MURDER, POLITICS, AND THE END OF THE JAZZ AGE
by Michael Wolraich
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Deliberately Stupid
By Michael Wolraich on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 12:24pm |
How our partisan political system stifles big ideas
by Michael Maiello aka Destor
The word “moonbase” has to rankle Newt Gingrich. The former speaker of the House has been roundly mocked for suggesting during his primary run that the United States build a manned base on the moon. (His rival Mitt Romney quipped that he’d fire any underling who made such a grandiose suggestion in earnest.)
Gingrich vented his frustrations over the incomprehension of his grand aims at a recent Republican gathering in Illinois, calling the political system “deliberately stupid” and complaining that his opponents and the media are incapable of comprehending ideas on the scale necessary for tackling the country’s problems. While it’s tempting to dismiss this as a sore-loser moment, Gingrich has a point.
Keep in mind that what Romney did to Gingrich is what Democrats did to George W. Bush back in 2005, when Bush suggested that the U.S. pursue a manned mission to Mars. Republicans also copped a similar attitude when failed solar company Solyndra filed for bankruptcy protection. Solyndra has been a prominent participant in the public-private partnerships that the Obama administration hoped would spark a green energy revolution; the administration authorized a $535 million loan guarantee to the politically connected company in 2009.
But why should laying out grand plans for new energy technologies or space exploration subject a candidate to ridicule?
URL:
http://www.thedaily.com/page/2012/03/22/032212-opinions-column-stupid-maiello-1-2/
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Comments
One of the most succinct and on point facts:
And I agree with author's stance that so much today of the facts of some processes and programs (i.e. the sciences, tech issues) are beyond most of the masses knowledge base - there's only so much time and energy that any of us have for research and analysis.
by Aunt Sam on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 1:13pm
It's ironic that Gingrich is a strong contributor to that divisive system.
Still, I agree with Destor et al. that we're too quick to make fun of big ideas without considering them fully. I liked W's plan to get us to Mars, and I said so at the time.
by Verified Atheist on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 1:38pm
I agree as well. I am a big proponent of space exploration. I think it's out only chance as a species.
The only reason I could tolerate Gingrich as pres is because he is definitely NOT a businessman.
by cmaukonen on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 1:47pm
Maybe Dubya could have found the money to go to Mars, if his and the GOP's 'big idea' of invading Iraq hadn't been high up on their agenda. Or maybe Bush could have used the Clinton surplus to fund the Mars program, instead of the GOP 'big idea' of cutting taxes, mostly on the rich. There is a distinction between hot air/BS and what they actually do to the country. For the GOP the track record is not good.
Frankly the Destor article seems another puff piece on Republicans. Why no mention of the 'big idea' of Obama to provide health care insurance to all Americans? It was policy that was far more earthbound, needed and long overdue than trips to Mars or moon bases. The GOP has been 'deliberately stupid' and vile ('death panels') in their continuing assault on it.
by NCD on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 7:51pm
I did have health care reform in an earlier draft but I cut it in favor of talking about alternative energy, which seemed to me more current. If I had this to write again, I'd say more explicitly that the Republicans are a big part of the cause of deliberate stupidity. Ultimately, they believe that the government has no answers. Hence Mitt Romney's answer to the college student who asked about expensive tuition being, basically, "shop around." But I thought that came through and that this wasn't a "puff piece about Republicans."
by Michael Maiello on Sat, 03/24/2012 - 2:43pm
When the GOP won't even consider a tax hike to pay for the $trillion++ war they all (except for Ron Paul) voted for, their 'big idea' of moon bases or men on Mars is in the realm of fantasy. How to pay for it? Cut Medicaid or food stamps a trillion? What was the last actual government backed big idea Republicans put into action that worked? They have had big ideas which you ignored which were flaming fiascoes. That is where the 'puff' comes into the piece. (the last GOP 'big idea' that worked was Gulf War I 20 years ago, when the elder Bush got Saddam out of Kuwait and stopped at the border of Iraq-there are no smart Republicans like him anymore)
Solar energy is a real, proven technology. The company that got the loan was not properly vetted. Solar technology is still alive, manned missions to Mars are not, national health insurance for all, is big, and may still possible, and the GOP is still fighting it, and lying about it every day.
by NCD on Sat, 03/24/2012 - 4:17pm