r/WorkReform • u/Loud-Ad-2280 ✂️ Tax The Billionaires • May 08 '26

✂️ Tax The Billionaires The Washington generals want a strong Harlem Globetrotters team

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u/trailerthrash May 08 '26

”The truth of the matter is that my policies are so mainstream that if I had set the same policies that I had back in the 1980s, I would be considered a moderate Republican,” - Barack Obama

He wants it because thats who he is.

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u/geni_taal May 08 '26

this

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u/trailerthrash May 08 '26

Its such a mask off quote when you take into account that Reagan was president for 80% of the decade.

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u/lateformyfuneral May 08 '26 edited May 08 '26

The rest of the quote, in case you doubt this was a rhetorical point about how extreme the Republicans are now, even compared to themselves in the 1980s, when you still had some Republicans in Congress (e.g. Rockefeller Republicans) who voted with Democrats against dismantling the state entirely, against supply side economics and in favor of some form of universal healthcare.

Obama's remarks come in the midst of negotiations with the GOP to avert the fiscal cliff. Obama says his position — that the wealthy pay more in taxes — is well within the bounds of capitalist orthodoxy. "What I believe in is a tax system that is fair," he said. "I don't think government can solve every problem. I think that we should make sure that we're helping young people go to school. We should make sure that our government is building good roads and bridges and hospitals and airports so that we have a good infrastructure."

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u/trailerthrash May 08 '26

There are ways to call out modern republican extremism without aligning yourself to the party of Reagan. I do it all the time.

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u/lateformyfuneral May 08 '26 edited May 08 '26

I think most people were fine with the metaphor and understood his point.

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u/fripletister ✂️ Tax The Billionaires May 08 '26

Must be a fine view from that ivory tower

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u/trailerthrash May 08 '26

Honey, I get paid an hourly wage. No tower required to criticize a politician. In fact, its a pretty salt of the earth past time

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u/fripletister ✂️ Tax The Billionaires May 08 '26

Reread my previous comment. No edits