Wall Street Dems Unveil Plans to Undermine the Progressive Movement

[Douglas Carpenter]

by David Sirota

link: http://www.workingforchange.com/blog/

"Here's a big shocker - the Wall Street wing of the Democratic Party
today announced it is beginning a new war on the grassroots elements
of the party that are demanding serious public policy changes from
the Establishment. As the Financial Times reports, Citigroup Chairman
Bob Rubin held a press conference at the Brookings Institution to
announce the formation of the so-called "Hamilton Project." After
paying lip service to various economic problems afflicting the
country, Rubin and his former Treasury colleague Roger Altman quickly
let it be known exactly what they are up to.

Here's the key excerpt:

"At a time when Democrats have become more aggressive in voicing concerns about the foreign ownership of US assets, Roger Altman, former deputy Treasury secretary under Mr Clinton, added that more inclusive economic growth could also 'blunt the political demands for protectionism'... said it was willing to take on entrenched Democratic interests, such as teaching unions. Policy papers unveiled on Wednesday proposed vouchers for summer schools..."

There it all is. First there's the dishonest name-calling aimed at those courageous Democrats who are challenging the free trade orthodoxy that is destroying the lives of millions of American and foreign workers. Then there is the promise of an ensuing attack on the labor movement - a reflexive move, of course, for a bunch of corporate executives. And finally, the nod to efforts to defund public education through "vouchers." "


For the full post, go to http://www.workingforchange.com/blog