I watched bits of Meet the Press this morning between heavy rain showers and I am astounded by the Republican message. For the next six months, they'll say that the presidents policies aren't working and if we only return to Republican leadership, growth will once again be possible. The Bush tax cuts that kick-started the worst recession since the Great Depression are necessary (for the rich) and it's too much regulation that that is stifling growth (anybody think Wall Street needs less supervision?). The middle-class just needs to give a little more to corporations and wealth will rain down like West Texas Crude.
And if you believe that, I've got a bridge to sell you.
Are we really that dumb?
Sadly, we may be. No doubt the economy is still weak, and if you understand how we use energy, it's not likely to improve. The big myth that Republicans are selling is growth. That if we make things easier for business, growth will return which will lead to jobs and retirement income. Only it won't. We've seen the end of growth. We have too much population on a finite planet with a system that requires infinite growth to sustain itself.
Game over.
There were some really great articles this week on Energy Bulletin, and I'll try to start linking more often. This one explains the difficulty with our economy, and why a steady-state economy is the only option. The Archdruid has been doing some great analysis on the intersect of our nation's history, policy and strategy, and he mentioned another subject that is suddenly back in the news. Global warming has taken a backseat to the economy, and yet, recent reports suggest massive methane plumes from melting Arctic ice. These are things predicted by the climate scientists - remember, the alarmist science people who predicted most of the changes we're seeing in our climate?
Something else we've forgotten about - the Gulf oil spill. You probably figured that was all cleaned up, right? Just this week, authorities in Alabama shut down shrimping and fishing along the coast after fishermen and inspectors reported deformed and sickened sea creatures.
Keeping this charade going is the last thing we need. If you think the presidents policies aren't working, it's possible. If you agree with Republicans - that we need more tax breaks for the wealthy, fewer programs for the poor and less regulation for corporations - then you've been duped.
No one we elect is going to lower energy prices, or create jobs or save social security. No one is going to magically grow an economy that is already struggling against constraints. If you vote for someone because they promise you the sky, then who is to blame when it comes crashing down?
My hope is that we've heard enough to know we've heard it all before. It's time to send a message that we're serious - and we expect our leaders to be.
