What should we make of the Stimulus?

This week's issue of Milwaukee's Shepard Express has a very fine article in favor of the stimulus:

http://www.expressmilwaukee.com/article-5394-clearing-up-myths-about-the-stimulus-package.html

It argues for the basic liberal position on this stimulus and attempts to refute various conservative/Republican objections to it. The real advantage of the article is its refutation of various misconceptions ("myths") about the stimulus package. A fine read.

The issue is more complicated than most of us would Like to admit. I had a good conversation on this matter with my friend Nate last night on this matter.

Nate, arguing on Distrubitivist grounds, opposed the stimulus saying that it is merely an attempt to preserve a fundamentally unjust system in which a few elites control the wealth and the means of production and reduce the rest of us to wage slavery.

The system, Nate argued, is fundamentally unjust and must be left to fall.

I agree that the system is unjust. The few make obscene profits and control the rest of us by molding us into their wage laborers and consumers. But I don't think letting the system fall will change things, I suspect it will make it worse and plunge us deeper into a robber baron nightmare.

We do need to change our system radically - In particular I would like to see far FAR more support for small/local businesses - , but in the meantime, we must put people to work. Tax cuts will accomplish little if nothing, spending will create jobs.

By all means let us continue to oppose the system and campaign for change, but let's also stop the current bleeding.

Unity and Dialogue? Could it be?

Bishop Robinson was on Rachel Maddow tonight. What he had to say was quite interesting:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

equally interesting, Rick Warren has reached out to Bishop Robinson and seems to approve of Obama's choice here:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/01/14/rick_warren_reaches_out_to_gen.html?wprss=the-trail

I confess that this news has lifted my spirits. Is it possible that we might see real dialogue? Real growth and change? Do we dare to hope??

Rick Warren is worse than we thought!

If Obama really is the "fierce advocate of gay and lesbian rights" that he claims he is, then he ought to rescind his invitation of Pastor Warren.

We know already that Warren opposes gay marriage and equates it with pedophilia and incest, but apparently "unrepentant gays" are not permitted to attend his church! And that is not even the worst of it! Watch the video and you'll see what I mean:

The Merits of Conservatism.

I am an economic and social liberal. I am pro same-sex marriage, pro-choice, pro welfare state, support strong personal and political actions to combat global warming, and I am even a vegetarian since I don't want to support the cruelty and barbarity of factory farming.

Naturally then I oppose the conservatives when they champion the right-wing agenda. But since it is Christmas-time and I am constantly reminded in song and greeting card of peace, joy, and unity. I thought I would here state what I take to be right about the conservative ideology. I think Conservatives have the following correct:

* Strong families and good values are key to a healthy society
* In some cases private enterprise and free markets are positive factors in society
* Personal responsibility and accountability need to be insisted upon
* In some respects, less government is best.

Let me clarify, when they argue that family values preclude gay marriage and condemn teen mothers, I vehemently disagree. When they fight for less regulation on the market I dissent. When they think personal responsibility means the abolition of social service and demand that people "pull themselves up by their bootstraps" I protest. When they think less government means the privatization of social security and the crippling of funding to public programs and services I set myself dead against them.

However, there are some legitimate positions and values in the conservative world view. I think that we liberals could gain much by realizing that. By not condescending conservatives and trying to find the common ground with which we can begin a constructive dialog with them.

If we give up, if we cannot reach across the ideological divide to work with each other, I fear greatly for the future!

Rick Warren, Obama Invocation Choice, Causing First Real Rift With Progressives

I find this story very disturbing. Not that Rick Warren is a villain - far from it. But an Evangelical pastor leading the invocation??!!! I give up. Obama is just a right-leaning centrist Democrat . .. or at least that is how he appears to plan to govern.

All the progressive rhetoric is gone. Is this "change we can believe in"? Surrounding himself with hawks, Washington insiders, some of Bush's people, and evangelical pastors?! What is this?!!! This is not what I voted for.
About Barack Obama
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

How Green is Obama's Green Team?

An interesting and nuanced look at Obama's statements on energy and his energy team from The Nation

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20081229/hertsgaard?rel=hp_picks

As the article correctly notes, Obama's position on global warming is far better than what we have seen so far, but not yet good enough. Nevertheless, his picks - particularly Chu - give us cause for guarded optimism.

We will see improvement for sure under Obama's administration. But if we are to see the amount of improvement that is required, then we must all work hard to make the new President and his people know exactly what has to be done.

Bill Clinton's third term?

I still retain my hope that the Obama presidency will really bring about some real change. But I can't help but wonder if Obama is surrounding himself with too many Clintonites. I mean, granted, we need experience - and Democrat experience must come from the Clinton camp - but so few fresh faces and new directions? I'm not sure yet what to make of it. Not that the Clinton group was so awful, but we need to go beyond the Clinton-world if we are to really change American for the better.

Here is the latest on the Obama "Dream Team:"



On that note, I am greatly encouraged by the pick of Tom Daschle as HHS. It does indeed signal that Obama truly intends pretty far reaching health care reform. Perhaps not all the reform that is needed - in fact, probably not. But certainly some key steps in the right direction.

Daschle's book on Health Care reform by the way, is on my "to read list". I'll post a review up here eventually.