Obama Rejects Attackers' Cries of 'Socialism'

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

President Barack Obama launched a vigorous defense of his economic agenda Wednesday, rejecting critics who call his policies "socialism" and insisting he aims to boost U.S. competitiveness abroad.

Speaking to the Business Roundtable, which groups some of the country's top chief executives, Obama called for support of his administration's efforts to overhaul financial regulation and create jobs.

Obama's remarks were set against a backdrop of unease in the business community about his economic and budget policies as well as his legislative drive for healthcare, energy and financial regulatory reform.

"Contrary to the claims of some of my critics, I am an ardent believer in the free market," Obama said in prepared remarks.

"We have arrived at a juncture in our politics where reasonable efforts to update our regulations, or make basic investments in our future, are too often greeted with cries of 'government takeover' or even 'socialism'," Obama said.

"Getting this balance right has less to do with big government or small government than it does smart government. It's not about being anti-business or pro-government; it's about being pro-growth and pro-jobs," he said.

"This is an important step forward in putting more Americans back to work as soon as possible," he said. Obama and his fellow Democrats are determined to bring down the unemployment rate before congressional elections in November.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/35564308

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Man, anyone that thinks Obama is pursuing a socialist agenda should take a peek into European media. They'd pop a valve just reading what's going on over there. Seriously, there ain't no socialism anywhere on any agenda in this country. Not even close.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Man, anyone that thinks Obama is pursuing a socialist agenda should take a peek into European media. They'd pop a valve just reading what's going on over there. Seriously, there ain't no socialism anywhere on any agenda in this country. Not even close.

Reality matters not to the masked avenger!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Reality matters not to the masked avenger!

Perception is reality.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Perception is reality.

Faux News 'clarifies' perception and thus defines reality for some it would appear.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Faux News 'clarifies' perception and thus defines reality for some it would appear.

That was from CNBC

[Ban Hammer 13,645]

That was from CNBC

ah that tired old mantra don't hunt this time!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Perception is reality.

Except people's "perception" comes from something they have no experience of.

So where then does it originate from?

[Niels Bohr 72]

One thing that I do want to see change is that those who are making 25k/year with two children can get nearly 10k in tax credits. For those who are on public assistance, living with 30k/year is very simple. No hard work, 100% free time, you can stay at home in public housing with free electricity, free food (food stamps, it's not much though), no utility bills.

Something needs to be changed. I mean it's not giving these people an incentive to get out and find a job.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Except people's "perception" comes from something they have no experience of.

So where then does it originate from?

Oh snap.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

One thing that I do want to see change is that those who are making 25k/year with two children can get nearly 10k in tax credits. For those who are on public assistance, living with 30k/year is very simple. No hard work, 100% free time, you can stay at home in public housing with free electricity, free food (food stamps, it's not much though), no utility bills.

Something needs to be changed. I mean it's not giving these people an incentive to get out and find a job.

I just got this friendly reminder from my representative in Congress:

Dear William,

Tax preparation season has begun and some of you might be eligible to receive a federal income tax credit called the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

EITC can make life easier for working people struggling during these difficult financial times. If you earned $52,000 or less from wages, self-employment, or farming in 2009, you may be eligible to earn an EITC of $5,600 or more.

According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), many people will qualify for EITC for the first time this year because their income declined, their marital status changed, or they added children to their families.

Eligible taxpayers can get their EITC only if they file federal income tax returns-even if they are not otherwise required to file-and specifically claim the credit.

The EITC program enjoys a relatively high participation rate; however, the IRS estimates that one in four eligible taxpayers could miss out on this valuable tax credit.

Tax Assistance

For free help determining your EITC eligibility and claiming the credit, you can visit the IRS’ Taxpayer Assistance Center in Santa Rosa at 777 Sonoma Ave or in San Francisco at 450 Golden Gate Ave. Help is available from IRS staff and trained volunteers from Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Taxpayers may also receive assistance at IRS offices and more than 180 tax assistance sites in the Bay Area. In 2008, Earn It! Keep It! Save It! sites in Sonoma County processed 5,771 returns which resulted in $869,942 EITC dollars and $ 3,071,926 in total refunds to Sonoma County taxpayers. In 2009, Earn It! Keep It! Save It! sites in Marin County processed 2,971 returns which resulted in $665,448 EITC dollars and $2,410,458 in total refunds to Marin County taxpayers.

To locate a free tax preparation site near you, please call 2-1-1.

I hope you find this information helpful. For additional information on the EITC, please visit www.eitc.irs.gov or call Alexandra Walter in my Sonoma County office at (707) 542-7182.

Sincerely,

Lynn Woolsey

[Obama 2012 1,714]

One thing that I do want to see change is that those who are making 25k/year with two children can get nearly 10k in tax credits. For those who are on public assistance, living with 30k/year is very simple. No hard work, 100% free time, you can stay at home in public housing with free electricity, free food (food stamps, it's not much though), no utility bills.

Something needs to be changed. I mean it's not giving these people an incentive to get out and find a job.

Don't allow them to vote Democrat?

I joke, but that's what it comes down to in some areas.

Republicans have pushed programs to get people to actually get out and work, but Democrats come back saying, 'they're trying to take away your benefits."

Democrats love: minorities, the poor, the uneducated. Why? Because they're easy enough to convince that the guy trying to ACTUALLY help them is the bad guy.

Not all of them are like that mind you, but the ones who focus on minorities typically are.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Don't allow them to vote Democrat?

I joke, but that's what it comes down to in some areas.

Republicans have pushed programs to get people to actually get out and work, but Democrats come back saying, 'they're trying to take away your benefits."

Democrats love: minorities, the poor, the uneducated. Why? Because they're easy enough to convince that the guy trying to ACTUALLY help them is the bad guy.

Not all of them are like that mind you, but the ones who focus on minorities typically are.

Republicans dont' create programs to help low income families. They push to cut funding to them, and call it an incentive to work.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Republicans dont' create programs to help low income families. They push to cut funding to them, and call it an incentive to work.

Actually many have tried to run on creating job programs to help educate those who aren't otherwise able to find a job. It would be much more cost effective than them living on the system.

and hey, if cutting funding it motivation, then go for it as well. Stop being a leech!

[Fandango 1,440]

I say mandatory drug tests for everyone on public assistance!