The Centrists Have Doomed Us
In there attempt to get everyone to play nice, the centrists have effectively doomed the stimulus bill.
The goal of this thing was to jump start the economy; you can't do that on a small scale. The package was supposed to be big enough to give every industry a chance to succeed; now there's less than 50/50 chance that it will work. And by "work," I mean, "show some positive change before the 2010 and/or 2012 Elections." By trying to garner some GOP votes in the future, President Obama (and the Democrats) may have sacrificed their Congressional majority...and possibly, possibly a smooth re-election.
I hate to say it, but you have to go hardcore in your first 100 days. You have to. It's the only way to show the politicians that you mean business, and after those 100 days, you rarely have the public paying attention (unless something big comes up). Obama has two years to play nice, but this really isn't the time. The GOP is not budging, and they've picked an arrogant, drug-addled radio host as their leader.
The goal of this thing was to jump start the economy; you can't do that on a small scale. The package was supposed to be big enough to give every industry a chance to succeed; now there's less than 50/50 chance that it will work. And by "work," I mean, "show some positive change before the 2010 and/or 2012 Elections." By trying to garner some GOP votes in the future, President Obama (and the Democrats) may have sacrificed their Congressional majority...and possibly, possibly a smooth re-election.
I hate to say it, but you have to go hardcore in your first 100 days. You have to. It's the only way to show the politicians that you mean business, and after those 100 days, you rarely have the public paying attention (unless something big comes up). Obama has two years to play nice, but this really isn't the time. The GOP is not budging, and they've picked an arrogant, drug-addled radio host as their leader.
Comments
Let's say Obama gets all aggressive and shoves through his stuff despite the GOP. Then things continue to get worse, because they pretty much have to. The GOP can point their fear-mongering fingers at the Dems saying that things are worse because of "liberal" policies.
On the other hand, if the Dems compromise with the GOP, then things get worse, the Republicans can be easily blamed because they've given nothing but the same old answers that were suspected of creating the problems in the first place.
Personally, I dont think that anything can be done to solve the finacial crisis other than dial our entire nation's lifestyle down a few dozen notches, especially that of our top 1%. We've been sending money out of the country for decades, and spent the last two administrations in love with our ever-rising credit balance. Something had to come to a head eventually, and now we're going to have to pay off the cards, personal and national, if we want things to get better.
That and rebuild our middle class.
If that doesnt happen, it may be time to start looking for someplace to live that operates less like Mexico.