The last time the average American had his or her interests so routinely and callously compromised was during the 12-year run that saw Republicans Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover in the White House. Our more recent fleecing debacle lasted more than twice as long, and was bipartisan, to boot. That is one hell of a measure of progress.
Keep all of this in mind when the Republicans squawk, as they have already begun to, about Obama’s financially irresponsible political agenda. The party that sponsored and suborned the big lies that landed the nation in Iraq will surely not shy away from using scare tactics to put, once again, its man in the White House.
Attacks on Obama’s economic plan are not without merit. But this is a question of whose ox is going to be gored. Republican irresponsibility tends to facilitate the rich. Democratic virtue, on the other hand, aims to help the middle and working classes, but never quite loses site of special interests.
Hell would have to freeze over for McCain to demonstrate that he has the will — let alone wit — to tackle the tangle of conflicting forces that shape the American economy.
There is no doubt that Obama would do a better job. But during these challenging and worrisome economic times he, and Democrats running for Congress, seem to be promising a lot — the sky, in fact: less taxes for most people and more services for all.
At the moment, it just does not add up. Maybe, by Election Day in November, it will. In the meantime, keep your fingers crossed. Economic prospects are not going to get any better on their own.
