Paul Krugman epitomizes the current liberal divorce from reality

Washington Examiner ^ | Feb 21 2011 | Timothy P. Carney

[neverdem]

One reason liberals get so excited about the protests and teacher strikes in Wisconsin is that they see this as a battle to preserve the power of the working man -- a noble cause and one many liberals take very seriously.

If you squint just right, you can see it their way: Republicans are fighting to take away collective bargaining rights from unions, who are responding with protest and solidarity. Of course, this blurs the crucial distinction between private-sector unions and government-sector unions. When it comes to stubbornly blurring economic reality so as to demonize your political rivals, you can often count on Paul Krugman.

In his column today, Krugman describes the unions as a "counterweight to the political power of big money."

But the unions are big money. Five of the top ten contributors to congressional and presidential campaigns since 1989 are labor unions according to the Center for Responsive Politics. In the last election, 10 of the top 20 PACs were union PACs.

More importantly, it's not as if Big Labor is balancing out the rest of "big money." Does Krugman know that all of the top ten industries contributing to the 2010 elections gave more money to Democrats than to Republicans? That's right: Lawyers, Health Professionals, Securities & Investment, Real Estate, Insurance, Lobbyists, Pharma, Government Unions, Entertainment, and Electric Utilities all favored Democrats in 2010.

[neverdem]

It's not just the working man - the little guy - they're pretending to help the middle class.

[BobP]

This guy is wrong again, as ususal.

   Wisconsin's Missing Dems Milk Carton

The budget deficit in Wisconsin is $137 million this year. Over the next two years the projected deficit will rise to $3.6 billion. That's more than 10% of the $32 billion yearly budget. There are 5.6 million people living in the state. That's $5,714 per person. The per-capita income of the state is only $25,000. The people of Wisconsin are spending 20% of their total income on their state government. You can add another 20% to pay for the federal government and another 3% for local government. When you add it up, you'll find government makes up more than 40% of the economy. Spending 40% of our GDP to govern ourselves is insanity!

[Mr. Mojo]

Paul Krugman epitomizes the current liberal divorce from reality

Current? It's perpetual.

[Lazlo in PA]

I think it is interesting that the party that calls itself Progressive constantly clings to old ideas like Unions. They did their job and now it is time to move on. The only problem I have with the article.

Paul Krugman epitomizes the "current" liberal divorce from reality.

At what time in the past was Liberal thinking not divorced from reality?

[mirkwood]

Because liberalism is a mask, to hide the true goal...communism. 10 years ago I would have told you and anyone else that you are a “conspiracy theorist”. Now the theory is proving true.

[gleeaikin]

My father was a union man and spent year in the late 40s and early 50s fighting Communist attempts to take over his and other unions in the New York/New Jersey port area. As a child I rarely saw him before I went to bed as all his spare time went into that fight. We also took a heavy financial hit because he was paid on a commission basis for sales, which were greatly diminished because he devoted so much time to fighting the communists. At times my mother would be crying at the front door when they came to turn off the phone or the electricity or the gas. Then I would give her savings from my piggy bank to pay the bill.

With regard to the current Wisconsin situation, the unions have agreed to give up money for pensions, etc. However, they are not willing to give up the right to negotiate on hours and working conditions. I have seen enough of managment abuses to consider I would not want to give up those rights either. I further heard that the governor had a balanced budget when he was elected, but cut taxes and other payments for the rich and now it is unbalanced. I don’t know if this is true or not. It is too late for me to research that tonight. My guy is grumbling at me.

[J Edgar]

I think the title is overly harsh - Klugmen has personal problems with reality contact probably in his case not reversible, whereas overall, CommieCrates have a problem with reality because they are Marxist true believes, a reversible disease

[piytar]

“I further heard that the governor had a balanced budget when he was elected, but cut taxes and other payments for the rich and now it is unbalanced.”

Yup, you’re a long time freeper who claims military service, which I thank you for if true (and despise you for if not).

But that kind of demscum propaganda prefaced with “I further heard” as cover is (hopefully) zot worthy.

[freekitty]

The real truth is they don’t care a fig about the working man.

[Wpin]

“Yup, you’re a long time freeper who claims military service, which I thank you for if true (and despise you for if not).

But that kind of demscum propaganda prefaced with “I further heard” as cover is (hopefully) zot worthy.”

Maybe you are just a paranoid person? Not very tolerant of others views are you? Maybe you hope the Admin Moderator will suspend this persons membership for what they opined? Hey, maybe you should just leave this community and write posts to yourself so you won’t have to see arguments you don’t agree with...

[Wpin]

The problem with collective bargaining is two fold. First, it is monopolistic power (in affect) exerted over the people. I think you will agree that our government should not force monopolies on us...

Second, oftentimes the negotiations these public unions have are with democrat politicians who rely on the unions to re-elect them. This is a huge scam right in front of our noses.

But consider, why is it okay for a group of individuals to collectively share special privileges and rights that others are not allowed? Why do they fear the people so much that they insist on monopolistic power over them?

[Seabeejas]

You are comparing apples to oranges.
Public unions are not private unions.
You have “further heard” a lie. The debt is real and was real when Doyle was governor. The tax cuts you are talking about were enacted in January and have NOT occurred yet.

[iopscusa]

Glee...sounds so ‘concern trollish’, especially the ‘piggy bank’ heart puller....maybe a deep mole troll?

[Thom Pain]

gleeaikin You should listen to Seabeejas. And, one thing more:

Tax rate cuts ALWAYS result in higher tax REVENUES. Higher tax rates ALWAYS result in lower tax REVENUES. Lastly, your info about the budget is wrong, and discussed everywhere you look (iff you look).

[lowbridge]

bump

[wita]

Yup, you’re a long time freeper who claims military service,

Huh? I’m not seeing what you apparently are seeing.

[newfreep]

" but cut taxes and other payments for the rich.."

That is typical liberal talking points and playing the class envy/warfare card.

In essence, reducing costs to business allows them to grow and create more jobs - pure Reagan conservatism that has been proven time and time again.

Re: the rich, I was never hired by a poor person but by thriving individuals who owned small business and by larger corporations. Taxes and regulations are waaaaay too high at this time...or any time.

[ripley]

“Paul Krugman epitomizes the current liberal divorce from reality....”

Liberalism/Progressivism IS a divorce from reality.

IMHO

[smartyaz]

It’s true! Walker did give tax cuts for the rich, it was reported by the state’s own Legislative Fiscal Bureau. Quote

“Our analysis indicates that for the three-year period, aggregate, general fund tax collections
will be $202.8 million lower than those reflected in the November/December reports. More than
half of the lower estimate ($117.2 million) is due to the impact of Special Session Senate Bill 2
(health savings accounts), Assembly Bill 3 (tax deductions/credits for relocated businesses), and
Assembly Bill 7 (tax exclusion for new employees).”

117M is Walker’s tax cuts for the rich!! This breaks down to roughly 40M/year which is obviously the cause of the 3.6B deficit.

Signed,
Union educated 8th grader, Madison

[piytar]

“Maybe you are just a paranoid person? Not very tolerant of others views are you?”

Um, the “Walker had a balanced budget but cut taxes for the rich” is a donk talking point and an outright fabrication, not a “view.”