Letsgetitdone explains here; we're intending to create a counter-narrative to Pete Peterson's deficit terrorists* conference. We've got at least one offer from a "teacher"; and I've also had an offer for a smidgeon of funding (depending on the final form the teach-in takes). So... Something's happening here.
Just stay tuned, since nothing is firm yet, but share your ideas in comments. It may be that a Correntian meetup will take place faster than we'd planned for!
NOTE * The term of art for such as Peterson among career "progressives" seems to be "deficit scold." That's about as weak-ass a piece of rhetoric as I've heard in my life time. Quelle surprise. I mean, just because they're OK with elders dying in their own shit doesn't make them bad people. Let's be reasonable, here!
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wow
well done letsgetitdone, it would be great if we could pull it off. Although I live in this town I don't think I could do more than show up.
"Class Warfare"
I've said it before, but when a politician says "deficit reduction" what they're really saying is "class warfare". So maybe a deficit scold is a class warrior, although that doesn't sound as bad as it is either.
"Do what you feel in your heart to be right -- for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't. " - Eleanor Roosevelt
Deficit Nazis
The name Deficit Nazi is also circulating. That's a good name for Pete Peterson, himself I think. For myself, I like to name name them Hooverites, practicing Hooverism.
Neo-Hooverites?
Nazis they may be, but it's a bit overused....
And in fact, doesn't "deficit" accept their frame?
Plus, we call them Hoovers because they suck.
First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win. -- Mahatma Gandhi
There are three "teachers"
We have three from my list as of now. Scott Fullwiler, Bill Mitchell, and Warren Mosler. I'm afraid, however, we may not be able to take advantage of Bill's offer, if we don't have some support, since I think it's a lot to expect someone to come from Australia if you can't cover expenses. Thus far, there are no comments on my idea from FDL or The Huffington Post, Thea Harvey has passed the idea on to Jamie Galbraith who is going to pass it on to the economists at Soros's conference running in England right now.
cool
uber cool
Bravo
I will try to make this if it looks as if it will materialize. I'm surprised that the mainstream orgs-e.g. the unions, AARP, etc. aren't protesting this, but I suppose I shouldn't be.
One obvious choice for a participant would be Dean Baker who has been on this beat since the publication of his book Social Security: The Phony Crisis.
As for Peterson, as I've said before, the best line applicable to him comes from the Red Brigades. "It would be a shame if such a man were to die in his sleep."
Campaign for America's Future
maybe we could persuade them to join the sidewalk teach in.
We've been conversing
by e-mail with someone over there but he or she (Alex) has to ask around to see what they're doing about a counter-event and whether it's compatible with what they're doing.
This is awesome.
Great, great job, Let'sgetitdone and Lambert. If I lived in DC, I'd try to find you all a venue.
I like "Hooverites" myself. It's got that instant-recognition factor - everyone knows how badly his economic ideas worked out - plus, everyone remembers who brought us out of the Depression.
I also used "robber barons" with my co-worker last week - he liked that one. We were lamenting the lack of "noblesse oblige" in today's CEOs, and I was saying that at least JP Morgan and his ilk had the decency to give a huge amount of money back to the society which made their immense wealth possible. Assholes like Donald Trump feel entitled to whatever they can steal, and don't bother to say thanks. Bill Gates is a notable exception.
Never vote for people who hate you.
ERA Now!
The Widdershins
Just the Start
Thanks madamab, but we're really still a long way from home. Lambert's working on a web site to go up post-haste. I'm working on the program and the budget, and there's still the funding to get, which will be not insignificant even for a low-end event.
Jessica Einhorn
see my post on TimeWarner's Board of Directors:
venue
do you need a place next to Peterson's conference? I assume that is the problem with getting a venue. Would you like me to try the American Geophysical Union? they are near DuPont Circle, but might no go with what will be a political conference.
Otherwise the best I could suggest is the DC Cleveland Park Library. Far from Peterson's conference, but next to a subway exit.
Would you like me to check local churches?
American Geophysical Union
That sounds pretty good -- though I've got no idea what the requirements are (like, how many attendees? Is the parking?)
First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win. -- Mahatma Gandhi
it is close to the duPont circle metro
easy walking distance of the Peterson Institute. I somehow thought this was going to be next to the Peterson event, but would another location on the same day be ok?
the DC XML Users group and other local groups meet at AGU. But I am not sure how the AGU would feel about this sort of event. Also it might be harder to get during the day time. A local church or DC Library might be a better bet.
"K Street" Area
Hi DC, AGU sounds pretty good to inquire about. Of course, you wouldn't have to bill it as "political." After all, isn't the Peterson Foundation "non-political," with a tax exemption? We're just as non-political as they are.
Anyway, it can be described as a conference intended to talk about issues surrounding "Fiscal sustainability" and "fiscal responsibility" from the viewpoint of "Modern Monetary Theory." That should be non-political enough to make their eyes glaze over.
Also, I'm not sure we need to have this next to or near the Peterson Foundation, since I don't even know if their meeting is at the Foundation. But I would like to have it in a location that is really convenient for the Washington MSM to drop in on, so they can stop on their way to, or back from, their lunch cocktails.
BTW, we now have 7 MMT
economists who've agreed to teach if we can get them there including: Bill Mitchell; Randy Wray, Stephanie Kelton, Jamie Galbraith, Marshall Auerback, Pavlina Tcherneva, and Warren Mosler. So, we've done really well on the program end so far. Not so much on the fund raising end, though.
fundraising
what kind of $$ amounts are we talking about here?
Dean Baker?
Have you contacted Dean Baker? He's there in Washington so travel expenses would be minimal.
There's also Baker's some time collaborator Mark Weisbrot at CEPR.
I assume that both of them can be contacted via CEPR http://www.cepr.net/
time window
before I reserve a space I need a time window. 10 - 12 noon OK? if not, what?
Counter-Summit: Is this going to happen?
It would be a shame if it-or something like it-didn't materialize.
Please let me know if there is anyway to help out.
Counter-Summit Update
We're trying to nail down logistics today (and by "we" I mean mostly people other than me). We should hopefully have more to say about it in the next day or two. Regarding offers to help, please email lambert because he can point you in the right direction.
"Do what you feel in your heart to be right -- for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't. " - Eleanor Roosevelt
Thanks, BDB, and yes
In fact, that's why I'm not here so much today.
First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win. -- Mahatma Gandhi
err, have you talked to a Member of Congress yet?
They can reserve a meeting room on Capitol Hill, and "room" in the Congressional sense is an amorphous term. The new visitor's center has a 450 seat auditorium.
Once a room has been reserved, the Member (or Senator) will then send a letter out similar to this one....
Dear Congressional Colleague,
You are cordially invited to attend an informational briefing on federal transportation andenergy policy options by the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis (ITS-Davis). The briefing is sponsored by Congressman Mike Thompson, representing California’s First Congressional District.
The briefing will be held on: Monday, January 12, 20093:30 – 5:00 p.m. U.S. Capitol Visitors Center Congressional Auditorium
Secondly, since the Peterson Cat Food Commission will surely endorse a "balanced approach" of benefit cuts AND tax hikes, I'd try to line up some conservatives to show up. One, as God fearing Americans, they just plain don't like taxes, and two, they really do appreciate any chance to step on the White House's message of the day. Besides, liberals and conservatives attacking something will get more press than liberals attacking alone.
Let's see, Club for Growth is the group that runs ads against weak tea Republicans and there's Americans for Tax Reform, that's the group that makes every GOP candidate sign a blood oath opposing any and all tax increases. But there are plenty more (and of course, there are senior citizens groups of all kinds, besides the nonpartisan AARP, there are both liberal and conservatives groups).
Hey-what happened to this?
Sounded like a great idea.
Of course, no excuses are necessary for those who might not have had the time, money and inclination to organize it.
But it is a shame that no one-so far as I know-is pushing back.
The cat food lobby (among lots of others) will be pleased.
It's coming, it's coming!
The Fiscal Sustainability thing took precedence.
First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win. -- Mahatma Gandhi