"Clinton Emphasizes Shared Prosperity
Democratic Senator Denounces "On Your Own" Society; Touts "We're All In This Together" Mode
(AP) Sen. Hillary Clinton outlined a broad economic vision on Tuesday, saying it's time to replace an "on your own" society with one based on shared responsibility and prosperity.
The Democratic presidential hopeful said what the Bush administration touts as an "ownership society" really is an "on your own" society that has widened the gap between rich and poor.
"I prefer a 'we're all in it together' society," she said. "I believe our government can once again work for all Americans. It can promote the great American tradition of opportunity for all and special privileges for none." That means pairing growth with fairness, she said, to ensure that the middle class succeeds in the global economy, not just corporate CEOs.
"There is no greater force for economic growth than free markets. But markets work best with rules that promote our values, protect our workers and give all people a chance to succeed," she said. "Fairness doesn't just happen. It requires the right government policies."
Clinton, D-N.Y., spoke at the Manchester School of Technology, which trains high school students for careers in the construction, automotive, graphic arts and other industries. The school highlighted one of the nine goals she outlined: increasing support for alternative schools and community colleges.
"We have sent a message to our young people that if you don't go to college ... that you're thought less of in America. We have to stop this," she said. "Our country cannot run without the people who have the skills that are taught in this school."
Beyond education, Clinton said she would reduce special breaks for corporations, eliminate tax incentives for companies that ship jobs overseas and open up CEO pay to greater public scrutiny.
Clinton also said she would help people save more money by expanding and simplifying the earned income tax credit; create new jobs by pursuing energy independence; and ensure that every American has affordable health insurance."
I think Clinton owes a royalty check to Marx for this plagiarism of his Manifesto. Hillary is a communist through-and-through. She isn't even trying to hide it! How many times must the failed, flawed, and bankrupt system of socialism leave its people dramatically worse off before people finally figure out that capitalism is the surest and quickest path to prosperity for all members of a society?
In other news, like a broken record, the socialist leader Hugo Chavez is already starting the textbook government brainwashing and speech-denial that is representative of all socialist governments.
This time he's dismantled a television station critical of his policies.
From AP:
Chavez Defends Shutting Down TV Station as Thousands March in Streets
CARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez defended his decision not to renew the license of a popular opposition-aligned television network on Tuesday and warned he might crack down on another critical TV station, accusing it of trying to incite attempts on his life.
Chavez said his refusal to renew the license of Radio Caracas Television, which went off the air at midnight Sunday, is "a sovereign, legitimate decision in which there is no argument."
He said the remaining opposition-sided channel Globovision had encouraged attempts on his life and warned that if it wants "to continue calling for disobedience, inciting assassination ... I'm going to warn them before the nation... I recommend they take a tranquilizer, that they slow down, because if not, I'm going to slow them down."
Chavez did not elaborate, but also warned that radio stations should not be inciting violence by "manipulating feelings" among the populace.
Thousands of Venezuelans — both Chavez supporters and opponents — staged separate marches in Caracas on Tuesday. The Chavez opponents chanted "freedom!" while government supporters said they were in the streets to reject an opposition attempt to stir up violence.
Information Minister Willian Lara on Monday accused Globovision of encouraging an attempt on Chavez's life by broadcasting the chorus of a salsa tune — "Have faith, this doesn't end here" — along with footage of the 1981 assassination attempt against Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square.
"They incite the assassination of Venezuela's president," he said.
Globovision director Alberto Federico Ravell denied any wrongdoing, calling the allegations "ridiculous."
The government turned over RCTV's license to a new state-funded public channel, which showed a documentary on explorers in Antarctica, a children's program and exercise programs, interspersed with government ads repeating the slogan "Venezuela now belongs to everyone."
On Monday in Caracas, Venezuelan police fired tear gas and plastic bullets into a crowd of up to 5,000 protesters. The protesters later regrouped in the Plaza Brion chanting "freedom!" Some tossed rocks and bottles at police, prompting authorities to scatter demonstrators by firing more gas.
It was the largest of several protests that broke out across Caracas. At least three people and one policemen were reported injured in the skirmishes.
Interior Minister Pedro Carreno told state-run television that four students were wounded by gunfire during a pro-RCTV protest staged near a university in the city of Valencia, located 93 miles west of Caracas. It was not immediately clear who the assailants were or if they were arrested.
Government supporters reveled in the streets as they watched the midnight changeover on large TV screens, seeing RCTV's signal go black and then be replaced by a TVES logo. Others launched fireworks and danced in the streets.
Chavez says he is democratizing the airwaves by turning the network's signal over to public use.
The president accused the network of helping to incite a failed coup in 2002, violating broadcast laws and "poisoning" Venezuelans with programming that promoted capitalism. RCTV's managers deny wrongdoing.
Founded in 1953, RCTV was the nation's oldest private channel and regularly topped viewer ratings with its talk shows, sports, soap operas and comedy programs.
10 comments:
Prove that Hillary plagiarized from Marx. Where are your quotes?
I guess I was laying the sarcasm on too thick. Rather that accusing Hillary of actual plagiarism, my statement was attempting to illustrate the commonalities of her and Marx's rationales. The language she uses is clearly anti-market, anti-capitalist, and pro-state planning. Do you disagree that her comments were definitively socialist?
"There is no greater force for economic growth than free markets." -- Sen. Hillary Clinton (taken from statement in question). Nope, I sure don't agree that that's a socialist statement.
Let's consider her position more in line with the Christian ideal that one should work to foster a community of inclusion with one's fellow man and work for your community and not for money. Would you say that her comments are definitively Christian?
Christianity is not an economic model, but her brand of socialism is. Here are some choice Hillary quotes:
"The unfettered free market has been the most radically disruptive force in American life in the last generation."
"We can’t afford to have that money go to the private sector. The money has to go to the federal government because the federal government will spend that money better than the private sector will spend it."
"Many of you are well enough off that [the] tax cuts may have helped you. We’re saying that for America to get back on track, we’re probably going to cut that short and not give it to you. We’re going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good."
"Too many people have made too much money."
Clinton is a socialist through and through. Her policies and her words reveal her as being in favor of massive redistributionist taxes, widespread nationalized programs, government intervention and micromanagement of our economy.
Hell, maybe she's just pandering to the far left to get the Democratic (Socialist) Party nomination, but I find that unlikely. She's a socialist, the real deal.
I'm not sure what you think socialism is Matthew. Hillary is certainly closer to the social democratic model found in many European countries; this I will grant you. Personally I am of the opinion that Hillary is taking positions designed to win her votes in the primary. It is exactly what you see being done on your side with candidates falling over themselves to express their support for torture (oh wait, what are they calling it now?) and many of the other shameful things we heard in the South Carolina debate.
Your argument that Christianity is not an economic model is also irrelevant. The fact remains that the religion presents clear teachings that one should not focus on the accumulation of wealth but should rather strive to help those in need. At best you could contend that Hillary's methods for doing this are not the best ones available. However, your choice is clear. You may either accept that this is the case or reject it. Rejecting does mean, however, that you will have to concede that vast amounts of people on the right who march under the banner of Christianity but reject its calls for economic justice are, in fact, not Christians at all. I leave the choice to you.
What is economic justice? A welfare program that doles out cash at an exponentially increasing rate, with recipients not being held accountable? Is it a food stamp program that continuously is bilked for hundreds of millions yearly due to fraud?
Christianity does indeed talk about taking care of one's neighbors, but nowhere does it say that the government should be the one taking one's money and giving it to someone else. Charity is indeed at the forefront of Christianity. Everything from tithing to those commercials you see on TV where you can sponsor a child are true Christian, PRIVATE, charities. Those Christians on the right for which you have such disdain do not eschew charity, they just do not want the government being the one to decide where there charity money should go. Increased taxes for social programs is not charity.
One final quote:
"The other day, the oil companies posted the largest profits in the history of the world. I want to take those profits, and I want to put them into a strategic energy fund to fund alternative smart energy..." Anytime the government tells me they want to take all the profits of the private sector for a cause they believe to be worthy, I worry about inching towards socialism. Hugo Chavez nationalized the energy companies in Venezuela. If Hillary has her way, we won't be far behind.
Great points, AJ. Indeed, government cannot manufacture compassion. Christianity does teach to give to those less fortunante, but Hillary and the other socialists extend this to mean it is government's right to ensure this happens by taking the people's money and giving it to places they deem worth, regardless of whether or not it actually does any good. Almost always, it doesn't.
Remember the commandment "Thou shall not steal?" "Christian" Hillary has a funny way of interpreting that when she talks about all the money she's going to take from people.
As far as the Christian bias against the rich, I think they are slightly out of context for today's world. In the Biblical times (and up until around the Industrial Revolution), wealth was almost never created through building businesses which help people and deliver a product to consumer that they demand at a reasonable price. Instead, the wealthy was government: the monarchy, pharoahes, the rulers, etc. Most of the rich people today have build their wealth by helping people through businesses. Businesses give people jobs and by definition help people as consumers wouldn't buy a product that didn't make them happier. Also, unlike in Biblical times, the rich today very often give extensive sums to causes of their choosing, like with Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. The rulers of Biblical times are rarely seen giving their riches away, as they are gained in the first place from taxing the people.
If your goal is to help the less fortunant and worse off, then deregulate business, promote free trade, privatize government programs, lower taxes and watch the economy take off. These are the policies which have been shown time and time again to increase the standard of living of all members of a society. Yet, no matter how often they are proved wrong, the socialists still think they're smarter than the market (which represents the sum of all knowledge of all market participants) and can "fix it," to consistently disasterous results.
Want to eliminate poverty? Want to help your fellow man? Then quit tying the invisible hand.
Anonymous said... "Let's consider her position more in line with the Christian ideal that one should work to foster a community of inclusion with one's fellow man"
Nothing is said even near what you have written! You cannot force anything on society it does not *take a village* to force her godless veiws! all things christian share in common are not with godless socialist Communists.
That is clearly the Lefts agenda.
The scriptures teach not to be unequally yoked with the unbeliever
so we are not to share their common veiws of socialism what is it with you liberals and your love affair with such a Godless failure that only sounds good but does not work?
Anonymous said:
"Your argument that Christianity is not an economic model is also irrelevant. The fact remains that the religion presents clear teachings that one should not focus on the accumulation of wealth but should rather strive to help those in need."
Anonymous, I am sorry to say, Like most Libs you are as ignorant as they come concerning Christianity.
Christains are to give, but they are to give from their hearts willingly, not to be forced by constraint of their Government, What good would it do then for a chrsitian to be forced to give by the Government? None! You simply use the argument to appeal to those not on your side to make them buy the foolishness you have bought into yourself. You think this is some kind of cure to the ills of the world when it is the problem ,you cannot give welfare it drains all resources. "you teach a man to fish." and watch what happens?
In society men and women have differant levels of learning and ambition, you cannot stifle ambition or reward no ambition, you want to play Robin Hood Like some crusader that is what you liberals are. Take from those who have acheived and give to others that is stealing!
In Your Face George Soros You
Evil Communist Devil!
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