Even though I am actually typing this in front of the TV which is running the third debate, this idea suddenly occurs to me. What comes after?
We have gotten use to this election campaign going on and on. In the small picture, I wonder how we can fill the time. In the big picture, I wonder about the day after election day. We have gotten so involved with the combat between these two Senators that we have little time to spare to even dread the realities of January 2009.
What do we have to look forward to? Well, by some estimates, the federal deficit may rise from this year's 450 billion to as high as one trillion in 2009. Economists have closely monitored the pulse of consumer spending, and it has jerked downward. It is unlikely that the patient will jump up off the operating table and walk away. Most likely, a large section of the american people have learned a terribly painful lesson, and will refuse to sacrifice their own interests on the altar of "priming the pump" while running themselves into bankruptcy. Some will end up there anyway.
Fareed Zakaria, the journalist who I most admire, has written an optimistic piece in the new issue of Newsweek, in which he explains that there is a good side to all this. Despite the agony of tackling a crippling load of debt, he views our current nightmare as an overdue return to the values and policies that made america great. Look, he implies, would you have EVER done aything about this crazy borrowing, these goofy federal policies intended to coax americans INTO debt instead of out of debt, if this subprime mess had not hit the fan? Be honest. Of course not. Sometimes it takes a wake up call. Do not hit the alarm clock with a hammer, just suck it up and get out of bed.
I guess I don't feel like discussing the debate, even though I am looking right at it. There are Barack & John arguing about who has had the nastiest attack ads. Well, actually, McCain started it, and Obama was worried about not being tough enough, so he replied in kind and stopped sitting on the 527 groups.
There is McCain yammering about ACORN destroying the fabric of democracy (silly, ACORN does not have that much money, it takes a lot of cash to destroy democracy) and Obama not telling the truth about Bill Ayers. So Obama replied with the truth on both. Can we talk about something else? McCain and Palin's constant "Time for Obama to come clean on Ayers" is just a time waster. If Obama tells you the truth, you will not accept it, so stop wasting our time. If he tells you a lie, you will waste more of our time trying to disprove it. It never mattered in the first place. Ah nuts, I just fell prey to the temptation of getting interested in the debate. Don't want to do that. It's boring. Obama, stay cool, tell the truth, run out the clock if that is what it takes. No we can't reduce our dependence on foreign oil in 4 years. Ten years, like Obama says? Maybe. But the question was the wrong question to ask. This is not a four year challenge, it is the challenge of this century.
Back to the important point. It's too late already to "go back to the way things used to be". I don't think that McCain sees that. He keeps sniping about nonessentials like free trade agreements with Canada, Bill Ayers, ACORN. Where is the different thinking? Gonna build forty nuclear plants. Gonna catch Osama Bin Laden. Gonna get victory in Iraq. Gonna solve our oil dependency by getting us more oil. Gonna fix the deficit by throwing another trillion at tax cuts for businesses.
Sigh. Let it go, me. Let America pick their next President. If they get it wrong again, it's just your kids' futures, don't sweat it. I am tired of re-slicing the same arguments. I am ready for the future. Somehow, against all reason, I want the future now.
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Comments: 17
Just kidding.
I would take the Republicans more seriously if they just outlined their plans for how they want to run the government.
I think Obama was very strong tonight on several occasions saying that he would do 1,2, and 3. He was also very honest about how we needed to tackle the abortion issue and help ALL people who are pro-choice or pro-life on getting better sex education and stronger easier adoption policy.
What about SENSE.
Anyone home? Yoohoo......
McCain really had very little to say that was of interest for me. Basically he was playing the "fear card" every time. And I said to myself, how could it be worse with Obama than it already is now under Bush?
Back to the important point #1: yes indeed the annual deficit will rise to $1 trillion, causing the national debt to rise above $11 trillion. This growth is unsustainable. Will Obama be able to reduce the national debt in the first 4 years. The projection says, “No.” We would have to change the fundamentals of American economy. We cannot change the debt trend unless Obama convinces the public to spend less and save more. It will never happen.
Back to the important point #2: Whom will Obama choose as cabinet members? He probably has a short list. I would not be surprised to see W. Buffett’s name somewhere on the list. Clinton ‘s name may also appear.
Back to the important point #3: Universal health care (UHC). This is probably not going to happen. Too many hands in the health care system to make any universal coverage to be enacted. Perhaps a modified UHC with some holes may be doable.
Back to the important point #4: DoD. Budget for this department will come down as the war subsides and we flee from the entrenchment. Cost of taking care of the disabled vets will skyrocket.
Back to the important point #5: Social Insecurity & Medicare. Nothing will happen. Obama is too chicken to do anything bold to sustain a sound financial footing for either system, so they will keep mushrooming to raise the unfunded liability costs which is currently at $55 trillion (about $400K for each tax payer)
Have a look on the graphs of my blog: http://ecodyne.blogspot.com
Have you ever watched Free Speech T.V.???