Al Sharpton on Budget & Economy Reverend; Civil Rights Activist; Democratic Candidate for President

Focus on mass employment instead of big business

SHARPTON: I would be looking for someone that would not be protecting the big businesses; we would not be protecting banking interests; [and instead] lead toward mass employment, mass development and mass production. Would I replace Greenspan, probably. Do I have a name? No.

Average Americans are doing their share

SHARPTON: To lecture working-class, average, middle-class Americans on how they can do more when you have the Enrons of the world operating offshore, doing nothing, I think is an insult to the intelligence of the American people. In fact, it is on our backs that you are being able to do what you’ve been able to do. We’ve been the ones that have beared the brunt of the American economy. We just have not shared from the prosperity.

Job development is critical to economy

Repeal virtually all of the Bush tax cuts

A: I would repeal virtually all of the Bush tax cuts, since they mostly benefit the rich in a way that will not benefit the rest of us. I am not concerned per se about deficit spending in our present economic circumstance. But I am concerned about the current deficit spending that is primarily the result of tax cuts that will not result in creating a significant number jobs and balanced economic growth.