John Nichols: "The Progressive Plan to Balance the Budget, Defeat the Deficit and Avert Austerity"

John Nichols:

There is no question that inside-outside strategies are going to be needed to assure that President Obama's "Deficit Commission" does balance the federal accounts on the backs of working Americans.

Progressive members of the House and Senate are going to need to say "no" with a level of commitment and consistency that many of them failed to display during the fights over health-care and financial-services reform. Activist groups are going to need to pressure Congress in smart and effective ways.

Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, gets this. MORE...