DeBlasio's "Contract with America" (1 Viewer)

[Gary Coal Man]

Exclusive: Bill De Blasio plans 'Contract with America' for left

NYC’s mayor will unveil his ‘Progressive Agenda’ next week at the U.S. Capitol.

By MIKE ALLEN; 5/6/15 6:54 AM EDT
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, using his muscular perch to try to nudge the national Democratic Party to the left, next week will unveil a 13-point progressive agenda that he hopes will be the left’s answer to the Contract with America, which helped propel Newt Gingrich and the Republican revolution of 1994.

On Tuesday, de Blasio will hold a 3 p.m. news conference outside the U.S. Capitol with labor leaders, Democratic lawmakers and liberal activists to unveil his “Progressive Agenda to Combat Income Inequality.”


The manifesto includes the ideas of economist Joseph Stiglitz and dozens of other leaders and thinkers consulted by the de Blasio team.

Among the planks are:

- a universal pre-kindergarten program

- $15 minimum wage

- paid family leave

- "tax fairness" (increasing the tax on carried interest, a huge issue for private equity).

De Blasio convened a group of a dozen national progressives at Gracie Mansion on April 2, and they discussed ideas for addressing income inequality. Among the advisers present was John Del Cecato of AKPD Message and Media, who made de Blasio’s campaign commercials, including the famous “Dante” ad.

Then the conversation extended to others — economists, elected officials and activists.

De Blasio advisers say that more than 60 big names have signed on, including Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.); Reps. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.); Marian Wright Edelman and Howard Dean; national labor leaders; and actors Susan Sarandon and Steve Buscemi.

Rolling Stone has a preview of de Blasio’s new drive in the forthcoming May 21 issue, which has a 7½-page spread, “The Mayor’s Crusade: Bill de Blasio is trying to remake America’s biggest city — and he doesn’t plan to stop there.”

Mark Binelli writes: “De Blasio convened a closed-door meeting of national thought leaders and elected officials … to begin work on a new version of the ‘Contract With America,’ only this one would be a product of the left, focusing on economic policies. … Looking to rejuvenate the Democratic Party, he’d turned not to Bill Clinton, whose strategy of triangulation the mayor openly repudiates, but Newt Gingrich.”

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Gosh, it almost sounds like a guy who's running for president.

That's odd.

 

[Clifford]

What is paid family leave and who pays for it. $15 min wage I ask completely in favor of because it will finally fully automate fast food. I'm tired of adults #####ing about not being able to feed their family on a high school job.

 

[timschochet]

What does this have to do with the governing of New York City?

 

[Clifford]

This is the guy that has allowed the most egregious violation of the 4th amendment to continue under his watch. Yet another full of #### hypocrite who wants to lead the country.

 

[jonessed]

Weird. Has his NY policies already been that overwhelmingly successful? These guys usually give it at least a few years before national attention whoring.

 

[Chadstroma]

What is paid family leave and who pays for it. $15 min wage I ask completely in favor of because it will finally fully automate fast food. I'm tired of adults #####ing about not being able to feed their family on a high school job.

I would asssume paid family leave would end up as an unfunded federal mandate for employers to cover.

That is the one thing I keep shake my head on every time I see these protests of fast food for higher wages. Australian McDonald's have a higher wage to meet and guess what? They have a much lower employee count than your American McDonalds. They also tend to lead the organization in cost cutting (job cutting) technology that increases efficiency in order for them to have less people to pay. These same people who say that they can not live off of what they get now from McDonalds pay are going to end up not having any job at all. If we didn't believe increasing minimum wage did not cost jobs then why stop at $15 an hour? Why not $40 an hour? The answer is that we all know that it costs jobs and it is more about how many jobs are we willing to let it cost us?

 

[Chadstroma]

What does this have to do with the governing of New York City?

Nothing.

So what does this tell us?

 

[Juxtatarot]

What is paid family leave and who pays for it. $15 min wage I ask completely in favor of because it will finally fully automate fast food. I'm tired of adults #####ing about not being able to feed their family on a high school job.

I would asssume paid family leave would end up as an unfunded federal mandate for employers to cover.

That is the one thing I keep shake my head on every time I see these protests of fast food for higher wages. Australian McDonald's have a higher wage to meet and guess what? They have a much lower employee count than your American McDonalds. They also tend to lead the organization in cost cutting (job cutting) technology that increases efficiency in order for them to have less people to pay. These same people who say that they can not live off of what they get now from McDonalds pay are going to end up not having any job at all. If we didn't believe increasing minimum wage did not cost jobs then why stop at $15 an hour? Why not $40 an hour? The answer is that we all know that it costs jobs and it is more about how many jobs are we willing to let it cost us?

If a job is lost, that doesn't mean that there will be one less employed worker forever.

 

[Chadstroma]

What is paid family leave and who pays for it. $15 min wage I ask completely in favor of because it will finally fully automate fast food. I'm tired of adults #####ing about not being able to feed their family on a high school job.

I would asssume paid family leave would end up as an unfunded federal mandate for employers to cover.

That is the one thing I keep shake my head on every time I see these protests of fast food for higher wages. Australian McDonald's have a higher wage to meet and guess what? They have a much lower employee count than your American McDonalds. They also tend to lead the organization in cost cutting (job cutting) technology that increases efficiency in order for them to have less people to pay. These same people who say that they can not live off of what they get now from McDonalds pay are going to end up not having any job at all. If we didn't believe increasing minimum wage did not cost jobs then why stop at $15 an hour? Why not $40 an hour? The answer is that we all know that it costs jobs and it is more about how many jobs are we willing to let it cost us?

If a job is lost, that doesn't mean that there will be one less employed worker forever.

No, it does not. But it also means there are less jobs out there and if you are working at McDonalds likely your qualifications are that which would make getting other jobs not very easy. You will have to fight over the even fewer minimum wage/low skill jobs that will be available.

 

[dickey moe]

I think he needs to propose a HIG.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Gosh, it almost sounds like a guy who's running for president.

That's odd.

What does this have to do with the governing of New York City?

Nothing.

So what does this tell us?

 

[avoiding injuries]

What is paid family leave and who pays for it. $15 min wage I ask completely in favor of because it will finally fully automate fast food. I'm tired of adults #####ing about not being able to feed their family on a high school job.

I would asssume paid family leave would end up as an unfunded federal mandate for employers to cover.That is the one thing I keep shake my head on every time I see these protests of fast food for higher wages. Australian McDonald's have a higher wage to meet and guess what? They have a much lower employee count than your American McDonalds. They also tend to lead the organization in cost cutting (job cutting) technology that increases efficiency in order for them to have less people to pay. These same people who say that they can not live off of what they get now from McDonalds pay are going to end up not having any job at all. If we didn't believe increasing minimum wage did not cost jobs then why stop at $15 an hour? Why not $40 an hour? The answer is that we all know that it costs jobs and it is more about how many jobs are we willing to let it cost us?

If a job is lost, that doesn't mean that there will be one less employed worker forever.

And after they lose their job, if they find another one, it can be counted as a job added.

 

[Juxtatarot]

What is paid family leave and who pays for it. $15 min wage I ask completely in favor of because it will finally fully automate fast food. I'm tired of adults #####ing about not being able to feed their family on a high school job.

I would asssume paid family leave would end up as an unfunded federal mandate for employers to cover.

That is the one thing I keep shake my head on every time I see these protests of fast food for higher wages. Australian McDonald's have a higher wage to meet and guess what? They have a much lower employee count than your American McDonalds. They also tend to lead the organization in cost cutting (job cutting) technology that increases efficiency in order for them to have less people to pay. These same people who say that they can not live off of what they get now from McDonalds pay are going to end up not having any job at all. If we didn't believe increasing minimum wage did not cost jobs then why stop at $15 an hour? Why not $40 an hour? The answer is that we all know that it costs jobs and it is more about how many jobs are we willing to let it cost us?

If a job is lost, that doesn't mean that there will be one less employed worker forever.

No, it does not. But it also means there are less jobs out there and if you are working at McDonalds likely your qualifications are that which would make getting other jobs not very easy. You will have to fight over the even fewer minimum wage/low skill jobs that will be available.

The argument that wages should be kept low as to not compete with technology isn't a good one, in my opinion. Eventually many of those jobs will be replaced regardless. It's like worrying about the buggy whip companies after the invention of the automobile.

In part it becomes a question of the effect on unemployment compared to how much the increase in wages helps the economy in the long run. Keep in mind that poorer people like these minimum wage workers quickly spend a higher percentage of income pumping the money back into the economy. Higher wages can also have a positive impact on the cost of government social services and give people a higher feeling of self worth that hopefully gets passed on to their children and their community.

I strongly doubt a $15 per hour federal minimum wage is the perfect number, but I often get the idea that many conservatives (not all of course) have this idea that a minimum wage is bad in principle without considering all the pros and cons.

 

[RCon]

I strongly doubt a $15 per hour federal minimum wage is the perfect number, but I often get the idea that many conservatives (not all of course) have this idea that a minimum wage is bad in principle without considering all the pros and cons.

It's not that a minimum wage is "bad in principle", it's that it's, economically, a horribly inefficient way to accomplish its stated goals. B.I.G. is much better in every way.

 

[TwinTurbo]

Weird. Has his NY policies already been that overwhelmingly successful? These guys usually give it at least a few years before national attention whoring.

No. He's accomplished absolutely nothing here. And I can't wait for a $15 mininum wage in New York so a Big Mac here will cost more than it does in Zurich. The silver lining is some people may actually stop eating fast food.

 

[timschochet]

I strongly doubt a $15 per hour federal minimum wage is the perfect number, but I often get the idea that many conservatives (not all of course) have this idea that a minimum wage is bad in principle without considering all the pros and cons.

It's not that a minimum wage is "bad in principle", it's that it's, economically, a horribly inefficient way to accomplish its stated goals. B.I.G. is much better in every way.

I really think we all waste a lot of time here talking about BIG as if it were a viable alternative to existing ideas that are actually on the table. It's a political impossibility in our lifetime.

 

[Chadstroma]

What is paid family leave and who pays for it. $15 min wage I ask completely in favor of because it will finally fully automate fast food. I'm tired of adults #####ing about not being able to feed their family on a high school job.

I would asssume paid family leave would end up as an unfunded federal mandate for employers to cover.

That is the one thing I keep shake my head on every time I see these protests of fast food for higher wages. Australian McDonald's have a higher wage to meet and guess what? They have a much lower employee count than your American McDonalds. They also tend to lead the organization in cost cutting (job cutting) technology that increases efficiency in order for them to have less people to pay. These same people who say that they can not live off of what they get now from McDonalds pay are going to end up not having any job at all. If we didn't believe increasing minimum wage did not cost jobs then why stop at $15 an hour? Why not $40 an hour? The answer is that we all know that it costs jobs and it is more about how many jobs are we willing to let it cost us?

If a job is lost, that doesn't mean that there will be one less employed worker forever.

No, it does not. But it also means there are less jobs out there and if you are working at McDonalds likely your qualifications are that which would make getting other jobs not very easy. You will have to fight over the even fewer minimum wage/low skill jobs that will be available.

The argument that wages should be kept low as to not compete with technology isn't a good one, in my opinion. Eventually many of those jobs will be replaced regardless. It's like worrying about the buggy whip companies after the invention of the automobile.

In part it becomes a question of the effect on unemployment compared to how much the increase in wages helps the economy in the long run. Keep in mind that poorer people like these minimum wage workers quickly spend a higher percentage of income pumping the money back into the economy. Higher wages can also have a positive impact on the cost of government social services and give people a higher feeling of net worth that hopefully gets passed on to their children and their community.

I strongly doubt a $15 per hour federal minimum wage is the perfect number, but I often get the idea that many conservatives (not all of course) have this idea that a minimum wage is bad in principle without considering all the pros and cons.

I am actually not against an increase in Federal min wage.

My point is more about the politics of it all. Democrats cater to these people making min wage and tell them- don't worry, we will get you more money. They don't tell them anything else. The simple fact is that some of their jobs will disappear because they will cost too much money versus investing in higher efficiencies. Without adding some skills or otherwise being marketable in the workforce, they are then fighting for fewer min wage jobs with other low skill workers and new entrants to the workforce.

The higher that min wage goes up the more that this happens. You are bettering the lives of others but unless those low skill workers add skills then they will be left behind because the money that is going back to the economy from those that still have the min wage jobs is not going back to create more min wage jobs.

 

[Chadstroma]

Weird. Has his NY policies already been that overwhelmingly successful? These guys usually give it at least a few years before national attention whoring.

No. He's accomplished absolutely nothing here. And I can't wait for a $15 mininum wage in New York so a Big Mac here will cost more than it does in Zurich. The silver lining is some people may actually stop eating fast food.

True. I am not paying $10 for a Big Mac.

As for accomplishing anything... that does not matter. Our current President did not accomplish a single damn thing other than giving a speech and look where that got him. 8 years in the White House.

 

[roadkill1292]

I strongly doubt a $15 per hour federal minimum wage is the perfect number, but I often get the idea that many conservatives (not all of course) have this idea that a minimum wage is bad in principle without considering all the pros and cons.

It's not that a minimum wage is "bad in principle", it's that it's, economically, a horribly inefficient way to accomplish its stated goals. B.I.G. is much better in every way.

I really think we all waste a lot of time here talking about BIG as if it were a viable alternative to existing ideas that are actually on the table. It's a political impossibility in our lifetime.

Too bad. Not your call.

 

[Clifford]

If we have a min wage at all it should be adjusted every year to pace with inflation and cost of living. Truth is there should be a different one for each state or region. Either do away with it altogether or adjust it to where it makes sense.

 

[RCon]

I strongly doubt a $15 per hour federal minimum wage is the perfect number, but I often get the idea that many conservatives (not all of course) have this idea that a minimum wage is bad in principle without considering all the pros and cons.

It's not that a minimum wage is "bad in principle", it's that it's, economically, a horribly inefficient way to accomplish its stated goals. B.I.G. is much better in every way.

I really think we all waste a lot of time here talking about BIG as if it were a viable alternative to existing ideas that are actually on the table. It's a political impossibility in our lifetime.

Thirty years ago, you would have said the same about legalizing MJ or a black POTUS. Things change.

 

[MaxThreshold]

Weird. Has his NY policies already been that overwhelmingly successful? These guys usually give it at least a few years before national attention whoring.

No. He's accomplished absolutely nothing here. And I can't wait for a $15 mininum wage in New York so a Big Mac here will cost more than it does in Zurich. The silver lining is some people may actually stop eating fast food.

True. I am not paying $10 for a Big Mac.

As for accomplishing anything... that does not matter. Our current President did not accomplish a single damn thing other than giving a speech and look where that got him. 8 years in the White House.

Hell..he didn't even have to give a speech. He got a Nobel Prize for simply being African American.

 

[Gary Coal Man]

I strongly doubt a $15 per hour federal minimum wage is the perfect number, but I often get the idea that many conservatives (not all of course) have this idea that a minimum wage is bad in principle without considering all the pros and cons.

It's not that a minimum wage is "bad in principle", it's that it's, economically, a horribly inefficient way to accomplish its stated goals. B.I.G. is much better in every way.

I really think we all waste a lot of time here talking about BIG as if it were a viable alternative to existing ideas that are actually on the table. It's a political impossibility in our lifetime.

Thirty years ago, you would have said the same about legalizing MJ or a black POTUS. Things change.

Gay marriage as well.With that said, I agree with Tim that BIG is far more of a political impossibility than all of the aforementioned were.

 

[Jack White]

Bill De Blasio is a liar and a socialist and his feet stink.

He's a far left nutjob and his proposals are insane.

Other than that, he's awesome!