For House Republicans the question has to be asked- which is more important, defeating Obama or improving the economy? While the Republicans are engaged in meaningless political drama, such as rescinding the Affordable Care Act for the 32nd or 33rd time, the economy is stalling and they have been unwilling to address its problems or ways to fix them.
One of the major headwinds chilling the economy is the uncertainty regarding the fiscal cliff (budget sequestration) that the nation is approaching at the end of the year. Economists agree that government spending cuts in discretionary programs and the military, combined with tax increases on every income group, will throw the economy back into recession. Because of this impending fiscal impediment to economic growth, and the uncertainty about how it will be handled, the nation’s companies have been reluctant to hire new employees and spend on equipment, slowing the economy even before the cliff is reached. Of course, it may never be reached, as after the election some agreement between the two parties may pull the nation back. But with Congress so unpredictable, as are the election results, corporate pocketbooks will remain closed until the fiscal cliff is no longer threatening.
But so far this year, the House has not acted on this important issue, instead wasting time on legislation that has no chance of passing the Democratic controlled Senate. The House Republicans are merely looking to energize their base as the election approaches, rather than considering important measures. And there are another four months before Election Day that inaction on vital legislation can be expected, while the economy languishes and unemployment remains high.
Is the defeat of Obama more important than getting the economy moving and putting people back to work? House Republicans are stonewalling on that question.
Resurrecting Democracy
A VietNam vet and a Columbia history major who became a medical doctor, Bob Levine has watched the evolution of American politics over the past 40 years with increasing alarm. He knows he’s not alone. Partisan grid-lock, massive cash contributions and even more massive expenditures on lobbyists have undermined real democracy, and there is more than just a whiff of corruption emanating from Washington. If the nation is to overcome lockstep partisanship, restore growth to the economy and bring its debt under control, Levine argues that it will require a strong centrist third party to bring about the necessary reforms. Levine’s previous book, Shock Therapy For the American Health Care System took a realist approach to health care from a physician’s informed point of view; Resurrecting Democracy takes a similar pragmatic approach, putting aside ideology and taking a hard look at facts on the ground. In his latest book, Levine shines a light that cuts through the miasma of party propaganda and reactionary thinking, and reveals a new path for American politics. This post is cross posted from his blog.
Political junkie, Vietnam vet, neurologist- three books on aging and dementia. Book on health care reform in 2009- Shock Therapy for the American Health Care System. Book on the need for a centrist third party- Resurrecting Democracy- A Citizen’s Call for a Centrist Third Party published in 2011. Aging Wisely, published in August 2014 by Rowman and Littlefield. Latest book- The Uninformed Voter published May 2020