tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682466260563496931.post5444644375590679892..comments2023-12-21T03:26:24.079-05:00Comments on Reformed Trombonist: Stimulus RexLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974887002402743628noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682466260563496931.post-78767591469848999812009-02-05T14:36:00.000-05:002009-02-05T14:36:00.000-05:00> "...and reviving the notion of government as ...> <B>"...and reviving the notion of government as an engine of capitalist growth -- not merely the safety net provider..."</B><BR/><BR/>Ain't characterization grand? Who knew that the idea of government as an engine for capitalism is a "notion", while the idea of governent as the safety-net provider is somehow more that a mere notion?<BR/><BR/>As for me, I'm trying to figure why the lady believes she has correctly characterized conservative philosophy on the subject. The idea of capitalism is not that the government is supposed to be an engine for growth, only that we will get growth if the government can manage to get out the way.<BR/><BR/>> <B>"But there's a dangerous civic illiteracy in our country about what the larger role of government in a modern economy is, or should be...."</B><BR/><BR/>That's just a fancy way of saying, "Anyone who disagrees with the liberal agenda is stupid."<BR/><BR/>> <B>"Democrats know the Republicans are wrong. Little children know they're wrong. Cats and dogs know they're wrong."</B><BR/><BR/>So the liberals are getting a lot of advice from Fido and Fluffy these days, are they? Well, why not? My cat sounds more intelligent than this particular liberal.<BR/><BR/>> <B>"But somehow this week, unbelievably, Obama and the Democrats seem to be losing the spin war."</B><BR/><BR/>And with her spinning with all her might.<BR/><BR/>> <B>"In this economic crisis, with 2.6 million jobs lost last year and thousands more lost in every news cycle, what does it take to create the urgency and responsibility to get this done?"</B><BR/><BR/>Well, they could start by taking out all the items that look more like standard-issue pork and leave in only the ones that are vital. If this is a vital bill, then show me the vital portions, and let's pass just those portions. It's hard, e.g., to believe that the entire U.S. economy is going to fall unless we give $50 million to the National Endowment for the Arts, or another $20 billion to the food stamp program.<BR/><BR/>> Who'd a thought Karl Marx was right after all?<BR/><BR/>I actually give Marx a little credit for having a brain. I'm not convinced the author of this drivel qualifies.Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12974887002402743628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682466260563496931.post-55000135459242860262009-02-05T14:02:00.000-05:002009-02-05T14:02:00.000-05:00This piece offers a slightly different point of vi...This piece offers a slightly different point of view... <A HREF="http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2009/02/04/obama/" REL="nofollow">Communicator II: Judgment Day</A>.<BR/><BR/>I thought you'd enjoy this ...<BR/><I><BR/>Obama is the Democrats' Great Communicator, our Ronald Reagan. It's fitting that his highest priority will be reversing the tax and spending priorities Reagan enshrined as a new American compact almost 30 years ago, and reviving the notion of government as an engine of capitalist growth -- not merely the safety net provider, but the catalyst for organizing our public resources around what makes the economy strong. We've been arguing at the margins during these last two years of pain: Government should regulate more, or less. Tax rates should be higher, or lower. But there's a dangerous civic illiteracy in our country about what the larger role of government in a modern economy is, or should be, and I don't think Obama will ultimately prevail if he doesn't start to take it on.<BR/></I><BR/>and this...<BR/><I><BR/>Democrats know the Republicans are wrong. Little children know they're wrong. Cats and dogs know they're wrong. But somehow this week, unbelievably, Obama and the Democrats seem to be losing the spin war. There are the worrying poll numbers. And there is the Washington Post report that Senate Democrats don't have the votes to pass a stimulus bill yet, at least not with the 60 votes that would rule out a filibuster. In this economic crisis, with 2.6 million jobs lost last year and thousands more lost in every news cycle, what does it take to create the urgency and responsibility to get this done?<BR/></I><BR/>Who'd a thought Karl Marx was right after all?Glenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10197641647865110045noreply@blogger.com