KRUGMAN: More Firemen, More Policemen, More Teachers

[kpete]

Paul Krugman
June 12, 2012, 8:34 AM
More Firemen, More Policemen, More Teachers

First, Mitt Romney ridiculed Obama for saying that we need more public employment:

He says we need more firemen, more policemen, more teachers. Did he not get the message in Wisconsin?
Afterwards, some commentators wondered, couldn’t he have chosen different professions to ridicule?

And the answer is no. When we talk about public workers, that’s pretty much who we’re talking about:



When we look at the unprecedented public austerity in this recession, we’re basically looking at cutbacks on education and public protection.

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/more-firemen-more-policemen-more-teachers/




Romney To States: Don't Expect Any Help From Me
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/12/mitt-romney-teachers-firemen-police-public-sector-jobs_n_1589354.html

[rfranklin]

1. It's all about defunding the Democrats...

They have come up with a plan to dry up every source of support for the Democrats. They attacked the trial lawyers who were funding the Democrats with their mendacious tales of frivolous lawsuits. They have attacked the public sector unions because they invariably support the Democrats. They have instituted voter suppression laws that disproportionately affect traditionally Democratic Party voters.

This should be brought up every time they come up with one of their specious arguments designed to distract the public from their actual agenda.

[starroute]

3. Don't forget ACORN, Planned Parenthood, and the Girl Scouts

It isn't just the big donors to the Democratic Party that they're after. It's also anybody who might receive public money to spread progressive ideas.

And the plan goes back 30 years, to when the Heritage Foundation was drawing up blueprints for the Reagan administration. It's only because it's reaching fruition now that people are becoming aware of it.

[firehorse]

2. the republicans would rather turn the wealthy areas into green zones with private security, schools,

firemen etc. Then the rest of us, the 99% will live like rats behind the walls, lawless, uneducated, our homes burning down, leaving those who survive so uneducated we can't count change or write our own names.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

4. More firemen and teachers, at the very least. ;-) nt

[TheKentuckian]

5. Honestly, I don't support any more cops until we have the ones we have under control

and even more importantly move them to a peace keeping orientation rather than law enforcement which would also greatly reduce the need for raw numbers.

More teachers? Certainly. More firefighters? Sure. Less cops more stretched and forced to protect and serve rather than cite and annoy seems better to me. I'd particularly like every cent and human resource in vice defunded.

Fuck more cops, I'm not comfortable or pleased with the ones we have.

[olegramps]

6. Romney is absolutely correct:

Why will we need more teachers, in fact we will be able to fire thousands of them if the Republicans succeed. After they repeal the ban on children being employed, the class rooms will be empty except for the privileged wealthy brats just like it was before FDR declared war on the bastards.

Along with striking down that horrid law that makes employers pay minimum wages and they bring back the laws that outlawed unions, until that pinko-commy Roosevelt was elected, there will be improved employment opportunities for every man, women and child. This will result in no need to out-source jobs since those inflated wages will only be a sad reminder of the infringement of the masses on the real job creators. Everyone knows that the unwashed working class have squandered the money the bilked out of the wealthy and are only saturated with jealousy of their betters.

As for firefighters, the inability to respond to fires in the slums created by the new social order with be heartedly welcome since they will only be a breeding ground for disease and crime that would threaten the well-being of the chosen ruling class. God forbid that even one of the cherish children of the plutocracy be infected by the slimy urchins living in squaller. What also will be welcomed will be the repeal of social security and especially those provisions that provide for the children and widows of deceased bread winners. They are truly the dregs of society, only minimally better than the lazy welfare moms on the food stamp rolls.

As for Obama care, the faster that it is repealed the better. Especially after the plutocracy's policies have taken affect. The life expectancy of the working parasites will have returned to 1800 levels, and along with the soaring infant deaths and workers killed or maimed for life in factories that no longer have to abide by those anti-business OSHA requirements. The need for long term health care, thankfully, will be only a sad reminder of the failed policies of the New Deal.

With all the hue and cry for the stupid working class one would think that we are suggesting Swift's solution to the problem rather than a reasonable plan to protect those who are worthy of enjoying the fruits of being chosen to inherit their esteemed position that has been under constant assault by Union Socialists who are intent on robbing their betters.

[Comrade Grumpy]

7. More teachers and firemen, sure, but we have too many cops already.