Things Could Be Worse - if Republicans regain Power Op-ed PAUL KRUGMAN 9/10

[Mira]

for the whole piece go to:
“http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/10/opinion/10krugman.html?_r=2

"Japan’s problems now are the same as they were in the 1990s, when you were writing about them. It’s depressing.” So declared one economist I spoke to here. “But the Japanese don’t seem all that depressed,” objected another. Both were right — and the conversation crystallized some thoughts I’ve been having about Japan’s situation, and ours.

A decade ago, Japan was a byword for failed economic policies: years after its real estate bubble burst, it was still suffering from chronic deflation and slow growth. Then America had its own bubble, bust and crisis. And these days, Japan’s record doesn’t look that bad to an American eye.

Why not? For all its flaws, Japanese policy limited and contained the damage from a financial bust. And the question in America now is whether we’ll do the same — or whether we will take a hard right turn into economic disaster.


snip


It’s hard to overstate how destructive the economic ideas offered earlier this week by John Boehner, the House minority leader, would be if put into practice. Basically, he proposes two things: large tax cuts for the wealthy that would increase the budget deficit while doing little to support the economy, and sharp spending cuts that would depress the economy while doing little to improve budget prospects. Fewer jobs and bigger deficits — the perfect combination.

More broadly, if Republicans regain power, they will surely do what they did during the Bush years: they won’t seriously try to address the economy’s troubles; they’ll just use those troubles as an excuse to push the usual agenda, including Social Security privatization. They’ll also surely try to repeal health reform, which would be another twofer, reducing economic security even as it increases long-term deficits.

So I find myself almost envying the Japanese. Yes, their performance has been disappointing. But things could have been worse. And the case Democrats now need to make — the case the president finally began to make in Cleveland this week — is that if Republicans regain power, things will indeed be worse. Americans, understandably, are disappointed over, frustrated

[Scurrilous]

1. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Vincardog]

2. The sorry fact is "the other team is worse" is a lousy campaign slogan

[tjwash]

3. How about "we suck a little less"

I hear that HP is gonna make that their new corporate motto...

[defendandprotect]

10. +1000% .....

Great update on "the lesser of evils" -- cause that doesn't seem to really

get thru to people!!

[Moondog]

4. + 1

[gulliver]

7. So it's a good thing that's not the slogan.

The message I have been seeing repeatedly is one of blame and warning, not comparison. It blames the GOP for driving us into the ditch. It warns that they would therefore drive us back into the ditch were they in power. It does not say, "look we're better than they are." That's just a weak formulation of our position. A straw man.

[woodpeckercider]

13. It is a bad campaign slogan

but unfortunately it is the reality, who are you going to vote for a Republican? We need to get excited about Dems and win big!

[Vincardog]

14. I am TIRED of voting for Democratic candidates and getting RepubliCON Representation,

I am going to vote for the candidate that represents MY values.

[Vinnie From Indy]

5. The Grand Illusion

The American middle class is well and truly screwed.

Now we are argue about speed of our own demise.

[Panaconda]

6. Of course

"things could be worse." That's the slogan of a thoroughly beaten down person who lives a life of quiet resignation.

Is that what we've become? Is that it?

[jwirr]

8. Has Japan outsourced all its jobs? They like Germany are still making

things.

[defendandprotect]

9. Guess Obama/Dems know that, right? Populist messages bring out voters ... guess they know that???

[Spazito]

11. Yep, if the repubs regain power through the Congress...

the bush years were just a taste of what will come.

Recommended.

[quiet.american]

12. Amidst all the pooh-poohing here, Krugman makes a very serious case.

The money quote is here:

It’s hard to overstate how destructive the economic ideas offered earlier this week by John Boehner, the House minority leader, would be if put into practice. Basically, he proposes two things: large tax cuts for the wealthy that would increase the budget deficit while doing little to support the economy, and sharp spending cuts that would depress the economy while doing little to improve budget prospects. Fewer jobs and bigger deficits — the perfect combination.

More broadly, if Republicans regain power, they will surely do what they did during the Bush years: they won’t seriously try to address the economy’s troubles; they’ll just use those troubles as an excuse to push the usual agenda, including Social Security privatization. They’ll also surely try to repeal health reform, which would be another twofer, reducing economic security even as it increases long-term deficits.

So I find myself almost envying the Japanese. Yes, their performance has been disappointing. But things could have been worse. And the case Democrats now need to make — the case the president finally began to make in Cleveland this week — is that if Republicans regain power, things will indeed be worse. Americans, understandably, are disappointed over, frustrated with and angry about the state of the economy; but disappointment is better than disaster.

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