But despite our inherent differences, there’s no way we’re going to inflict any more wounds on this economy at a time like this.

I agreed with most of what was said, but I think we need to start treating current economic conditions as a baseline rather than a crisis. The thing is, for the past three years we’ve been acting as though getting policy to create jobs over the next several months should be out highest priority, and we’ve lost focus on the long term or issues that are more complex than joblessness.

We need to stop acting as though increasing the employment rate .1% will save out economy, and start acting as thought the decisions we make will have an impact 5 or 10 years down the line.

Who is ultimately responsible for this outcome? These people are elected to office and laws allowing (or lack of laws penalizing) these revolving door policies are made by elected “representatives.”

“Americans go around saying how sorry politicians are,” he said to Brokaw, “but they voted them in.  We listen to the rhetoric of politicians, but we don’t really listen to their specific proposals.  The Tea Party Caucus in the House has an 18 percent approval rating, but they’ve only done what they promised to do in 2010.  So the American people need to take more ownership.”  -Bill Clinton

I resemble that remark. There’s actually been a slow motion sting over the past year plus. From all appearances Gov’t agencies – well, DoD, at least – have been holding back on funding new R&D because they don’t know what’s going to happen with their budgets and don’t want to get caught having promised funding that ends up getting cut from their budget. (Ongoing R&D programs have expiration dates and, with no (or, more accurately, far fewer) new opportunities in the pipeline, people like myself see the edge of the cliff coming up fairly fast.) If agencies commit money to work planned for a year, two years, three years down the line and then their budget cuts slashed then the shortfall would likely come out of their hides, i.e., Gov’t employees getting laid off. From a self-preservation standpoint, better to cut the contractors loose than put your own neck on the line – at least that’s my interpretation of the facts on the ground.

Voters won’t stand for that outcome. Instead, those excluded from the market will be adequately compensated until the problem they had nothing to do with causing gets resolved(which would also act as an automatic stimulus as they have a high MPC). The political (and economic) pressure to do everything possible to avoid mass unemployment would be enormous. Those seeking to impose austerity on an economy with less than full employment would be “run out of town” as they should be.

Not to mention that it would be fair. What we are now doing is nothing but the cruel use of majority power against a powerless minority; just an insidious form of the “tyranny of the majority” of which the Founders so feared would prevent democracy from working if not adequately prevented.

Sure we need more stimulus. It’s not going to happen. We need to help the states so they stop their austerity programs. That won’t happen, either. The Fed? Mr. Bernanke is not a courageous man. I don’t think he’ll do much. It’s all politics from here on out. Good hearing you on PoliticsNation today. Keep up the good fight. Thanks.

cf: Cory Booker

Everything is on hold until that conversation takes place. OFA looked like it was going to be a vehicle for it, but Obama killed that.

Oh, right, weaken the negotiating position of employees some more. Lower wages–that will really get people buying.

Not.

Mike R: sympathies to you.

What’s needed is a political change. Obama can’t even speak critically of Mitt Romney’s job destruction without being undercut by his own party. Except some of the party has to do that, if Obama is going to have the billion dollar war chest needed to win the election.

Great Ideas and you always have some good common sense ideas, but …… I have decided to turn you in to the conservative thought police. You are not allowed to dream and especially dream about common sense ideas. Now let me assure you that I do not do this out of spite, but cash is cash! They offered me a reward …… $10,000 (from Romney) and dinner with Donald the duck man!!! Sorry Dog!