Hillary's Econ 101

Posted: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 12:43 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Democrats, Economy

From NBC's Carrie Dann
Under the newly-minted slogan "Shared Prosperity," Clinton outlined a nine-point economic overhaul plan this morning that was rife with barbs at the Bush Administration and big business. "Over the past six years," she chided, "it's as though we've gone back to the era of the robber barons." Clinton's plan -- delivered this morning in primary state New Hampshire -- targets ballooning CEO pay, Bush's tax cuts, excessive outsourcing, and "corporate welfare" as the culprits behind income inequality. Striking the tone of an Econ 101 professor at times, she described current trends in global business as "trickle-down economics, but without the trickle."

In her address, Clinton pointed to the individual pages of her policy playbook as solutions to America's economic problems. She proposed that drains on the high-education workforce could be eased by her plan for universal pre-K; sluggishness in social mobility for the middle class could be fought via her support for pro-union legislation; and unemployment could be stemmed by a bump in new jobs created under a Clinton energy plan. Frequently highlighting her policy's "progressiveness," Clinton was unabashed about the breadth of her proposed overhauls. "So many people I talk to want to hit the restart button on the 21st Century and redo it the right way," she said, "And I agree with them."

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Comments

At some point in her address, she reportedly also said we need shared prosperity rather than an on-your-own system. As I posted earlier, if there's a shred of American spirit left, she just killed her campaign, along with any other Democrat who doesn't denounce the comment. But... not sure there is a shred remaining.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 1:08 PM)

Econ 101 is one thing she should try to graduate. Freedom of Enterprise 101 is another and what Hillary flunked in her college days. Nice try Hillary but start talking to some local american people for God's sake, who are not from some defunct socialist country. Or talk to some from socialist countries who came here to escape the socialist madness.

Danny Taylor (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 1:09 PM)

Sorry Hillary. If you're going to follow the path forged by your husband, you're not what's needed in the White House. You speak of income inequity. Don't you think Bill's support of Republican so-called 'Welfare Reform,' and NAFTA/GATT treaties have been major culprits? Like your husband, you Talk the Talk during campaigns, but refuse to Walk the Walk when you govern. We don't need another 'Republican Light' in the White House. There's a lot of damage to be cleaned up from 20 years of rule from the Extremist Right/GOP.

Steven in Wisconsin (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 1:12 PM)

ok, Democrate policy... Give the world away and make you dependant on governent. Government knows what is best for you. You will take what the government gives you and you will thank them for it. AND... When the government can't do it, either blame Republicans (their fault), Tax payers (Your not paying enough), Business (Your trying to make money?) or anyone else that they can. Sounds like trouble!

John Voorhees (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 1:24 PM)

although I don't think pure socialisim is good, neither is unregulated capatalism which is what this country operates under currently, the free market is and has always been a hoax in this country,all markets are controled by some group or another,problem is we now allow big business to operate as it sees fit, which means the average joe gets screwed, business has to be forced to share the profit, and allways will

MK,MO (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 1:41 PM)

John Voorhees, the great repub gravy train for the wealthy is nearing it's end, everyone will have to kick in a few bucks for the good of the nation as a whole, as it should be, it won't be as painfull as you think,like the doc allways says,it's not going to hurt but you may feel a little pressure

MK,MO (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 1:53 PM)

Unregulated capitalism? Where have you been? Some industries are drowning in regulations like the logging industry, the auto industry, the movie industry, the dairy industry, and I'm sure others can name more. As for sharing the profits willingly? Buy some stock in a company. But don't let me start a business, work my arse off to make it profitable, and then tell me I am to give my profits to you when you did nothing for them. There is an old allegory that tells a tale of a barnyard where a chicken or whatever is baking some bread. She asked for help in gathering the ingredients. Nobody wanted to help. She asked for help in preparing it for the oven. Nobody helped. She asked for help in cooking it. Still nobody volunteered to help. When it was done cooking and ready for eating? The entire barnyard was lined up and waiting for their piece of the bread. I believe the story ends with the chicken telling them all to scram and sent them away empty handed.

Danny Taylor (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 2:05 PM)

So Mr. Voorhees, how have we done under republican rule. Absolutely horrible and getting worse by the minute. Whats going on right now? Duh!!

Conn. (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 2:05 PM)

You got that right MK...AS always.

H P Boston (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 2:07 PM)

We have unregulated capitalism, MK? I'm sorry to disagree, but that's not correct. We have all sorts of regulations in terms of how companies operate, how they report profits, how they hire, how they fire, how safe their products are... Plus we have all the anti-trust laws to punish those who compete too well. We also have government manipulation of prices in some industries. They don't operate as they like. That said, I currently pay about a quarter of my income to the government. Just exactly how much more is Hillary Clinton or any other candidate suggesting I contribute in the name of prosperity sharing?

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 2:11 PM)

Hillary speaking thru the Edwards mouthpiece. Sorry Hillary, there is still that war vote and the 45% disapproval rating. Not saying I couldn't vote for you....but I hope the Dems get a different nominee. I don't want to have to hold my nose again when I vote.

Al, KS (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 2:18 PM)

If you don't like the way a business is run, don't buy it's products. Very simple and that is how we control business in the US. Government should keep it's fingers out of the pie.

Florida Fox (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 2:19 PM)

I hope she gets it done. I'm tired of being worried about layoffs because some fat CEO wants a 5 million dollar raise. Like they need it. Then whenever someone talks about starting a union, they are the first to go. It seems like the 1900s all over again. Something needs to be done.

Steve Smith (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 2:19 PM)

bush and his rich friends want total control in all aspects of life, religious, monetary and militarily over everyone so that they and only they decide what anyone and everyone can say or do or even think. Kinda like any and all totalitarians be it nazi or commie or one world religion. It aint gonna work out that way tho.

mikeeg,abdn,wa (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 2:39 PM)

No wonder the GOP will keep the white house in 08. With ideas like Hillary's, this is going to be the GOP in a landslide. I still do not understand what is so bad about people making a buck. The people who make the high dollar got there because they are so much smarter then othe others. To use a baseball term, this is like the guy who is batting.125 and makes $100,000 a years and the guy sho is batting .390 and making $5,000,000 a year. The low end would love to be making what the high end is getting. The only problem is that he needs to get into the batting cage and learn how to hit the ball. He starts to cry because he feels he isn't making as much money as the high end. Well, people, that is called getting off your butt, put down the chicken wings and budweiser and get hot! Nobondy is going to love you or even give you a dime's worth of respect if you don't at least show some movement in making your life better! And don't even come back at me with the goverment angle. The goverment doesn't care whether you have a 13" screen or a 42" screen in your bedroom. It is up to each and every individual to get off their cans and get with the program. Liberals have this way of making all the hard work you put into your life seem so meaningless.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 2:39 PM)

mikeeg,abdn,wa (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 2:39 PM)

I sincerely believe that Sen.Hillary Clinton, if she is elected, she will become one of the most female president in the history of the world. She really understands personal values and responsibility of the people of this greatest nation, she will find the courage to fight for what is morally right, in setting the cource to reaffirm our greatness as a God-honoring nation and people.!!!

Akber Kassam, New-York City, New York. (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 2:44 PM)

I'd call letting lobbyists write law regarding how they operate "fascism," but I'd be willing to let it go as "unregulated capitalism," and th eusually right wing noise machine calling "restrictions" such as "do any damn thing you want" as being "regulated," well - par for this course. IF ONLY government kept it's "finger out of the pie." Government is keeping everyone but industry "away from the pie." 99 times out of 100 they deny there IS a pie.

please stop BSing yourselves (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 3:38 PM)

so I have to assume from the same regurgatated repub whimpering I'm hearing that the richest nation on the planet should keep shrinking the middle class,allow millions of americans to go without health insurance,just so the fat cats can make more money than they can count, nobody is suggesting business not make a profit, I am suggesting they make a fair profit, the fair part seems to be the problem, the concentration of wealth at the top needs adjusting, the guy who gets up and does the work everyday no longer gets his fair share no matter how you cats spin it, get together and come up with some new arguments, look at it this way you guys have enjoyed several years of being able to rape the working man unquestioned make a video tape of it so you can look back at the good old days, cause changes are coming

MK,MO (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 4:00 PM)

You people really scare me with your socialistic ideas. I have worked hard and been frugal. You are not entitled to my savings just because you are too lazy or too stupid to do the same.

Florida Fox (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 4:50 PM)

Currently, we only have the option of bad or worse. It doesn't really matter which side you're on because the other side will not support any ideas (policy, regulations, laws, etc...) other than thier own. The US would be much better served by having a viable third party. That way, two parties could form a coalition government and get something done. Doesn't anyone but me think it is a sad state of affairs when every blog that you visit eventually degrades into name calling and hate mongering toward each other. Especially when it comes to discussing our future leaders and thier ideas. Come on people, we are all in this together.

Craig Coffman (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 5:10 PM)

I agree with MK. The number of people who make a "living wage" seems to be shrinking. A good, honest day's work doesn't pay for nearly as much as it used to.

Carrie, NW Iowa (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 5:17 PM)

MK is not saying that people shouldn't be rich or enjoy their wealth. It's just that there are people and companies who would do anything to show a profit. From cutting health care to layoffing off thousands of people. Instead of making their products better or inovating. Then CEOs give themselves millions while the average working guy just see no raise and higher and higher cost of living with no end in sight.

Steve Smith (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 5:32 PM)

Hillary is a singularly disgusting person. It is truly frightful to think there is even a remote possibility she could be elected as President, USA.

John Doe, Cheyenne, WY (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 5:34 PM)

Basically Florida Fox is saying we should just return to the law of the jungle... if you are too stupid or retarded to survive you should be eaten by the lions.

Steve Smith (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 5:38 PM)

Pleae, let's just all keep fighting like cretins til theres nothing left to fight over, then maybe we CAN start again with a clean slate, because we'll HAVE to. Although, as ever, there will be the opportunists who'ar always ready to take their slice right off the top. We're only human after all. If lions, bears andsuch ran the world, they'd stop when they had enough. Of course some never get enough.

TT ,IL (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 6:09 PM)

Whats wrong with socialism? Most of the countries around the world are socialist and provide universal health care for their people? If our system of capitalism was so good, why do we need to borrow money from the socialist states?

mm, ma (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 7:39 PM)

Danny, your ananlogy is a little off. The Little Red Hen wouldn't share with those who wouldn't help her. Wouldn't some kind of tax or maybe getting rid of tax breaks for those who don't need it constitute "helping"? Unemployment is way down, a little over 4% now, so people are paying income taxes. Prices are going up and up on everything from groceries, gas, car tags, property taxes, etc. Paying higher prices, wouldn't that constitute "helping"? If the Little Red Hen is government and corporate America, I'd say it's getting plenty of help baking its bread. It just doesn't want to share at all. Our government now panders to the special interests of big business, FACISM. It doesn't care about the middle class working people. Is that the American way?

Jane, Southern Mississippi (Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2007 9:59 PM)

florida fox, nobody is interested in beating you out of your savings, my point is there are a lot of people who I don't consider lazy or stupid that are working hard everyday that should be making enough money to get by that are not anymore, due to the fact they're employers are putting all the profit in there saving accounts instead of sharing some of it with the worker as it should be. yours is the typical repub response, I got mine and if you didn't get yours your stupid and lazy, wealth shouldn't be obtained by screwing some working stiff out of it, that's not earning anything, enjoy your hard earned savings

MK,MO (Sent Wednesday, May 30, 2007 9:20 AM)

Socialism is really helping Hugo Chavez now isn't it? It really makes life so much better in Cuba doesn't it? Those people in North korea must wake up everyday jumping up and down don't they? If Socialism is so dang hot, then there is nothing in our laws that say you can't leave and go over there!

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Wednesday, May 30, 2007 9:31 AM)

When "we're all in it together," the "it" is invariably the toilet. The Soviets were all in it together. The Cubans are all in it together. The North Koreans are all in it together. These are not models our country should emulate. "We're all in it together" invariably leads to punishing success and rewarding failure. Any country that punishes success and rewards failure is doomed to fail.

John Hutchison, Thayer MO (Sent Wednesday, May 30, 2007 10:37 AM)

MK, then they should get another job. Sorry, but I'm not tolerant of your arguments. Though it pains me to agree with Jerry, socialism has never worked. What works is people looking out for themselves. Yes, there should be some safety nets for folks who, for whatever reasons, can't look out for themselves. In that sense, we already have some socialistic/communistic aspects in our country, and many other Western nations have more than we do. I'm not saying we need to return to pure capitalism. But if we remove personal incentive (and personal responsibility) altogether through nanny-stateism, we won't fare any better than the societies that already have seen their economies hollowed out to this well-intended but misguided idea.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Wednesday, May 30, 2007 10:39 AM)

I don't not know how some people can call others stupid and lazy for not making a six digit income. For instance, teachers, social workers, caseworkers, etc., are all severely underpaid and all these jobs require AT LEAST a college degree. I would not even consider anyone who works in either of these professions stupid or lazy. Our economy flourished under Clinton in the 90s when the wealthiest of Americans were paying more taxes. The simply fact is that we need a president who is going to be strong fiscally to balance the budget and create new forms of money without taking money away from other under funded programs. Clinton or Obama would be a great choice for the presidency in 08, god help us if any of the GOP candidates are again elected.

Robert, VaBeach, VA (Sent Wednesday, May 30, 2007 12:58 PM)

Jerry - N Korea is communist not socialist, Chavez is from venezuela, not cuba. , better get ur geography, history, politics etc right. If u don't know ur facts, then don't blog and occupy the real estate.

mm, ma (Sent Wednesday, May 30, 2007 8:43 PM)

MM---better read the line again and this time put your glasses on.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Thursday, May 31, 2007 12:19 AM)

When they figure the unemployment rate, do they look at the number of jobs or the number of people who have jobs? If all they look at is the number of jobs, the unemployment numbers would look better because there are lots of people who have two jobs, some have more. How do they figure the unemployment rate?

Jane, Southern Mississippi (Sent Thursday, May 31, 2007 12:56 PM)

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