For the last couple of years part of my job has been working those who are providing free tax services to the lower incomes individuals and families, where we emphasize the EITC.  Whether it was exactly in the minds of the people when they first created the EITC. the rationale behind it is centered on providing an incentive for working families to increase their income.  For example, take some night classes and get a job that boosts your salary from $25.000 to $30,000, and the government will give you a boost to your income on top of that. 

The local business folks really like the program because we can show how our effort helps brings into the community 100,000s of dollars that would not have otherwise, much of it going into the local economy.  Moreover, it helps their own employees become more financially stable.  I had one business owner talk about the loss productivity due simply to employees dealing with creditors on their cell phones during work hours.  He saw it in his bottom line interest to support the EITC program.  And he is otherwise a rather conservative Republican. 

Absolutely brilliant! THESE are the discussions that I wish they were having in the Dem Caucus behind closed doors, instead of deciding just how compromised they need to become in order to appeal to Dick Armey and his Tea Party phenomoenon.

Thanks for this! Now, will you please let us know who you are? ;O)

Anon., excellent post. An example of what you describe is my experience running a small business. While banks are borrowing from the Fed at no-interest, loans are then retailed to a business like mine at a cost of at least 8%--that's with lots of good history and credit. Essenially the banks have refunded themselves with bailouts and Fed loans--all the while sticking it to small businesses under the ruse of "tighter loan standards". Large orporations have used historically low interest rates, .5-1%, to borrow money and essentially sit on it, or to gobble up smaller companies or underpriced assets. Wealth concentrators use a period like the one we are in to consolidate their positions while eliminating the weak. Meanwhile weaker players are being restricted in credit and are fighting slow market demand at the same time. I am torn in half wanting the whole structure to fall to pieces so we can start over and at the same time being wary of radical surgery that might go badly wrong and give those who thrive most in chaos, the authoritarian Right, a decisive hand.

After Reagan, Thatcher, two Bushes and two neoliberal Democrats, we are now back in the 19th century.  Private property has never been more sacrosanct in the American ideology at any time in living memory.  We have taken several giant leaps backward and are now back in the self-destructive Dickensian nightmare world of untrammeled capitalism, emasculated and subordinated labor, the ruthless punishment of debt and forced march of austerity.

As if on cue, we start reading THIS as a talking point from the Dick Armey Tea Party Phenomenon. Limiting voting rights to property owners only? Unbelievable regression. At what point does the proletariat understand they're under assault and actually begin fighting back?

Star, you're not going to like this compromise. We got us a stability-minded President. But after this deal the next two years in Congress is going to be a street fight.

Hey, Star, give me that tutorial again on embedding. I found a video on HP and the copy box--but what the hell is a "clipboard"--really showing my ignorance more than usual. I assume I copy it there and paste it into the box provided here.

You know what? I am a lifelong Democrat. A Yellow Dog who never voted for a Republican in my lifetime. I've spent my lifetime working hard on behalf of the Democratic Party and the New Deal principles that have formed much of its foundation throughout my lifetime. The principles remain with me stronger than ever.

All that being said, I'm really beginning to think I'd prefer the Repubs in charge right now rather than continue this agonizing struggle with this iteration of Dems, including Obama.

Make no mistake about it, I am well aware of just how irresponsible the Repubs would be in power and I carry no misunderstanding of the damage they would visit upon this country.

But these Dems offer virtually nothing in opposition, really. We head in the same direction toward the establishment and consolidation of the oligarchy and the disappearance of the middle class. It is death by a thousand cuts. 14 Dems?!?! YeeGads! 10% unemployment, and they choose to scream about the deficit as our legislative priority. As a party, we've moved to the right of Herbert Hoover himself, despite his failed record of progress when confronted with circumstances as dire and similar as those we face today. Unbelievable!

The opportunity cost of putting in place these Palooka-Dems who will not stand and fight on our behalf is simply too agonizing to support any longer. Far better to simply take our drubbing at the hands of the owners with a hope that the Dem Party will thus be motivated at last to put in place REAL Democrats who will actually come out and fight.

It's time to create a second political party. Let the Republicans maintain their position as the prizefighter with the men in fancy suits and fat wallets as their corner men. But let's reinvent the Democrats as the party of FDR and the New DEAL, ready to land a few roundhouse blows right in the kisser of the opponent. Given what life on the street is like today for hundreds of millions of Americans, my money is on the fighter in the ring who has the working man in his corner and who refuses - passionately! - to pull any punches.

And in anticipation of those who would chide me that the polls show no electoral support for any such action, I ask you to  show me where anyone has received opportunity to register support for any such leadership as I suggest. FDR won in blue states, red states, even paisley states, I reckon. Indeed, in 1936 it was said of his opponent, "If Alf Landon would have only given a couple more speeches, FDR would have taken Canada, as well!"

People would respond to strong leadership in opposition to the oligarchs. I know this in my bones, because I live with those who suffer daily at the oligarch's excessively repressive rule and ownership of Washington. Offer the people a legitimate opponent who will stand tall on heir righteous behalf, and we Dems can at last kick some ass.

The alternative? 14 Dems, fer chrissakes.