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A New Deal-like suite of programs
Posted by Raven on October 27th, 2007
One has to give John Edwards credit. Unlike his peers in the race, he comes right out and says what he wants to do IF he elected President. And he tells people they will have to make sacrifices.
John Edwards says if he’s elected president, he’ll institute a New Deal-like suite of programs to fight poverty and stem growing wealth disparity. To do it, he said, he’ll ask many Americans to make sacrifices, like paying higher taxes.
Edwards, a former Democratic senator from North Carolina, says the federal government should underwrite universal pre-kindergarten, create matching savings accounts for low-income people, mandate a minimum wage of $9.50 and provide a million new Section 8 housing vouchers for the poor. He also pledged to start a government-funded public higher education program called “College for Everyone.”
“It is central to what I want to do as president to do something about economic inequality. I do not believe it is okay for the United States of America to have 37 million people living in poverty,” he said in a meeting with Monitor reporters and editors this week. “And I think we need, desperately need, a president who will say that to America and call on Americans to show their character.”
At every stop, Edwards said, he tells voters he’ll ask them to sacrifice. Asked to describe what he means, he described his plan for increases in capital gains taxes, saying taxes on “wealth income” should be in line with those on work income.
“I think if we want to fund the things that I think are important to share in prosperity, then people who have done well in this country, including me, have more of a responsibility to give back,” he said. Later, he added: “There are no free meals.”
Will Edwards be willing to set the example and make the sacrifices he outlines here? Like pay more taxes? As in taking a lesser cut on his lawsuits? I’m not going to come out and say he is a hypocrite, but he comes pretty close. He makes some pretty hefty promises here; he does forget that he needs Congressional approval for all his plans and ideas- and through Congress, the American people. Like I said we have to give him some credit for openly admitting he will raise taxes. Saying that however seals his fate. He won’t win.
October 27th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
You can visit with this author for anexcellent discussion on the equality of wealth.
October 28th, 2007 at 12:51 am
This is simple class baiting, these people will shut down the economy if they get their way….