While Democratic candidates chafed and whined this past election season at being accused of having socialist leanings, their voters make no bones about the kind of relationship they want between government and the economy:
In that survey of 1,000 adults, nearly half of all Democrats, 42 percent, indicated that they believe the government should “manage the economy completely.”
That viewpoint is not exactly socialism—there’s a different between managing and owning after all—but it’s a far cry from the free market ideology that non-Democrats favored in the poll. Just under 25 percent of independents favored government completely managing the economy.
Keep in mind, as you mull these findings, that the percentage for reporters and editors in the mainstream media are undoubtedly much more accepting of government control of the economy than the average Democrat. This about that as you read dispatches about the economy in the major media.
Read full article » 1 Comment »The Washington Examiner’s Byron York answers the question I’ve had since I learned last night of the deal between President Obama and Republicans on tax cuts and unemployment benefits extension. The Democrats have the majority, so why didn’t they pull out their “reconciliation” game plan as they did on health insurance? In other words, why couldn’t they get their way — a tax hike on “the rich” — with just 51, rather than 60 votes? Answer: what goes around comes around. (emphasis is mine)
To pass a measure by reconciliation, the Senate must pass a budget that contains what are called reconciliation instructions. But this year, as they faced an angry electorate and grim prospects in the midterm elections, the Democratic leadership made the specific decision not to pass a budget. Revealing their spending priorities to voters already unhappy with out-of-control federal expenditures was just too risky, so Sen. Harry Reid and party leaders punted, even though passing a budget is one of Congress’ core constitutional responsibilities.
With no budget, there could be no reconciliation. And no possibility of using reconciliation to extend the Bush tax cuts — which were originally passed with bipartisan support — on the Democrats’ terms. Shirking your constitutional responsibilities can have consequences.
Here’s hoping all members of Congress learn the lesson.
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