(CNN) - President Barack Obama said Tuesday that economic inequality in America is at "a level we haven't seen since the Great Depression" and "hurts us all."
"When middle-class families can no longer afford to buy the goods and services that businesses are selling, it drags down the entire economy, from top to bottom," Obama said in a speech pushing for Congress to approve provisions of his jobs package.
"Inequality also distorts our democracy," he continued, sounding a theme expressed by Teddy Roosevelt in a speech more than a century earlier. "It gives an outsized voice to the few who can afford high-priced lobbyists and unlimited campaign contributions, and runs the risk of selling out our democracy to the highest bidder. And it leaves everyone else rightly suspicious that the system in Washington is rigged against them - that our elected representatives aren't looking out for the interests of most Americans."
Obama said that congressional Republicans "want to go back to the same policies that have stacked the deck against middle-class Americans for too many years."
"Their philosophy is simple: We are better off when everyone is left to fend for themselves and play by their own rules," Obama said in a speech pushing for passage of provisions of his jobs package. "Well, I'm here to say they are wrong."
Sounding a theme from a speech more than a century earlier by Teddy Roosevelt, Obama said: "I'm here to reaffirm my deep conviction that we are greater together than we are on our own."
"I believe that this country succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot, when everyone does their fair share, and when everyone plays by the same rules," he said. "Those aren't Democratic or Republican values; 1% values or 99% values. They're American values, and we have to reclaim them."
From CNN Politics
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He has a point. We are at our greatest when there is a strong middle class. Right now, that middle class is shrinking and I don't see anything in the policies put forth by the Republican party that will change that. In fact, they will exacerbate the problem.
Have you noticed that, no matter what the problem is, the solution is always to raise taxes? Of all the things wrong with our economy, I think "The government isn't confiscating enough of our money" is simply not one of the problems, nor has it ever been.
I will say one thing about Pres. Obama. He will go down in history as one of the more eloquent communicators that the office of POTUS has ever seen. No doubt about that there. Sho' 'nuff.
And he says that he is not promoting class warfare!
The problem is obama!
Quit the big spending you blow-hard! If he would dry up the spending, there would be no need to raise anyone's taxes!
Because GOP idiots mess. 1. Trickle down Economy 2. Iraq War. Shipped all the jobs to India, China, etc,. GREED,GREED...Reform Tax Code...period.
Yes Mr. President
I still believe that Barack Obama is better for our country than any Republican candidate I've seen so far. At least he is willing to compromise, unlike the "Party of NFW".
Let's hear all the comments about "class warfare". The President wants our economy and our society at large work for Americans who work hard to take advantage of opportunities. It is a reasonable equailty of opportunity he is promoting. I don't know how anyone can complain about that, but I'm sure some will.
When someone is shooting at you and you point it out, that is not making war, it's identifying the state of war that already exists. As Warren Buffet has said, class warfare has been going on for decades and his side (the uber-rich) is winning. It is NOT class warfare to point that out.
"When middle-class families can no longer afford to buy the goods and services that businesses are selling, it drags down the entire economy, from top to bottom," Obama said in a speech pushing for Congress to approve provisions of his jobs package.
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...and when businesses need to cut back, where do they do that? Pay less taxes? No. Pay less rent? No. Cut payroll? Yes. Eliminate jobs. That's the problem isn't it? So raise taxes on businesses and who loses? The emloyees who need that job and the country that needs people working.
What a bunch of crap. No way in hell can you compair this to a time when people were struggling to feed themselves. When crops failed because of a drought. Now people have mulitple electronics, multiple cars, $400+ phones. There has been no recession just a failure to budget. Now would be the time to get rid of credit and return to a time when people save up for a product and then buy it.
Did he accept any responsibility for the current state of affairs or blame someone else.
Nowi this is the kind of divisive innuendo that calls for Obama to step aside and let Hillary run for president. He keeps talking in concepts – and is not really talking about issues or policy. We need a leader who can unite and act!
The government must do their fare share and spend our tax dollars more efficiently instead of asking for more$$. Why should we give them more money when there is so much waste. Raising taxes and asking Americans to pay more is like raising an allowance on a child after bringing home a bad report card.
I hate to break it to the right honorable President but your democracy was sold to the highest bidder long before this last economic upheaval.
Well no kidding Dick Tracy. And what gave you your first clue?
America needs a competent leader with leadership skill to get the country out of this "dark age " of high unemployment,high poverty, hich bankruptcy, high homeforeclosure,sick economy , and incompetence .
more Collectivism, and Social Justice 'solutions' from Barry...what a tool
What a bunch of crap. Period.
The Idiot speaks
Yep-and he is Herbert Hoover....Could someone please remind me how I voted for this guy....The worse leader of the free world in my lifetime....
Why doesn't he just shut up
Everyone should pay their fair share except those who pay nothing and live off the fruits of others labors!
And if you worked hard, and became successfull, you are the problem not the solution!
I think about a company like Solyndra which received $560 million in tax payer guaranteed funds, not because of their products potential, but because the CEO was a campaign fund bundler for Obama in 08! That is NOT the American Way Mr. President!
We need a public works program immediately. And we shouldn't worry about wether every state has equal access to it, the money should go where needed the most and workers can move there for the time being. Also, we need to raise taxes and cut spending to pay down the debt – it is the only way it will get done. As the debt goes down, the dollar goes up and makes everyone more wealthy. That's what Repubs don't want people to figure out – that if the rich are taxed to pay off the debt it does make everyone else better off.
There are less jobs because we have robots. Duh.