Is Obama too arrogant and naive to see his failings?

The notion that the United States is or strives to be a purely capitalist society is a naive fallacy. There have been elements of socialism in our socio-economic structure ever since the Lincoln Administration (progressive income tax), more were incorporated during the FDR Administration (components of the New Deal), and again in the 1960s (Medicare).

Since when is restoring the progressive income tax to pre-GWB levels a "socialist" policy. I suppose it makes a great GOP news sound bite and talking point to stir up the conservative base, but in terms of substance it is little more than cotton candy for the mind.

Complaining about "socialism"? Does that mean you plan to refuse Medicare when you become eligible? Will you encourage your elderly loved ones to do likewise? Cause there isn't anything more "socialistic" at the federal level than taxpayer-subsidized health care for senior citizens.

The GOP has simply waved its magic wand and redefined reality to suit its point of view. So in this new reality, VA health care, SCHIP, Medicare, and Medicaid are no longer wholly government-run, federally funded programs, or if they are, they do not fit the definition of socialized medicine that the GOP has told their constituents to fear.

To summarize:

Federally-funded, government-run medical programs that already exist and that people want, need, and have come to expect -- not socialism.

Federally-funded, government-run optional medical programs that do not already exist (i.e., the proposed but currently non-existant public option), but that many people desperately want and need -- definitely socialism.

Socialism Works Quite Nicely...

...in the People's Republic of China. Around the Yellow Sea region, business is booming. But with all that capital investment, what would we expect? If it is the intention that China become the new home of transnational capital, the policies advocated by the so-called right make sense. Gut America for factories in China. Perhaps we should all follow suit. Who knows? Maybe I'll start buying Yuans. It certainly works well for the business class. Doesn't it.

As an aside, those who know the socialist line best might disagree with you on Obama.

"The majority of Ameicans (sic) do not want his health bill....."

Only if you lump together those who felt it was too comprehensive along with an even greater percentage of the populace who feel that it isn't comprehensive enough.

"There is great support that the Bush Tax cuts should be extended for everyone..."

Only if you count the top 5% wealthiest Americans. The vast majority of the population strongly supports eliminating the Bush tax cuts for this tiny upper tier of the upper class.

"Is Obama too arrogant ..."

Why not just come out with it and call him uppity? One person's arrogance is another person's self-confidence -- a character attribute inherent in anyone who aspires to be POTUS.

You're right. I'm a Liberal and I am extremely nervous about the GOP and Tea Party theoctatic candidates. Imposing their will upon the people in our free Democracy. I've seen that movie "Deliverance!"

Next.

Another Take On That Job Issue...

Private Sector Employment

Perhaps Obama's problem is that corporate elitists ship jobs to China as fast as Obama creates them!

Dave Johnson writes:

"The September jobs report is out and conservatives got exactly what they wanted: less government, less stimulus, less aid to states, less help for small businesses, less infrastructure investment, less help for the unemployed and ... a bad jobs report. Conservatives successfully watered down the first stimulus, defeated further stimulus, fought aid to state governments, fought unemployment benefits, defeated help for small businesses, etc., etc. Here are the results, just in time for the election."

From the NY Times, Employment Picture Dims as Government Cuts Back:

... over all, the economy shed 95,000 nonfarm jobs in September, the result of a 159,000 decline in government jobs at all levels. Local governments in particular cut jobs at the fastest rate in almost 30 years.

"We need to wake up to the fact that the end of the stimulus has really hit hard on local governments," said Andrew Stettner, deputy director of the National Employment Law Project.

You don't suppose that the original post was politically motivated, do you?

NAAAaaaaaahhh!

A whole bunch of squirrels!

In One Year...

More Jobs Created under Obama than Bush' 8 Years! Now cross Campaign Contributions with CEOs and board members Outsourcing Jobs in your locality. Then report back to us on who is responsible for our abysmal job recovery.

Looking forward to that!

TRYUSINGLOGIC...funniest thing I've read all day. And that's just your screen name. SSDD.

Woah, Hold On!

First, take note that you haven't responded to the sources I provided. You're not interacting at all. This is to say that while I reply to specifics that you cite, you in turn seem bent on pursuing a separate conversation altogether. We need to bring the narratives together. Now if the Wall Street Journal (hardly a flaming "liberal" [whatever THAT means] rag) confirms the Bush/Obama job record I mentioned, you should take cognizance of that.

Next, we consider GOP opposition to Obama's employment strategy. Obama believed that those who ship US jobs to China needn't expect us to thank them with tax-breaks. The GOP believes that sending US jobs to China is very capitalistic. But American jobs for Americans -- that's Marxism! Can you smell the irony?

Third, WHERE is the plan for RETURNING outsourced Outsourced Jobs and cash to America. So long as the GOP insists on licensing wholesale gutting of our economy, they're really in no position to feel all self-righteous about Obama's failure. Get with the program! Keep jobs in AMERICA (pardon that Marx-speak).

Fourth, our deficit is an horrific discovery, but that matter must be faced responsibly. That will require stepping outside the existing narrative and find some ground on which to bring the nation together. Again, who is offering that guidance? The answer is "no one." Nor is their the political will to address this issue.

One case in point: tax cuts for the very wealthy drive the deficit higher, while demanding that even sustenance level aid be denied those in deep poverty. This presents great potential for massive, civil unrest. If you really want insurrection, this is the way to go.

Another case in point: we could bring ALL our troops home from Afghanistan and Iraq (including the 50,000 support people) NOW, and employ them beside our civilian unemployed in an absolutely massive infrastructure rebuilding designed on the most advanced technology in the world. This ends unemployment, kicks manufacturing into hyperdrive, and lays the basis for advancing US world leadership for the next 50 years. And what would the GOP would say?

AHHHhh! HUULLLPPP! COOMMMUUNIIISM!

The fact is, governments are never either as weak or as strong as they seem. And a determined population can always undermine and eventually overthrow a system of governance. The question that the so-called "conservative right" needs to ponder is whether they are willing to retain American political identity on terms other than what they demand. If not, then the way is clear.

Convert our dollars to yauns. It certainly pays off for the super-wealthy corporate nobility.

So which will it be, TryU: the dollar, or the yuan.

If the best you can do is "Obama this" and "Obama that," you opt for the yuan.

You may not have much time to get this.

You've Got Your Work Cut Out For You, Haven't You:

What do you do when you meet an evangelical who is politically progressive?

Now notice, something, TryU:

You cite me for citing 'standard, left wing bull;" does it occur that this is standard right-wing rhetoric? You write, "no understanding," "Obama problem," "Big Government" and "Government nipple." What is that but standard, rhetorical flare? Who is scraping the rhetorical barrel?

I specify a plan for massive rebuilding, manufacturing that approaches full employment. And you?

You dismiss this as utopian thinking implying that America isn't up to the task. Then you project your own denial on others. You offer no alternative plan and pronounce socialism a failure by fiat.

You haven't addressed the outsourcing of jobs, which my plan redresses. You don't address the betrayal of our economic sovereignty to transnational corporations, which my plan reaffirms.

What I see works like this:

1. No understanding
2. Obama problem
3. Big Government
4. Government nipple
5. Return to number 1

Pray tell, is it socialism to keep American jobs in America? How is that failure? And how is kicking heavy manufacturing and cutting-edge technology into overdrive a proverbial sucking of the Government nipple? How is that failure? How does forging America's place of leadership in the world for the next half century, "crap?" Again, who scrapes the rhetorical barrel?

Dear TryU:

The right should be half as good at finding solutions as it is to generating excuses!

Dear TryU:

Socialists themselves acknowledge Castro's failure.

But the question was, "how is it socialism to keep America's jobs in America." Did you miss it?

Second, where is your plan to bring American jobs and cash back home from socialist China?