"The President has tried to say that the economic downturn was inevitable because of the attacks on 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq. But the argument holds no water, and even invoking such a specious rationale dishonors the citizens who died that day and the soldiers who are serving overseas.

The fact is, the President had two economic paths to choose from. He could have chosen policies that put more money into the hands of working families, helping folks through the tough time while stimulating the economy. An expansion of tax credits for education and health care, extension of unemployment benefits, an increase in the minimum wage – any such policy could have helped.

Instead, he went to bat for his wealthiest contributors – the corporate executives, old money fat cats, slick lobbyists, and country clubbers he has been surrounded with since his umbilical cord was cut. He chose tax cuts for the highest-income Americans. He chose new laws that allow companies to avoid having to pay workers overtime. He chose to terminate unemployment benefits, and loosen laws that protect worker pensions. He chose a "free" trade policy that encourages corporations to troll the world's most repressive countries for the cheapest labor.

He chose his path carefully. The question is – will America now follow?"

David J. Sirota is the Director of Strategic Communications for the Center for American Progress. Read his entire article here.

 

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