Rachel Maddow: Why Elections Matter, In One Graph
Rachel Maddow talked to Ezra Klein about his column at the Washington Post and the interview is pretty well summed up with this picture from Ezra's column. Elections matter because everyone does better when Democrats are in office and not just the rich. You can say you're sour on Democrats and that's fine, but as Rachel noted, it's obvious which party is only looking out for the rich and only the rich and little things like facts and track records matter when either party says what they're going to do, compared to what they have done.
Right now the Republicans have a pretty clear track record on who they're looking out for and it ain't you unless you are one of the richest among us.
Why elections matter, in one graph:
I've been trying to figure out how to link to Timothy Noah's series on inequality, which falls under the rubric of "things you should read that I have nothing to say about." One thing I can say is that Noah, Catherine Mulbrandon and Slate have put an enormous amount of work into creating visuals to accompany the articles, and the results are really impressive. This graph, for instance, is the best visualization I've seen of Larry Bartels’s striking data showing how different income groups do under Republican and Democratic presidentsI've been trying to figure out how to link to Timothy Noah's series on inequality, which falls under the rubric of "things you should read that I have nothing to say about." One thing I can say is that Noah, Catherine Mulbrandon and Slate have put an enormous amount of work into creating visuals to accompany the articles, and the results are really impressive. This graph, for instance, is the best visualization I've seen of Larry Bartels’s striking data showing how different income groups do under Republican and Democratic presidents:
Much more here.
Republicans always ruin everything. That's why they always 'wag the dog' - create a crisis to avert our attention.
Let's just keep the Republicans away from politics for good.
They will just have to get used to it!
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
....always has the truth and facts on our side. I'm baffled why the facts don't matter on Election Day.
This is a great illustration of who we need to vote for.
Everyone needs to vote Democratic, period. Even Richie Rich!
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
If the wealthy only cared for extending their wealth, this would be true and our country's politics would be pretty different. The important thing to bring away from this is that the wealth are not only interested in growing their wealth, but in simultaneously keeping the poor poor. A larger income gap makes them richer relatively; a small income gap is bad for not only their finances but their power, especially political power and influence.
taken the only way to become richer is for others to become poorer.
That is not what the graph shows. When wealth is shared all of the percentiles do better.
'Talk to the hand'
(to a certain extent) only because the graphs go up to 2005. I think you'd find I'm correct if data was included up to the present.
Power.
....The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then get elected and prove it.--P.J. O'ROURKE, Holidays in Hell
If youth is wasted on the young, then money is definitely wasted on the rich.
I appreciate the quote--it's one reason why, 25 or so years ago, I purchased multiple copies of Holidays in Hell and gave them to everyone on my Christmas list.
Problem is that those pursuing candidacy must appeal to the Republican rich to garner campaign funds and more importantly, campaign advertising, and once elected, they become employees of the campaign funders instead of the voters.
If elections matter so much, you'd think more journalists would cover Election Integrity issues. Especially after the 2000, 2004, and recent election in South Carolina where an unknown dude named Greene won.
Mike Connell died before being scheduled to testify in the 2004 election fraud case in Ohio. Not too many people talk about that. Why is that? Do the journalists in our society today feel powerless to deal with this stuff?
Just wondering if our elections are so important or "matter" as Rachel Maddow says.
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Ya. they just don't seem to have their hearts in it any more, except for the occasional human interest story. Never anything that could affect their corporate masters... Never anything to expose the extent of the corruption in politics.
For example, i was excited when Cooper Anderson announced a "keeping them honest" segment a few years ago. I thought certain he was referring to politicians. Turns out he was referring to anything but, including common criminals that the police are supposed to take care of. What's the use in that when you're a national journalist?
Then it was the "truthfulness quotient" as of the last election. Terrific idea!
When things looked real bad for the Republicans CNN resorted to apples vs. oranges false equivalence to even things up, and then it died.
Campbell Brown dedicated her hour to honesty, for about two weeks...
I'm definitely disappointed, but won't be fooled again. There needs to be a major attitude adjustment before things will change on media TV.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
Keith Obermann, Rachel Maddow, Ed Schultz? Just to name a few.
....The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then get elected and prove it.--P.J. O'ROURKE, Holidays in Hell
If youth is wasted on the young, then money is definitely wasted on the rich.
...because their employers are conservatives who will fire them if they do. Remember Dan Rather?
....The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then get elected and prove it.--P.J. O'ROURKE, Holidays in Hell
If youth is wasted on the young, then money is definitely wasted on the rich.
because they project where they hope to be (or think they deserve to be), despite the fact that they're not members of The Club. The 'Thugs in power continue to laugh all the way to the bank, just like a whore does at a john...
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
But there are people who are wealthy who want to do the right thing. I've read about them. Many have contributed to help education, the poor and want to stop the madness that's been going on since reagan started this mess.
....The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then get elected and prove it.--P.J. O'ROURKE, Holidays in Hell
If youth is wasted on the young, then money is definitely wasted on the rich.
easier to understand doesn't it? Republicans have controlled the Executive branch for 20 of the past 30 years. And half controlled it for the other 10. It's really quite amazing things aren't a hell of a lot worse for us working people.
before, but I still think graph reading may be too difficult for teabagers and other republicans. I wonder if someone did one that's pictures only? And primary colors only, we wouldn't want to confuse the poor buggers.
Well, tea baggers and Repulican die hards yes :), but not necessarily the conservative amongst us.
Money talks. Realizing this information might break the Republican spell that real conservatives have been under since Regan.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
Sometimes it's the power that drives them. Some of these people like Carly Fiorina who has poured millions of her own money to run against Sen. Boxer for a job that pays a lot less than what fiona is pouring in. She wants power.
....The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then get elected and prove it.--P.J. O'ROURKE, Holidays in Hell
If youth is wasted on the young, then money is definitely wasted on the rich.
Those people can't be reasoned with. They are ignorance and have been programed to hate anything that is beneficial to the majority of the American people. Remember the so called Town Hall meetings for the Health Care Reform?
Their minds have been poisoned and they will never even try to see the facts.
....The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then get elected and prove it.--P.J. O'ROURKE, Holidays in Hell
If youth is wasted on the young, then money is definitely wasted on the rich.
...can't afford MS Office 2010. It's wonderful, though, to see PowerPoint being utilized as a populist tool. A few more of those graphs, and the GOP might ban MS andOO.
to Justin Coussoule, John Boehner's opponent:
http://www.coussouleforcongress.com/
You've never heard of Coussoule because the Democrats are using Boehner as an 'example' but not putting any money into his opponent's campaign.
It's almost like the DCC wants Boehner to win, even though 70% of his constituents are against him.
It's time for a new title for Boehner, all right -- House Minority Loser.
Brava Susan, keep posting your information in other places like mikemalloy.com/ facebook.com/ twitter and other places to get the word out to every one.
....The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then get elected and prove it.--P.J. O'ROURKE, Holidays in Hell
If youth is wasted on the young, then money is definitely wasted on the rich.
Heather you've been working overtime today. 'Appreciate it. Thanks.
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Heather. This is exactly the sort of things on which rational voting judgements are based
Hasa Diga Eebowai
versus the world and Republicans verus Democrats. Because I think the republicans goal is to weaken America while making China stronger. They also seem to work very hard to transfer America's wealth to Saudia Arabia.
It would seem that the precious 2% that the Repugs represent have given up on the American dream.
They must have decided there are diminished returns of exploitation on North Americans and it is time to exploit other work forces.
There are wealthy people who care about the American dream, and bravo to them. But make no mistake, there are pressures from the right wing spectrum that desires to diminish the middle class, and attacking unions and regulations that protect the rights of the individual is part of crushing the American dream. The Rust Belt that stretches across the midwest and mid-atlantic was not a tragedy for the 2%, they abandoned America for greener pastures. Diminishing returns does not look good on the bottom line when you can exploit labor in another country for pennies on the dollar.
The worst part about it is that WE betray ourselves by purchasing brand name items that are made outside of our country. My family was loyal to Stanley tools, whenever a male member of the family had a birthday or was married, he could expect stanley tools......never again,never again.
I used to enjoy Nabisco products, especially fig newtons.....never again,never again.
We cannot make a difference if we are not united in our outrage at the abandonment of OUR American Dream. American Consumers drive the markets, and the markets are feeding us crap and convincing us that it is ice cream. WE need to change this formula.
'Talk to the hand'
I thought I would ask, but I'm sure you aren't on here now. Stanley Tools was a giant employer in that part of Connecticut but like other giant employers they were enticed to move their business to a country with cheap labor and cheap quality while raking in the billions.
You have the right idea to not use these products any more. There are still products made in the USA like Anchor Hocking, Correll, to name a couple. Perhaps we should push harder for buy American Made Products, make it our slogan.
....The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then get elected and prove it.--P.J. O'ROURKE, Holidays in Hell
If youth is wasted on the young, then money is definitely wasted on the rich.
The elected officials who think only of their pockets being lined refuses to think about the consequences they are causing this country. It's greed doing this.
....The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then get elected and prove it.--P.J. O'ROURKE, Holidays in Hell
If youth is wasted on the young, then money is definitely wasted on the rich.
....because as everyone knows, pies R square.
It should be obvious to most that under Dem leadership from the 40's to the mid 70's, this country was the leader in manufacturing, and advanced American metallurgy, and metal forging, helped build every bridge, decking, ships, vehicle, and sky scraper, in this nation.
Since Ronald Reagan opened the door to, "trickle down" economics instead of "a rising tide lifts all boats" we have moved to the brink of the precipice.
The Roman Empire collapsed from within, not from without, as most are led to believe.
Well guess what sports fans, a redistribution of wealth is a cogent formula for a healthy economy. The other side can give it any label that they wish: communism,socialism,stealing,liberalism,etc..., but the Repugs have sold their soul on the myth that ultra-wealthy overlords will adhere to the call of trickle down for the good of all.....bullshit!
Until all of our swords are tempered from the same forge, we will not be joined against a common foe.
'Talk to the hand'
the wealthy will get their tax cuts.
the con is on for votes for nov.
the wealthy have paid off the right politicans to get their tax cuts.
but the dems have to pretend to be for the middle class.
mark my word the wealthy one per centers will get their tax cuts.
the con is on again by the demos.
two months before election and he is back with the same get tough thing.
his actions dont match his words.
follow the money then you will see who both parties represent.
and it aint the middle class or the poor.
the tax cuts by screwing seniors on Social Security.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-eskow/defici...
http://firedoglake.com/2010/07/01/breaking-pe...
Or just a bitter person who believes only in the worst.
There are too many of us who are angry and who are emailing, calling, faxing or using snail mail to tell our elected officials that we are fed up with the wealthy being parasites, and it's about time they started paying their fair share.
Now I'm sure there are senators and representatives living in red states who can get away with ignoring the minority and more intelligent of their constituents, but there are also many who live in Blue states or mixed states who may realize that their constituents are fed up with the gop and corporatist dems. scr*wing up our country, and they will listen and vote against the tax cuts for the wealthy.
Let's hope intelligence wins this one.
....The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then get elected and prove it.--P.J. O'ROURKE, Holidays in Hell
If youth is wasted on the young, then money is definitely wasted on the rich.
"Researcher" is a GOP/Teabagger or bitter. Could it be that he states the truth? Just asking.
They live on sound bytes and FEAR and HATE, thinking is NOT a option. Why in the discussion of the Dems' v the Anti American Hate and FEAR Mongering COWARDLY republicans, I ask a simple question how many in this discussion make OVER $ 250,000 dollars, heads drop, shake , sighs and mumbles nnooo, then why are you fighting the Obama Tax cut, duh it raises Taxes DUH!
Taking into account the last 2 years of the Clinton Administration and the WORST 8 years of the Supreme Court Appointed WAR CRIMMINAL bush administration that is a total of 10 YEARS of FAILED economic growth, jobs, and personnal financial grotth in fact under the ANTI American republican administration more people went into proverty then at anytime since the Great Depression, under the Anti American republican administration even today with AMERICANS needing jobs, small businesses needing money these ANTI American republicans still, LIE, MANIPULATE and STEAL from the American people under the guise of help if you are a IDIOT MORON or CLOWN vote for these MORONS because they are out to enslave you with debt hold you hostage for a job and DEFICATE on your Ideology.
It is very easy to tell when a COWARDLY Anti American republican is lying his/ her lips are moving, they NEVER have America first ONLY the corporations.
Just remember this under the COWARDLY Anti American policies AMERICA has now been reduced to THIRD World STATUS I spit on what COWARDLY Anti America republican tea baggers represent and stand for.
There are times I feel the way you do, but we have to be calm and try to persuade our fellow Americans to vote for their own self interest.
It won't be easy and many of those people learn things the hard way if at all.
....The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then get elected and prove it.--P.J. O'ROURKE, Holidays in Hell
If youth is wasted on the young, then money is definitely wasted on the rich.
I'd like to see this graph published in every gossip magazine sold at check outs in every store across America ...
The one thing I have discovered over the years is that the teabagging/gop can't think for themselves. They depend on fnc and other right wing manipulators to tell them what to think.
I believe many of the people in Germany had the same problem, otherwise we would never had WWII.
....The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then get elected and prove it.--P.J. O'ROURKE, Holidays in Hell
If youth is wasted on the young, then money is definitely wasted on the rich.
...or at least your eyes. If the greedy would only do that they would see they would gain much more if they looked at the chart and saw that they did much better when the rest of us did better.
If the middle to the lower end of that graph went down so did the upper end. If we can't spend they won't get the money they crave so badly.
Pity the teabagging/gop aren't smart enough to see this.
....The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then get elected and prove it.--P.J. O'ROURKE, Holidays in Hell
If youth is wasted on the young, then money is definitely wasted on the rich.
There is scarcely a better graph to illustrate the failure of favorite Republican economic philosophy and policy (Supply-Side/Trickle Down, Reaganomics) relative to the typical Democratic economic philosophy and policy alternative (Demand-Side/Trickle Up).
Note that it covers 58 post-WWII-Era years where Dems were president for 25 of those years while Republicans were president for 33. So Republicans had more than their share of opportunity to show us how their (still) favorite economic philosophy and policies outperform that of their Democratic oppostion to improve the lives of most Americans. But, clearly, they don't. We can only imagine how much more dramatic the difference would be if the research had included those last 3 horrific George W. Bush years.
Also remember that while the Democrats have been busy demonstrably outperforming Republicans on improving economic conditions for most Americans time and time again, Republicans have been busy accusing Democrats of "destroying the America we Patriots love with their Socialist/Marxist/Fascist/Nazi agenda bent on killing your Grandma, enslaving your children and turning all of us into Muslims!...or Atheists!...or Commies!!"
That graph is the reason I chuckle whenever someone tries to illustrate how "noble" they are when they assure me they vote "for the person, not the Party". uh-huh. Obviously, the "person" WILL revert to the historic economic (and war) philosophy and policies their Party espouses and it'll be that Party's economic philosophy and policies that will prevail as a result of their "noble" vote "for the person, not the Party".
In that respect, it is foolish to vote "for the person, not the Party" when a graph like the one above demonstrates conclusively that it is that person's Party's favorite philosophy and policies that will produce better or worse results and not what is in his heart or what he says in a campaign.
You like those blue graph lines better than the red ones? Then vote Democrat all the way down the ticket REGARDLESS of what the "person" behind the (D) or (R) has convinced you is in their heart.
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