Wanna know why I think there's no New New Deal for the 21st Century?

[Octafish]

One of the things I most happily anticipated in 2009 was a government spending program that would create jobs and tackle the big problems facing the nation, from infrastructure like a new green power grid to de-polluting the environment. What's more, Government spending on new programs would mean new jobs at government pay grades, improving the quality of life of the nation's middle class.

Keynesian economics, traditional FDR Democratic New Deal approach, would also mean there'd be fewer people available to fight for the low-pay service jobs the "job creators" in the private sector. To compete with the government for workers in such an economic climate would require the rich and the corporations they own to pay higher wages. So, the likes of Wall Street and their servants in Washington hated the idea.

It used to be the federal government had to have a certain percentage of jobs go to unions, women and minority-owned business, and others who historically were trampled under hoof in the rush to the federal money trough. I'm not sure if this is still the law, SCROTUS being the 5-4 Scalia cesspool that it is.

But the biggest reason for no New New Deal for the 21st Century, IMFO, is this: If people didn't have to worry about living paycheck to paycheck, if people were sure their families had a home, enough to eat, and the economic security for a sound future, like college and a decent retirement, then the people would have time to wonder more about why the government works so hard to help the rich and does so little -- relatively -- to help the middle class and poor. They'd also find more time to wonder why the government always has money for war and the companies the warmongers own.

Even in our time, where the greatest amount of wealth in human history has been amassed, that would be a problem for those who like things as they are. A New New Deal might interrupt the status quo, where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

So. What's the ad say? "Stay thirsty, my Friends!"



Stay hungry, too.