Bernie Sanders: Make the Rich Pay Off the Deficit

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jiminidaho of ID:
Every President, from Nixon on down to our present President had "Czars, and even President Roosevelt was accused of having "czars." As a matter of fact, President George W. Bush had 36 "czars." President Obama does not have even that many.
Largely, "czars" is a slang media term for independent advisors to the President who are experts in a particular field. During Roosevelt's term, President Roosevelt appointed Joseph B Eastman, to the Interstate Commerce Commissioner, and appointed transportation coordinator. That caused quite a stir, prompting Eastman to say: I am not a "Federal railroad "Czar."
Sources:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/The-Truth-About-Czars/
http://factcheck.org/2009/09/czar-search/
"Eastman Declares He Is Not A 'Czar'; As Coordinator, He Says, His Job Will Be to Help Railroads to Avoid Waste". The New York Times. June 17, 1933.

ann Keenan of MI 4:48PM June 30, 2011

The citizens of this great nation need to wake up and realize that the mega wealthy and the corporations have bought off our government. The money these people are throwing around Washington to peddle influence and buy off our politicians pales in comparison to what it would cost them to pay their fair share of taxes. It's time the middle class, the elderly and the poor stood together to tell these scoundrels in Washington to do the right thing. It's time these politicians start working for the people who elected them to office and not for the factions that finance their campaigns. Remember without our vote, they don't get elected period! Thank God for the Bernie Sanders of this world. The true voice of the people.

Leonard DePalma of NY 7:54PM June 29, 2011

If the FED can bail out the financial industry by magically making more money,(hey, guys the banks are still sitting on trillions) why can't they do it again and give every person a million dollars. No big deal.

allone same of MD 2:42PM June 29, 2011

I suggest a plan that follows the new michigan model. declare a fiscal emergency and have the president appoint a financial over-seer and i suggest Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders

james holmes of CA 1:11PM June 29, 2011

i am tired of hearing about how low tax rates for corporations creates jobs.
they have been experiencing the lowest taxes in history,and our economy is stagnant.
also,watch a few episodes of" housewives of new york"to realize the rich have money they frivolously squander,money they don't need.
my daughter was recently laid off due to wall street greed.it is time for the rich to get us out of this mess which they created ,the middle class is at a tipping point toward revolution.no democracy thrives without a sound middle class.
. the uber rich should do the patriotic thing.pay enough to balance the budget,not shrink an already distressed class.

alfred m koytek of PA 10:18AM June 29, 2011

To Rick H of Texas: The top 20 percent of Americans have $47 trillion in net worth. That amount is growing @ 7.2 % per year, or doubling every 10 years.
The projections for their wealth look like this: 2021 = $94 trillion; 2031 = $188 trillion; 2041 = $376 trillion; 2051 = $752 trillion; 2061 = $1,504 trillion.
Any questions?
Source: US Flow of Funds Reports, Federal Reserve Board.

Ed Phillips of FL 9:35AM June 29, 2011

Anybody can look at the number of "rich" and what they have and compare that to what the govt spends and see that there isn't anywhere near enough money to pay off anything.
That begs the question - is Sanders himself a moron or does he merely think his supporters are?

Rick H of TX 9:02AM June 29, 2011

that want to tax the rich and corporations, then he needs to listen to the tens of millions that want to overturn Obamacare.

KansasGirl of KS 8:35AM June 29, 2011

Make those cheap skates pay their way

Geofrey Thompson of CA 8:29AM June 29, 2011

The country started its decline with Ronnie Regan and continued with GW Bush. Republicons always cry class warfare. Well, that's something they know all about. They've been doing it for years. We fight endless wars so the Military/industrial/Congressional complex can get rich, but all the expenses are "off the books" voodoo economics. Yes, absolutely tax the upper 10%. Bring back Eisenhower tax rates (look it up). Remove the cap on FICA. Make congress pay for their own medical insurance in the private market. Make their pensions be the average of what the middle class is promised.
The country is turning into a banana republic with gated communities and hordes of desperately poor people. Sadly the Democrats have no back bone. I'd tell the Republicons to shove where the sun don't shine.

karsten of IL 1:50AM June 29, 2011