In just over a week, Barack Obama will take office as President of the United States, and once again all will be right in the world.
At least that’s how some people see it. I? I didn’t consume any This Kool-Aid.
Perhaps Obama will introduce positive changes in the federal government. But how much damage will his substantial government philosophy cause? Coming from the Chicago Democratic machine for less than a term as arguably the most liberal U.S. senator, Obama provides mostly grist to the skeptics’ mill.
It’s unlikely we’ll see any significant reform, much less a shrinking of substantial government.
But remember, President Obama is not acting alone. He will have partners.
Although the outgoing Congress received the lowest public support in the history of this type of polls, it seems that future President Obama is certainly counting on a new, even worse Congress.
In an unprecedented move for a president-elect, Obama delivered a nationally televised speech before his inauguration in which he called for swift economic action. NBC News reports: “While Barack Obama did not provide specifics, he said Congress must act quickly.”
We’ve been hearing a lot about “lack of detail” lately. In fact, almost 100 percent of the time. A little explanation or analysis. No consideration. Lack of transparency. No responsibility. Just hysterical (or in Obama’s case: much calmer) requests to do something – anything!
And quickly. Hurry up! Hurry up!
Has anyone considered the possibility that neither Obama nor Congress has a magic wand to wave away our economic problems? So far, the best they’ve come up with is talking about spending eight, nine, or ten trillion to continue bailing out failing businesses and providing tax cuts to people who don’t pay taxes.
Where will they get more trillions? The money could come from us in the form of very unpopular higher taxes, but that also clearly defeats the purpose of this game of Doctor Frankenstein. More likely, the money will be borrowed (please, President Hu Jintao) and then the money and interest will be repaid by our children and grandchildren in the form of burdensome taxes.
Or they could just print lots of new money. Money inflation can stimulate the economy for a while. However, in the long run, it would take away most of what was left from those who were saved.
However Obama and Congress come up with money for short-term stimulus, a dose of fiscal discipline will come later, always later. Even those who look at Obama with bated breath must admit how hard it is to talk about fiscal discipline and Congress in the same sentence.
Sure, a few weeks ago this column discussed the audacity and arrogance of the senior Congress in demanding a raise — but what about the new Congress?
In the first week, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats changed the rules, repealing their biggest reform of the last session, eliminating term limits on an influential committee chair and gutting minorities’ right to be heard.
As part of the new majority rules package, Democrats have adopted the practice of withholding public votes for hours (or, if necessary, days) so that leaders can arm-twist and change the outcome of a majority vote. Republicans used this tactic, and Democrats reversed the policy after gaining majority status. Now Democrats are signaling a shift to emulate the most corrupt practices of defeated Republicans.
When it comes to term limits for committee chairs, Democrats did the right thing by keeping the popular limits in place when they took control in 2006. It is now being reported that they have simply postponed the unpopular takeover. These term limits are now gone and repealed, allowing career politicians like Charlie Rangel AND Barney Frank they can hit with a powerful hammer non-stop. To their credit, Republicans have retained term limits on minority committee rankings.
Majority Democrats have also made it much more hard for minority Republicans to force votes on various issues. The previous rule allowed Republicans to embarrass Democrats by forcing a vote on alternatives. God forbid that Congress consider – or vote on – more than one idea.
Republican Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio sent a letter to Pelosi saying these initial actions have “serious consequences for the American people and their freedoms and come at a time when the single party behind it is rushing to plan unprecedented expansions of federal power and spending “. closed door.”
Boehner is right to complain, but I fear that if this “unprecedented expansion of federal power” came in a more bipartisan package, he wouldn’t complain. In fact, I do not recall his solemn concerns about President Bush’s numerous violations of constitutional boundaries and common sense.
I don’t want to be gloomy. Simply true.
Our republic is in trouble. We need to recognize this our economic problems they are only a symptom even bigger political problems.
