EJ Dionne- The missing economic arguments

[n2doc]

By E.J. Dionne Jr.

For the next 24 hours or so, all attention will turn to President Obama’s plans on Afghanistan. But it’s worth pausing to notice the arguments Democrats have been missing on the economy, which will still be the central issue in 2012.

Greg Sargent had an excellent post this morning arguing from the latest polling numbers that Democrats “by effectively ceding the argument over the economy to Republicans” have “ensured that this entire battle would unfold entirely on the GOP’s rhetorical turf.” He also plugs his useful notion of a “Beltway Deficit Feedback Loop.” That’s why it was helpful that the Senate Democrats began pushing a package of job creation measures today and want them included in a final deficit agreement. As I’ve argued before, I don’t see how Democrats can agree to a deal to get the debt limit extended that doesn’t also do something about the job situation now. Still, Greg is right: It’s late in the game and advocates of Keynesian approaches to stimulating the economy have a lot of work to do.

But I have also been struck at how Democratic politicians seem reluctant to take on the matter of how much inequalities of wealth and income have grown in the United States since the early 1970s. The issue of concentrated wealth has been a central question for progressives since their movement began, first with the Populist rebellion in the 1890s and then with the Progressive movement after the turn of the last century. It’s a deeply American issue. I’d like to hope that people left, right and center will be less reluctant to talk about this after they read Peter Whoriskey’s excellent report in Sunday’s Post. The article was both great journalism and a public service. (And, come to think of it, isn’t journalism of its very nature a form of public service?)

My friend Mike Tomasky has an excellent piece in the Daily Beast explaining why Whoriskey’s piece is so important. He also makes a fascinating point linking rising inequality to the problems facing the Social Security trust fund. I bet you never made that connection. I hadn’t until I read Tomasky.

more
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/the-missing-economic-arguments/2011/06/22/AGOpUHgH_blog.html

[MissMarple]

1. Americans need some education on the real state of the economy.

And no one seems willing to unite in a concerted effort to provide that. The GOP war against "socialism", the manufactured fear of "redistribution of wealth", and Keynesian economic theories is being won. How many public schools have coherent economics and civics curriculums? Not very many.

[housewolf]

2. "I have am struck at how Dem pols seem reluctant to take on inequalities of wealth & incoome...."

"But I have also been struck at how Democratic politicians seem reluctant to take on the matter of how much inequalities of wealth and income have grown in the United States since the early 1970s. "

I don't find this to be so much of a mystery - not when almost all members of Congress are among that top percentile who've made out like bandits in recent years. Their taking on the matter would be taking on their economic class-mates, their families and themselves.

[MissMarple]

3. Good point. Sadly cynical, but there may be more truth in it than we would like.

[hifiguy]

4. E.J. Dionne and Gene Robinson are such rational voices of sanity

that I cannot for the life of me figure out how they can still write for the neocon rag that the WaPo has become. Katharine Graham must be spinning, dervish-like, in her grave.

[MissMarple]

5. This Howard Zinn video posted by marmar segues nicely with this.

We do need a strong labor movement to help develop and broadcast a strong progressive message.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x594507

I know, another shameless bump. :)