Debt itself is not an inter-generational burden #GOP #fail

Dean Baker reminds us that Government debt is not an inter-generational burden:

Since ownership of the debt will utlimately be passed on to future generations (ignoring the portion that is held by foreigners -- which a function of the trade deficit), the debt itself is not a generational burden.

It can raise important issues of distribution within generations and the taxes needed to pay for the debt can create economic distortions, but many other things also lead to economic distortions (like patents and copyrights).

To carry this point a step further, since deficits that stimulate the economy today are likely to increase investment (especially if they are used to finance public investment and education), they are likely to make out children richer. Furthermore, the Fed could simply hold this debt and use higher reserve requirements in future years to stem an inflationary impact from a greater volume of reserves in the banking system. In that case, interest on the debt would be paid directly back to the Treasury. Where is the burden on our kids?

We have the power....

Teamsters @ MLK March & Rally Atlanta, GA Jan. 16, 2012

Illustrating the Success of Health Care Reform - YouTube

Occupy the Courts – Pre-Events, March & Rally (FYI for my Atlanta readers)

Occupy the Courts – Pre-Events, March & Rally

Contacts: Don Dressel, Atlanta Move to Amend, 404-307-2405

Darlene Jones-Owens, Everyday People Occupy Atlanta, 770-328-9036

The January 21, 2010 Supreme Court ruling, Citizens United v FEC, outrageously equated corporate money with "free speech." Political cash from corporate sponsors is used abundantly and anonymously in campaigns, drowning out the voices of “We the People.” For three days this week, Atlanta organizations including Atlanta Move to Amend, OCCUPY Atlanta, Everyday People OCCUPY Atlanta, MoveOn Atlanta Council, GA Peace & Justice Coalition, Teamsters, AFL/CIO, Green Friends/Atlanta Friends Meeting, 350.0rg/Atl., GA Sierra Club, Georgia WAND, Atlanta Grandmothers for Peace, Citizens Climate Lobby, and Environment Georgia will join together to protest the second anniversary of the Citizens United ruling. Speakers and artists will deliver short but powerful messages on the impact the decision is having on our politics, jobs, schools, environment, public services, military, and basic freedoms.The press is invited to all events.

Event #1: Sign-Making Party

Wednesday, January 18: 5 – 9 PM
American Friends Service Center, 60 Walton Street. 

Event #2: Shoe-Toss at US Supreme Court

Thursday, January 19: 2 – 6 PM at 
Woodruff/Troy Davis Park, 91 Peachtree Street.
Bring an old shoe to toss at an image of the Citizens United ruling by the Supreme Court.

Event #3: Occupy the Courts March and Rally

Friday, January 20, 2012 1 – 4 PM

• March from Woodruff/Troy Davis Park, 91 Peachtree Street to

• Rally at the Courtyard of the Richard B. Russell Federal Building, 75 Spring Street,

• “Mourning Democracy” Funeral March back to Woodruff/Troy Davis Park 

Martin Luther King (1963) - Proud to be maladjusted!

Pavlina Tcherneva - Bottom Up Fiscal Policy: Direct Employment of the Unemployed

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Good segment of speeches from Martin Luther King Jr.

Jesus was suffering from "wealth envy"!

Next thing you know Mitt Romney and Neal Boortz are going to be telling us that Jesus went into the temple and destroyed the money changers tables due to "wealth envy". What is it about the wealthy and their political sycophants that makes them so desperate to believe it is jealousy--rather than a principled and moral refusal to silently accept theft, exploitation, and manipulation of those who lack power-- that drives our critique of their economic agenda of socialism and free riding for the rich but toil and deprivation for the rest? 

Rep. Holcomb proposes drug tests for legislators

In response to a pretty hateful bill.  Rep. Holcomb has proposed drug tests for legislators.  

Better Georgia:

 Speaking directly to the heart of the matter, Rep. Holcomb points out that those harmed by this law would be Georgia’s poorest children, not the adults who have made bad decisions.

“[The family assistance program] is designed to help the neediest of our needy families,” Holcomb said. “Those that oppose it, it’s almost as if many of them are saying food is a luxury item. Which clearly it’s not.”

Georgia’s public assistance program is available only to the state’s poorest residents. A typical family supported with the assistance would be a working mother with two children who earns about $784 per month, or just $26 per day. Rep. Holcomb points out that the $26 per day pays for housing, electricity and food.