dagblog - Comments for "Carpe Diem"

Krugman, "The Secret of our

AmericanDreamer — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 19:41:48 +0000

Krugman, "The Secret of our Non-Success", yesterday:

The U.S. economy finally seems to be recovering in earnest, with housing on the rebound and job creation outpacing growth in the working-age population. But the news is good, not great — it will still take years to restore full employment — and it has been a very long time coming. Why has the slump been so protracted?

The answer — backed by overwhelming evidence — is that this is what normally happens after a severe financial crisis. But Mitt Romney’s economic team rejects that evidence. And this denialism bodes ill for policy if Mr. Romney wins next month.

.........

Which brings us to the politics.

Over the past few months advisers to the Romney campaign have mounted a furious assault on the notion that financial-crisis recessions are different. For example, in July former Senator Phil Gramm and Columbia’s R. Glenn Hubbard published an op-ed article claiming that we should be having a recovery comparable to the bounceback from the 1981-2 recession, while a white paper from Romney advisers argues that the only thing preventing a rip-roaring boom is the uncertainty created by President Obama.

Obviously, Republicans like claiming that it’s all Mr. Obama’s fault, and that electing Mr. Romney would magically make everything better. But nobody should believe them.

.......

Yes, in Virginia there is a

AmericanDreamer — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 11:51:34 +0000

In reply to So glad you took your

Yes, in Virginia there is a similar requirement. Volunteers at or near the tables offer sample ballots to people coming in to vote. I've staffed these tables a number of times and have had some interesting experiences. I work at being pleasant ("work" because I am an introvert in the classic sense of the term), come what may. Some folks coming in to vote mask which way they're going to vote but many will offer a smile or pleasantry at their table of choice or to me on their way in or out. Our precinct has moved steadily towards D's in recent decades and years to where it is has been 55-60% D in recent elections.

The alternative in my

AmericanDreamer — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 11:30:36 +0000

In reply to Thing is the average

The alternative in my mini-reverie is that I place a copy of Greg Palast's Billionaires and Ballot Bandits (doing well BTW; in addition to a cartoon booklet wrapped inside, it even has a subtitle some may find seductive) on their table and invite them to partake. Why should Democrats be the only ones to have opportunities to experience cognitive dissonance? The stuff Palast chronicles in that book is outrageous and will be offensive to many people with typical sensibilities, of whatever political persuasion. I believe it would churn the stomachs of many, many Republican voters in this country as well. It might even cause some to look at things in a different way. I realize that is an unfashionable view which invites derision in some quarters.

Palast does not believe that reasonable requirements to present legitimate ID amount to inappropriate attempts to "suppress the vote". Neither do I. None of his book is about that. He notes that voting by a non-citizen is a crime with serious repercussions for those who try to do it, suggesting this may be a reason why this almost never happens. (All of which you know--this is for folks reading who may not know this.) Among his practical action recommendations to increase the chances folks will be able to vote, he says that if the issue is not having proper ID, then--go back home, get proper ID, and come back to vote. Which is one of the things I am advising folks in my circles as well.

So glad you took your

Ramona — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 11:15:03 +0000

In reply to Took our 16 year-old daughter

So glad you took your daughter to see how the system is supposed to work, and how important it is to be a part of it. My dad started taking me to the polling places when I was a little girl, long before I knew what was going on, but I understood at some level that what he was doing was an American rite that shouldn't be missed.

It could be because he was a naturalized citizen (from Canada), but he took his right to vote very seriously. (Unlike my mom, who never voted)

But I'm curious about the Republican and Democratic tables in your polling place. In Michigan all politicking and pamphleteering has to stop something like 100 feet from the door. Are they there handing out materials? What's their function?

Thing is the average

ocean-kat — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 03:41:03 +0000

In reply to Took our 16 year-old daughter

Thing is the average republican just doesn't think that's what they're doing. Most think they're actually trying to stop voter fraud. Limbaugh, Hannity, all of faux news keep telling them its a big problem and they believe it. Yes I know, voter fraud is the myth the leaders use to prevent minorities from voting, but you'll never convince the average republican of that. In fact you probably won't convince the average American that voters shouldn't have to show id to vote.

I'm a firm believer in fighting the battles you have a reasonable chance of winning. Our focus should be on getting people ids.

Took our 16 year-old daughter

AmericanDreamer — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 02:20:28 +0000

In reply to Carpe Diem

Took our 16 year-old daughter along with me today when I voted absentee in person, here in northern Virginia. She previously has had limited interest in politics. But as I explained to her how crucial Virginia will be to the outcome of the presidential race this year, as well as to which party will hold the majority in the Senate, she is getting quite jazzed about it. This was the 2nd day available to vote absentee in person. The polling station was busy, with well-staffed tables for each party. I passed on the fleeting fantasy I had of asking the folks staffing the Republican table how they can sleep at night working for a party that stands for something so fundamentally un-American as attempting, in state after state, to throw up bogus obstacles to prevent minorities from casting entirely legitimate and legal ballots, and whose leading strategist belongs in prison.

Isaiah Poole follows up today

AmericanDreamer — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 20:31:10 +0000

In reply to Carpe Diem

Isaiah Poole follows up today on his theme from yesterday, in "Was Obama Bold Enough? What He, and We, Must Do Next?", at http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2012104217/was-obama-bold-enough-what-he-and-we-must-do-next

He can't say that but you

AmericanDreamer — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 23:22:22 +0000

In reply to I honestly have no idea what

He can't say that but you just did and I love it, not least because it's true.

My idea at the moment would earn an R rating for graphic violence. Probably not helpful with undecideds. So I shall, as Archie often suggested to Edith, stifle myself. Yours definitely has wit and elegance attached to it.

I honestly have no idea what

ocean-kat — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 22:31:17 +0000

In reply to Carpe Diem

I honestly have no idea what Obama should do tonight. I don't see how anyone not making a millions a year could vote for Romney. That being said I'd like to see Obama say, "We have a problem with private equity firms buying up businesses, out sourcing and off shoring jobs, eliminating full time work for part timers with little or no benefits, or shipping the whole company over seas. We have a problem with owners and managers of these companies hiding their money in Swiss bank accounts or in tax havens in the Cayman Islands. We have a problem when millionairs and billionaires are paying less taxes than middle class Americans. We need to deal with the problems that Mitt Romney is an example of, not elect him as president."

Too harsh? Probably, but I sure would like to see him say it.

BTW, Dreamer, just want to

Oxy Mora — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 21:41:07 +0000

In reply to Carpe Diem

BTW, Dreamer, just want to get on record here. I think Obama should note Hillary's comments about being responsible, but then take the responsibility----the buck stops here. I think he defuses the Benghazi situation and sets up a great line of attack against Romney---a man who doesn't know about taking responsibility. Theme: Romney not responsible for poor governorship, not responsible for providing information, etc. We'll see.