The Obama White House is dabbling in small ideas when what the country needs is a big reset of this presidency. My suggestion: dump the measured moderation. It’s not working as economic strategy or as politics. Take a deep breath and admit the Democratic Party failed to grasp the enormity of the economic upheaval facing the country—people will be grateful for some honest talk. Start over with a more aggressive and realistic economic agenda that measures success in the tangible results people can see, not rosy forecasts of macroeconomic models.
Everyone knows that Obama wants to whack Social Security benefits to lure Republicans into a deal on raising taxes. In that case, keep Alan Simpson on the commission on reducing the federal deficit—his tasteless zingers are doing more harm than good.
As Elizabeth Warren’s devastating Congressional report reveals, the Federal Reserve used taxpayer money to bail out the insurance giant, instead of forcing the major banks to clean up the mess they helped create.
Kos poll finds old pal Rep. John Hall in tough fight in NY--a well-funded, not insane GOPer won primary tonite. http://politi.co/aLk7iP
More Delaware fallout. RT @DanRiehl: Fox Should Suspend Rove And Investigate, Cornyn Must Resign http://bit.ly/bDUrZT
Instead of holding back, start using the government’s vast, untapped powers in more ambitious ways that directly generate real changes in the economy, starting with jobs, jobs, jobs. Stop saying "recovery" is here or right around the corner—people know better. Start explaining with painful clarity the hard facts of our situation, including that no one really knows how long it may last, how deep this ditch will become.
Make only one promise. The government will keep trying—whatever it takes—to help Americans through this until they can begin building better lives, a better country.
The driving imperative of this new era is the expansion of governing powers, not a smaller the government imagined by pious conservatives. That sounds contrary to current political passions. But the great unraveling has created an ineluctable drift leftward—toward measures that give government greater presence and power in the private economy.
The problem with this suggestion is everyone knows it’s not going to happen. Adopting an aggressive, high-risk mobilization of governing powers would be out of character for the no-drama president. His policy team of super-brainy technocrats would reject it as irresponsible. They are fidgeting with smaller adjustments because they claim politics won't allow them to do more. The claim is defeatist, bordering on self-pity. Republicans will gain seats this fall exploiting the public confusion and misery. Paralysis will rule.
So why even talk about big ideas for greater government interventions? Because the country has no other alternative. When the private sector is not delivering what the society needs, government inevitably tries to fill the void, motivated by necessity more than ideological conviction. Banking and industry are now hunkered down defending their balance sheets, not investing, not hiring. Most consumers are tapped out, nursing wounds and not spending.
If the federal government declines to step up, that is a decision to do nothing. Let nature take its course, let the country stew in its pain and loss and social deterioration. Tea Party libertarians might be satisfied with that, but even the cynical GOP cannot embrace passivity and expect to survive in power.
The driving imperative of this new era is the expansion of governing powers, not a smaller government imagined by pious conservatives. That sounds contrary to current political passions. But the great unraveling has created an ineluctable drift leftward—toward measures that give government greater presence and power in the private economy.
A reinvigorated public square not only must strengthen the muscle of government regulation, as Congress has attempted. Government should also accept the need to produce some of the shared public goods people need in their lives—the common assets the private sector will not provide and often seeks to destroy.
Both political parties in different ways resist this insight, anxiously denying the new relevance of left-liberal propositions. But it is not so easy for them to evade the leftward push of bleak events or the rage of disappointed citizens.
Obama and the Democratic Congress tried to split the difference and have it both ways. They reached for some big ideas but resisted the left-liberal logic of using government power forcefully and effectively. Instead, they were careful not to intrude too seriously on private economic power and the privileges of the old order.
Their moderation failed. Certainly, it did not convince business and financial interests. They take seriously the threat of the leftward impulse and are mobilized to block it at every turn. Their fellow travelers in the Republican party went a little nuts—demonizing Obama as a power-mad 'socialist' and reviving crackpot ideology from the 1920s.
Political impasse is not a permanent condition, however. Events will intensify the ideological tension because the sodden economic conditions will continue to sow social upheaval and bitter rebellions. The left-liberal ideas that could truly change things are not a mystery. If private employers can't or won't create jobs, government can do so—public employment for the vast army of unemployed. If the "free trade" regime continues to bleed US jobs and production, there are many ways government can stop it. If people lack the resources to hold onto their homes or if banks won't lend at reasonable rates, government can intervene to change that.
Political leaders may try to maintain their straddle between the people's interests and the big-money interests, but the people can also push back—much harder than they have. This fall, many will employ the only crude tool at their disposal. Throw the bums out. When a political party fails to deliver, it is punished. Democrats failed to deliver and so their ranks will be purged this fall. That can be unfair (some worthy representatives get taken down in the process), but it is also a good thing in the long run. It is the surest way people can force change upon a political system compromised and corrupted by the knowledge that even bums can hold onto office if only they spend enough money.
The Democratic party deserves to be punished. It came to power with a strong governing majority and, instead of using it, bargained meekly with the other side on how to avoid enacting stronger measures. Yes, it is entirely possible Obama and Congressional Democrats will take the wrong message from the election results and turn rightward—trying to copy Bill Clinton's rope-a-dope strategy for avoiding the tough decisions.
If so, throw the bums out. This is the "new politics" of our era. Don't be surprised if it continues for a number of election cycles until one party or the another figures it out. Or until both parties are totally discredited and something arises to take their place.
If you like this article, consider making a donation.
Reprint this article. Click here for rights and information.
Ralph Nader was fond of saying "vote for the democrat and go to hell in a hand basket a little bit slower" We are facing a likely stalemated congress. Let's vote every single nut case and typically evil republican into office and hasten the revolution that needs to happen. You got a better idea? Same old same old?
Like I said Happy;
Don't you just love the way Marxist totalitarian ADVOCATES talk?
I can hear the "goose stepping" leftist gearing up to march right now!
Don't let little things like the U.S.A. constitution, "the rule of Law", or the "balance of powers" the leftist so loved to abuse during the Bush Presidency get in the way!
Now all that's left to do is watch the left's sheeple chime in to advocate totalitarinism before it is too late in November 2010 and 2012!
2. posted by: Harry Flashman at 09/13/2010 @ 10:34pm Barack Obama's original typewritten long form birth certificate, school records, SAT and LSAT scores, college and law school admission records and grade transcripts and thesis papers, medical records, passport history and other relevant records and documents have all never been released or allowed to be subjected to any sort of scrutiny, despite several years of repeated requests for disclosure by numerous individuals and non-traditional media organizations.
-------------
If he was Republican the diseased leftwingnut media and misogenists would be screaming their lungs out for disclosure instead of ridiculing those requesting documentation! That is the plain and simple truth they won't acknowledge in their perverse hypocrisy!!!
(of course we could just get Dan Rather to make up a bunch of it for us!)
Here I'm gonna introduce an online store, ======== http://www.clothes6.us =========
welcome to: http://www.b2cjersey.us The website wholesale for many kinds of fashion shoes, like the nike,jordan,prada, also including the ,shirts,bags,hat and the decorations. All the products are free shipping, and the the price is competitive, and also can accept the paypal payment.,after the payment, can ship within short time.
free shipping
competitive price
any size available
accept the paypal
http://www.b2cjersey.us
SOCCER JERSEY 16USD jordan shoes $32
nike $32
Christan Audigier bikini $23
Ed Hardy Bikini $23
Smful short_t-shirt_woman $15
ed hardy short_tank_woman $16
Sandal $32
christian louboutin $80
Sunglass $15
COACH_Necklace $27
handbag $33
AF tank woman $17
Read Full Article »