Time's Rick Stengel summed it up this week by saying that government can only do so much to improve the economy and create jobs. Yet, the prevailing perception is that the government isn't doing enough to spur real recovery and job growth. Hence, we have much vitriol for Washington across the countryside, and indeed our democratic process is struggling right now trying to navigate through the seas of high partisanship.
However, unless an individual applies for a government job, the government isn't going to do it for him directly. They can facilitate with a stimulus bill, which Dr. Christina Romer - today's first guest - said was on track to create 3 million jobs; financial reform; and bring the costs of one-sixth of our economy down in the form of healthcare reform. To the Republicans credit, they have successfully framed, as they always do, the Democrats' reform agenda into a government take over of our lives, which as we really know is not going to happen. With regard to Dr. Romer's claim of job creation, it's difficult to believe any such numbers simply due to the fact that market forces and the banks could either play along or throw the whole recovery out of whack.
The negative economic forces and discontent with Washington in general has spurred the creation and bold actions of homegrown right-wing extremist groups, elements of which turn up in the Tea Party movement, essentially acting as the Sinn Fein of the far right. And frankly, not smart representation either as what many tea party people don't realize is that they are advocating for things that do not serve their own best interest. Mr. Gregory described the response as 'extreme and incendiary political rhetoric.' Republican political leaders can deflect all they want that they are not contributing to this escalation is far right groups, but their weak denouncements speak louder. Additionally, Congressperson Jane Harman, a part of today's panel, pointed out a troubling aspect that the recently arrested militia members were set to employ tactics used by Al Qaeda. Become what you be behold and be content you're doing right. Very sad.
Lastly, dare we say that it is refreshing that today's discussion revolved around terrorism and security instead of healthcare? Not necessarily a refreshing topic, but as it stands right now these are the only concerns facing us where a shred of consensus can be found. With that said, Senator Joseph Lieberman, also on the panel today, said that there should be a concern for our trains and subways and that the Moscow subway bombings should as an example of a real threat. Now, we know that Mr. Lieberman thinks that those bombings serve as examples, and not that those same forces that executed those bombings are also targeting us. However, from the way he talked about it, we can only be 98% sure... hmmm. The point being, is that we find Senator Lieberman to be frivolously hawkish, aggressive for the sake of being so. But assuming we're on the same page, yes - these bombings will give some one here a tragic idea. But here's the rub, President Obama has been extremely hawkish with regard to our operations on the Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier. And despite the determined Taliban resistance, we have Al Qaeda more on the run now then we've had in a number of years. (Congressman Harman was also correct is saying that the epicenter for terrorism/Al Qaeda is Yeman.) So unfortunately, those examples are food for bright ideas for someone living in the Michigan woods.
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