middle class

Why does Russell Brand know more about austerity than most of Washington?

At a 50,000 person march on London’s Parliament Square expressing opposition to recent austerity measures by the coalition government, comedian Russell Brand spoke more truth about the struggle of working families than U.S. Republicans have this legislative session!

While Brand is talking about his hometown of Grays, Essex, he could just as easily be talking about parts of Ohio or Detroit where job losses have crippled vibrant cities where working families once thrived.

“Where I grew up … I felt like there were low expectations, low possibilities for people. People like me didn’t have a lot of opportunity. And I was presented with a marvelous glistening spectacle. I remember as a kid when they built Lakeside Shopping Center I felt it would be the best thing that happened in my town and my community. Little did I realize that what that would do is suck the life out of the town center, destroy the tithe of community and along with the erosion of jobs in that area … it brought to it’s knees a community of proud working people. This is an issue that affects the 100%.”

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Colbert wants to know if Pelosi has naked pictures of Boehner.

Pelosi considers Colbert a friend… Colbert considers Pelosi a nemesis. The two tangled on the Report this week. Pelosi appeared in efforts to encourage Colbert Nation viewers to support the Middle Class Jumpstart, because “when women succeed, America succeeds.” The crowd went wild! Because… who doesn’t love a populist message that supports women and families, right?

“When will you start jumping on the middle class?” Stephen wanted to know.

The goal is to pass a bill to stop giving tax breaks to corporations who ship their jobs overseas and instead give tax breaks to companies who keep good paying jobs right here at home. The second piece of this plan is to build roads, bridges, broadband networks, and water systems by closing tax loopholes for special interests in the tax code.

In true Colbert form, the conversation then devolved into that line few can cross with the former House Speaker.

“Do you have naked photos of John Boehner doing something?” Stephen asked with a smirk. “And if you do, is the tan uniform?”

Part 1:

Part 2:

Via the House Dems site on Middle Class Jumpstart:

‘MAKE IT IN AMERICA’ – BETTER JOBS AT HOME

  • Republicans voted to give tax breaks to companies that ship American jobs overseas
  • Democrats will introduce the “21st Century Make It In America Act” to provide tax incentives for creating good-paying jobs here at home
  • Republicans blocked legislation to make long-term investments in our nation’s aging highway system and opposed creating clean energy jobs of the future
  • House Democrats will pass the “Build America Bonds Act” to boost job growth and modernize America’s infrastructure by building roads, bridges, broadband technology and investing in clean energy initiatives – paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes.
  • Republicans refused to raise the minimum wage but gave massive tax giveaways to corporate special interests and the ultra-wealthy
  • House Democrats will pass the “Fair Minimum Wage Act” and the “CEO/Employee Pay Fairness Act” to deny CEOs the ability to claim tax deductions for pay over $1 million unless they give their employees a raise

WHEN WOMEN SUCCEED, AMERICA SUCCEEDS

  • House Republicans refused to ensure equal pay for equal work, and voted to reduce access to child care and against paid sick leave
  • House Democrats will pass the “Paycheck Fairness Act” to guarantee both women and men get equal pay for equal work, pass the “Healthy Families Act” to ensure paid sick leave for men and women, and increase access to affordable child care
  • House Republicans voted to weaken domestic violence laws that protect women and voted to defund Planned Parenthood
  • House Democrats will strengthen the “Violence Against Women Act” and will expand women’s access to comprehensive health care and family planning.

AFFORDABLE EDUCATION TO KEEP AMERICA #1

  • House Republicans voted to pile more debt on the backs of students and families by preventing Americans from refinancing their student loans and by voting to cut Pell Grants
  • House Democrats will pass the “Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act” to help Americans refinance their college loans to new, lower rates, and will increase access to Pell Grants for higher education
  • House Republicans voted to limit access to quality early childhood education
  • House Democrats will pass the “Strong Start for America’s Children Act” to increase access to effective early childhood learning

 

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Elizabeth Warren Just Told Off Chris Matthews! “This isn’t Magic. We Actually Know How To Do This”

Senator Elizabeth Warren has a new autobiography out about growing up in Oklahoma and how the economy was such that it allowed for the American Dream. Warren’s book tour has focused on how that isn’t the way things are now a days, where families can’t pull themselves up from their bootstraps anymore because they can’t even afford bootstraps. Or an education to know what bootstraps were used for back when the American Dream was alive and well.

Good progressive and populist message. This should have been a total puff piece for Matthews. But Matthews, a man from working class roots himself, passionately implores Warren to give America the hope and the answers, and she delivered in true Elizabeth Warren style:

Matthews: “What can and will the Democratic Party do (since this is the party that wants to do it) to restore the hope of a meaningful, family building employment, that seems to be gone in so much of the country?”

Warren: “Well, you know, this isn’t magic. We actually know how to do this. We did this for nearly half a century, coming out of the great depression until about 1980. We made the investments together that helped build opportunity for all of us.”

“I went to a commuter college that cost fifty dollars a semester. It opened a million doors for me. How could I go to a school that cost fifty dollars a semester? Because I grew up in a America that said, we collectively, all of us, are going to make those investments in education so that any kid, who works hard, who plays the rules, who tries to get out there and make something of herself, is going to have a fighting chance to make that happen.”

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