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It was good to read Cornel West;s piece but SAD to think that it could not find a home in a US - based media outlet. I hope this will get wide circulation. My slight disagreement is with the idea that Obama had a serious character flaw that led him to align with the neo-liberals and protect the banksters (Bill Black's term) and war criminals from accountability. I actually think Obama was (in his heart) supportive of attempts to repudiate neo-liberalism. Check out the first ECONOMIC REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT issued by Obama's Council of Economic Advisers --- aside from not promised to punish the banksters, the ANALYSIS of the cause of the financial crisis and the emphasis on the increase in inequality was really good. Regardless of what Obama WANTED to do, West is absolutely correct in identifying what he ACTUALLY did --- which in fact did pave the way for Trump. In Chapter 18 of Howard Sherman's and my principles text, we try to show that the failure of the Obama Administration (trying to appease "deficit hawks" in Congress) to push through a strong enough stimulus (a FAILURE to be "good Keynesians") along with a failure to keep the coalition that elected him mobilized for future political struggle led to a FAILED recovery strategy that though it did not stop Obama's re-election gave aid and comfort to the Tea Party and ultimately to Trump ... Seriously missed opportunity --- and Obama bears the lion's share of the blame .... (arguing that the Republicans were worse because of their total opposition doesn't work -- Obama could have beaten them during the first two years of his PResidency had he been bolder and stronger and kept his coalition mobilized) So sad!!! _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
