic in your life? Here we have Barry now having been in office nearly three years now, having put in place any number of disastrous polices that have resulted in nothing more than higher unemployment and yet it is still all to blamed on Bush. Incredible!
And just a word or two about this guy Krueger, Barry’s nominee to chair his Council of Economic Advisors. Talk about a real piece of work, this guy takes the freakin cake. He's nothing more than another one of those left-wing screwballs who very enthusiastically supports a European-style consumption tax that taxes every stage of production for a good or service, a policy generally referred to as a Value Added Tax, or VAT. Now there's something that will provide a big boost to our struggling economy and be a boon to increasing employment in this country. Alan Krueger, a Princeton University economist no less, called for the Value Added Tax in a commentary for the New York Times in January 2009. The White House, however, has said on more than one occasion that President Obama would not consider such a tax. Sure, like we're supposed to believe that about a guy who has never seen a tax he didn't like. “Why not pass a 5 percent consumption tax to take effect two years from now? There are many different ways to implement a consumption tax, but for simplicity think about a national sales tax,” Krueger wrote in the Times piece published on Jan. 12, 2009, shortly before Barry took office.
Unlike the “Fair Tax” proposal or national sales tax proposal that has been considered in recent years by U.S. politicians who want to "replace" the current income tax, the VAT would be a levy that adds to the current tax structure. WOW, what a deal!! “In the long run, a 5 percent consumption tax would raise approximately $500 billion a year, and fill a considerable hole in the budget outlook,” Krueger wrote. He added that the consumption tax has a downside, but would likely be the easiest way to increase taxes. “The main downside of this proposal is that taxes reduce economic activity,” wrote Krueger. Now there's a absolutely brilliant idea, let's further reduce economic activity, that's sure to spur much needed job growth. According to this character, “But the government must make critical trade-offs, and a consumption tax could be the most efficient means to raise revenue to finance essential government functions.” Krueger added that, “Another downside is that a consumption tax is a greater burden for the poor, who spend a relatively high share of their income.” So explain to me again why this would be a good idea. It reduces economic activity and puts another burden on the poor, I'm not see the up side here other than it would take more of what little disposable income Americans still and direct it into the government's coffers.
“Alan brings a wealth of experience to the job,” said Barry. “He’s one of the nation’s leading economists. For more than two decades, he’s studied and developed economic policy, both inside and outside of government. In the first two years of this administration, as we were dealing with the effects of a complex and fast-moving financial crisis, a crisis that threatened a second Great Depression, Alan’s counsel as chief economist at the Treasury Department proved invaluable.” If confirmed by the Senate, Krueger would succeed Austan "Ghouls"bee as the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. Before "Ghouls"bee, Christina Romer held the position under Barry, as the administration struggled to improve the U.S. unemployment picture, which currently stands at 9.1 percent. “I rely on the Council of Economic Advisers to provide unvarnished analysis and recommendations, not based on politics, not based on narrow interests, but based on the best evidence, based on what’s going to do the most good for the most people in this country,” said Obama. “And that’s more important than ever right now.” What a freakin crock! Based on the best evidence? Barry droned on saying, "We need folks in Washington to make decisions based on what’s best for the country, not what’s best for any political party or special interest,” he said. “That’s how we’ll get through this period of economic uncertainty, and that’s the only way that we’ll be able to do what’s necessary to grow the economy.” What a load of crap! Heaven help us!
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