Monday, November 23, 2009

Freidman Goes Commie


Milton Friedman must be rolling over in his grave.

Thomas Freidman, the NYTimes numero uno columnist, has just published an analysis of the U.S. economy that would have made Karl Marx proud.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. Its just not that usual to have the main stream media admit that American democracy is a sham; and that the system serves the narrow interests of the rich - and which are not identical to the interests of the rest of us.

Juicey quotes:

... six things have come together to fracture our public space and paralyze our ability to forge optimal solutions:

1) Money in politics has become so pervasive that lawmakers have to spend most of their time raising it, selling their souls to those who have it ...

2) The gerrymandering of political districts means politicians of each party can now choose their own voters and never have to appeal to the center.

3) The cable TV culture encourages shouting and segregating people into their own political echo chambers.

4) A permanent presidential campaign leaves little time for governing.

5) The Internet, ... provides a home for every extreme view and spawns digital lynch mobs from across the political spectrum that attack anyone who departs from their specific orthodoxy.

6) A U.S. business community that has become so globalized that it only comes to Washington to lobby for its own narrow interests ...

...


California ... is becoming America’s biggest “failed state.” Californians had hoped they could overcome their dysfunctional system by electing an outsider, a former movie star, Arnold Schwarzenegger. He would slay the system, like the Terminator. But he couldn’t.

Mr. Obama was elected for similar reasons. People had hoped that his unique story, personality and speaking skills could bring the country together, overcome paralysis and deliver nation-building at home. A lot of the disappointment settling in among Obama voters today is prompted by their dawning realization that maybe, like Arnold, he can’t.

...

We need citizens who will convey to their leaders that they are ready to sacrifice, even pay, yes, higher taxes! - and will not punish politicians who ask them to do the hard things.


The rich rule to the detriment of the majority?
The solution requires: Social Solidarity? Higher Taxes? Sacrifice for the Common Good?

Friedman to Freidman: et tu Brute.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home