The Nation: Zoe Carpenter: The Progressive Resurgence

Source:The Nation

When Republicans took back control of the House of Representatives in 2011, thanks to the Tea Party, the Republican right-wing had all the momentum when it came to economic policy. As well as fiscal policy when it came to the debt and deficit and had the public behind him. Especially going up against a Democratic President in Barack Obama who was up for reelection a year later, who wasn’t very popular at the time with the economy going through low economic growth and high unemployment.

Which are obviously bad signs for an incumbent president to be facing who was elected with fifty-three percent of the popular vote. But that started to change by the summer of 2012 with a very divided Republican Party not able to find a presidential nominee that could unite the party, plus a poorly run presidential campaign by Mitt Romney and a strongly run presidential reelection campaign from President Barack Obama. Who made the 2012 elections a choice between the Democratic economic vision and the Republican Tea Party economic vision.

We are now with a new Congress, but with basically the same players in charge. With a Democratic President Barack Obama, with a stronger Democratic Senate led by Leader Harry Reid and with a Republican House with smaller numbers, but still with John Boehner as Speaker of the House. But again with another mid-term election with the control for Congress in play, I still believe in both chambers, but definitely the Senate is at stake with a strong possibility of even if Democrats retain control of the Senate, it could very well be with smaller numbers than their 55-45 margin right now.

And with House Republicans in a solid position to add to their sixteen seat majority. But I believe the party that best communicates and economic message that can win a majority support of the country, will decide who runs Congress next year, or will we still have a divided Congress. And that is assuming that the Affordable Care Act is working normally by then without the same problems. Or any new ones which is not a safe bet, but there is a realistic possibility that voters won’t make ObamaCare the issue by November.

The Democratic path to victory which at this point may mean just holding the Senate whatever happens in the House which I believe they are still the favorites to do, with how they are protecting Montana, West Virginia and Louisiana and with possible pickups in Kentucky and Georgia, is to make the 2014 elections about the economy. And say this is their vision for how the American economy moves forward and why Congressional and gubernatorial Democrats should be elected and reelected. And this is the Republican vision and why their’s is better.

And the Liberal Democratic economic vision should be about not trying to run the economy, or the economic, or personal affairs of Americans. But using government to empower Americans who need it to be able to live in economic freedom. And how things like infrastructure investment, a national energy policy built around using all of America’s energy resources and comprehensive immigration reform and a minimum wage increase benefits all of Americans so none of us would need government to take care of us.

President Obama has already done a very good job of communicating this message or a message very similar this to the people. With his build the economy from the middle out theme. The problem is Congress and not being able to get any of it acted on for the most part. Because with a Republican House and a strong Senate Republican minority. And that is the problem right there that Democrats as a party incumbents and candidates haven’t done a very good job of getting behind that message making these elections a choice. And 2014 will be another opportunity for them to unite and take on the Republican Party with a unified economic message.

The Nation: Sasha Abramsky: Arizona's Private Prisons: A Bad Bargain

Source:Free State MD

If you look at what the main role of government is anywhere, its to protect society in an effective way that’s cost-effective. Thats the main reason why we pay taxes anywhere. If government can’t protect society, then we would be stuck living in a constant state of anarchy. Where we wouldn’t be free to live our own lives, because of a constant state of danger. If you look at what the main role of the for-profit sector or corporations, its to make money. If they are not able to do that, then they go out of business. So if you’re running a private prison, your job is to make money for that prison. The more inmates you have, the more money you make at taxpayer expense. The more laws you have, the more inmates you’ll have to make the most money you can.

If government can’t protect its society, then they are useless. And we would live in a constant state of anarchy. Where they wouldn’t be able to perform any other public service. Because of all the constant lawlessness. If corporations can’t make money, then they become useless and go out of business. The main role of prisons is to protect society from criminals that are guilty and represent a threat to society. But then release them from prison, after they serve their sentence. And no longer represent a threat to society. If you’re running a private prison, its in your financial interest to have as many inmates in your prison as possible to make as much money as you can from taxpayers. And even keep them in prison longer then their original sentence.

I understand the feeling that states have to cut their corrections costs. And to save money on their corrections systems. Especially in these tough economic times, where budgets are very tight. But private prisons with their lobbyists lobbying for as many new laws as possible, with Prison Sentences as long as possible is not the way to do that. The way to do this is not to have what libertarian Professor Milton Friedman called “Bad Laws”. Laws that put people in prison for what they do to themselves. Rather than how they hurt society. Take our drug laws and Laws against gambling and prostitution to use as examples and then put back prison industries and put your inmates to work. So they can pay for their living expenses.

People shouldn’t be making money off of “Bad Laws”. Especially at taxpayer expense. And inmates shouldn’t be in prison longer so corporations can make profits. What we need to do with our prisons is have real rehabilitation, education and work. So our inmates can cover their Living expenses and work. And not have to come back to prison in the future.

The Nation: David Cole: Why President Obama’s Healthcare Law is Constitutional

Source:Free State MD

Fareed Zakaria, who’s a foreign affairs analyst for CNN, but who also host a Sunday talk show, Global Public Square, that does cover a lot of issues that relate to foreign affairs, but who’s show covers other issues and who’s someone I respect a lot, hosted a documentary last Sunday night. A week ago from yesterday about healthcare reform. Healthcare in America and healthcare around the World. Looking at what we do and what other countries do as well in healthcare. Was asked by Wolf Blitzer a couple of weeks ago, right before his documentary aired on CNN, whether he believes the Affordable Care Act is constitutional or not. Which Mr. Zakaria replied, “I don’t know that’s above my pay grade”. But that its essential to Healthcare Reform whether its constitutional or not. For us to be able to bring down our healthcare costs. Which is my position and I’ll explain why.

For us to bring down our healthcare costs, we have to be able to cover everybody. With either health insurance, a health savings account or people pay out-of-pocket. Or a package of all three of these things. As long we are all covering our share of our healthcare costs. And don’t past our healthcare costs on to others. Who pay for their healthcare. That’s one way we’ll be able to bring down healthcare premiums. And stop people from going to the emergency room every time they need healthcare, no matter what it’s for. We have to end uncompensated healthcare in America. To bring down our healthcare costs, or we are not going to be able to do that. And our costs will continue to rise.

I believe the Affordable Care Act is constitutional and again I’m not a lawyer. But I believe its constitutional for two reasons. Again whether you support the ACA or not and I would’ve voted for it, you gotta admit it’s a badly flawed law and badly written. Had they labeled the individual mandate a tax, instead of a penalty, Which it acts as a tax based on how its written, it’s just not called a tax, then the constitutionality of it would not be a question. Also had they put in a prevision in it, that would allow the Supreme Court to overturn it, but cherry pick it, meaning throw out what they believe is unconstitutional, but leave in the rest, then whether the individual mandate is constitutional or not, most of the rest of the law would be ruled constitutional.

Most of the Affordable Care Act is constitutional. Why, because the Federal Government clearly has the authority to regulate interstate commerce. And clearly has the constitutional authority to assists its citizens that need help. Like paying for their healthcare. And the Federal Government clearly has constitutional authority to tax its citizens. The main reasons why the ACA is at risk of being thrown out by the Supreme Court, it’s because it’s a badly written bill. Even the parts of it that are clearly constitutional.