Crazy Talk
Gov Freudenthal (D-Wyoming) made a nice reference to McCain's one-legged stool stance with regard to energy this morning on Meet The Press. Putting all their public faith into drilling areas now off limits is the right wing's total answer to high gas prices, and it is easily shown to be a false premise. Of course, McShame started off proposing a summer vacation from gas tax, but when was the last time you heard anything more about that? All crazy talk. Neither tactic would solve the problem, but are their only tactics.
Another instance of insanity was the jaw-dropping injunction the cretin in chief made in his State of the Union Address, to 'Go Shopping'. His administration put their faith in deluded consumerism, while denying the consumer any actual support, to keep the economy afloat. A one-legged stool indeed, this tactic is a total obvious failure.
The financial reporter is a breed I seldom give credence, as they have - as a class - generally hidden the fundamentals of the economy behind a gloss in order to encourage the consumer confidence that is the basis of our economy in present times. Without baseless faith, the consumer wouldn't have driven up our national figures for individual debt to the point of crisis. Without constant hiding of facts, the consumer would not be so confident of their safety in massive retreat from solid planning, and solid financial practices. Deprived of good sense, the American consumer has fallen into the present credit crisis, and can't get up.
This morning, the WaPo financial columnist Michelle Singletary reports on a conversation with Democratic candidate Obama, and in this report shows the kind of reality based economy we can look forward to. Incidentally, McCain didn't respond to inquiries, though her invitation remains open.
The concept of the public as weak-minded and easily led into mistaking lies for truth is slipping away, and leaving the right wing without legs to stand on, or put on their stools. Those lies have made the sad situation we're in, and those who've taken the bait and acted on them are in deep trouble. Pretty hard to vote for the fraud perpetrators when you've lost your home and are unable to meet credit card payments, and can't pay for the gas to get to the job that doesn't pay enough to put the overpriced food on your family.
The one leg on that stool isn't tempting voters to climb up and try to balance on it. Should they fall, they can't pay the bill to fix whatever it is they break.
Jay Ackroyd posted a moment in the life of the McCain campaign that shows the basic detachment of the candidate, this morning at Eschaton.
WICKSOL: When was the last time you pumped your own gas and how much did it cost?
MCCAIN: Oh, I don’t remember. Now there’s Secret Service protection. But I’ve done it for many, many years. I don’t recall and frankly, I don’t see how it matters.
The consumer is the device the right wing wants to use to keep their country afloat, and not only do they not see that that requires support for the consumer's well-being - these wingers don't have any connection to that strapped consumer.
Another instance of insanity was the jaw-dropping injunction the cretin in chief made in his State of the Union Address, to 'Go Shopping'. His administration put their faith in deluded consumerism, while denying the consumer any actual support, to keep the economy afloat. A one-legged stool indeed, this tactic is a total obvious failure.
The financial reporter is a breed I seldom give credence, as they have - as a class - generally hidden the fundamentals of the economy behind a gloss in order to encourage the consumer confidence that is the basis of our economy in present times. Without baseless faith, the consumer wouldn't have driven up our national figures for individual debt to the point of crisis. Without constant hiding of facts, the consumer would not be so confident of their safety in massive retreat from solid planning, and solid financial practices. Deprived of good sense, the American consumer has fallen into the present credit crisis, and can't get up.
This morning, the WaPo financial columnist Michelle Singletary reports on a conversation with Democratic candidate Obama, and in this report shows the kind of reality based economy we can look forward to. Incidentally, McCain didn't respond to inquiries, though her invitation remains open.
Obama ticked off a list of his proposed economic fixes: another stimulus package, a universal health-care plan and tax cuts for the middle class.
When discussing consumer debt, Obama had a story to tell that was similar in some respects to that of many people in the country:
Until a few years ago, the candidate and his wife, Michelle, were deep in debt. Together, they were carrying $120,000 in student loans they had taken on to pay for law school.
(snip)
Were he to become president, Obama said he would initiate reforms to address "the whole debt industry that has really got people in a financial hole they never dig themselves out of."
I believe that when Obama talks about his family's situation, he gets that we must move away from an economy driven by debt-laden consumers.
The concept of the public as weak-minded and easily led into mistaking lies for truth is slipping away, and leaving the right wing without legs to stand on, or put on their stools. Those lies have made the sad situation we're in, and those who've taken the bait and acted on them are in deep trouble. Pretty hard to vote for the fraud perpetrators when you've lost your home and are unable to meet credit card payments, and can't pay for the gas to get to the job that doesn't pay enough to put the overpriced food on your family.
The one leg on that stool isn't tempting voters to climb up and try to balance on it. Should they fall, they can't pay the bill to fix whatever it is they break.
Jay Ackroyd posted a moment in the life of the McCain campaign that shows the basic detachment of the candidate, this morning at Eschaton.
WICKSOL: When was the last time you pumped your own gas and how much did it cost?
MCCAIN: Oh, I don’t remember. Now there’s Secret Service protection. But I’ve done it for many, many years. I don’t recall and frankly, I don’t see how it matters.
The consumer is the device the right wing wants to use to keep their country afloat, and not only do they not see that that requires support for the consumer's well-being - these wingers don't have any connection to that strapped consumer.
Labels: Bush Legacy, Credit Crunch, Election 2008, the Press
posted by Ruth at 9:00 AM
2 Comments:
McCain seems more and more like a lost soul coming out of the jungle oblivious to what happened to society since the 60s.
This, however, doesn't make a tax break to the middle class any more helpful than drilling for oil on California beaches. I also doubt whether Obama ever intends to enact universal health care.
What we need is an investment in clean energy of the sort FDR would have made, putting unemployed blue collar workers in droves and driving the whole country to again lead in anything but war crimes.
FDR didn't have student loans to repay; he was plenty rich. Yet, he still understood exactly what it takes.
The CCC also taught living skills like farming and canning, my parents both worked in 'resettlement' - today I'm sure this kind of self-sufficiency would be labeled socialism/communism and fought with tooth and nails by the right wing. I suspect Obama will stay away from the sort of proposals that will bring right wing harpies out in force against him, he's got enough that scares them going for him now.
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