On Sunday’s Up w/ Steve Kornacki, the panel took a long look at taxes, the pitfalls of austerity, and the disconnect between Democratic party’s “social progressivism and economic stand-pattism,” as guest Rep. Jerry Nadler said. There has been a massive shift in Democratic support for social issues like gay marriage, the panel argued, even as Democrats have moved closer to Republicans on financial issues.
When discussing the budget and the drive to cut social security under the auspices of freeing up more money for future generations, Nadler said, “there is a misperception that these things are in conflict. We should be spending more on everyone.” Spending on children decreased in 2011 for the first time in nearly 30 years, and a blog post by Center for Economic and Policy Research co-founder Dean Baker pointed out that government spending disproportionately benefits the wealthy.
How can President Obama and the Democrats invest more in young people and create a better economy? Watch guests Rep. Jerry Nadler, Maya Wiley, Eliot Spitzer, and Neera Tanden discuss that question and more with host Steve Kornacki.
Meredith Clark
Meredith Clark is a freelance writer and editor. She was previously a senior news producer for "Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj," a reporter with MSNBC.com, the digital politics and culture editor at Glamour and a senior news and politics editor at Refinery29. She has written for Vulture, Rolling Stone, Self, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, The Daily Beast and Bustle.