Editor's Note: Tune in Sunday at 10a.m. or 1p.m. ET for Fareed Zakaria GPS on CNN.
By Fareed Zakaria, CNN
It has now been four years since the start of the global financial crisis. This was a crisis that showcased a breakdown of markets - too much leverage, too little concern about risks and too much debt. So you'd imagine that any political backlash would involve a move towards the left.
Well, that's not what happened.
Instead, we saw a shift towards the political right in much of the industrialized world. Here in America, the Tea Party was born, pulling conservatives further towards the right. Consider that in the 2008 election, Mitt Romney was considered the conservative challenger to John McCain. In this election he is the moderate, outflanked on the right by every other candidate.
This dynamic seems afoot in Europe as well. Britain's Conservatives returned to power after 13 years. Germany's Merkel and France's Sarkozy cemented their positions. Spain has a new conservative government.
What happened to the left? Why was there no great surge in left-wing populism?
My own theory is that in the crisis the state had to jump in dramatically to stop a depression, but those actions - taking over banks and car companies, guaranteeing debts and mortgages - scared the hell out of people on the right, who saw it as the beginning of a new socialism.
The left never mobilized. The Occupy movement channeled popular discontent into its protests, but it never really had a coherent program and never gained traction.
But that seems to be changing. The French elections may prove to be the beginning of a new trend. The Socialist Francois Hollande is proposing a 75% tax rate on people earning more than a million Euros. He's now been upstaged by the more fiery Jean-Luc Mélenchon. The Left Front candidate has been holding huge meetings across the country, telling seas of flag-waving followers that he would impose a 100% tax rate on all earnings above half a million dollars. And these left wing candidates are polling well.
Consider, on a more timid scale, President Obama's 2012 campaign, which is moving to the left both in style and substance as he takes the "Buffett tax" on the road.
Read: 2012 - the year of elections
Look at the protests in Greece and Italy, which are getting more organized. Or consider even, "The Pirate Party". This is a European political network that was founded on the basic platform that information should be shared for free. They want to legalize online file sharing and minimize copyright protections.
I reported last year how the German offshoot of the Pirates won enough votes to enter the Berlin state legislature. Critics said it was a flash in the pan.Berlin is an urban city-state with a lot of rebellious young college students. But last week it scored a second win in Saarsland, a rural, gentrified state on the French border.
The Pirates won 7.4% of the vote to enter parliament. Polls now suggest that not only will the Pirates enter two more state legislatures next month, they have also become Germany's third most supported party.
So a new left-wing group with no real platform on energy, taxes or foreign affairs is now the third most popular party in Europe's leading economy.
We might be seeing the beginnings of a left-wing response to the crisis channeling popular discontent – some of it is extreme, some wacky.
But perhaps the larger function these groups will serve is not to actually be elected to run a government, but to do what the Tea Party seems to have done: To use its voter base to pressure moderates.
If the Tea Party made the right more right, then don't be surprised if France's left and Europe's Pirates make their governments more attentive to the left.
We may be in for more ideological strife in the West.
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Interesting stuff. I can't imagine the occupy folks getting organized enough to apply any real political pressure in America, but Europe seems to be ripe for change- especially Greece, Spain, and Italy.
Oh, please. The obvious fact is that overspending by left-leaning governments in southern Europe have caused social disruption, and the solutions proposed by the left for the fiscal disaster of 2008 have not worked. The "move to the left" in Europe is a response to the inevitable day when governments run out of borrowed money, and government payments to people must be cut. This never would have happened if governments had simply not spent money they did not have.
It really is confusing how so many people in the comments here think Left = Spend, Right = Save. They both spend, just they have different ideas of what deserves money. You will not 'save' money by voting for the 'Conservatives.'
Actually, in the last 30 years in America, it's the so-called conservatives who have proven themselves to be the biggest deficit spenders. Check out the 2003-2007 budgets, which were crafted and approved by Republican majorities in both houses of congress and a Republican president, and the masssive growth of the federal government during the same period. Democrats, though they like to spend as well, tend to be a little tighter with the spending reins and tend to be better at paying for new spending wih offsetting revenue generation (fees, taxes, etc.). The Republican track record, on the other hand, is a tendency to increase spending while decreasing revenue, something that no sane business owner would ever do.
Holy crap GaryB, you've been drinking the leftist
kool-aid a little too much.
GaryB I hope you aren't so misinformed to believe that Republicans controlled the House and Senate after 2004. Democrats were in control of the House and Senate from 2005 to 2011. They were also the majority in the 40s when deficit spending skyrocketed, in the 60s when we stopped balancing the budget, during the 70s with hyperinflation and in the 80s with huge deficits. In fact when Republicans were in charge during the post war years and in the mid 90s the US had a surplus. Only between 2003 and 2004 were they reckless. Facts suk
The democrats had control till 2011? Really? Is that why they've been filibustered a RECORD number of times by the MINORITY party in the Senate ... you know ... where bills actually get passed out of? If you think being filibustered a HISTORICAL RECORD number of times by Republicans means they had "control", then you probably also believe that simply having more seats equals control to. And in that case, you're beyond help. I suggest you go post on the Faux Noise boards where people actually believe your talking points.
Hey Bill ... way to not address or counter a single point he made there buddy! If this was the Faux Noise boards, you'd be a genius, But over here? We call that a dodge because you had absolutely nothing to offer of substance.
Congrats on that!
you sure showed him bill
christ republicans cannot debate worth a dern
Wthomas,
you're an idiot. check your history and your facts. you are wrong on the 1980s, 1990s and the 2000s. the sad part of your post is that you actually believe it. the sky is yellow and the sun is blue. what a moroon.
No sense talking to a republican about spending. They have been long brainwashed by AM Hate Radio into thinking they are conservatives. They aren't conservatives when you offset tax revenue with foreign borrowing to the tune of 8 trillion. The republicans hid the two wars and the bailout and then now pretend those numbers didn't exist until Obama opened the books for all to see....and then what did these mouthbreathers do? They blamed Obama for Bush/Cheney debts. Amazing the disconnect from reality.
If you remember, G W had the Iraq and Afghan wars listed off budget and he still had a huge deficit. What a trick.
$200 billion a year can buy lots of school lunches.
Taka–
WOW so you say both sides spend, yet you say no one saves with Conservatives. LOL You just canceled out your own post.
GOPvsUSA–
The Democrats had COMPLETE Control of Congress from 2007-2011. Where were you? Filibuster? In order for a filibuster to happen that would mean ALL Republicans and some Democrats would have had to filibuster together. With Obamacare NO ONE was able to filibuster as the votes did not exist.
Good grief, labradoodles.
GaryB–
And then the Democrats took control of Congress in 2007-2011, Obama took office in 2009. Yeah that has worked out splendidly. Regulations have gone through the roof under Obama compared to Bush, yet all of that is ignored.
So wait you say 2003-2007 yet say 30 years? You have some really interesting math there. You might want to really look carefully regarding Congress over the years you specify.
Spending has gone up since the end of World War II, why because populations are going up. With the increase in Government, which is highly dangerous, you then will have more people becoming more dependent ON Government, but you need someone to pay for those dependents and that would be the taxpayers.
I don't care what fraking party has controlled what at what time, during when with whom in the white house, both parties are messing up royally, the population is indeed helping with the mess up since Congress can not mess up the country alone, and yes this country with the way we are going will make Greece look like child's play. Government needs to shrink and then get the heck out of the way and let the private sector and capitalism work.
Democrats = Tax and Spend
Republicans = Spend and Spend
Actually the governments in power in Greece, Italy and Spain are all conservative. Craig to your homework before posting!!
sharky .. still wrong. Getting filibustered a record number of times is proof they did NOT have "complete control of congress".
You lose!
You can keep repeating that talking point, but you'll continue to have it trumped by mine – over and OVER again.
Go get another lie from Faux Noise.
@CA Liberal
You missed something for the Rebulicans –
Spend and Spend, blame Democrats, repeat.
This silly myth that somehow the right spends less needs to finally be demolished. Taka is correct; they both spend – simply with very different beliefs and priorities.
European elections can be best described as a pendulum between socialist and conservative parties. The latter won a series of elections in Europe as electors resent the spending spree of the previous – socialist – governments, which left them piles of debts. When austerity measures of the conservatives go too far for many in a country, voters opt for the return of a socialist government.
The German Pirate Party was taken by surprise by their own success last September – winning 15 seats in Berlin's state parliament. Their emergence in the rural Saarland came at the expense of the Liberal Democrats and the Social Democrats. Angela Merkel's party was still the winner. The leader of the German Pirate Party, Sebastian Nerz stated clearly, they have no solution to the Eurocrisis or other current political issues. His young supporters believe all citizens should have a say in policy-making and shaping their government using the internet. They urged all data to be made public, free internet access and free public transport. Time will tell if Nerz can transform his movement from a protest party into a lasting political force.
@wthomas, way to try to rewrite history.
Wthomas, way to try to rewrite history. Next time try to do it when the numbers arent easily checked.
2001-2003 tied in senate 50/50, republicans control the house 221 to 212
2003-2005 republicans held the senate 51-48 AND the house. 229 to 205
2005-2007 republicans hold the senate 55 to 44 AND the house 231-202
2007-2009 senate is tied, 49-49 with 2 independants. Democats hold the house, 236-199
2009-2011 democrats hold senate, 58-40 AND the house, 257-178
2011-2013 democrats hold senate 51-47, republicans hold the house 242-193
The right spends a lot in the US. But Greece, Italy and Spain don't have a huge military-industrial complex and the overspending there was overwhelmingly on social programs. It's not surprising to see a petulant response from the left to their day of reckoning, but their "solutions" will only drag things down further.
As for this country, BOTH left and right have been hugely wasteful and both will face their day of reckoning.
Craig,
You think the right doesn't spend? What about the Bush tax cuts? What about the right's grand idea that the best way to eliminate America's debt is by cutting taxes? You do realize that unfunded tax cuts (as the two examples I mentioned are) are equivalent to spending right? Unless they're funded (paired with equivalent spending cuts) the cost of govt doesn't drop and the govt has to BORROW (aka spend) to make up the difference.
The only sane plan is a plan that involves tax hikes and service cuts and it seems like only moderates are intelligent enough to understand that.
Those countering your opinion will pick their periods of debt growth to suit their own assertions. Most will not have been old enough to have been alive when Jack Kennedy cut the top marginal fed tax rate from 98% to about 78%, Further, the loopholes at that time made the effective top rate much, much lower on high income earners. They will ignore that Repubilcans controlled all three (or even two) branches of government for about 10% of the last 65 years. Spending starts in the House. Debt balloons when the Great Society expands government programs that have not proven productive in reducing the plight of the poor as fast as the numbers of poor increase (birth rates, immigration, etc).
Crony-capitialism (wall street and investment banks have traditionally given far more money to Democrats, and still do)
enriches individuals while minimizing their taxes and co-opts what little integrity poltiicians have. The S&L and House
Banking Scandals (primarily Democrats) put a damper on the rates of economic growth when effective tax rates were cut and certain loopholes closed. TEFRA merely adjusted for the debt incurred by the S&L (Puny by today's standards)
bailout. Ironically, it set the stage for the current mortgage debacle when banks were enabled to get in the home lending business, abetted by FANNIE/FREDDIEs. New subsidies (ethanol) are enacted to buy the farm vote. We still live with subsidies that only made sense in WW II.
There is way more than enough blame to go around for the current situation. The hard work is in invoking the pain that will be required to fix it. Early treatment promises better results than treatment delayed. The consequences seem inversely proportional to the time you start treatment. Cut spending now, then revamp the tax code. Just think of the lawyers, accountants, politicians and non-productive workers you could cut from the payroll. Don't worry. They're smart people. They'll find jobs somewhere.
Republicans have always been the party of propaganda and lies. They bankroll disinformation so they can hold onto power. There have been many of the electorate that have been duped or tricked, but that is beginning to end. Reality is the statistical analysis of employment by party and president. Google it. The truth is right there – Democrat control always results in higher employment trends and lower debt. Republican control always results in lower overall employment and higher debt. It is fact. This has been the case since the early 30s. It is easy to say that repeating a plan that results in disaster while expecting a different result is just plain stupid.. But many seem to ignore this reality. If you want bad times vote for Republicans, if you want good times vote Democratic. This is the historical fact.
GaryB
Every budget Bush proposed was called draconian CUTS by the dems. Even his Medicare prescription bill was called not nearly enougn by the liberals in Congress. Both sides were guilty of over spending, hiding costs of wars etc. but PUULEEEASE, Dems tighter on the spending????? Even if you add the wars into Bush's deficits (adding about 1 billion per year) since the 2009 budget pased by the overwhelming Democrat congress, including the increases from the Stimulus, creating about 1.3 TRILLION in deficits they refused to pass new budgets. Instead, they reley on "Continuing resolutions" which keep the Base Line budget #'s produced in the 2009 bill, doubling and trippling the highest Bush deficits. Zakaria failed to mention THE HISTORIC TAKEOVER OF THE HOUSE IN 2010 BY THE REPUBLICANS. This will continue because the american public will reject the "Fundemental transformation" of the president and the liberal Dems.
Nov. 6 can't come fast enough.
The left-leaning bozos, like Bozobama, have made ANY spending by even halfway consevatives like GWB, look like pennies in comparison, since Bozobama's deficits DOUBLED the worst in GWB's years and are staying at TRILLION-plus levels to infinity. The far-leftists are NEVER going to cut spending, and we better vote them out in 2012, as we did in 2010, or we may never, in our lifetimes, get a hold on this runaway spending.
Governments didnt run out of money. Central banks did. They are PRIVATE banks and they were saved by the GOVERNMENT. So, yes, a move to the left would be logical. But people like "Craig" here dont like logic.
The left would spend less on military and more on social programs. And raise taxes... Don't worry RICH- after they have raised your taxes they will get the rest of us once that proves to not be enough money to pay the bills. What we need to do is simple – cut spending across the board and raise taxes on everybody. Do you think either party has the balls to do that? Just do it and get it over with... But with the increase in taxes and decreses in military and social serivices we need to demand a balanced budget admendment so neither party can spend us into this mess again!!!!!!!!!!! If we don't do that they will just spend all the new revenue on something else that buys votes. Sorry gang – but that is what both parties are really doing. The Dems spend on social services to buy the poor and lower middle class votes. The Reps spend on military and don't tax the rich as much to get their votes and the middle class. When the country is hurting there are more poor people so the Dems win. When the economy is growing or stable the Reps win. Wars create spending and jobs – just as much as any stimulus bill. Bottom line is it time to kick all of them out – we need an independent president who will do what is right for country over party!!!!!!!!!
Rmoney is only good at criticism and negativity without any practical solutions.
Fact is that Ann can never bridge the gap Rmoney has with women.
Rmoney himself has said he will scrap Planned Parenthood.
Rmoney openly supported the GOP sponsored Blunt amendment which is anti-contraceptive.
Rmoney also wants to abolish the Roe vs Wade abortion law.
Not to mention the repugnant anti-women laws sponsored by the GOP in several states.
What else is war on women or what was he thinking?
The issue is less Romney as a person than what it takes to be a republican candidate. Increasingly, that is defined by the obligation to adopt pathological behavior.
Cynicism of government keeps the American left weak. Added to that, the corruption created by the dire conditions of the recession, the weakness of humans... and their ignorance. They punished their own saviors... when's the last time they did that? /sarcasm. The wicked can vote along with the good... such a system will forever be imperfect.
Evangelical Christians and leftists both hate it when I point out their many similarities. But they are indeed very similar in their naive faith in "saviors".
75% tax on millionaires? Are you serious? That's outrageous. Now wonder Europe is devolving into a cesspool. How is getting rewarded for hard work greedy? Europe can go that route if they want to, but not here. This is America. Incentive drives innovation and hard work. Without incentive, there is nothing left to work for.
High tax rates on high end earners was a fact of life in this Country until the 60s. It is easy to forget why, and acting shocked does not explain ignorance. Armed conflict costs huge sums of money – it always has. Our tax rates after WWi and WWII reflected the fact that we had HUGE debts as a result of global conflict. These conflicts were not completely expected – and they were not planned by this Country. After WWII our conflicts have been chosen, Korea, Vietnam, and most recently Iraq and Afganistan. The most recent conflicts, while being the most costly to prosecute, were both DEFUNDED by the political party in charge. DEFUNDED means tax cuts and new giveaway programs (like Medicare part D). Someone has to pay for expenditures of conflict and global sabre rattling. WHO? We can tax people with lower incomes and drive them into poverty, or we can tax people with very high incomes and drive them into a comfortable existence. Get the idea here? The solution is do not throw money away by angering others and getting into armed conflicts. Now for a history lesson – research what political party got us into each conflict. You do not have to go way back, start with Vietnam – started in secret by Eisenhower and inherited by Kennedy. Do the research and figure this out for yourself. Fox News, by the way, admits to being a propaganda provider for Conservatives.
I agree with you dt about all of that. At this point Bush Tax cuts are like a drug. It is very needed to prevent from us going into another recession but seriously if we just not deregulated and kept Clinton's tax plan which would have left five trillion surplus by 2010. You can't really pin the Afghan War or the first Iraq War on any party. Many Republicans are war mongering draft evaders but even with that. Though we should have not gone into Iraq in 2003,which I attribute to happening due to the military-industrial complex that Eisenhower a REPUBLICAN warned us about. I wished we had those Republicans back. You know it is a bit ironic that the Republican party is conservative yet its roots were on freeing slaves, which was liberal then. Now we and the government are the corporations masters. Abraham Lincoln and Dwight D. Eisenhower would probably be ashamed of the party.
I agree with what you are saying – somebody has to pay for the wars. Instead we are just carrying the debt – and adding to it is just stupid. Obama should know better – but he doesn't want to be the one who raises taxes (ending the Bush tax cuts). Bush should have ended those in his last couple years in office – and maybe he planned to but the banks crashed so he had to keep them in place to avoid a depression. Whoever is elected next will have to raise taxes and cut the military and social services. Will it be popular? No – so don't expect Obama to do it except for taxing the rich who don't vote for the democrats anyway. We need an independent president to get the books sorted out. No president who puts party over country will do that – and Obama is not exception.
BTW – Obama's tax increase isn't just on the rich. no – no – no... What he wants to do is raise the tax rate on interest from savings and bonds, stock dividends and capital gains (buying and selling stocks, real estate, etc). Sure – mostly rich people do that but what about the elderly who live off stock dividends paid into IRAs and 401Ks? They will get impacted even if they make less than 5k a year off from those sources. This is why conservatives are against the tax increase – because they are afraid it will impact the markets which it will.....
Someone needs to explain how humans evolved without a government program to help them do it.
You're trying to equate genetic/developmental evolution with social evolution. The equivalency doesn't exist.
Their taxes are too low. Simple math.
France has a 35 hour work week and wants to tax 75% for over a million in earnings. France is going to follow Greece and Spain. No way that model works with globalization. No way possible. Why would anyone ever do business with them again when they can work with China and India and get the same quality products cheaper and faster. The reason Greece, Italy and Spain have all gone right is because going left has failed them. The right is trying to pull them out of the abyss the left put them in years ago. Sadly – there is no way out. What will happen over time is the rich countries will be China and India and once the balance has completely switched countries like Spain, France, Greece and Italy will be the cheap labor and only then will the jobs come back. That process could happen in as few as ten years....
My take on what's going on in France is more like: the French are sick and tired of their "Elite", left or right...Those guys are "monopolizing democracy" for the undue benefit of their sons and daughters.....Leaving the rest of the peasants with nowhere to go. Hollande is even more an archetype of this ENA-X hold-up!
The current problem with moving to the Left at this point is that there is no longer enough Other Peoples Money to support them. Hence the bankrupting of countries.
Tends to make wonder... Is the Left trying to bankrupt countries just to create crises they can take advantage of? After all, the Left never wants to let a crisis go to waste....
It was the Cloward Piven way. Wouldn't surprise me if in fact this was the reason, as if more countries collapse that have used capitalism, we then switch to globalism, which is what people on the left quietly champion.
It is the right that are bankrupting us by taking away revenue knowing full well we have unfunded liabilities. They made a decision to take a lower paying job when they had bills they couldn't pay with their current one. Shrinking the government is needed. Getting the bloat and waste and corruption out of government is needed. But you cannot just bankrupt our country due to an ideological theory. Our country is very fragile. Now is the time for reasonable solutions not radical.
The left and right love globalism. Why – i am not really sure – but both sides have always supported it. Perhaps they just recognize there is not other choice. Over time – like the next 100 years – we will see everything balance out so that there is no "third" or "first" worlds. Until that happens there will be wild swings – and that is what is happening now. We are seeing a major swing of wealth from the first world to the third world. The tough part is the middle class is the one paying for the swing since the rich have been able to find ways to make money off the swing. Jobs will always move to low-cost areas until they don't exist anymore. In 20 years the jobs will be moving back to the US and Europe since they will be low-cost...
Then why is it RED states suck up so much welfare? Got the answer? I'll bet you don't!
Hey, look at CA. The left has been running this state for the last couple of decades or more and what has happened? We have 13% of the population and 33% of welfare in the country. Look at LA, they should go bankrupt in a couple of years with the way they hand out money. Hell almost 50% of the people in this country pay no income tax at all. Here in CA 5% of the taxpayers (that just the people who pay taxes) pay close to 80% of the taxes. How in the heck are you going to tax them anymore. In CA we have close to the top tax rates in every category and we're still broke. I love the example of someone making 12 million dollars is only paying only 1% more as a tax rate then someone making 50,000. Everyone forgets the 12 million pays 1.2 million in taxes while the 9% pays 4500. It would take over 2500 tax payers making 50,000 to pay the same tax as that one person. Hell we have people getting money back who never paid any taxes at all. If that is wealth re-distribution I don't know what is.
Want to Know–
You forgot Illinois as well. That state is suffering too.
Want to Know ..
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Pete Wilson, and George Deukmejian – three out of the last five California governors were all Republicans.
Do you have any other lies that I can correct in front of everybody on here loudmouth?
GOPvsUSA. You act like a grade schooler with your, "I win, you lose, haha!" comments. Such maturity!
Can you tell me how Schwarzenneger got to become governor? Was it because Gray Davis was doing such a stellar job? Please tell me Davis lost with such a terrific approval rating? Also, Arnold is a RINO.
And you act like governors are Monarchs. That they pass legislation all on their own. Grow the hell up.
And if you can't grow up there's always video games you can play.
Oh, question for you. Why hasn't anyone been fired over "Fast & Furious"? Why hasn't anyone apologized to Agent Terry's family? Or the families of the Mexicans killed with guns allowed to "walk". And please, please, PLEASE mention Operation Wide Receiver. But before you do, do some research or else you will just look like a loser. Oh, wait.
You are a sad little liberal with a narrow minded view of the world. You are quite good at lying and sticking with your convictions, i will give you that.
The left grows more desperate every day closer to November. They write fantasy pieces like this, usually to try to intimidate condervatives and the majority of Americans they are in the minority, except conservatives outnumber libs 2 to 1. Its funny though because I think Fareed actually believes this is true.
Obama is a liberals dream come true. He got everything he could ask for, and it was a complete, utter, disaster. You are a clown because you dont understand what a suermajority is. Obama had it in both chambers. Republicans could not filibuster in the Senate from 08 to 10. Oh by the way the Senate hasnt passed a budget in over 1,000 days, thats is pathetic and actually against the law. Obama couldn't even get Obamacare passed with supermajorities, thats hows sad of a leader he is.
08 financial collapse? cause by no other than Chris Dodd and Barney Frank. Attacked banks to give out loans to unqualfied minorities based on phony charges of racism, a typical card played by the left. Then banks kept bundling faulty loans until it bottomed out. Yes, banks were at fault here, but they had their hands tied. I can admit banks were wrong and im a conservative, libs would never dare think they are wrong.
You are a little liberal pee brain, who probably only talks to other snot nosed libs judging everyone who doesnt think like them. You are probably, short, bald and lonely. I feel bad for you because liberals are never happy, and they can't stand when other people have success and a good time. Thats why they like to spread the misery, not the wealth. Goodbye, liberalism, it is about to die around the world. Sorry Fareed
I was talking to GOPvsUSA by the way. Well all liberals really
Henry .. you want to talk about creating crisis? Was Dubya a member of the Left or Right when he started two wars based on things he never found, wars that he never paid for and never put n the budget books?
And who gave successive budget-exploding tax breaks to the rich that never created the jobs it was supposed to? Left or Right?
And the conservatives who wrote the Gramm/Leach/Bliley bill that deregulated the financial industry and caused the meltdown of 2008 (that we're all still trying to get out of) .. were they members of the Left or Right?
And who's brilliant idea was the CFMA 2000? The Left or the Right?
I know you won't answer those questions ... none of you republicans EVER do. Because it would show what hypocritical fools you all are.
Hey, look at who started the You will give loans to people who historically (that's the poor) haven't been able to or we'll make life hell for your mortage company. I have friends who where at the table when Clintons minions made those statements. Look who covered up for the fannie and freddie when they were cooking the books to hide any problems until it was too late.
Hey dumb butt you do not know your history. You selective pick what you want to pick. The Democruts with their housing for everyone that made a decent $200 a month that bought a $350,000 home are the ones that created the mess we are in. Are you blind and stupid or just stupid???
Furthermore, your Democruts Senate, that do not know how to budget are a good example of the stupid and blind leading Obama by the bull nose to financial ruin.
You forgot something: Dick Cheney, when asked about the unprecedented deficits the W administration was creating, answered:
'Ronald Reagan proofed that deficits don't matter'.
This was the Republican mantra under W, while they were shoveling money out the window. Then the hypocrites turn around and blame O for deficit spending that was put in place under W
WantToKnow you can't back up those statements. No good reason to believe you.
See? Like I said ... I knew you repukes wouldn't answer those questions!
Translation: I win and you lose!
Keep on running from them and I'll keep laughin'.
Deal?
why are none of the conservatives even addressing the hundreds of billions of dollars spent on useless wars by W.? is the best response to that "BUT OBAMA SPENT MORE", even if that's true it has nothing to do with W.'s wasteful spending and his part in growing the government, what obama is doing would not even be possible without W. who expanded the powers of the president greatly, in all honesty obama is spending a lot because he's continuing a lot of the Bush policies
i will laugh my way to the ballot box and vote Obama out. Watch the biggest landslide for conservatives we have ever seen in November. Even bigger than the 2010 elections the state run media never tells you about.
Those wars were approved by both democrats and republicans. I don't even know what the other crap I you are talking Bout. Liberal talking points I'm sure. Get a job loser and quit whining about what others have. There's your answer pee brain
H57 what are you on?
Bush deregulated banks so much that anyone could get a mortgage by just having a picture of them next to their house as "proof" of their ability to pay for the house. That way the banks could make more money though we all know how that turned out.
More of the same lying rhetoric. The rightwing are the idiot spenders, bub. Tax cuts and then two wars and a wall street bailout is HARDLY a "leftist" caused policy. I mean you guys must have koolaid gills by now.
Nah they are looking to redeem their KoolAid points. Every time they suck up they get a pat on the back from the big whigs. They boast about their "escapades" in public to look good to their bosses, get buddy buddy. Come promotion time, they are movin' on up, in more ways than one!
Man, the showdown is coming isn't it? The left fully mobilized; the right fully mobilized. Everyone ready to go to incredible lengths to defend their version of "freedom." It's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard rain that's gonna fall.
there isnt a like button so im postin a thumbs up for dylan
Gotta love Bob Dylan
That's why I don't interest myself in politics unless I'm getting sent to Iran. Just joined the military, and if worst comes to worst, well I won't be remembered.
liberals envy of success is really sad. Shut your mouth, work hard, an grind your way up. And get govt the hell out of the way!!
Also don't forget, liberalism is a mental illness. Just because most of the media, new york types you hang around with are affected by this affliction, doesn't mean the majority of the country is. We are still conservative, and come 2012 we will prove it.
Melkor, creator of Man and giver of Freedom, doth approve! Pray to his priest, Sauron the Great!
Good luck with that.
The prime financial philosophy of conservatives since 1980 has been a belief that if you lower government income (ie taxes), the resulting boost in economic activity will increase revenues, reducing the national debt. In practice, however, this has actually never worked. Since the time of Reagan forward, the national debt has increased tremendously all while taxes have gone down. This economic philosophy has been disproved time and time again, yet conservatives still cling to it. I would submit that belieing in a failed idea long after all objective evidence has proved it wrong is a critical indicator of mental illness. Liberals may have their own problems, but conservativism seems like a much closer definition of mental illness.
You need to look at the growth of GDP after tax cuts are implemented. After Kennedy, Reagan, Clinton, W., the GDP took off after tax cuts were implemented. The left always wants to pretend GDP growth does not matter. Debt only matters in relation to GDP. it's like an individual with $10,000. in debt. If you make $30,000. a year it's a problem. if you make $100,000. a year, not so much. GDP growth under W.: from 9 to 14 trillion. Under Carter? Under Obama?
Craig, look at US national debt as a percentage of GDP. It decreased steadily after WW II until Regan took office. More than doubled under Regan and Bush, declined under Clinton, and then increased again under Bush II. It has continued to increase under Obama because we have been in the worst recession in 80 years. Government revenue is the lowest it has been since WW II. It has been at 14% of GDP instead of the historical 18%.
revenues increased in each example. What has never changed is the increased spending. When they all stop spending increases couple with lower taxes you will finally see success.
Reagan started with his trickle down crap. under him the debt climbed. george h.w. bush said read my lips no new taxes. but he had to back down and raise taxes or start another depression. that teed off the republican base. then under clinton with a republican house and senate working with him he came off with a surplus and then came george W. under him we had more goverment. less freedom. he also ignored what clinton told him about osama bin laden and his intention to strike america. bush wrote that off. after 911 he started two unfunded wars while cutting taxes for millionaires. plus giving himself a raise. there are still questions what cheney was doing on 911. and under bush he tripled the debt. BUT YOU WILL NEVER GET A REPUBLICAN TO LIVE UP TO THAT FACT. all they do is twist the truth and lie and call it Obamas fault.
Craig .. go back to the Faux boards ... you're getting completely DESTROYED on here .. talking point by talking point.
Repeating the same misinformation doesn't make it true.
you gotta be kidding me, you really believe that debt to income ratio matters when you are talking about a un-balanced budget? 2 wars were not payed for and not put in the books, that's a debt that you had no income to account for. It's a loan that we have no way of paying off without raising taxes. it's just the way it is; we had a balanced budget, Bush had 2 wars and enlarged the federal govt, took away freedoms in the name of fear. Don't give me this republicans are here to give me back my freedoms and lower my taxes. they aren't going to do either and everyone should know it by now.
If the presidential election were held today current president Obama would simply crush Romney, and do even worse to the others in the Republican primaries. However, whether or not he would have "Coat Tales" to change congress is a toss up at this time. And it is indeed far too early to even tell just what is going to happen in November. So, might I presume to ask both the conservatives and liberals on these message boards to put away their crystal balls for now?
By the way, I am a member of that endangered species of moderate independents that generally lean in neither the conservative nor liberal direction in my politics. So, I m in a relatively good position to at least somewhat make the kind of assertions that I made in the previous paragraph!!
which means you believe in nothing and are subject to the whims of what other people tell you. If you believe in nothing you will fall for anything.
Look at the latest polls and tell me how you define "crush".
Ignored Frodo. I see through the ruse: your're a conservative in the John McCain mode.
I think there is an excellent chance turnout for Obama will sweep both the House and Senate. The GOP unfavorable ratings will just get worse as the election wheel goes around and Obama heats up.
@Claude Slagenhop...LOL!!! The "CONS" will be defeated in 2012!!! We liberals & independents will outnumber you! ~OBAMA/BIDEN 2012!!!
You're pitiful, hanging on to a backward, worn out, exposed-for-being-a-lie philosophy that does nothing but cause utter misery for everyone it touches. Cut everything that helps actual human beings in a society while simultaneously filling the prisons with the poor and murdering innocent children and old ladies all over the planet. Oh, and handing a bunch of money to the wealthiest minority. It's gonna be a real shocker for you when ol' Obama wins again, isn't it? I can't wait to watch you all cry about it.
Project much?
I am familiar with this point of view. Look. Look at what is happening in (you fill in), therefore it will happen in USA. This country is not like any other. Doesn't matter what the rest of the world is doing. Sure, sure it gives people like Fareed the false hope that there will be some sort of spill over. Delusional thinking and false reporting. Not based in reality.
Actually I think Fareed is rooting for the Rethugs.
The only thing that keeps the teeth of the poor from the throats of the rich is middle class. Keep killing it instead of building and supporting it and the avalanche will bury you, my dear rich. It's great to be rich, that's what America is all about but it's not just you, it's your country and your countrymen who can take only so much of disrespect, robbery and mockery. You who have the power have the responsibility. Become citizens first, and go take a refresh history class on great empires that perished together with their oligarkhs because of the greed. It's only a few bucks in a good community college.
Interesting theory.....but what does it mean? It's better for everyone to be poor? In the end, someone, usually the dictator in charge and his/her people, end up being the wealthy elites. It's just a reshuffling of power and cash. Often, the original poor are still poor in the end, i.e.CHINA. It's like saying that since you were born with only one leg, not only should track and field events be banned because they make you feel bad, but everyone should also lose a leg in solidarity. Pleasant thought.
He did not state that. It was a statement revolving around responsibility and accountability.
The only thing keeping teeth of the poor from the upper class... is Obama. Warren Buffet said as much. The GOP dislikes Obama but he is the only thing standing between left-wing activists and Mitch McConnell's Old Kentucky Home.
True true! And also the social safety net that the imbecile conservatives want to destroy. As someone who thinks that the poor SHOULD revolt, I certainly hope they do get rid of food stamps and unemployment extensions. Then the results of their idiotic philosophy will become totally clear as they are forced to flee the violence in the cities. Idiots.
As proof I point to Claude Stanenhop.
The return of the left in Europe? What will they spend? There isn't much left.
Unless the economy improves drastically there soon, they won't spend. They will shoot.
Left-Right-Left: this pendulum is getting wider and wider and getting people nowhere. The world economy will heal and justice will prevail with level-headed Independents take over. But that isn't happening anytime soon if ever.
Fareed is looking pretty pretty accurate in his assessment.
And of course, the 1 st clue to the failure is when the global economic problems redirect into the politics of divide and conquer of the opposition.................and we all know who leads the opposition?
It's that little annoying voice in the corner of the room.
Those people who've developed a reputation for being both correct when it comes to managing money,
and who consistently serve the truth, are routinely selected to be taken as scape goats.
The media heralds a former Nazi, now a promoted poet, is given tribute in the media at his bias against Israel
That's how you can tell where this trend is headed.......global liberalism.........
The Nazi's were actually liberals in their policies.....google it!!
You'll be shock3d to see how very similar they were.
You almost had me there for a second.
Almost.
It's about time! Electing the people who are responsible for making this mess to fix it is just nuts. At least we had two years of sanity here, look at any chart of the jobs, GDP, stock, etc. and you can see the left wing liberal Keynesian economic solution worked. Austerity just compounds the problem and continues the downward spiral.
When has Europe been conservative? Most of Europe has become liberal socialists that spend, spend, spend and then wonder where all their money has gone. Everyone wants to live off of someone elses money until they all realize that there is no money left to live off of because everyone is expecting a handout. Socialism creates a society where everyone expects to be taken care of and no one is capable of taking care of themselves. The US is, or was, conservative in the sense that we knew how to take care of ourselves, but that has been slowly changing into a country relying on handouts.
You're wrong.
The US is changing into a plutocracy....if it hasn't already.
If you want to say Plutocracy to equate to the massive and growing, getting out of control Federal Government then ok the US is turning into a plutocracy.
If you want to say plutocracy means something else, and that is the US, well you would be wrong.
Keynesian has and will continue to be used by both parties. What we need to promote is moderate policies.
Welcome to end-stage capitalism. Austerity measures will kill off all demand and the middle class will be destroyed once and for all. And you know what? They deserve it for being so complacent.
"Here in America, the Tea Party was born"
...out of the election of Barack Obama.
They ripped off the libertarian platform, and then added their social conservative spin on it.
I think they ripped off the KKK and put their own spin on it. Ever wonder what happened to the KKK? Yeah, they are now called Tea Baggers!
Ah so the Tea Party actually ripped off the Democrats, given that is where the KKK came from.
Yes the tea party was born. it was a bunch of uneducated people believing the lies of rush limbaugh , grover norquest ann coulter ,glenn beck and dick armey. i feel sorry for them living off lies. when their ever so needed social sercuity check stops coming in the mail, when medicare is abolished by the far right wing republicans just maybe they will wake up to the truth and it will be too late to ask what happened.
Amen
Sounds like the Occupy people.
They were born via the media. And especially CNN.
Actually, I believe the polls suggest that Tea Party members are on average a little higher educated than the rest of the population. How this squares with their behavior and professed outlook on politics is beyond me.
The governments will flop back and forth because the people are looking for an answer that can not come from either side. The workers in developed countries have hit a wall. The economy has hit a peak. To grow the economy, a new way to generate income is needed like the Universal Annuity System.
LOL 100% tax rate?? So nobody would earn income above that amount and thus no income at that level to tax, resulting in no revenues. Liberal ideology in a nutshell.
An incompetent contractor botches the renovation of your house so you hire a new contractor. So you tell the new contractor to fix your house up quickly or else you will fire him and rehire the original crew. Make sense? Obama has the country on the right track after the Republican debacle of 2000-2008. It is unfortunate that he does not have a magic wand that he can wave to instantly make everything better. On the other hand, I'm sure Romney will at some point tell you he does have one and that $2/gal gasoline is right around the corner (the sad part is that many of you will believe him).
That is a great analogy to what is happening. Obama probably would have made the economy better if it wasn't for Republicans vowing to make him a one term president and wanting him to fail.
What is true of radical politics is of religious mysticism: seeking what is not earned by referencing what is not real. Both versions of the something-for-nothing scam produce a new regime of unproductive parasites.
We remember that not only was Fannie/Freddie pushing subprime loans, but large banks could face legal troubles for not embracing them (otherwise they were discriminating, as most subprimes involve minorities). And now it's coming acound again, banks being told to loosen their credit standars . . . the "greedy bankers" narrative does not hold.
Actually, Fannie and Freddie got into the subprime game quite late but keep pushing your Fox talking points.
The problem with the whole sub prime loan industry is that everyone was too greedy. Yes mortage companies had to qualify people for loans no where was it written they had to qualify a family for a $350,000 home. They could have easily put them in a $120,000 home with a mortage payment they could afford, but banks/mortgage companies downplayed APRs. Since rates were low and no one saw the bubble burst coming, it was easy to tell a family don't worry, the rates won't jump before you sell this house and move into something bigger. Stay in this house a few years, and then dump it for a larger home. As I said, it was greed by all- the buyer- mortage/bank employees (how many bonuses were handed out for loans being processed) and the key word derivitives.
Zakaria's assumption in this piece's 1st paragraph is incorrect. The conservative lean is the logical result - and is exactly what has happened.
except the conservative lean caused the financial downfall and now we are leaning back to it o make it worse
"Instead, we saw a shift towards the political right in much of the industrialized world. Here in America, the Tea Party was born, pulling conservatives further towards the right."
Something I think you may have forgotten to mention Fareed – Since this so-called "surge" of the right they have not been shy about demonstrating just how badly they govern and if nothing else, people are beginning to see that conservatives in power is not a good thing for this country.
I have had a very consertive republican tell me that what the republican party wants is total control. they want the presidency with a republican house and senate with all 50 states with republican governers. and that with republicans the party comes first before anything else. what they want is a dictatorship. just look at texas the republicans have jerry rigged the voting districts so that no democrat can win a state wide election.
actually, both parties re-draw districts to their advantage when they can. Both parties would also like to have complete control of government so your post is ignorant.
Fareed Zakaria's entire analysis is wrong and misguided. In today's world, the constant labeling of people and ideas as left or right is stupid and outdated. When journalist like Fareed mischaracterize people and events as such, he does a disservice to the public. What is needed is fewer media elitists like Fareed and more responsible and intelligent journalists. Once that happens, politicians will be called to task based on an honest assessment of their statements, ideas, and integrity rather than on their images as spun by themselves as well as journalists.
The truth is a lot of european governments began limiting the role of government and moving toward "free-market" ideas and principles in the 1990s. Remember British Labour Leader Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac, Silvio Burlusconi, and Georgios Papandreou who was born in the US and attended Amherst College and the London School of Economics. Spain's Jose Maria Aznar and his Popular Party and Ireland's Fianna Fail party. The reality is up until the recent financial crisis in the United States Europe was trending toward a US style economic system regardless of what label you put on the politician or government leading the charge. That trend may be reversing, but it is probably headed toward a new economic system based on today's and future economic and social realities rather than toward old, outdated, political or journalistic labels.
Wow, I have to say Starren, I am quite impressed by the level of intelligence of your comment. Now if only other people followed suite, we could have an intelligent conversation on this board.
By the way, I agree with what you stated!
i have to be honest and say, i am on the right wing, but i agree with your analysis 100 %
Why can't we have a moderate movement??? It seems like common sense and pragmatism is politically dead.
Once again, FZ is over-reaching beyond his level of expertise and knowledge. CNN is wrong to exploit him. CNN allows FZ to comment on anything and everything, of which he is not knowledgeable enough to do so. It reflects badly on CNN and its brand name.
Fareed Zakaria's error is that he immediately jumps to the conclusion that the market is at fault. Fred & Fannie where directed by the government to give loan to people who could not pay them back; hence by default the government should assume the risk. Social justice comes at a price – deforming the natural process of the free market by creating economic bubbles that always eventually pop. So we think your policies are at complete fault for the trigger of the whole crisis.
Republican talking points, you gotta love 'em.
Isn't it high time to just OUTLAW the GOP....Disband it, Abolish it.
They are just a bunch of circus clowns anyway, anymore.
Amen brother amen.
So true
Great idea. Cause outlawing political parties worked so well in Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. What a doosh
laughable...the GOP kicked butt in 2010 and this country will always be center-right. The left, their lazy uneducated base and the wimp lib media/hollywood are such fools. Go ahead and keep Nobama in there...can you say lame duck...
"The Socialist Francois Hollande is proposing a 75% tax rate on people earning more than a million Euros. He's now been upstaged by the more fiery Jean-Luc Mélenchon. The Left Front candidate has been holding huge meetings across the country, telling seas of flag-waving followers that he would impose a 100% tax rate on all earnings above half a million dollars."
If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
I can only conclude that the Left consists chiefly of idiots.
No sir you are half right. The extreme left wing and the extreme right wing are all idiots. In american history, extremes were never meant to be, they destroy. Capitalism is not about greed being good but reasonable greed with foresight being good. One reason for 2008 recession happening was because of banks being not regulated and then giving loans to people who could never pay them resulting in the government having to come in to save them. The government is going to be in it some way, but it is better to have in a positive way
A 100% tax rate = a government slave. At this rate, people are going to start shooting bureaucrats, revenuers, and politicians. Left and right don't matter without a return to REALITY !!
This is why it's dangerous to say "millionares can afford to pay more" because they can ALWAYS afford to pay more... but if each increase becomes a social norm, and the argument continues to get made, eventually you will end up with >75% tax rates for the most successful and entreperneurial individuals in the state (not every rich person is entreperneurial, but all successful entrepeneurs are rich).
President Barack Obama rests his plans for wiping away the federal budget deficit on raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans. Technically, that's possible. The top 1 percent of earners brings in a combined $1.3 trillion in annual income. A 100 percent tax rate on those privileged few would generate almost precisely enough new revenue to cover Obama's budget deficit. Of course, that's only if they're willing to keep working despite having to cough up their entire incomes to the government. And it leaves nothing for them to pay their state and local tax bills, or to pick up the tab for Obamacare. Obama isn't proposing anywhere near a 100 percent top rate. He wants millionaires and billionaires – including his presumed Republican rival Mitt Romney — to pay at least 30 percent.
I did not make this statement.
A certain a ss wipe keeps harassing me by trying to be me and posting crap statements.
What's the matter, envious??
Just another ill informed bias, and illiterate article from Fareed!
If you talk about the French election do not forget the notice the big migration of the rich people to better tax environment. Soon the cow will have no more milk, and that can be the same here in the US. China is recruiting our top management and moving them to Honk Kong (no income taxes),
Fiscal conservatism would gain so much more traction if it did not couple itself to social conservatism. Coupling balanced budgets with anti-abortion and anti-gay and anti-science only serves to push away people that would vote to cut spending.
I fully agree.
Absolutely! This is proof of the dysfunction of the GOP. Instead of wooing moderates and centrists who would support the fiscal conservative ideas, they are obsessed about their "base" of social conservative folks (who are probably fans of big government and spending anyway). Build yourself a new base! I bet you Dem's will be as retarded by pandering to Occupy folks – rebels without a cause.
Once a hater always a hater. GOP = hater!
The real future movement, the long term trend, is libertarianism rather than movement to the left and definitely away from the corporatist right. This is the power of the individual to take their own responsibility in light of incompetent government in bed with big business. The trends are towards more social liberalism and tolerance and meritocracy rather than the left's insistence on equality of wealth distribution independent of competence or effort as being the definition of fairness. I think if Obama wins re-election, the libertarian wing of the Republican Party (Rand Paul or Gary Johnson) will be strong in the 2016 primary. There are less radical solutions (share holder say over pay) to regulate corporate excesses than those from the left. Environmental issues and consumer protection issues are really the only areas where the left has much long term traction rather than the core mantra of income equality (vs. meritocracy).
And what's wrong with meritocracy? Try explaining that to someone who's constantly worried that the American poor will get crushed if we don't put the social welfare pacifiers in their mouths.
What a bunch of bunk. In the 2008 election, McCain and Mitt were both classed as left-wingers. It was Huckabee who was considered the conservative contender. Zakria's entire outlooks is established on false foundations.
The teabaggers were born out of racial hatred. As soon as a white president gets back in office they will crawl back under the rocks of ignorance they came from.
those tea baggers have no flavor
Please respond with any kind of proof what so ever that the tea party is racist. Thank you.
Just look at any photo of one of their rallies – see any brown faces?
Things will get better when we rid the White House of the worst president ever elected. Obama must go before anyone will have enough confidence to re-invest again. Obama is 1 and done!
spot on buddy!!
@Logan...I totally agree with you...Obama is #1...and he will cook Romney this election until he is "done" WOW, thanks for that analogy Logan! It is soooo true!! ~OBAMA/BIDEN 2012!!!
@Logan....I totally agree! Pres. Obama is #1....and he will cook Romney until he is "done!" WOW, thanks for your analogy...its soooo true! ~OBAMA/BIDEN 2012!!!
Obama speaks for the middle class and there are a whole lot more of us tha you buddy. Get it? The GOP is DOA!
Zakaria is best described by the italian term 'viscido'
It's was the left ridiculous policies that have lead to the implosion of Europe. Yeah I'm sure they are going to take over.
It is unbelievable that you think big tax rates are good for this country...
I have only been reading your blogs/etc. because I just want to see how far left/radical/socialist you can get...
This post confirms you as totally in the Obama camp and I simply can't believe anybody watches you on TV...
I think you should just be honest and join the Obama campaign...I fell sorry for you and people like you that
are harming this country...this country was not born free with handouts and 100% tax rates...freedom and liberty...
which you do not regard created this country....
No further comment.
I don't know where you got the idea that we didn't have a very progressive tax rate with high top tier rates ever in our history, but you are simply wrong. In fact I would say it's very American to tax the top 5% 75% or higher. Furthermore we currently have the lowest tax rates in our history short of right after the revolution. Nobody likes to pay taxes but it is a necessity to keep America great. Stop your complaining and step up as an American. Don't believe me? Look it up.
The reason for taxing the wealthy more is not that anyone is jealous. It is because they have the most interest, power, investment, and most to lose if this country goes to hell in a hand basket. I would argue that they have a much larger vested interest in keep stability in the country than a welfare mom and therefore should pay for it. French Revolution anyone?
Zakaria was interesting eight years ago. He came out with his political direction when he accused Bush of losing "too many soldiers" in the Iraq war. It was like accusing Eisenhower of losing too many (or too few?) in Europe. He has an axe to grind and he dresses it up.
He was great when he was younger and didn't speak to electoral results. Just objectives and strategies.
If the Left does come back, this current financial crisis will look like the younger brother of the one to come.
There will be real social unrest, not the silly Occupy stuff.
You guys have to get out of the bubble look at your history. Are problems were bread in the right.
The right causes fright
its time to say good night
If were looking for the best
its time to lean left
OCCUPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Worldwide General strike
When the "rich" are taxed to death then who will support the "spread the wealth" zombies?
Agree.
the rich wont be taxed to death. But they can afford to pay alot more in taxes and not hurt their precisous "life styles".
I don't know which is more scary, this article or the comments. Anybody know what happened in the former Soviet Union? Communist China? How about Venezuela? Look at Greece or Italy? Margaret Thatcher said, "The problem with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." That's true. It is what is happening in Europe and what will soon be happening in the US. Come on people...get off the couch, pull up your socks and get a job. Supporting your self feels a lot better that taking a handout. And stop complaining, its pitiful.
Kinda hard to get a job when they moved them all to china and import illegal labor from south of the border to work for cheap.
Easy...you are competing in a global work environment. If someone will do the same job for less money they they deserve the job. So, either work for less money or retrain to learn new skills for a new job. Again, get off the couch and go get something for yourself. As for illegal worker from south of the boarder...how about enforce our immigration laws, lock up the boarders and maybe build a fence.
The banking con job started in this country and had tentacles across the world including Greece.... We are to blame for letting Republicans deregulate Wall Street and for letting Cheney convince us deficits don't matter. I remember arguing with a Republican and he told me Cheney understands economics better than I do.....But now Republicans pretend they are deficit hawks...too funny
What a great idea!!! Please can I quit my job and sit on my butt and be given some free money???? I think we should all hope that this brilliant economic plan comes to be!!! Let's all quit our jobs and wait for the politicians to give us something for nothing at the expense of those evil rich people!!! Why hasn't anyone ever thought of this idea before??? Wait!!! That's right the world did try this with the former Soviet Union and their allies. Boy, that worked well. What a joke!!!
If the rich keep outsourcing our jobs it makes sense to sit on a couch and figure out what to do next....Yes and if the Government allows this destruction of jobs they need to help the unemployed.....It's the least our sold out leaders can do...
If you want a job:
1. Get an education
2. Create one for yourself.
The government is not an employment agency.
Fareed, I don't know why I read your crap. The financial meltdown was caused by the government forcing banks to give up their lending criteria and give everyone a mortgage. It was the liberals in congress that pushed that, Barney Frank.
You'd love America to end up like Europe, broke, in debt, a nanny state and soon to be overrun by muslims.
Actually it didn't happen that way but you obviously don't read and just believe the nonsense from Fox....Look up who deregulated and supported deregulating wall street.... Read man
Barny Frank DID push an open lending policy that forced banks who were allowed to transact with the Fed to loosen their policy an allow low income folks to purchase homes. Great idea when it was originally proposed and implemented as the banks could absorb the increased default rate. Unfortunately, as with ALL Gov't programs, it was overexpanded and sensing an easy mark, EVERYONE jumped in (well, almost everyone). I am NOT apologizing for the banks, but they were pushed and we the people now suffer for it.
Say what you want, but I firmly believe the genesis of this entire debacle rests solely on Barny Franks shoulders.
Well one thing is for sure, nothing will get better until people start to realize that the president is irrelevant so are all the nutjobs sitting in congress. Its the private central banks that own this and other countries. Until we cut the heads off that hydra this game will go on and on. Both parties have been tag team screwing us for decades. If the candidate isn't talking about doing something about the fed then they aren't really interested in changing much.
Yup, you got it. Left v right is like watching professional wrestling and believing it is real.
Left? left right left right left right left right left right left
centralize, decentralize, centralize, decentralize...
Euro trash hippies
Lets dock like real bros who get hard for that sent.
Does CNN really think they're going to improve their ratings by having a Euro sympathizing Muslim on the air? Apparently that isn't working, because CNN ratings are lower than ever. What a joke. Like the europukes, you people just don't get it. Over spending is never going to solve financial problems. Socialism failed. The USSR proved it. Europe proved it. Obama is proving it.
I'm sorry, but this post is disgusting. A Muslim sympathizer? What is that? Are there Christian sympathizers? And who are they? Also, since the mid-1990s, Europe's been working neoliberal policies, deregulating markets and such. In fact, this happened outside of Europe as well, at first in Latin America. Everywhere these policies are implemented they cause widespread social unrest and massive impoverishment. Western Europe was never socialist, despite what you may think. I suggest you pick up a history book or two and start reading, because it's clear you have no grasp on what has happened in the last 20 years.
In addition, the version of centrally-planned state socialism in the USSR is something completely different from what Social Democrats in Western Europe have practiced. In the latter case, they don't get rid of markets entirely, they simply use the state to offset market deficiencies. These policies worked for a LONG time, especially in Northern Europe. However, even they abandoned them in the early 1990s in favor of neoliberalism. Again, history books – desperately need them.
Mr. FZ, I agree with your theory. "My own theory is that in the crisis the state had to jump in dramatically to stop a depression, but those actions – taking over banks and car companies, guaranteeing debts and mortgages – scared the hell out of people on the right, who saw it as the beginning of a new socialism."
This is so true. I am of the opinion that people on the right belong to religious places and not public offices at all. Those people from right, who are in the public offices, are hypocrites.
Maybe that is because most people know that CONGRESS spends money and 37 of the the last 50 years were controlled by DEMS. Also it was the DEMS in control of congress since 2007 and they refused to regulate the housing industry especially Fannie Mae and Freddie Mack and the DEMS caused the financial meltdown. Now all the SOCIAL spending and Military Spending is totally out of control. Again mostly due to DEMS and Liberals trying to fix every problem in the world fro every American.
It's Saarland, not Saarsland.
Right wing booty hole fisting nut jobs punting homeless people out of airplanes, ya know!?
I don't know that that means. Why would homeless people be on an airplane? How does the homeless afford the ticket?
"Instead, we saw a shift towards the political right in much of the industrialized world. ".............................................That's what happened in Germany in 1933. The right always has these well financed rabble rousers like Adolph Hitler and Rush LImbaugh. This has to play itself out and it's not a pretty picture since the right is always looking for a scape goat – usually along racial and or ethnic lines.
The right is always looking for a scape goat? Obamma has been blaming Bush for three and half years.
All registered Republicans should be shot, starting with anyone who has ever declared sympathy for the teabaggers, for treason. Reagan's corpse should be dug up and burned on pay-per-view. W and Cheney should be tried for crimes against humanity. Maybe this will enable the US to get a little respect back in the eyes of the world.
A bullet between your eyes would be a step in the right direction.
I agree. Trickle down has been a desaster. R ich people make themselves rich first. The care nothing for the country or making it better.
The biggest myth the right wing politicians have ever perpetrated on their voter base is that they are frugal and fiscally responsible individuals. That couldn't be further from the truth. When it comes to waste, pork barrel programs or economic policies which leads to financial stresses there is very little if any difference between the right or the left. Not just in the US but most nations on Earth YET it is such a shamed that most right leaning voters are lead to believe that the left spends like a drunken sailor while the right will lead the country into economic heaven with responsible fiscal governance and frugality..
Neither the right nor the left is the answer here. They both have good ideas and bad ideas. The only way to get anything done in this country is to stop catering to the extremists on both sides and come up with some actual bi-partisan solutions to the problems we face. Having each party simply undo the actions of the other upon election gets us nowhere. As for all you people saying everything is Bush's fault, grow up. Of course he deserves a lot of the blame, but Obama should have been able to do more for the economy than he has so far. The fact is that Obama is a great speaker and a brilliant man, but he was not experienced enough to be an effective president.
"GPS" eh? That is pretty much a made up term then? I gotta think up some BS TLAs and join the cool people...
Most left wingers I know are idiots.
The smart ones don't want to know YOU! Ever think of that?? DUH!!
I know a right winger today that told me she is going to raise rabbits and buy a gun for the coming revolution. What a wingnut.
Interesting topic and I am always leery of any Liberal patterings of those who live the good life within the artifical. A grouping that have lived and still do from a very short period of time 40 years of unbridled spending and at the same time also the growth of a middle class that in the greater part workad less hard than any previous generations.
What country does a Zakaria come from? I'm thinking somewhere in the left-most hemisphere but I'm willing to be an open-minded liberal and consider other planets as well (on the left side of the galaxy of course). In any case, I wish this alien well as he tries his best to figure out life in America.
What drivel. Left vs. right went out with the last century. Most real thinkers today know that the left v right paradigm is contrived theatre to move western societies into a new epoch of neo feudalism. It's no more than a global banker takeover. You fools are standing in a circular firing squad.
There is some trouth to what you say.
Hard to place euro economic structures, for before Common Market there was more stabilty than today and the US form of socialism began in the 60s are far different. As a nation US 40 per cent of lts populations stopped actively participating in any economic growth in 1973 and every program to alleveate their plight made their standard of living decline even more as the wealth of the middie class became wealthier.
When people and governments borrow it means your forking over future earnings. Stop complaining and pay up. The money you make in the future isn't yours get over it.
Neither is the money that rich people make inflating and manipulating markets to make money they never work for.
and the pendulum swings once again.
Global left wing comeback, global economy going down. Do I see a correlation?
What you see is the top 1% taking too much wealth and power. If you think the 99% are just going to sit and watch it happen, think again.
I think you're right, they would rather protest against people who create jobs rather than working making themselves top 1%.
The US is now like France just before they cut the heads off the rich. There will be a revolution in this country as haves vs the have nots. The great thing is that the 1% can't wag the the dog anymore. The right and the GOP want to create devides and destroy the middle class. Destroy the middle class and you destroy America. Things must swing back to the left to equalize wealth or you will have riots in the streets like the 1960's. The sad thing is that the right wold destroy America if they can't have it their way. Power to the people and power to the middle class.
your laughable...I'm on the right and I say bring it on!!
Point 1: Riots in the streets were mainly by leftist hippies who disagreed with the Vietnam War and African Americans seeking civil rights, which some groups infiltrated by KGB agents allied themselves with socialist and communist ideals.
Point 2: Hippie liberals don't have guns, "crazy right wing nutjobs" have guns. Come try to take my wealth, I dare you.
Point 3: The "populist" movement of the French Revolution lead directly to the Great Terrors, where the streets literally ran red with blood of overpowered leftist idealists guillotining everyone who publicly disagreed with them. So, I'd rather deal with our current crappy system, thank you very much.
It's debt, not leverage. If we'd quit using these euphemisms, half these problems wouldn't ever crop up.
The GOP is just a group of fringe reactionaries that have no hope of winning. Romney is a joke. Women will not vote against Roe vs Wade. Women will not go back to being second class citizens.
Thats what the British said also, around 1776.
Hispanics and gays and blacks will not vote for Romney.
That's as bigoted as saying white Christian men won't vote for Obama. And, Gays, Blacks and Latinos are individuals who deserve to be treated as such, not "voting blocks" like the Dems have been treating them for years.
The republicans will use corporate America to raise gas prices and then try to blame it on Obama. It's so obvious. We the middle class are not buying into that trick which is right out of the Carl Rove playbook.
Obama all the way in 2012!
The left is seeing a comeback because they are better. They only thing the right can run is their mouth.
That must be why Obama's going out of his way to compare himself to Reagan at every turn! Cause he was such a horrible president!
He was. He had one of the most crooked administrations ever seen. 150 of his cronies were indicted for corruption. His corpse should be dug up and burnt on Pay-Per-View, with all funds going to pay down the out-of-control deficit that started under his administration.
Oh please. Obama made a comment about Reagan supporting higher taxes on the rich (which he DID, imbecile), and now suddenly he's "comparing himself to Reagan at every turn?" Maybe he's trying to help moron conservatives actually THINK and realize that their biggest hero wouldn't even support the stupid policies that they are pushing today.
I love listening to over-paid, upper-class leftists talk about how much damage the right is doing. Pandering to the lazy and shiftless is a time honored lefty tradition. But trust, they only pretend to really care about common folks. Let's not forget that the Nazis were a socialist organization. The left would have us rip apart the rich, only to replace them with their own absolutist official(s). It's been done before. France 1791, Russia 1917, Germany 1933 and Cuba 1959.
"Panderingto the lazy and shiftless"?Only a moron or a liar could say that and vote for a guy who keeps his money in a country with socialized healthcare.I think something is rotten in Mittzville.
Too much money in the hands of a few is what ruined past civilizations.The greed of tbe wealthy gets out of hand and they start corrupting officials.Trickle down doesn't work.The rich and the poor lose in the end.
Trickle Down actually worked quite well. Under Reagan, yes, the wealthiest got richer, but the poorer got richer as well. If all you do is focus on percentages of wealth instead of individual wealth, YOU are greedy. I could care less how much money Bill Gates makes this year. I only care that I can personally make more money than I did last year.
The average American worker has not seen a real inflation-adjusted rise in income for about FORTY YEARS. So by your own assessment, no, "trickle down economics" does NOT work.
Hey Joe, step away from your bong for a few minutes and look at reality. Trickle down by any measurment has never ever worked. Ther rich do NOT create jobs, they make themselvs richer by any means possible. Shipping an American job overseas for an extra 10 cents per unit of profit is treason and those that do it should be shot in the head and left for dead.
Hairy is right. Gas prices are inflated in the hope Obama loses.The corporations sre worried they might lose their rip-off loopholes. Greed is taking over the right wing of America.Throw the bums out.Obama 2012!
The only pandering to the lazy and shiftless is the wealthy giving hand outs to their worthless brats so they can have a reality show and a yacht like daddys and maybe run for president so they can help their rich spoiled crooked friends.
You DO realize that over 80% of millionaires and 90% of billionaires are self-made, right? For every Paris Hilton, there's four or five Oprah's or Steve Jobs.
75% tax, 100% tax....humm. Reduce all people to pawns and paupers. Perhaps a one world government is in the works......
Yes, living on only MILLIONS of dollars instead of billions is positively a HOBO life, isn't it? *Lighting cigar with money*
Fareed, are you trying to say that we should be ok with the Buffet rule because Europe is taxing people at larger percentages? You are not American by birth. Please dont impose your view on us.
No surprise here...CNN, Fareed and the celeb/media left are doing daily air cover for Obama. The world is right of center, and so is the US...it aint changin. Let Obama win this yr...he will be a lame duck with a GOP Congress, state govts and the new GOP majority senate..
Well, yes, we're so stupid that we'll believe anything, Fareed (or whatever the hell your name is). Tell us that the reason Obama's economic policies have been just to the left of Lenin is that he just had to do it because of the financial crisis in 2008. Go right ahead. We'll believe anything.
Do you know what Lenin's economic policy was? He had to allow a form of limited capitalism because of his own war problems. Do a search for "New Economic Policy" or "NEP". It actually worked very well.
Funny, if I'm not mistaken, those protests in Greece, and sure to come Spain, Italy and most of the other bad economies in Europe, are by the state unionized workers complaining about loss of benefits. So, in essence, if a move to the "left" in Europe is riled up by people upset about the governments not going bankrupt, it may be a very short lived move.
blah blah blah. Drivel from Fareed. All politial parties in western Democracies are nothing but vessels for the largely ignorant population to pimp the unorigonal solutions and ideas of the ELITE. Fareed knows this and is only mocking you in your stupidity and willingness to partake in cheering for team A or team B. It's not your fault you are the product of generational brainwashing that will take at least 4 generations to repair. The Hubris of the elite will always be their downfall.
On taxes, lets try a simple experiment. We cut a country in half and set max tax rate in one half to 75% while setting the income tax in another half to zero while implementing a very regressive consumption tax – ie every purchase is taxed at say 30% rate. What do you think will happen to these two twin nations? ( pls post ur answers below, lets have an informal pole here people! )
I suspect both goverments finances will fail miserably. And we arent even talking about spending here. Apparent truth is that economics based on ideology in both cases will likely lead to trouble.
Why have US not followed the advice of the bipartisan commission on defficits? No political will is going to appear in US until the situation will turn grave. Mark my words, Obama or Romney – you will not see any solutions in next 4 years, just more kicking can down the road and populist retoric. So called austerity is good on paper but is a bitter pill that is far more likely to kill the patient then to help him. So tea party or occupy, all you are doing are playing pawns to politicians interests that are only serving themselves as both parties get nice fat checks from same billion dollar piggy banks.
Plenty of countries run just fine with extremely high tax rates. No country has ever tried, and never will, a regressive tax system. It simply would not work.
How about a common sense party? It would be nice to see a party that relies on facts and sound judgement not emotions. How about a party that uses project plans and real goals? It is amazing our country and world has survived such wacky decision making. If businesses were run this way they would be bankrupt.
The real reason why the USA is so deeply in debt is simple. Two UNFUNDED wars, combined with gigantic tax cuts to the wealthy in the form of the Bush Tax cuts. It's as simple as that. What kind of morons CUT taxes while increasing spending.
Zakaria is a Leftest. I read his articles and if anything he is consistent. This year he was writing about how we need to do away with our government and go to a parliamentarian system. With how he talks you would think he wasn't born in the USA....We have violence in the streets, race and class warfare and in the USA and Europe antisemitism is on the rise. So yes, maybe the Left is trying for a comeback.
For those of us outside the government circle, we can be categorized into 4 groups; ones who will go along with it, ones who will fight it, ones who will find every means to avoid it, and ones who really are not so much directly affected. Over the years, it seems that the group that manages avoidance well has taken on significant proportion. We find ways to avoid paying taxes thereby leaving a broken, archaic, and floundering system of government to wallow in it's own crooked demise. The end result is high taxation on a depleted and ever disappearing tax base, a general sense of hopelessness and lack of confidence, and massive uncontrollable debt being pushed ever further by on-going inefficiencies, poor immediate response stimulus, and the inability to react and implement good remedial policies and procedures. The sad truth is that our ability for avoidance has literally resulted in too much of an actual abandonment of the country. When Obama asked Steve Jobs "When will Apple manufacturing jobs come back to America?", the clear and simple answer was "They're not".
*****Please note that this response was made without calling anyone an "idiot" or "moron", nor any other derogatory remarks or phrases. It attempts to address real issues from an individual perspective and not make issues of other individuals posting their own replies.******
Creaming in your pants, Fareed? This would be a dream come true for you and CNN, wouldn't it? However, I do have a question. Since you never criticize Obama and the left, won't you be out of a job once the lefties take over?
I am sure that Fox is always fair.
John.........sorry,..... ( I shouldn't be laughing, how rude of me ) .... Ok... Never mind, I'll try to get back once I straighten out my face.
Fareed seems to be almost salivating at the prospect of the Left returning to power in Europe. Big surprise there, eh?
Both sides spend, spend, spend. It's just for what cause. The Republicans spend on war and the good of the richest in this country. The Democrats spend some on military, some on the rich, and try to spend on the middle class and poor when they are allowed to do so.
Obviousy Fareed is a left wing supporter,
He is extremely excited about this new "left"
movement,
What I don't understand is why after a century of catastrophic economic failure with extreme left wing policies in the former Soviet Union and eastern Europe,
And obviously these historic facts prove that communism and extreme left wing policies don't work,people and some left wing political parties still champion these failed ideas,
I just do not understand,we have an immense history proving the failure of the lefts economic policies,and yet they revert back to it,
Very troubling indeed.
Left wing comeback? Is he crazy? Sure! Everyone wants to be just like Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Great Britain - and all the other failed socialist economies. Like California and Wisconsin.
I live in Texas. There are thousands of people moving here from California, Wisconsin, Illinois, Connecticut - and all the other so called "blue states" that are controlled by liberal socialist Democrats and their left wing socialist public sector union thug accomplices.
Left wing comeback? BS.
If we cut taxes for the wealthy in this country they will be glad to continue to send jobs offshore. Why wouldn't they do that? It makes them even more money and ruins the lives of so many middle class in this counry. At some point (hopefully) the moderates in this coutry will come over to the left wing and set the tax rate back to 90%. The ;ast time it was that high was in the 1950's when we were number 1 in the world.
John, Fareed is a Republican. I am a Democrat but I truly respect his opinions even if, I do not always agree. Very smart man, I enjoy his reporting.
I am disappointed to see Zakaria parrot what so many in the mainstream media have said - that the Occupy movement "never really had a coherent program." The objective of the Occupy movement was and is to highlight how the rules are written by the elite and for the elite. The aim is to shift power from the elite toward the masses. All the messages delivered during the occupations and since - sensible regulation, more progressive taxation, better healthcare, etc. - all are examples of how that shift can be accomplished. That is the program that the media pretended not to understand.
Dear Ralph_Indy, we were #1 in 50's cause no other country in europe/far east was still standing, all bombed out, we rebuilt them though and all propered. Left should stop attacking unionized private sector jobs, like hammering coal which effects mining, railroad, trucking and, power plant industry unions. also, construction jobs lost by no pipelines in Alaska or Canada to USA or drilling which impacts union jobs in oil industry and maritime industry. Yeah, go left young man and go poor!
Socialism
If you apply for unemployment …. you are participating in a socialist program.. YOU ARE A SOCIIALIST!
If you apply for and cash your social security check....you are participating in a socialist program..YOU ARE A SOCIALIST!
If you apply for medicare, medicaid, or disability …. you are participating in a socialist program...YOU ARE A SOCIALIST!
All of you shouting Socialism, Socialism....Would be the FIRST to complain and do complain, if these Socialist programs were eliminated.
Why are you complaining about programs you refuse to let go of. Do none of you know the definition of Socialism.
Socialism is a political term applied to an economic system in which property is held in common and not individually, and relationships are governed by a political hierarchy. Common ownership doesn't mean decisions are made collectively. Instead, individuals in positions of authority make decisions in the name of the collective group. Regardless of the picture painted of socialism by its proponents, it ultimately removes group decision making in favor of the choices of one all-important individual.
Socialism originally involved the replacement of private property with a market exchange, but history has proven this ineffective. Socialism cannot prevent people from competing for what is scarce. Socialism as we know it today, most commonly refers to "market socialism," which involves individual market exchanges organized by collective planning.
People often confuse "socialism" with the concept of "communism." While the two ideologies share much in common - in fact communism encompasses socialism - the primary difference between the two is that "socialism" applies to economic systems, whereas "communism" applies to both economic and political systems.
Another difference between socialism and communism is that communists directly oppose the concept of capitalism, an economic system in which production is controlled by private interests. Socialists, on the other hand, believe socialism can exist within a capitalist society.
I don't understand why the left wing people commenting here stubbornly deny that the left oriented states love to spend in an irrational way. It's a fact. And this is how they have destroyed their national economies. This is what has happened throughout Europe. It doesn't matter if a right wing government tries to cut spending and control the budget. That doesn't solve anything because the structure of the state is basically left organized...or I should say "disorganized".
Having the left is better than the right because they use Robin Hood approach in taxing the rich to help the poor. The rich exploit the poor! Republicans borrow and spend hence the Bush taxcuts...Wealth is concentrated in the few, It is better to tax the rich-through taxeson luxury goods-unless they stop exploting the poor.The wealthy and the corporations use "free market" way towards cheap labor! Take GE for example-it paid NO income taxes and exploits cheap Asian labor. Excessive CEO salaries ought to be capped and minimum wages increased. Capitalism ought to regulated to stop its bad excesses and evil greedy ways. (Think about Enron)
Zakaria....as usual.....confuses what he WANTS the truth to be....with what the truth ACTUALLY is.
Europeans and now, Americans, are just NOW starting to realize the Far Right and the Rich have been conducting a class war against them since Reagan (although, the last 225 years of our history have been dominated and controlled by the top 1%). The American Capitalist system has done NOTHING for the bottom 99% other than make them poorer. The Rich 1% now own 42% of the nation's financial wealth. The Bottom 80%, 7%! We continue to lose jobs overseas so the top 1% can enjoy huge profits from cheap labor, while OUR country "withers on the vine". We can no longer trust the top 1% or the Capitalist economic system to provide for the average American A combined (hybrid) Socalist/Capitalist economic system is the ONLY solution. A Capitalism to develop new enterprises. A Socialist system to MAINTAIN the economic base in the United States and provide a backstop against the excesses of the Capitalist side. The SOONER we move to this hybrid, the SOONER our economic woes will end!
You're wrong. 97.6% of all people know that.
U R NUTS. We have had a hybrid for 100 years.. tho we're pry 75% socialist. Try running your own business then come back to me and tell me how "capitalist" we are. It's ridiculous in the USA. Ignoring labor costs even – regulation, paperwork, licenses and fees alone make it something only a rich person can do. Instead of creating easy paths to self employment, hiring and business startup, you idiots fine me for trying to get enough profit to hire. For some reason liberals think payroll money comes from a money tree. STOP TAXING MY PROFITS SO I CAN HIRE
You must be one of the people that need to be regulated so you can pay workere fair wages and stop paying your excessive salary yourself -but instead paying a decent salary.
No Lie Dan. The Left thinks anyone that earns money working hard deserves to be fleeced and are treated like Fascist Pigs. Obama is the new Hitler and his pals in various organizations the new Brown Shirts. Look out America, wake up and smell the coffee, before that gets taxed to death too!!
Of course socialists POLL well. This is why a government that guarantees individual rights is necessary. Rights are not subject to the looting majority. Those that believe it is righteous to seize money from one person to give to another are living in a dreamland. I won't work in a world where I can't set my own price and there are a lot of people that believe the same. You are killing the world. You simply want to spread misery instead of celebrate success.
I agree with you, Dan!
Hey, you know what you should do? Go buy a rainbow clown wig and some giant red shoes and take your act on the road!
Liberals are killing the world. Really? Tell that to the people of Nigeria, where western oil companies have tainted their water supply and air quality so badly, disease is rampant. Tell it to the Somali pirates who were fishermen until western fishing boats overfished their waters and Europeans dumped their waste into their waters. Tell it to the Chinese who have to wear masks when they go outside because of the pollution caused by western corporations shipping all their factory jobs over there. Or the indigenous peoples ANYWHERE in the world who have been attacked, nearly wiped out, stripped of their generational lands, and robbed of their right to exist by the spread of capitalism and the demands of western nations for this planet's natural resources. Your god, capitalism, is what is quite literally KILLING this planet. And unfortunately, the supposed politicians on the "left" are puppets who prop it up just like your republican politicians. None of them care about ANYTHING except the wealthy minority. You're a fool if you can't see that.
Mother, you strike me as the type that would trow paint on someone wearing a fur coat while you are wearing leather shoes. Maybe you should disconnect your house from the power grid, catch your own fish and walk everywhere you need to go so that you don't contribute to all of these evils you have listed.
And throw out politicans that the corporations and the rich buy-it is better to throw out lobbyists who feed the corruption in the congress that give alot of corporations and the rich alot of money. Elect only incorruptible people who will help the people FIRST. Make the worlds countries pay for their own defense-NOT the US who act like world's policeman and start funding for OUR own defenses-and stop paying
Israel billions while poor Americans struggle to make ends meet. As for the Occupy, they use alot of topics that conceren them.
Bristol Palin is going to be spitting out bi-racial babies left and right. You watch. Then she'll write a book about it. Then all the idiot teabaggers and evangelicals will buy the book. And then the dancing cow will be dancing all the way to the bank.
Sorry most of the other peoples money is running out, The left will need the economy to improve again before they can start to overspend again. Before Obamma $10.7 Trillion Jan 2009, Present April 2012 $15.6 Trillion, Ladies and Gentlemen I believe we have a new record. Just wait until Obama care kicks in.
Fareed Zakaria is also an advisor to President Obama and has helped write several speeches for him. Last year Zakaria wrote an article stating that it is time for America to change the way Senators are elected and that America needs to install a Prime Minister. Just keep this in mind when responding to anything he writes or Obama says.
Joe Mama, the deficits were caused by Bush taxcuts and excessive defense spending while his rep minions gave him a go ahead to borrow and spend. Borrow and spend without a flinch from the repubs
Yes, The Left is back and poised for a major takeover. We just need to get Obama to finally be a left wing progressive liberal, the toughest task. End to all war, environmental protection and universal health care here we come. We'll drive the right wing fox fascists back yet!
Heaven forbid Obama the Puppet of the Left gets re-elected and his liberal friends win a majority in Congress. That would kill the remains of a weak economy and drive the debt to the point America goes over the cliff and ceases to exist. The Left is poison.
Extreme liberalism is a failed proposition. Just look at Greece.
Extreme conservatism is not all that great either.
The country is much more moderate as a whole that either side likes to admit. More and more voters are choosing to not affiliate with either party. I count myself among that group.
Extreme positions typically fail over time. The country has survived for a long time because of the ability of the political system to adapt.
Obama will never be able to act on extreme liberal positions because he used all of his political collateral early on with ObamaCare. He lacks the leadership ability to muster much of anything at this point.
Checks and balances in our political system are a very good thing.
The far left and far right are just two sides of the same coin. Makes me want to break out in song...
it's a world of frowns and a world or tears
its a world of broken hopes and a world of fear
theres so much that they watch and stare
that its time we're all aware
its a new world order after all
CHORUS:
its a new world order after all
its a new world order after all
its a new world order after all
its a Orwellian new world order!
There is just one moon and one golden sun
And a smile means your being watched by everyone.
Though the mountains divide
And the oceans are wide
its a new world order after all
(chorus)
If 100% tax rates aren't considered socialism, then I don't know what is.
The left-wing will not be happy until we are all communists. This is the truth. They fail to recognize that socialism and communism DO NOT WORK....they always have and always will collapse under the weight of too many taking and too few putting in. It's an inevitabilty.
The problem is the rank-n-file m0r0ns who fall for the rhetoric don't care if it collapses "later" so long as they get their freebies now...
Yup, you do not know what is.
GaryB
Actually, in the last 30 years in America, it's the so-called conservatives who have proven themselves to be the biggest deficit spenders. Check out the 2003-2007 budgets, which were crafted and approved by Republican majorities in both houses of congress and a Republican president, and the masssive growth of the federal government during the same period. Democrats, though they like to spend as well, tend to be a little tighter with the spending reins and tend to be better at paying for new spending wih offsetting revenue generation (fees, taxes, etc.). The Republican track record, on the other hand, is a tendency to increase spending while decreasing revenue, something that no sane business owner would ever do.
You, sir, are no friend to the truth. The Democrats held the majority in Congress for both the 2006 and 2007 years.
The Democratic Party leadership in place since the mid-terms of 2006 have deficit spent more than all previous Congresses and Presidential administrations combined. It was only after the mid-terms of 2010 that they were prevented from their free-wheeling way...and their response was to block any budget put before them. We've not had a budget since Obama's first for one reason...Democrats. Please, explain to us all how the Democrats are doing us all a favor by holding literally holding the United States budget hostage for 3 years now....
zakaria is nothing more then an antagonistic terd
And, since you are sooooooooo knowledgeable, why is he hostile?
Politics works in cycles. The left nor the right will ever completely dominate the political spectrum...thank goodness. Ask yourself a question, would you ever want your political party to have complete control of ever law? If you do then you don't understand the principals of freedom.
I agree with Fareed Zakaria! We will mobilize this election year again. Only because, we will not let the Republicans take up back 100years! The have shown outright disrespect to our president, they've obstructed everything he has tried to do for America, and they have shown blatant racism in some aspects to Black & Latino communities! ~Republicans will be defeated in 2012!!! OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
The comments are a joke. If any one of you thinks you can categorize how our gov. works with a simple duality then you have been concurred by divided.
never forget that this zakaria guy is a ultra liberal....born and raised in the muslim religion he is an advisor to obama...everything he says has a bias toward the liberal view point......
Ya, we all know how liberal muslims are.
Oh wait...
Does anyone remember the Iraqi man going on television talking about how America was going to suffer the mother of all defeats at the hands of the great Iraqi army while tanks were rolling into Bagdad...? That's kinda what Fareed reminds moe of with his liberal propaganda....
The return of the left happened with the election OF Obama in 2008, by the midtern election the public began to send signals that 2 years of the left in power was more than we could stand as evidenced by the landslide GOP victory in the House. Everything is pointing to the ouster being complete by 2012 election
Really?
Do tell us more.
Studies have proven time and time again that there is a higher incidence of incest among those families living in the southern bible belt. Particularily those residing in trailer parks.
And, your point in mentioning this???????????
You people are missing the point. Left-wing politicians simply do not create an environmrnt for free-enterprise. Successful companies will find a better home unless we create an environment which is buisness friendly. Threatening huge tax increases on the wealthiest might not scare major Hollywood stars (they simply increase ticket sale prices), but it will scare any new investments in this country. Maybe not now but not too long from now.
That was the most lacklustered, non-thought provoking commentary ever about nothing. Most of the Western governments have swung Right and MAYBE France will have a Leftist president and MAYBE Obama will succeed with the Buffett Rule. The four-year-old who just got inducted into Mensa could have provided better analysis.
Journalists like Zakaria have a tendency to jump to startling conclusions just to catch the eye of the readers.A stiff increase in the tax rate of the rich is not what the Left is all about.Hollande,of course,is likely to win.But given the current economic condition of France ,there is absolutely little he could do, except perhaps to increase the tax rate for the rich just to announce his arrival in the presidential palace.What he does next is far more important.Hollande is clueless about it.
Hopefully it will stay to the right. The great communist experiment failed. The liberals in this country and in Europe are simply in denial that the Soviet Union collapsed. They are in denial that life sucks in North Korea. Yet Obama and his commie comrads insist on trying the failed experiment again.
A lot of experts here. Amazing that there are any problems at all in the US or world! Oh, that's right, these are talkers, not doers. Just me or does Zakaria look evil?
Just you!
Bush added 4.9 trillion to the national debt in 8 years.
Obama has added 5 trillion to the national debt is just under 4 years.
Who is the biggest spender ?
You have to spend money to make money.
Bush inherited the healthiest economy the country had been in, ever. Bush inherited a budget surplus. Bush increased the debt by 5 trillion dollars. Obama has increased the debt by five trillion dollars, inheriting the Bush tax cuts and other policies in place. Stop trying to re-write history you bunch of trolls.
shawn I.
You should try learning history before you accuse others of "re-writing" it. Bush came into office just as the dot-com bubble was bursting. The inflated tax receipts during that bubble were the reason that Clinton budget director Franklin Raines declared "surpluses forever". Not only was Raines way off base with his predictions, he helped sow the seeds of the 2008 crisis during his subsequent stint as head of Fannie Mae, until he and other were caught committing accounting fraud and forced to resign. The reality is that Raines had plenty of experience in committing accounting fraud during his time in the Clinton Adminstration.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/19/business/19fannie.html
I "could" have used 9-11, and the associated expenses as a reason for Bush having economic challenges during his administration. The reality is that he largely met those challeges. Once the dot-com recession was over, Bush's term was one long economic expansion, until the effect of spiking oil prices set off the subprime loan "timebomb" that has been planted by liberals in our economy. That was the exact prediction of those who first questioned putting Fannie Mae into subprimes in 1999. Bush tried to stop the subprime train wreck before it was too late – but Barney Frank and Maxine Waters and other defenders of Fannie Mae would not allow it.
http://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/30/business/fannie-mae-eases-credit-to-aid-mortgage-lending.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/11/business/new-agency-proposed-to-oversee-freddie-mac-and-fannie-mae.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm
This is scary. First, the presumption that there was no move to the left following the fonancial crisis is willfully blind. The tea party was born because the 3 headed monster of Reid/pelosi/Obamatook us further to the left than this country had ever been, and with a recklessness rarely seen. Second, want a way to ensure nobody with money stays on your country: look to these french candidates. Who will pay for the social programs when they bleed everybody out? It defies common sense.
fareed you shill, get off the air. go back to india.
so laughable...what nonsense from fareed the anti american shill for obama
Reblogged this on Dom – Hussain.
I find it amazing on how a majority of right-wing commentators on this article have basically become trolls who only exist just make American conservatism look like blundering idiots. It's a wonder why I am ashamed that Canada's conservatism has to be associated with this dreck.
Fareed,
It is rather astonishing that a full time journalist is "stumped" as to why the developed world moved "right" after the financial crisis. Try reading "Reckless Endangerment" by NY Times reporter Gretchen Morgenson. This book details in rather painful (for the left) detail, the decades long steps taken by Jim Johnson, former head of Fannie Mae, and others to lower mortgage underwriting standards, and introduce widespread use of subprime loans as a mean of helping the "poor" (i.e. – people with bad credit) buy a house. Johnson essentially used the taxpayers as "co-signers" for Fannie Mae's borrowing, putting much of the money saved vs. market rates into his pockets ($100 million in income during his brief tenure), while putting taxpayers at risk when it all came crashing down. Johnson used the sleaziest tactics, including at one point – sending forged letters of protests to Congress (made using real names of people who had no idea of what was happening) to stop any attempts to end his schemes.
The media managed to "sell" the "blame Wall Street" excuse at the beginning on this crisis – but that has been largely exposed as a false argument. What Wall Street did was a secondary process – selling off loans through processes which hid the risks of default. Those risks – and the entire subprime crisis would existed with out without Wall Street – and it is the lingering effects of the housing market collapse caused by bad subprime loans that hampers our recovery to this day. The left has been "absent" because they were at fault – hopefully the shame of many on the left knowing that will keep them lying low through November.
The reason the left can't mobilize is exactly BECAUSE of the occupy movement. Occupy states they are against the established political parties and processes. They will never suppor Republicans, but don't trust the corrupt (in their view) Democrats either. They believe their message should be taken directly to the people. But what is that message? No one really knows as Occupy, like the Democratic party, has pulled in som many different views and agendas. The TEA Party is focused on one thing .. smaller government and supporting those who support that view. Occupy wants to tax the rich, legalize pot, stop banks from forclosing, give more money to students for education and forgive their loans, force banks to stop charging fees and high interest on cards, on and on and on the list goes. Heck the number of views and divisions in Occupy are so bad, the group in Zocatti Park broke into two sections ... and upper section and lower section. The lowers referred to the uppers as elitists with their head int he clouds who only know how to talk talk talk, and the uppers looked down on the dirty lowers who had nothing to submit to all their meetings discussing how things should change. This is the same reason Obama had trouble passing Obamacare. Everyone wanted there own special something in the package, but that upset others in the party. So eventually the 1000+ pages of law includes other deals (like an exclusion for Nebraska on certain aspects) to sweeten the deal and get the votes needed. And this is why the left always eventually falls. You cannot be all things to all people. That leads to chaos and anarchy. And the Right keeps stepping in to clean up the mess made by the left.
@Ken, If you are indicating that democracy more or less only allows us to change those individuals in the seat of government, but not the system or process itself, then I must agree. It is in fact possible for change to take place, provided there is majority agreement, however, over the years there has been very little to demonstrate any positive movement in this respect (if anything it has been overall negative). So unless there is a broad consensus to more or less reform the government from within, the only alternatives would be utter collapse or revolution. I cannot readily cite any government that has more recently voluntarily reformed itself, since it is almost impossible to rebuilt an engine while it's running. There have been historical cases where governments have failed outright. But it seems that revolution (especially these days) has been the method of choice to affect overall change. The Occupy movement was clearly predicted well over a year before it actually started, and I believe the underlying sentiment of the nation strongly supports it. But there is no one leader acceptable, capable, or willing to take it out of it's infancy and lead it to fruition. And what everyone should be asking themselves is, why ? Why is no one willing to step up to the plate and actually save America ?
The left will rise again eh? Perhaps the rise of Right wing nationalism that is often seen in times of economic stress will be overcome this time. But perhaps this is yet to come.......
The problem with ME politics is that noone can trust an arab. It is impossible to get a straight answer and trust whatever answer is provided.
I did not post the above comment. Nor can I be entirely certain as to who it is that's hijacking names, but the comment is clearly reflective of pathetic gutless loser who is doing thesecthings.
I am the real Rz and I say that muslims are the most fu ck ed people on this earth and should be wiped out.
First of all, it's Saarland, not Saarsland. And by one poll, CNN and Zakaria derive that the Pirate Party is more popular in Germany than the FDP? Than the CSU (which still is its own party in long-term alliance with the CDU)? Than the Greens? Let's revisit that assertion at the next national election in Germany.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon deserves a bullet between the eyes, as all thieves do.
I'm not a fan of extremes, but extreme left kicks extreme right's ass any day.
The pirate party is neither left nor right. The pirate party is simply straight forward.
Fear and chaos is what gives birth to fascism.
Nothing is new except the history you haven't read.
Well, I discussed Zakaria's perspective with my German Pirates fellows and actually we don't see us as a clear left wing. The only attribute I'm quite sure about is progressive. We think left-right perspective doesn't fit to us any longer.
A Frankfurt newspaper considered us even as capitalistic avartgard and new tech-fricky bourgeoisie. Party of a new Hominid's who claim their right in information sociaty:
http://www.fr-online.de/kultur/gesellschaft-im-wandel-piratenpartei-die-buergerliche-avantgarde,1472786,15204504,view,asFirstTeaser.htm
Our Party Leader confirm this. No clear left wing.
http://newsburger.de/schloemer-sieht-partei-nicht-nah-bei-rot-gruen-54439.html