November 7, 2006

Haven't Voted Yet?

Go now and fling them out!

These are not people you want to have practically unchecked power.

The counterargument is that the Democrats will be gutless and no real threat to the security state the GOP has spent four years building. I think that’s probably true. However, there is still one principle worth upholding: throw the bums out. Voting is like being strapped into a high chair and offered a couple of bowls of mush. The one useful way to communicate is to fling whatever they made you eat yesterday against the wall. Go now and fling.

Yep, the republicans need to be thrown out.

Unfortunately, no matter who wins we will, for the most part, still be stuck with democrats or republicans.


Posted by Steve on November 7, 2006
Comments

The election laws in every state are so tilted to assisting the two major parties that it is almost impossible for a third party to establish itself. They essentially have to reinvent the wheel for every election cycle, a long and expensive process, while the two major parties get assistance from state governments.

Posted by Bryan at November 7, 2006 6:32 PM

Economists Are Destroying America

Economists, politicians, and executives from both parties have promised American families that “free” trade policies like NAFTA, CAFTA, and WTO/CHINA would accomplish three things:

• Increase wages
• Create trade surpluses (for the US)
• Reduce illegal immigration

Well, their trade policies have been in effect for about 15 years. Let’s review the results:

• Declining real wages for 80% of working Americans (while healthcare, education, and childcare costs skyrocket)
• A record-high 46 million Americans who don’t have health insurance (due in part to declining wages and benefits)
• Illegal immigration out of control
• Soaring trade deficits, much with countries that use slave and child labor
• Personal and national debt both out-of-control
• Global environments threatened by lax trade deal enforcement

Economists Keep Advocating Policies That Aren’t Working

Upon seeing incontrovertible evidence of these negative trade agreement results, economists continue with Pollyannish blather. Some say, “Cheer up! GDP is up and the stock market’s doing fine.” Others say, “Be patient. Stay the course. Free trade will raise all ships.”

Even those economists who acknowledge problems with trade agreements offer us only half-measures—adjusting exchange rates, improving safety nets, and providing better job retraining. None of these will close the wage gap in America—and economists know it.

Why Aren’t American Economists Shouting From Street Corners?

America needs trade deals that support American families and businesses in terms of wage, environmental, and intellectual property abuses. Why aren’t economists demanding renegotiation of our trade deals? There are three primary reasons:

• Economists are too beholden to corporations and special interests that provide them with research grants.
• Economists believe—but refuse to admit—that sacrificing the American middle class is necessary and appropriate to generate gains in third world economies.
• Economists refuse to admit they make mistakes.

Economic Ambulance Chasers

Now more than ever, Americans need their economists to speak truth and stand up to their big business clients. Instead, economists sound like lawyers caught chasing ambulances: they claim they’re “doing it for our benefit”.

Posted by John Konop at November 8, 2006 5:01 PM
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