Sirotablog

David Sirota is a political journalist and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist at Creators Syndicate. David writes about political corruption, globalization and working-class economic issues often ignored by both of America's political parties.

  • July 28, 2008 2:34 PM

    What's Right and Wrong With This Picture

    This is a photo from Barack Obama's meeting of economic advisers. The good news is the woman sitting right next to him - that's Anna Burger of SEIU. Not pictured but also there is the AFL-CIO's John Sweeney. That means organized labor is represented in his economic kitchen cabinet.

    The bad news is that the guy sitting next to Burger is Bob Rubin - th architect of NAFTA, the leader of the Wall Street wing of the Democratic Party, and the head of Citigroup - a bank at the center of the credit market debacle.

    It is truly sad that Rubin, who is part of the very problems that are crushing the economy, is even invited to these kinds of meetings. He's part of the problem - not the solution. But it's terrific to see organized labor also having a seat at the table.

    Posted by David Sirota
    Permalink | Comments (3) | del.icio.us | digg
    Tags: war on the middle class

Discussion

  • JumperPin [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    It's worse than you think.

    Is that Paul Volker sittith to His right? The same guy who burnished the notion that rising wages are inflationary...whereas rising mega-corporate profits are simply pro growth?

    Also in the picture is Jon Corzine. Winner of all HIS battles, but clueless about winning any war of consequence, even Goldman Sachs couldn't handle him. Mandatory PRIVATE health insurance and mandatory pre-school are his prescriptions for shackling what remains of a middle class.

    Feminist/unionist Anna Burger's utopia is a hyper-abundance of workers who owe their livelihood to backroom negotiators. She seriously believes that unions, surrogate parenting and "labor laws" can overcome the rigged supply/demand of today's labor market.

    BTW, can ANYone in this picture manufacture or repair ANYthing?! Why can't we get some actual laborers on these, uhm, labor committees?

    Posted on July 29, 2008 9:03 AM
  • cdupree [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    I think we can confidantly look forward to eight years of this bullshit.

    At the table will be truth and lies. Honor and cheating. People who want health care, and insurance companies who will do anything to avoid it. Both sides have seats.

    The problem is, one won't count, and we know which one that is. You can't give the insurance companies and the drug companies a seat at the health-care table. You don't ask the banks how they should be regulated, or the oil companies how the planet might be saved.

    In "A Century of Futility", I.F. Stone quoted Lord Salisbury:

    If you believe the doctors, nothing is wholesome;
    if you believe the theologians, nothing is innocent;
    if you believe the soldiers, nothing is safe.

    If you believe the Wall Streeters, everything is above-board. If you believe the DLCers, all thought is right-wing. If you believe the rich, money finds virtue.

    Vote for Obama if you must, but don't fall for the ridiculous belief that he'll change anything.

    Posted on August 3, 2008 4:26 AM
  • cdupree [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    It appears that blockquotes generate white text on a white background; way to go, Credo webmasters!

    Here's the quote I included the first time:

    "If you believe the doctors, nothing is wholesome;
    if you believe the theologians, nothing is innocent;
    if you believe the soldiers, nothing is safe."

    Posted on August 3, 2008 4:30 AM

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