Year: 2010

The Politics of Erskine-Bowles

I think that this is a blueprint that conservatives should regard favorably, all things considered. But let’s be clear: The cuts it proposes don’t even remotely “slash the size of government”; they merely slow its future growth. By my back-of-the-envelope calculations, federal revenue has hovered around 18.3 percent of G.D.P. since 1980, breaking 20 percent… Continue reading The Politics of Erskine-Bowles

A thought about Charlie Rangel

The same demagogic blow hards like Rush and Hannity who are calling the dems racists for backing the ethics investigations of Charlie Rangel would be decrying reverse-racism if the charges were dropped.

GOP Economic Nihilism watch

Republicans would oppose anything that might help the economy on Obama’s watch. That is, they’re opposing QE not on the grounds that it won’t work, but because they’re afraid that it will. From GOP Economic Nihilism watch So much for bipartisanship policy making.

Will America Fall Prey To A British Disease?

[Britain] failed to develop a coherent policy response to the financial crisis of the 1930’s. Its political parties, rather than working together to address pressing economic problems, remained at each other’s throats. The country turned inward. Its politics grew fractious, its policies erratic, and its finances increasingly unstable. In short, Britain’s was a political, not… Continue reading Will America Fall Prey To A British Disease?

Outside the Bubble

A new CBS poll says virtually no one thinks the deficit or the national debt are the top problems facing the country. From Talking Points Memo Not surprised one bit. I’d be willing to bet that the tea-party folks most vocal about debt, deficit and taxes are no more knowledgeable on those topics then a sampling of… Continue reading Outside the Bubble

Anis Shivani: Bush’s ‘Decision Points’ Is A Terrifying Journey Into the Authoritarian Mind

The beauty of the Bush philosophy of governance is that it creates and accelerates those very conditions of stress (radical economic inequality promoted by tax cuts for the wealthy and concomitant cuts in public services for the less well-off) that then provide fertile ground for popular acceptance of measures intended to further worsen conditions for… Continue reading Anis Shivani: Bush’s ‘Decision Points’ Is A Terrifying Journey Into the Authoritarian Mind

Traditional Light Bulb Values!

One of the legislative priorities for Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), who’s vying to chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee is defending the “traditional, incandescent light bulb” against government regulators who want to replace it with “the little, squiggly, pig-tailed ones.” From Traditional Light Bulb Values! What about candles and whale oil lanterns? Is Joe… Continue reading Traditional Light Bulb Values!