Madrick's short piece nails it, while a much longer one by David
Leonhardt waffles as he describes Obama reconciling "dueling views."
Dueling Democrats -- like the very right wing Democrats and the pretty
right wind Democrats.
The piece by David Leonhardt, due to run in next Sunday's NY Times
Magazine, available now on-line, "How Obama Reconciles Dueling Views
on Economy," also describes a set of tired and boring ideas. Yet
Leonhardt, in contrast with Madrick, seems to think the centric mix of
the best of Reagan and Clinton is what Obama and the country need.
The piece makes Obama sound out of touch with real people and the
economy, which I guess he is. The writer likes the description of him
as "A University of Chicago Democrat" -- convinced that being free
market and compassionate will save the economy. Compassionate here
apparently means spending on roads and bridges to employ those trained
to use shovels. He seems to have swallowed the story that wages are
stagnant because we all didn't master calculus. A story so
transparently nonsensical that only an economist or someone relying on
them could believe it.
If Obama gets elected and follows the course he'll have one term (at
most) before we turn to Jeb Bush to save us.
Gene
On Aug 21, 2008, at 12:57 PM, Louis Proyect wrote:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-madrick/obamas-tragic-campaign-ou_b_120361.html
Obama's Tragic Campaign: Our Last Chance
The Huffington Post
August 21, 2008
Jeff Madrick
John McCain's economic programs are so meaningless and damaging they
require new adjectives. Absurd won't do.
But Barack Obama's campaign is tragically modest. A soft kiss on the
cheek for those in trouble. And it could cost him the election. More
to the point, it will cost America its future.
His diagnosis is not built genuine analysis -- he chooses centrist
economists to provide him research he seems to think objective, even
scientific. Rather, it is built on what is perceived as politically
plausible.
That is how Clinton formed his policies. Even if times are bad and
we are neglecting our assets, only tell the voters what they want to
hear. A little push here, a little push there. But don't worry, the
age of big government is over. Democrats gave us the Democratic
Leadership Council and The Third Way, organizations bankrupt of
ideas and guts.
In fact, America is in far deeper trouble than Obama or his advisers
dare to think. It has been living off of past brilliant government,
investment in science, management, manpower, education, its highway
system, and its great water and sanitation systems. It's also been
living off of low oil prices and an unusually and misleadingly high
dollar.
Wages have been crummy in America since the 1970s, not only in the
2000s. Educational quality is highly unequal. There is no serious
nationwide pre-k program in a world in which other nations have or
will have one. Americans are no longer getting more schooling on
average; other nations are.
Transportation and healthcare are stunningly inefficient. Respected
observers say the nation has to spend $200 billion a year to repair
and get transportation up to speed. No one is talking about more
than $50 billion a year or so.
We spend so much on inefficient healthcare, it leaves little or
nothing for other requirements. It is our biggest problem. As big as
anything the nation has ever faced. It will get worse.
Then there is energy. It is not time for compromise on offshore
drilling. We need big programs.
There are solutions, but not if we don't raise money. What are
Obama's people taking about instead? Modest tax cuts for the middle
class! Right out of the Third Way playbook. It is nonsense, tragic
nonsense. It will backfire.
Americans will put up a little more tax money to solve its serious
problems if they are asked. They are willing to share in the pain.
If they understand such tax money will be spent to make them better
off, relieve their concerns, save their future.
I just can't believe this emphasis of Obama's on minor tax cuts. Now
is the time to be bold and maintain the courage of one's convictions.
Obama seems convinced equanimity is the answer. Cut a compromise.
The problems are too deep and wide. (The same is true in foreign
policy.) Obama's falling behind the curve. The people sense it.
This is not a class room. It is not a mere conversation. It is a
battle for the truth and the future. It may be our last chance.
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