Back to Basics, Progressives!

[rucky]

It should be the Government's primary job to provide a safety net to ensure everyone has adequate food, housing, healthcare, safety & education.

It is NOT the government's primary job to protect wealth, yet we seem to spend a disproportionate amount of cash to do just that.

Wasn't the New Deal in response to the Great Depression, as an assurance that if this type of situation happens again, people are provided for? If we properly funded our social programs, and the infrastructure were there to provide expanded services with expanded funding in times of crisis, would we even be having this bailout discussion?

[Captain Hilts]

1. Ideally...

FDR: Reagan and the Bushes have tried to dismantle it. Merciless bastards!
ER: It's most unfortunate we are now run by people who have no clue what it is like to experience misfortune.

[rucky]

2. With Paulsen waiting on bended knee...

It's now our task to propose an alternative to the hugely unpopular bailout. Isn't this an opportunity for us to get that safety net back in order, as part of the deal? It would sure make the fallout less dangerous to Main Street, and this may be our only opportunity to reverse the trend before we break the bank.

[Captain Hilts]

5. I had to read the paper twice when I saw the 'bended knee' reference...

Wonder if he'd bend down on his knees before Barney Frank?

[OHdem10]

3. It has been the goal of the Republican Party to rid the Government

of any remnant of The New Deal. ALL this spending of the past 8years
gives them the opportunity to cut cut cut Social Programs -- thereby
shrinking them so much that eventually they can say--We can no
longer afford these programs.

[rucky]

4. and I'm afraid this could be our last window of opportunity

to roll some of that back.