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Can we bring about the end of austerity?
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It looks like President Obama took a cue from Greece. This week, the White House unveiled their 2016 budget, which would put an end to austerity and make corporate tax dodgers pay for stashing billions overseas.
 
Although this budget will be dead on arrival thanks to Republicans, it illustrates how much we could accomplish if we reverse the massive cuts that took place because of sequestration. President Obama's $4 trillion dollar budget includes spending levels that are 7 percent higher than current caps, and sizable investments in our military, research, and infrastructure. And, this return to per-sequestration spending levels would be completely paid for by taxing the billions of dollars that corporations have stashed in overseas banks.
 
A senior official from the White House explained that this plan would "put the good of middle-class families and our economy front and center, while also continuing progress on restoring fiscal discipline." They added, "You don't have to choose between those two things. You can, in fact, accomplish both."
 
Although many would argue that we shouldn't be worried about such things, this budget would keep the deficit under three percent of our GDP, and our national debt would continue to decline.
 
Republicans in Congress claim that we can't afford to make these investments in our great nation, but we can and we must. They understand these facts, but they'll do anything to prevent a tax increase on their corporate buddies - even if that means our nation continues to suffer under sequestration.
 
Just like the people of Greece, Americans know that it's time to put an end to austerity, and they have no problem with making corporate tax dodgers pay their fair share. It's time for Republican lawmakers to stop protecting the billionaires, pass this budget, and do what's best for the American people.
 
-Thom
 
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Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 7pm and 10pm... David O. Stewart, Madison's Gift: Five Partnerships That Built America / WA Independent Review of Books (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT or Free Speech TV, and catch past shows on Youtube)
 
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Friday's Daily Stack Daily Stack
Hour One: If it's Friday, it's "Brunch With Bernie"... the honorable Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) joins Thom with all the news from our nation's capitol and as always he'll be spending the hour taking your calls and answering your questions too...
Follow Bernie: Bernie Sanders Web Site Bernie Sanders Facebook Bernie Sanders Twitter Bernie Sanders YouTube campaign site.
Hear Senator Sanders speak at the PA Progressive Summit this Saturday 2/7 - click here for more info
Article: "This is Not Democracy" by Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Article: "STUDY: TV News Shows Largely Ignore Historic Trade Negotiations" by Craig Harrington & Brian Powell.
Article: "Sanders: New Trade Deal Would Hurt American Workers" by Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Article: "North American Free Trade Agreement" (NAFTA) by Wikipedia.
Article: "Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement" (CAFTA-DR) by Wikipedia. (CAFTA pre January 2004)
Video: Trickle Down - Bernie Sanders.
Article: "How a Two-Tier Economy Is Reshaping the U.S. Marketplace" by Nick Timiraos and Kris Hudson.
Article: "Trans-Pacific Partnership" (TPP) by Wikipedia.
Article: "The Week in Review Friday, February 6, 2015" by Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Hour Two: Anything Goes Friday!
Article: "Equal Protection Clause" (14th amendment) by Wikipedia.
Article: "13th Amendment",December 6, 1865 (end slavery)
Article: "14th Amendment, July 9, 1868 (citizenship, representatives, public debt)
Article: "15th Amendment" (right to vote), February 3, 1870
Article: "Gerrymandering" by Wikipedia.
Article: "16th Amendment. "The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration."
Case: "Buckley v. Valeo", 1976.
 
Talk Radio News Segment:
- Victoria Jones Twitter
Site: Governor Free Don Siegelman.
Article: "TRNS News Notes- 2/6" by Victoria Jones.
Article: "TRNS News Notes- 2/5" by Victoria Jones.

Hour Three: Anything Goes Friday!
Article: "William A. Clark" by Wikipedia.
Law: "Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002" (McCain-Feingold).
Article: "Silver Thursday" by Wikipedia.
Article: "Coal strike of 1902" by Wikipedia.
Book: "A Charge to Keep: My Journey to the White House" by George W. Bush, Mickey Herskowitz.
Movie: "American Sniper".
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