My colleague Pete Abel wrote earlier about President-Elect Obama’s 21st Century New Deal. Like Pete Abel, I applaud the Obama’s vision and boldness. I also appreciate the concern many of the Right have about Obama’s “New” New Deal. Ed Morrissey at Hot Air has many concerns about Obama’s plans:
Obama invokes both FDR and Eisenhower in his new program. Ike built the interstate highway system in the 1950s as a national-defense measure, which most people forget today. The grid of north-south and east-west highways and bridges didn’t get built as a jobs program, but as a way to ensure that American military equipment could move rapidly to the borders of the nation in case of attack. It had the salutory side effect of enhancing mobility for Americans, most of whom only had one generation of car ownership at the time.
The key difference between Ike and Obama is that America could afford that public works project, and its need went further than creating public-sector jobs for political purposes. We hadn’t sunk ourselves into tens of trillions in future entitlement liabilities or trillions of existing debt from previous public-works projects. We faced an existential threat from the rise of Communist nations who had already begun invading other nations to expand their sphere of influence. Eisenhower saw how critical roads and bridges had been in Europe during the war and wanted to ensure that America was prepared for the worst.
Now, with the federal government deep in debt, unwilling to address an entitlement disaster, and throwing hundreds of billions of dollars at private enterprises in a vain attempt to rescue them from their own bad management and labor practices, Obama wants to create a new WPA to renew American infrastructure not because it’s needed as much as Obama needs to ensure his re-election.
I disagree with Ed Morrissey’s assessment that this large public works program is more about Obama’s re-election than what is needed. Our infrastructure is outdated in many areas and does need improvement. But President-Elect Obama’s has done something else in his proposal. He has strummed a key chord in America that many have deeply felt; that American workers are worth investing in. Especially in the tough times.
One of the most deeply affecting things I’m seeing in my life is the bit by bit deterioration of my friend after losing his job of 12 years as a heavy machine operator and mechanic in Georgia. This proud American who is, in his words, a “raging, gun-toting, conservative bass master”, is becoming more and more a shell of the man I once knew after being out of work for 6 months and working the last 2 months at Wal-Mart part time. This married father of two has told me many times how he just can’t believe how he can’t shake off the cloud around him. He doesn’t feel as useful since his entire life he has worked hard. Wal-Mart is providing much needed funds for his family (not enough though) but just looking at the foreign made items that he is stocking is almost too much for him to bear. This is a good ol’ boy. Son of a marine. Pickup drivin’, gun totin’, fiercely American white man… that is disillusioned, disheartened, and is slowing dying inside.
So when my friend heard about Obama’s proposed public works program, he called me up and said with more life than I’ve heard since he lost the job he loved:
“That’s some damn change I can believe in! I’ll drive my damn bulldozer with Obama’s face on it if he pulls it off.”
That reaction is what some aren’t looking at. The American worker has seen a steady shipment of jobs go overseas or go to workers that aren’t legal citizens (and for the record, I don’t blame many illegals for seeking the freedom and opportunity in America compared to what they had/have in their native countries). The American worker feels like the American Dream just means to go shopping these days. Shop with what money? The culture of consumerism is in the very marrow of America. Corporations tells let go of “expensive” American labor for “inexpensive” overseas labor so Americans can “buy it cheaper”. But buying it cheaper when so many Americans shoulder much debt with stagnant wages just doesn’t fly. Now comes President-Elect Obama with his “New” New Deal of making America a better place by making it better with good ol’ fashioned American labor. To many disillusioned and struggling American workers, what’s not to like about it?
The average American isn’t looking at national debt, deficits, foreign ownership, etc. They are looking at their way of life. A way of life that has been part of the American Dream for decades. A way of life that solidifies their love of country. A way of life that made America into the power in the world. A way of life that makes people from many nationalities to risk life and limb to get here. A way of life that insures American children can also pursue the American Dream. It’s deeply spiritual. It’s faith that your leaders are looking out for you. And in the “New” New Deal case, not giving you a handout, but respecting you enough to let you earn your keep. The heart of why America is great.
And you don’t get more American than that!
UPDATE
I’ve seen many commenters on various blogs on the Right say that many of the contracts for Obama’s public works programs will be corrupted and not go to American workers. My first answer to that is the simplistic “you don’t know that”. My second answer is that we as Americans need to get deadly serious about accountability. If this public works project get the green light, it will be up to us to watch the local agencies like a starving shark for ANY and ALL nonsense. If our leaders are going to do this program for us, we need to give back in keeping then as honest as a devout nun. It’s hard work but that’s our job, folks!
I’m not complex. Don’t have time for all that. And all that complex stuff bad for the stomach. Just color me simple and plain with a twist.