Robert Reich: The myth of Americans living beyond their means

[Douglas Carpenter]

[truth2power]

1. Every time I watch one of these short commentaries by Robert Reich, I have the same thought...

Reich expresses the truth about the economic situation so well. Why can't (or won't) Pres. Obama say this same thing to the American people?

Pres. Obama has the bully pulpit. If he were saying these things it would go a long way toward refuting all the lies the shills for the 1% are out there blaring every day. He could do this.

Why, instead, are we hearing about chained CPI and cutting entitlements and not one word from our president about how it's a pile of horsesh*t?

"We the people" want to know.

[indepat]

3. What is said and what is not said is most telling just as is what is done and

not done.

[nineteen50]

5. The president

does as told by the corporate 1%ers.

[pipoman]

6. Exactly why Robert

sold out labor as labor secretary and now pretends he didn't..

[bhikkhu]

8. raised their taxes?

First increase since Clinton undid a bit of the reagan disaster. Of course, we're told clinton was a corporate tool as well.

Any president has a primary job of maintaining a healthy economy, so we can all keep our jobs, houses, food on the table and so forth.

The worst presidential performance in living memory was Obama's immediate predecessor. The first job coming into office was to stop the free-fall and put a floor under the recession. Which meant propping up the business sector, which, for better or worse, is where most of us have our jobs, what puts food on the table and a roof over our heads. So he did ok there - doesn't make him a tool.

[Honeycombe8]

10. I feel the same, in a way. But there IS a difference between giving an opinion

and being responsible for negotiating a deal.

If Obama didn't have to negotiate a deal or compromise in any way (and he does...Democrats do not control Congress), he would be freer to use the bully pulpit to give his opinions on things w/o regard to what the conservative citizens think or feel.

But you are right that we don't hear enough Democratic politicians stating these things on TV and in articles. Over and over I hear about how spending is out of control, with Democrats sitting right there at the table and not saying anything in response to that false statement. I've read and heard experts explain how spending is NOT out of control under Obama's administration. Yet Democratic leaders are silent, letting the citizens continue to hear the story from the right over and over...they have to believe it, since no one else is correcting them.

[xtraxritical]

13. Look whom the Presidents top economic advisors are, all from big finance and big business.

He's the lesser of evils IMHO.

[Cleita]

2. If only our elected pols listened to this guy and Paul Krugman.

What a different nation this would be.

[pipoman]

4. Oh we've listened to Robert alright...

and it is a different nation because of it...no jobs and near bankruptcy..that's how that one is turning out..

[cantbeserious]

7. This Video Must be Wrong Since The Recent Market High Suggests That All Problems Are Now Solved

eom

[skepticscott]

9. He tries to play the populist a little too much

and it eats into his honesty.

He says "the bottom 150 million of us", but methinks he is nowhere near being in that group. And losing the tie to look less "Wall Street" or Washington insider is more than a little disingenuous.

He makes some good points, but ultimately, he does not show that Americans living beyond their means is a "myth". If he shows anything (and it's not particularly new or insightful) it's that it is harder than it used to be for a lot of people NOT to live beyond their means. That they shouldn't have to, while so much wealth is concentrated in the hands of so few, is true, but not the same as what he starts off claiming.

[VPStoltz]

11. What is it about D.C. the corrupt the most uncorruptable?

And then after, it's daylight conscience time - the clock of ethics is set back.
Bill Clinton is now on a pedestal and he's the one who promoted and sign the repeal of Glass-Steagall.
That's what caused this mess.
By DOG, Elizabeth Warren better stick to her guns.

[maddiemom]

12. My parents were members of the "greatest generation" and never had

credit cards or took on any time payments other than their home or the new cars (admittedly two when my mom started working, but one of them used, if a good deal). They saved as much as they were able and paid cash for almost everything. At that time, however, that was entirely possible. Neither had a college education, but both were successful in middle class terms. When my mom, in later life, started getting a credit card attached to her local bank card, she was very upset . I explained that it proved her money was there and she didn't have to bother writing a check at places where she wasn't known. She wrote checks often, rather than carrying cash. Needless to say, her kids grew up used to credit cards. I've dropped them all in recent years now that I have a bank card with a Visa. Keeps me in line.

[supercats]

14. Robert Reich Makes More Sense Than Anybody Else....

Why don't the powers that be listen and implement his ideas?