The Saga of the Golden Fleece: Why America Needs to Learn to Love Government Spending Once Again

[marmar]

from OurFuture.org:



The Saga of the Golden Fleece: Why America Needs to Learn to Love Government Spending Once Again
By Rick Perlstein

February 3rd, 2009 - 3:30pm ET



"No one shoots Santa Claus."

For generations of American politicians, that was as sturdy a truism as "what comes up must come down" and "'i' before 'e' except after 'c.'" For Democrats, and especially for liberals, the injunction was intoned with glee; for conservatives, with agonized pain; and for those somewhere in between, like Richard Nixon with matter-of-fact resignation (which was the spirit of his remark that we are all Keynesians now).

It referred to what was, for liberals, a happy accident of enlightened economic policy. According to the demonstrations of John Maynard Keynes, the best way—the only way—to revive a sluggish economy, when private spending froze up, or to keep an economy from getting sluggish in the first place, was government spending. And so during America's economic heyday from the late forties to the early 1970s, the natural inclination of politicians to get reelected by giving people stuff—a chicken in every pot, a car in every garage, a bridge over every river—coincided perfectly with enlightened public policy. This was one of the reasons, after Lyndon Johnson's landslide defeat of Barry Goldwater in 1964, pundits predicted conservatism could never achieve a majority coalition in the United States of America.

A lot of water has passed under those bridges over every river since then, and now the political meaning of what it means for the government to spend money has flipped nearly 180 degrees. Even in a recession-unto-depresion like the one we're facing now—when every responsible expert agrees that a massive program of government spending is the only imaginable way to save America from ruin— the mere whisper of the word "pork" makes politicians cower in a defensive crouch.

How did that happen, what did it mean, and why is it so, so, so imperative to educate the public to the new (old) way of thinking about the power of the federal purse? ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2009020603/saga-golden-fleece-why-america-needs-learn-love-government-spending-once-again

[opihimoimoi]

1. Such are the Pitfalls of the High School Level...think micro w/o macro is NUTS

The Combo of Micro and Macro is the answer so elusive these daze...even Obamas Team are Flummoxed...at least they are engaging in reconn and research...better than the GOP's Selfish Agenda of self interest.

[corruptmewithpower]

2. As the Obama administration and democratic congress policies triumph

they will win the hearts and minds of the American populace.

[razors edge]

3. Some people realize they are not

going to be bailed out like the bankers. Knowing you owe more than you can ever repay is a really depressing feeling.

The concept of taking on more debt doesn't appeal to everyone and the poor don't want to take a chance that their taxes will go up to cover it. They can't afford food and shelter, let alone a new overpass they don't want to end up living under.

The middle class, being a little better educated in general, know they will pay the bulk of the bill and definitely don't want any part of it. They are not just one group of people with one single mind set.

Middle class conservatives are pissed that they won't ever be rich, but don't want taxes to be the reason why.

Middle class indies don't trust either party to do whats right for the country, since they have never seen that happen in their lifetimes, so any increase in taxes is a giveaway to the rich who don't need it.

That leaves the middle class liberals in sole complete support of higher taxes to fund a renaissance of the economy, or not. We tend to put a higher import on higher education and with that comes the bills. Our disposable income is tied up in tuition and higher taxes could mean the difference between Harvard or some community college for little Billy.

The rich are fktards and control it all so they know they won't pay for it. They don't give a damn what happens to our taxes so they will support any amount of government spending, plus it gives them a chance to snatch up some more cash flying around that wasn't up for grabs before.

Everyone wants something as long as they don't get stuck with the check.

Same shit, different day.