On the surface, differences between Democrats and Republicans on budget cuts seem oceans apart, given the heightened rhetoric over a looming government shutdown.  But in reality, Democrats are just as committed to austerity cuts as Republicans.  It’s simply a matter of how much.

The fierce budget-cut battles in congress over a possible government shutdown mask the converging economic ideologies of two corporately owned political parties.  They agree on much more than they would like to admit.  For this reason, we should not confuse the Democrats’ minor disagreements with Republicans, as them standing up for the little guy.  Because standing up for the “people” would require a principled refusal to make draconian budget cuts to social programs during a recession with 9% unemployment.

Let’s not forget that it was a Democrat-controlled congress and white house that renewed the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy last year, while allowing for deregulation and CEO bonuses to continue unabated.  It is a Democratic President that led the charge for a 5-year government spending freeze, cuts to heating assistance for low-income families, and cuts to block grants for community development and aid for students.  Both Republicans and Democrats are trying to balance the budget on the backs of poor and working people.  Both refuse to increase taxes on the wealthy.  Both refuse to close tax loopholes, tackle tax havens, or hold Wall Street accountable for sinking the economy.

The true difference lies in rhetoric.  To justify budget cuts, Republicans argue condescendingly that welfare queens and the unemployed are lazy parasites draining the federal government’s coffers.  Democrats, on the other hand, prefer to lecture the country about how, like a family in tough times, the government must tighten its belt, because that is what responsible households do.  The Democrats’ rhetoric  may be slightly less patronizing, but it is equally appalling.

Of course there are those on the liberal side who reject austerity cuts, instead calling for more stimulus.  But they are few and their voices are drowned out by the “fiscal conservatives” of the Democratic party.

It’s easy to look like a progressive champion of the people when the guy next to you is making the case for cutting food aid to lazy infants.  An important lesson to take away from the budget cut showdown is this:  have no illusions about the intentions of the Democratic establishment, for they are controlled by the same moneyed interests as their Republican rivals.