Shame on US!
February 9, 2009
Republicans should be ashamed of themselves. President Obama has reached out to them to engage them in a process of uniting to create a recovery package that will work for the American people. They have chosen the path of obstructionism and obfuscation. They have good reason. Their political lives are at risk. However, the real shame is on US, the people of this nation. We continue to be led down the primrose path by our inability to see the truth about ourselves, our inability to know reality.
At this time of great national crisis, you would think that the American people would take a close look at the record over the last several decades (and that includes the era of Bill Clinton) to understand that “trickle down economics” is a sham that destroys good government and establishes a corporate welfare system that sustains the privileges of extremely rich people and tramples the lives of middle class and lower income people. The outcomes of such policy are now evident. Thousands are losing their jobs and their homes. The “American Dream” as it has been sold to us is now, for many, the “American Nightmare.”
We learned yesterday from the New York Times online of the hardships being faced by those who might have to live on $500K annually, the failed CEO’s who continue to take their bonuses after losing billions of dollars. What is completely remarkable, however, is the arrogance of the Republican minority. In the face of a strong mandate for change in the last election and the fact that the very foundations upon which they have built their political capital have collapsed into the sink hole that’s swallowing our entire economy and destroying thousands of peoples’ lives, they remain adamantly committed to the policies that are producing such destructive outcomes for all of us. And, we are giving them credence for God’s sake!
The time for change has come. Nothing to be afraid of. It is what it is. We will learn, although our suffering will have to be great. The policies that our Republican friends say are the “solution to our country’s economic meltdown,” simply don’t work. Yes, we can take some measure of learning from these policies – personal responsibility, good stewarship, an understanding that government can’t solve all of our problems. These values are always in style; however, let’s put away the voodoo economics, the favoring of the privileged, rich and well-connected, and the shaming of good government. These are not our nation’s values and they certainly are bad policy.
Alexis de Toqueville said that in a democracy, the people get a government they deserve.” Let’s make sure that we get good government back and eliminate once and for all the thinking that says that ”government is the problem” and if we keep unproductive rich people rich, things will be OK. Obama is right to fight for accountability and stewardship in government. Let’s help him achieve this important goal – for our own sake and the sake of the future of our democracy.
See the article below from the New York Times online:
White House Memo
Already Back on the Trail, Now to Sell a Stimulus Plan
By JEFF ZELENY
Published: February 9, 2009
President Obama will travel this week in an effort to build support for his economic stimulus plan.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/09/us/politics/09obama.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
