The People's Budget

Building on the last post, instead of splitting the difference between the two bad budget plans of Obama and Ryan, which is not the middle but way right of center, how about the budget plan proposed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus called The People's Budget? Rachel Maddow asks why is this not even being reported in the media? Why is it that it's either the Ryan or Obama plan, or somewhere "in the middle?" She shows that the myth of a liberal media is just that, a myth, because only the real liberal media, like her (and Huff Post or Daily Kos) are even reporting on this proposal. It's being completely ignored and it's the most sensible budget plan out there, one that doesn't cut Medicare but rather military spending, one that doesn't give tax breaks to the rich and corporations but makes them pay their fair share. And one that actually balances the budget in 10 years, unlike either the Ryan or Obama plans.This is where the middle is and what our budget should be, not a starting point for negotiation. This is the end point in real middle America.

This is from the Executive Summary of The People's Budget:


"Budgets are more than collections of numbers; they are a statement of our values. The Congressional Progressive Caucus Budget is a reflection of the values and priorities of working families in this country. The “People’s Budget” charts a path that keeps America exceptional in the 21st century, while addressing the most pressing problems facing the nation today. Our Budget eliminates the deficit and stabilizes the debt, puts Americans back to work, and restores our economic competiveness.

"The CPC Budget addresses these problems by listening to the American people. In poll after poll, they are telling us, their representatives in the American government, that they want to preserve Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, to make higher education more affordable, to expand job training programs, to cut taxes burdening the middle class, to subsidize affordable housing, and to provide financial assistance for those struggling to prevent foreclosures.

"The majority of America thinks cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, K-12 education, heating assistance to low-income families, student loans, unemployment insurance, and scientific and medical research are completely unacceptable. In contrast, Americans find a progressive tax policy very acceptable. The overwhelming majority of America supports additional taxes on millionaires and billionaires, eliminating unnecessary weapons systems, eliminating tax credits for the oil and gas industries, phasing out Bush tax cuts, and eliminating subsidies for new nuclear power plants."