Using our tax dollars to pay for the things our country needs is not giving away "free stuff." But, that's the line we keep hearing in response to our push to expand social programs.

When we talk about things like free college, expanding Social Security, or expanding Medicare to cover all Americans, the typical Republican reply is that we simply can't afford such big ideas. But, those same people never bat an eyelash when we spend astronomical amounts on war, tax cuts, or corporate welfare.

According to recent article over at USUnCut.com, expanding health care, investing in new public works programs, offering free college at public universities, and enacting paid family leave would cost our nation an estimated one and a half trillion dollars.

But, we could easily pay for such programs by eliminating the big government handouts to Wall Street, Big Oil, defense contractors, and other corporate welfare recipients. And, that doesn't even consider how much the progressive proposals mentioned earlier will stimulate our economy by putting more money in the pockets of Americans who will go out and spend.

Ever since the Reagan presidency, we've been told that government is the problem and that slashing taxes is the solution. Then, the rich and the powerful rigged the system to make sure that government is still large enough to hand out corporate welfare and that taxes only cut for those at the top.

The fact of the matter is that We, The People are the government, and we get to decide how to spend our tax dollars. We can either have a government that supports the billionaires, or we can have a government that works for average Americans.

The only "free stuff" we can't afford is the pile of conservative talking points designed to make us believe that we shouldn't want a government that works for us.

-Thom

(What do you think? Tell us here.)

Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 7pm and 10pm... Is There a Link Between Talc and Ovarian Cancer? (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT or Free Speech TV, and catch past shows on Youtube)

Free excerpt, read book for free at Truthout, buy the book!

Thursday's Daily Stack 

 

In for Thom today... Progressive Talkers Danielle & Shane-O.

 

Event: Minnesota Friday, Feb 26th, 2016 "Blue State Ball 2016!".

Article: "White House considers Nevada Gov. Sandoval for Supreme Court" by Mary Clare Jalonick.

Article: "Brian Sandoval for supreme court seat is 'downright absurd', liberal activists say" by David Smith.

Article: "Stunning New Reuters Poll Shows Bernie Sanders Making Huge National Gains" by Tom Cahill.

Article: "Hagel confirmed as U.S. defense secretary, bruised after political fight" by Halimah Abdullah, February 27, 2013.

Article: "Eric Cantor, Paul Ryan & Kevin McCarthy: Plot To Sabotage US Economy with Frank Luntz" by keepemhonest.

Case: "District of Columbia v. Heller", 2008.

Video: "New Covenant speech", October 23, 1991 by Bill Clinton.

Video: If Anyone Ever Questioned How White Privilege Manifested Itself in America This Is The Perfect Illustration.

Article: "Ted Cruz Eligibility Lawsuits Filed in Texas, New York, Illinois, Alabama and Now Pennsylvania" by Jim Hoft.

Article: "Black Lives Matter protesters confront Clinton at a fundraiser" by Eugene Scott.

Hour Two: How Much Does Justice Cost in America?
- Jackie Zubrzycki, Yes Magazine  

Article: "When You Can't Afford the Cost of Clearing Your Record" by Jaclyn Zubrzycki.

Article: "As Arrest Records Rise, Americans Find Consequences Can Last a Lifetime" by Gary Fields and John R. Emshwiller.

 

Article: "Black Lives Matter Activists Disrupt Bernie Sanders Speech" by Tanya Basu, Aug. 9, 2015.

Article: "Beyonc� unleashes Black Panthers homage at Super Bowl 50" by Jessica Elgot.

Article: "Kid Rock, The Rebel Flag And Southern Rock's Summer Of Reckoning" by Chris Gray.

 

John Kerry answers questions about Iran, plus superdelegates - how should he vote?
- Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL, 9th District)  

Article: "Nevada Gov. Sandoval rules self out for Supreme Court consideration" by Karl De Vries.

Site: "Grayson Primary".

Article: "Representative Alan Grayson" by Congress.

Article: "How the Chained CPI Affects Social Security Payments" by Emily Brandon.

Site: Trade Treachery.

Site: "Congressman With Guts".

 

Talk Media News Segment:
- Bob Ney 

Book: "Sideswiped: Lessons Learned Courtesy of the Hit Men of Capitol Hill" by Robert Ney.

Article: "Ben Jealous argues for Bernie Sanders" by The Rachel Maddow Show.

Article: "Mitt Romney dog incident" by Wikipedia.

Article: "Donald Trump rejects 'Dope' Mitt Romney's ironic tax attack" by Stephen Collinson, Jeremy Diamond and Hasan Khan.

Article: "Sandoval withdraws from SCOTUS consideration" by Justin Duckham.

Article: "McConnell throws down the gauntlet: No Scalia replacement under Obama" by Burgess Everett And Glenn Thrush.

Article: "Iran arrests Baquer Namazi, father of imprisoned American businessman" by Ben Brumfield and Jennifer Rizzo.

Article: "Daily Beast Didn't Know American Was Stuck In Iran When It Published Anonymous Story Attacking Him" by Jessica Schulberg, Michael Calderone.

Article: "The Shady Family Behind America's Iran Lobby" by "Alex Shirazi".

Site: "Goats for the old Goat".

Site: Governor Free Don Siegelman 

Hour Three: Would THIS Be Happening In A White Community?
- Dan Mika, WhoWhatWhy  

Article: "Landfill Fire Creeps Toward Buried Tons Of Atomic Waste" by Dan Mika.

Case: "State of Missouri v. Republic Services, Inc. et al".

 

Article: "How the Media Is Misleading Voters Into Believing Clinton Is 'Inevitable'" by Adam Johnson.

Article: "Democratic Party superdelegates are undemocratic" by Sally Kohn.

Event: Fri 26 Feb 3:30PM EST: Bernie Sanders and Killer Mike at the HBCU Tour and Rally at Claflin University.

Event: Fri 26 Feb 4:00PM EST: GOTV Rally and Concert at Township Auditorium with Bernie Sanders.

Site: "Publix".

Video: Mrs. Clinton Campaign Speech - Super-Predators, January 25, 1996.

Site: FYI Nation.

 

Do you have all the info you need to vote for @BernieSanders? Find it here.

    

Friday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 12-3pm ET 

 

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