Will Democrats Allow The President To "Get Things Done?"

Deficit reform? Maybe. Corporate Tax reform? Maybe. There are SOME openings for President Obama in the 112th Congress. Maybe. Maybe appears to be the key word here. He may not have the openings he thinks, even with a GOP House.

You see, the Democrats are basically saying "no" to anything on Social Security, even if it gets them criticized. They appear to be staking out the opposite position of the GOP's "get rid of it" stance, re-writing history in the same way the GOP has, by attributing values to the program that were not there at the start. The program was meant as a supplemental income for the elderly and incapable, with the value that if you pay in, you pay out. Taking a "don't touch" view on COLA alterations and retirement age is a good way to start negotiating, but as a policy statement, it makes any kind of change to the program virtually impossible, as the GOP isn't likely to capitulate on the caps on Payroll Taxes if the Democrats don't give anything else. As I said though, this is a good negotiating point, and it gives them something to work with. All sides should realize that COLA's and payroll taxes weren't at the heart of the ideals behind FDR's Social Security.

Then there's the corporate tax rate. Everyone agrees 40% is too high. The devil is the details. You see, the highest taxed corporations in effect, are ones that Progressives do not like. Tobacco, utilities, and petroleum are some of the sectors taxed over 10% in the end, and Democrats won't be happy about that. Republicans will also not be crazy about giving away loopholes for their pet corporate partners. Suddenly, consensus seems more difficult.