THE CURMUDGEON CHRONICLE ©
AN IRREVERENT VIEW
Time Line: August 6, 2007
Date Line: Flemington New Jersey
Admittedly Congress has been foolish. It allowed the President to usurp its authority and lead us into an unnecessary and unwinnable war. Legislators neglected their responsibilities to the United States’ enlightened self interest when there were clear and positive alternatives to that path.
I think our Presidential candidates need a reality check before asking for our votes. We don’t need rhetoric; we need a path back to self sufficiency and prosperity for all citizens. In that light, consider the things we hear from the people who want to be President.
Some say that if we leave Iraq terrible things will happen. Such things are happening now and will escalate and continue whether we are in Iraq or not. The difference is that if we leave, fewer Americans will die; we can stop wasting our money in Iraq, and spend it here where it is needed.
Some candidates tell us the answer is to partition Iraq. They don’t tell us that the Iraqis want that solution and I for one don’t think they do. Our own Civil War followed such a suggested solution; was unwanted by the Union and did not lead to peace. I expect it is much the same in Iraq, but there is an alternative: stop meddling.
Each candidate has a health care plan and tells us there are dangers in everyone else’s suggestions. They all dissemble. For so long as the profits of the Insurers and Pharmas are in danger there will be fortunes spent to assure that no health care legislation of merit will pass. Underwriters at Lloyds of London put the odds of such legislation passing on a par with meeting a stegosaurus in pink panties walking down 42nd Street at noon tomorrow.
We are told by some candidates that we have the strongest economy in the world, and everything is peachy. Looking at our deficits and trade imbalance, that is hard to believe. We are not self sufficient in any industry, (except finance perhaps), and can’t even make essential materiel for defensive armament without reliance on imported componentry. As to finance, our position in those markets gets weaker if our money depreciates in value and is not a credible measure for international exchange. It is not coincidence that large US investment banks are shifting headquarters of major finance operations to London.
Finally we are told that we must “support the troops” at all costs. I point out that when our soldiers return they get short shrift from the government. They have lost their jobs, have suffered traumas that go untreated, get no help in relocating their families or in finding employment, and are left without the educational opportunities that were available to their grandfathers. A parade, a $3.00 medal, and a political speech do not provide the support that we should offer.
As a result of the misuse of our military, we are considered a paper tiger. North Korean, South and Central American, and Mexican governments show their disdain daily. Middle East radicals believe we are not a threat but merely an annoyance. All because Congress forgot to watch out for our enlightened self interest.
Everyone knew you can’t win a guerrilla war on someone else’s native soil. The British, French, Russians, Ottomans, and Dutch could not and neither can we. History is not bunk, Henry Ford to the contrary notwithstanding.
The candidates are faced with a country troubled by its loss of purpose and prestige; by rising costs and declining purchasing power; by youth that is underemployed and lacking incentive; and by years of lies that destroyed much of the trust that once existed between the electorate and the elected.
Our enlightened self interest calls for those conditions to be remedied. In the past it took a war to get us going with high productivity and full employment. We have had enough of war so what remains?
There is a clear and compelling alternative, burned into the public’s consciousness by a bridge collapse in Minnesota. Just suppose that the candidates pledge to rebuild our dying infrastructure. What better time than now: Governors and Mayors are rushing about, testing bridges, wringing their hands, over needs unfulfilled for the past thirty years.
Governors and Mayors can’t print money and industry alone is not capable of such a task. We need FDR-type governmental programs to turn this lemon into economic lemonade. Trillions of dollars of new business is there for us to take advantage of. If we do a proper job of filling the needs, not only will we see full employment and the rebirth of US technological know-how, we will see new plants, new intellectual property developments, and a prosperity independent of munitions and war.
If we do it right, we will safeguard the trillions of dollars of business that we develop for our own citizens. Foreign subcontractors will want to do the work but no country's enterprises should be allowed to participate without offsetting work of equal scope and value being awarded to a US firm. In no event should more than 10% of any program be available to foreign interests regardless of offsets, and in no event should new technology or intellectual property be permitted to be used against our interests. Our trade imbalances will disappear and our budgets will balance and our national debt will be reduced
If we have the will to control our destiny and capacities, we will be proud of what this country's citizens can do and enjoy the benefits and by-products of a rebuilt infrastructure. What by-products you ask? How about these:
Health Care: Since everyone will have well paying work, health insurance can be bought by all. To keep the market honest we would also have a government sponsored single payer system available. We don't want to put insurance companies out of business, but we want competition to make insurance products reasonable in price and excellent in quality. Same goes for prescription drugs; let the government run a pharmacy too! Fed Ex did not put the Post Office out of business and vice versa.
Immigration: We will need people to rebuild what time and neglect have damaged. We will welcome new arrivals but we do not need guest workers or people who come here to steal our ideas and go to their homeland. We need people who come to our country to stay, become loyal Americans and enrich the melting pot.
Self interest suggests that we limit the outflow of capital. If you work here and live on the bounty of this country, you should not support the economy of another country by sending more than 10% of your net income to support family in your former homeland.
Foreign Wars: We will aid the victims to the extent we can afford it, but we will not be policemen or participants unless we are attacked directly or are compelled to act by treaty or agreement of alliance approved by Congress. That approach served us well for over two hundred years. Let the Bush Doctrine become a dark footnote to our history. As the country’s wealth becomes less dependant on munitions manufacture and sale the impetus for industrial participation in wars declines.
Foreign Affairs: As with war, so with foreign policy. To the extent that we do not meddle our insular and unworldly attitudes will not involve us in difficulties. As a nation, we speak only one language and know very little about people outside our continent. Indeed we don't even understand our Canadian neighbors despite their proximity and our common language and heritage. Foreign Affairs and war seem to go hand in hand; if we limit our involvement to the situations that directly affect us, Blackhawk will not be down and our young people will not die for stupid slogans.
Globalization: People who are employed and able to pay for US products will have them available for the first time in decades. Yes, products may cost a bit more and companies may net a bit less, however John Q. Public now knows that if a job goes abroad, skills disappear, kids lack opportunity, and we are subjected to unsafe products. He knows he bought an American made T-Shirt for $2.50 in 1984; today Wal-Mart charges $4.00 and tells you it’s a bargain. Americans are not dumb; just brainwashed. Let’s demand an end to that. Let our politicians quit bickering, act for us in our self interest, and get a plan before the public.
Howard Stamer
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