“We Are the United States of America, the Greatest Country on Earth. We Envision Wealth. We Don’t Default. We Create Wealth. We Don’t Default. We Build Wealth. We Don’t Default.” -- Kucinich

WASHINGTON - July 28 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today went to the House floor to outline the steps we can take to avoid default and lead America out of debt.

See the video here. The full text of Congressman Kucinich’s remarks follow:

“Here is what we should do to avoid default: increase the debt ceiling with no strings attached.

“Here is how to get out of debt: End the wars -- save one trillion over ten years. Repeal tax cuts to the wealthy: Save another trillion.

“Medicare for All: End the four hundred billion yearly subsidies for health insurance industry.

“Renegotiate trade agreements with workers rights, human rights, and environmental quality principles: save millions of jobs and billions of dollars.

“The Fed creates money out of nothing and gives it to banks. Why should our country go into debt, borrowing from banks when we have the constitutional power to create money and invest in jobs?

“We can have another New Deal where we put millions to work rebuilding our bridges and transportation system.

“We can have a Works Green Administration where NASA is the incubator of jobs designing and engineering wind and solar micro technologies for private sector manufacturing, distribution, installation and maintenance in millions of homes, saving money, energy and protecting the environment.

“We are the United States of America, the greatest country on earth. We envision wealth. We don’t default. We create wealth. We don’t default. We build wealth. We don’t default.”

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Posted by NedB

Jul 28 2011 - 3:38pm

Eminently reasonable suggestions, Dennis, but the powers that be are not paying any attention to you, or to many of us, who have made these same suggestions. So what do we do now?

Posted by karlof1

Jul 28 2011 - 4:02pm

Yeah, I wonder how many congresscritters were present in the House during his short presentation.

Posted by raydelcamino

Jul 28 2011 - 4:42pm

Call or e-mail your democratic party congressional representative and senator(s) and tell them to leave the democratic party NOW and continue to serve their constitutents as independents. By extending the Bush tax cuts and selling out Social Security and Medicare in the deficit ceiling deal, the democratic party has confirmed who it is gunning for and confirmed that it is not gunning for you or I.

Posted by John R

Jul 28 2011 - 9:17pm

Amen !

Posted by cancelled

Jul 28 2011 - 6:12pm

Someone in Congress or the Senate needs to stand up - at a news conference - and openly state that those who do not support such things are traitors to this country; that those who oppose such things are simply psychopathological and have no business being in positions of leadership. In other words, straight talk.

Posted by quickstepper

Jul 28 2011 - 3:47pm

None of the ideas listed by Kucinich are new but they're all great, escpecially the two major points (ending wars and taxing the rich). Sadly, this thread will soon be filled with the tired ad hominem whines of corporatist freepers complaining that the Congressman is not "pure enough" for their "progressive" personas. Good job, Dennis. q

Posted by cancelled

Jul 28 2011 - 6:07pm

What's a "corporatist freeper" and what do they have to do with "progressives" and the people who post here?

Posted by dubet

Jul 28 2011 - 3:49pm

wow...the greatest country on earth thing? really, Dennis? you're going with that? jesus, we are in such big trouble... the changes we need to make are so vast, and we can't even get past being the greatest country on earth? the earth is dying...there is no greatest to be claimed...we are all losing...

Posted by karlof1

Jul 28 2011 - 4:09pm

Actually, a wise rhetorical ploy as it throws shit in the face of every Republican and BlueDog Democrat, including Obama. As to your other point, "the earth is dying," without the drastic policy directional changes, both overt and implied by Kucinich, we will all continue "losing." So, it would seem his rhetorical ploy is a valid--I would say desperate--attempt to alter course.

Posted by matti

Jul 28 2011 - 5:20pm

Agreed.

Posted by Lucitanian

Jul 28 2011 - 5:13pm

Ya, that struck me too.

"America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great." - Alexis de Tocqueville

and just another apt quote for good measure:
"They (the emperors) frequently abused their power arbitrarily to deprive their subjects of property or of life: their tyranny was extremely onerous to the few, but it did not reach the greater number; .. But it would seem that if despotism were to be established amongst the democratic nations of our days it might assume a different character; it would be more extensive and more mild, it would degrade men without tormenting them." - Alexis de Tocqueville

Posted by chessgames56

Jul 29 2011 - 9:34am

Well, the earth will spin on, but mankind is definitely heading toward self-extermination. Like everything else, there may be a 'critical mass' that, once reached, cannot be reversed. For all our sakes, lets hope the whole mess can be turned around before we reach the point of no return. Just read the lyrics to a Kansas song of the same name. Truly, a prophetic song for our times.

Posted by chessgames56

Jul 29 2011 - 12:06pm

Actually, it's "Point of 'Know' Return," which makes for a great double entendre. :-)

Posted by jessia

Jul 28 2011 - 3:53pm

1 man does not an army make.

Posted by bystander

Jul 28 2011 - 4:05pm

He should have said:
"We are the United States of America. We steal wealth. We don’t default."

Posted by corvo

Jul 28 2011 - 5:35pm

Would've been more honest . . .

Posted by Arry

Jul 28 2011 - 4:13pm

Good ideas, but did he *have* to say those final sentences?

Posted by Speculate

Jul 28 2011 - 4:15pm

The fed should simply tear up its treasury bonds and buy another trillion dollars or so which it can tear up down the road, ensuring the debt limit is never breached. Cut the Wall St middle men out of the deal and save us trillions of interest costs.

Posted by Speculate

Jul 28 2011 - 4:17pm

Challenge Obama Dennis, now that everyone sees he's just another weak corporate shill!

Posted by Erroll

Jul 29 2011 - 11:01am

Speculate

You have to keep in mind that when Kucinich ran against Kerry in 2004 and Obama in 2008 he ended up endorsing both those corporate shills which apparently goes a long way in demonstrating how Kucinich places party over principle.

Posted by dakinirise

Jul 28 2011 - 4:33pm

Agree with others here. Thank you, Dennis for your vision & true words; however, I too could do without the "greatest nation" stuff. Had just sent these two messages to Whitehouse.gov before reading this. 1st: BE THE PRESIDENT. USE THE 14TH AMENDMENT TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING. Listen to Senator Boxer, Clyburn, Larson & others and use the 14th amendment to unilaterally raise the debt ceiling. No excuses about your advisors don't like it, or don't recommend it. Use your power and stop the outrageous hostage threats of the Repubs. And please stop using the phrases "shared sacrifice" and "balanced" approach. INSTEAD, THE HUGE AND UNFAIR IMBALANCE created by bank bailouts, tax cuts for the rich and subsidies & no taxes by so many of our biggest, wealthiest corporations, MUST BE CORRECTED! IT IS ANYTHING BUT "BALANCED", to cut Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, student loans, Adult day care, etc etc. The only thing that will BALANCE our economy is to tax the rich and the corporations and the financial institutions AND to balance our budget by drastically cutting our obscene and unsustainable military budget. DO THESE THINGS AND YOU WILL BE THE PEOPLE'S HERO. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- 2ND: What, pray tell, dear Obama, do you need in order to stand up to this insanity, instead of making it even worse?! I wish I could help you, or heal you in some way. . . Please grab the rudder of this ailing national ship and STAND WITH THE PEOPLE. USE THE 14TH AMENDMENT TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING, THEN CORRECT THE ENORMOUS IMBALANCE IN OUR ECONOMY (TAX THE RICH, THE CORPS, SLASH THE PENTAGON). DO IT! - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hoping others will flood Congress & Whitehouse with similar messages

Posted by ezeflyer

Jul 28 2011 - 4:32pm

We can help you Dennis: http://www.dailyiowan.com/2011/07/28/Opinions/24343.html. Direct democracy

Posted by matti

Jul 28 2011 - 6:02pm

You know, a "trial version" of such a People's Referendum power could be organized online, using the current Congressional web-system.

Each Congressperson's/Senator's site could have some buttons added:

"Vote yay/nay on the bills/amendments currently in Rep. (or Sen.) X's committees."

"Vote yay/nay on bills/amendments in front of the whole House/Senate."

"Vote veto/sign on Bills passed by both Houses."

"Vote approve/disapprove on Bills signed into Law by the President."

People can simply leave some personal info for filtering purposes -as they already do to leave a comment.

Full participation would involve full reading of all bills and take as much time as it would take to be a Congressional Rep. But reasonable average participation of a few hours a month of reading summaries and opinions of bills and amendments and a quick vote would provide a real, educated, public feedback for the Congress. On Important Legislation and other news-making votes, a few minutes summary reading or opinion reading and voting would mean substantial participation can be both expected and beneficial.

Such a system would give us a non-binding, but very public, referendum on the day-to-day and term-length performance of every single one of our Representatives and Senators. It would perhaps be a good first step toward a binding People's Referendum.

-matti.

Posted by Donkey Hote

Jul 28 2011 - 11:06pm

I like your idea, Matti, and it would have the benefit of raising some pressure on the Sens/Reps, to be more responsive to the will of their constituents if a running tally of support (pro/con) for all legislation and votes taken, were available to the public. As things are now, very few know how his/her legislators vote on anything. It just might make for less encumbancy advantage. Perhaps some civic minded organization might set such a system in place. It would never be allowed by major parties on their sites or on the congressional sites. I would contribute to the support of such an effort. dh

Posted by ezeflyer

Jul 29 2011 - 12:07am

Good idea. More on direct democracy here: http://ni4d.us/

Posted by snydly

Jul 29 2011 - 7:01am

This is an idea whose time has come. It is no more difficult than managing info like the DMV does, or a common credit card.ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ And...added bonus: the corporations would have to directly bribe the people, not just the politicians...

Posted by karlbaba

Jul 28 2011 - 5:12pm

Why is common sense some kind of foreign language? This debt crisis is just a progression in the milking of America by the elite. Who benefits if interest rates go up? Seems like these banks that make up money from nothing won't be paying much higher interest rates to their depositors but will jack up the rates on borrowers, those who borrow the money the banks create on paper. We are sheep who have been domesticated. The only question is how to wake us up and reclaim our standing.

Posted by dumb larry

Jul 28 2011 - 5:37pm

I don't bother listening or reading Dennis Kucinich any longer. His words on single payer healthcare turned out to be hollow as he voted for Obama's plan of a giveaway to Big Pharma and Insurance. What makes anyone think his modus operandi has changed.

Posted by Paul Revere

Jul 28 2011 - 5:43pm

Yeah, after Obama took him for a little ride on Air force 1.

Posted by blythespirit

Jul 28 2011 - 5:55pm

I agree that Kucinich folded on the health care debacle. But I also know that people make mistakes. People get fooled. People can feel remorse. Although I view Kucinich with a degree of skeptisism I didn't feel prior to the health care vote, I am also hopeful he feels as badly about that one as the rest of us do. Even if he doesn't, what he has to say on this subject is dead on.

Posted by corvo

Jul 28 2011 - 5:58pm

And yet there are a couple of easy things Kucinich could do to prove he's sincere, or even repented. One is to leave the party that has repeatedly tried to primary him out of his congressional seat and even now is rolling over and playing dead in the state redistricting process that -- surprise surprise -- will deprive him of his district. Another is to start demanding -- loudly, repeatedly, and unambiguously -- the impeachment of the President of the United States for crimes against the Constitution. Until then, I don't have much use for his Lucy-and-the-football routine.

Posted by matti

Jul 28 2011 - 6:08pm

I think that, if anything, he'd try another Blue Party Primary Challenge first.

This speech seems almost like a run-up to that.

I for one would support him in that, but I'd also be telling him from the start that its a sure loser and that a party-jump is the only decent next step.

We'll see I guess.

Posted by Progressive101

Jul 28 2011 - 9:22pm

Blythespirit, Kucinich was not fooled (he lambasted the bill but voted for it to support Obama) and Kucinich has not shown remorse for his health care vote. Are you just making up excuses for Kucinich? And then Kucinich voted to extend and expand the "Bush" tax cuts. Now Obama and Kucinich are begging the Republican Congress to take some of those back.

Posted by bernice

Jul 28 2011 - 6:31pm

I believe Bernie Sanders and any number of other truly liberal members of Congress voted for the (extremely imperfect) health care law because they knew it was the best they could get at the time. But I also believe we could at least have gotten the public option and price negotiations on Medicare Part D drugs if the president had stood up and fought for them. In the end, after all the "compromises," did even one Republican vote for the bill? Might as well have passed at least these improvements or even tried for single payer instead of taking it off the table before turning the "bi-partisan" development of this most important legislation over to Blue Dog Max Baucus and the right-wing members of his committee. (The Dems were not allowed to offer meaningful amendments while the committee was working on the bill. Disgusting.)

Posted by corvo

Jul 28 2011 - 6:33pm

The "best they could've done at the time" was NOTHING. By letting Obamacare go down to the defeat it so urgently deserved, they would at least have been in a position tobrand the Rethugs as obstructionists and the majority of congressional and Senate Dims as traitors to the New Deal.

Posted by Progressive101

Jul 28 2011 - 7:45pm

Best they could get? Nothing would have been better than to force Americans to get ripped off by insurance companies that raise rates and reduce coverage (McHealth Plans). As far as Kucinich goes, he didn't vote for it because it was the best he could get (he ripped into the plan as a sellout to insurance companies); rather he voted for it to support Obama.

Posted by MinnMouth

Jul 28 2011 - 8:44pm

Dennis voted for the rotten health care bill because MoveOn (that wonderful faux liberal group that started based on a White House blowjob) picketed his office mercilessly and threatened to work against his reelection.

Posted by peacemaker

Jul 29 2011 - 12:24am

MoveOn is disgusting. For example, they never said a word against the war in Iraq even after Colon Bowel's soul-selling speech to the UN or the exposure of the yellowcake uranium fraud. MoveOn deserves our contempt. Please unsubscribe today.

Posted by Paul Revere

Jul 28 2011 - 5:40pm

Unless one is completely brain dead, they have to know that the debt elephant in the room is the war debt. Only Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich seem to have the guts to address the real American debt problem. America! You do not have a debt crisis, you have a war spending crisis!

Posted by Gail

Jul 28 2011 - 10:01pm

Yes, it's definately an "empire" crisis! We need to stop telling other people how they should live.

Posted by Ocean

Jul 28 2011 - 6:01pm

End Wars, Raise Taxes, Pay Off Debt

Nationalize Wall Street Banks

Posted by sugarsnap88

Jul 28 2011 - 8:03pm

The repubs accuse the dems of wanting to raise taxes on "Americans". ------------- In reality, the dems want to raise taxes on the rich. ------------------------------------------- To follow the logic, the repubs consider only the rich to be americans.

Posted by Donkey Hote

Jul 28 2011 - 11:20pm

I want to see taxes on the rich raised, for many reasons. Chief of which is that the idea that not taxing them leads to jobs and investments????? Crap. Pure CRAP. If the wealthy know that their earnings will be taxed away, they have an incentive to invest and create jobs thus lowering present taxable income, but creating future income. If they know they not be taxed away, there is no incentive to do any of those things that make the economy work for all. This basic argument, I have never seen offered anywhere, but it is obvious to me. dh

Posted by Agi

Jul 28 2011 - 6:08pm

Politicians should really quit the "greatest country on earth" crap. It's getting old.

Posted by awegweiser

Jul 28 2011 - 6:33pm

How silly, of course tax breaks for the rich create jobs. Think of all the people building yachts, private jets and condos. Leave these good hearted patriots alone.

Posted by bystander

Jul 28 2011 - 6:56pm

They like to keep him marginalized by reminding people that he is a crazy UFO loving liberal.
As soon as they think he is a real threat, he will be Wellstoned...

Posted by Birdbrain Alley...

Jul 28 2011 - 6:38pm

Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah.

"Medicare for All" Blah.

"Greatest Country on Earth" Blah.

"Wealth" Blah.

The real message here is STAY WITHIN THE STATUS QUO.

Obama and the Blue Dog Party are smirking in the background.

Posted by dwyerj1

Jul 28 2011 - 7:42pm

Rev. Jeremiah Wright said it correctly the first time. Citizens should not sing "God Bless America", but . . . . Too, too bad we let traitorous Mr. O'Compromise forsake him so early on. Three cheers for Rev. Wright.

Posted by Paul Revere

Jul 29 2011 - 12:18am

Obama threw Reverend Wright under the bus and he has been blacklisted ever since ( pun intended ).

Posted by corvo

Jul 28 2011 - 8:50pm

Kucinich has discredited himself enough already, dontcha think?

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“We Are the United States of America, the Greatest Country on Earth. We Envision Wealth. We Don’t Default. We Create Wealth. We Don’t Default. We Build Wealth. We Don’t Default.” -- Kucinich

83 Comments so far