Bob Herbert - Home Alone

[realFedUp]

(excellent read)

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/01/opinion/01HERB.html?hp

September 1, 2003

Home Alone
By BOB HERBERT

-snip-
We barreled into Iraq with no real thought given to the consequences, and now we've got a tragic mess on our hands. California looks like something out of "Lord of the Flies," and yet the person getting the most attention as a candidate to clean up that insane situation is an actor with a history of immature behavior whose cartoonish roles appeal most strongly to children. Maybe he'll shoot the budget deficit. Hasta la vista, baby.

Appalling behavior and appalling policies have become the norm among folks entrusted with the heaviest responsibilities in business and government. The federal budget deficit will approach half a trillion dollars next year. And that will be followed by huge additional deficits, year after irresponsible year, extending far off into the horizon. And, of course, the baby boomers, the least responsible generation in memory, will soon begin retiring and collecting their Social Security and federal health benefits, leaving the mountains of unpaid bills for the hapless generations behind them.

What this nation needs is a timeout.

[kainah]

1. Krugman is also talking about need for grownup supervision

Herbert, of course, is so right. FDR knew how to create jobs -- just look around at all the stuff that needs to be done. But you'd have to pay real money to get it done, so forget that. We've given all ours to Halliburton.