{"id":11918,"date":"2014-01-01T00:31:12","date_gmt":"2014-01-01T08:31:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=11918"},"modified":"2014-01-01T00:31:13","modified_gmt":"2014-01-01T08:31:13","slug":"open-thread112014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2014\/01\/01\/open-thread112014\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread–1\/1\/2014"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m writing for tomorrow, the first day of the new year and planning a big roast beef dinner to celebrate the occasion.  Please stay safe.  There are drunks, maniacs and Re3publicans on the road.<\/font><\/p>\n

Jig Zone Puzzle<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s took me 2:44 (average 4:50).  To do it, click here<\/a>.  How did you do?<\/font><\/p>\n

Short Takes<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

From Right Wing Watch<\/a>: <\/font>Ending Aid To Jobless Americans<\/strong><\/p>\n

The perception, revealed in polling, that the GOP does not care about people is doing great harm to the Party\u2026. To people who are flat on their back, unemployed or disabled and in need of help, they do not care if the help comes from the private sector or the government \u2014 they just want help.<\/em><\/p>\n

Republicans in Congress rejected<\/a> an extension of unemployment benefits, which will not only hurt approximately 1.3 million Americans during a period when long-term joblessness is still high<\/a>, but will also result in serious harm to economic growth<\/a>. If Republicans do not waver from their position, up to 5 million people<\/a> could be affected by the cuts. The party also passed enormous cuts<\/a> to the food stamp program<\/a> under the auspices of preventing the tremendously low rate of fraud<\/a> in an effort to kick 5 million people<\/a> off of food assistance.<\/p>\n

But the GOP continues to give special benefits to millionaires, as earlier this year Republicans once again rebuffed<\/a> the \u201cBuffet Rule<\/a>,\u201d which would have ensured that millionaires don\u2019t end up having a lower tax rate than average Americans.<\/p>\n

This is just one of five ways that, according to the author, the Republican Party got even worse in 2013. Click through for the other four.<\/font><\/p>\n

From Robert Reich<\/a>: <\/font>Despite do-nothing congressional Republicans, we ARE making progress around the country because Americans are organizing and mobilizing. Together we can make 2014 the year we turn the tide on economic inequality.<\/p>\n