OBAMA SOLVES THE ECONOMIC DILEMMA

 

The President’s comments at the second debate struck me as well reasoned and forward looking.   He spoke often of education, jobs for the new economy, restoring a level playing field and equal opportunities for all Americans. He also spoke of the importance of free enterprise to our culture as a nation.

            It is not readily apparent why equal opportunity and free enterprise should complement each other.  While the former seeks equality, the latter empowers individuals to accumulate wealth and property.  What is the bridge between these competing goals of democratic equality and capitalism that makes our system work?  What makes a market democracy stick together when the middle class comes under economic attack?

            Understanding the answer to these questions is critical to governing over the next four years.  Radicals who would trample all free enterprise with unwarranted regulations or punitive taxes are as misplaced as tea party conservatives who would disavow programs that create equal opportunity or who insist on favoring wealthy investors at the expense of the general public. 

President Obama understands the dilemma and he has the right solution. There is a middle ground that keeps the lights on for all Americans.  When the middle class knows that the system is fair and the opportunities are real (particularly for their children as creative destruction changes the job market in the new economy) there is political legitimacy and democratic support to move forward. This is why his plans to embrace the new economy as it unfolds and to provide low cost education and job training are so important.

The President is not a socialist or pie eyed idealist.  In the spirit of Bill Clinton (as Mr. Clinton eloquently expressed during his convention address) Barack Obama is a pragmatic realist who has a clear vision for the survival of our market democracy.

           

THE COLLEGE AND CITY MUST WORK TOGETHER

 

 Conflict between college students and “townies” in small college communities has been a fact of life since the beginning of academia.  Ivory towers have always interacted at some level with life on the street.  In my college experience the friction often centered on the bar scene and the local women as the born and bred alpha males sought to defend their territory against preppy intruders.  Unfortunately for both the City of Washington and W&J, what happened on the early morning of October 5^th was much more sinister, with tragic results.

 Two college students returning to their dorms from an off campus bar at 2 a.m.  A gang of opportunistic young men walking the streets and looking for trouble.  This perfect storm resulted in a confrontation, with one of the students sustaining mortal head injuries.

            While it is certainly not prohibited to be on the streets in the early morning hours, it is not the safest of places and arguably a bad choice for student athletes to make.  This of course does not excuse the criminality of an apparent brutal robbery attempt and homicide.

            I for one hope that this incident does not evolve into a contest of finger pointing or defensive posturing. While common sense and additional anti crime measures are in order, over reaction is not. The College and City have made noticeable progress in recent years on cooperative efforts to improve the community.  As horrible as this incident was, violence should never be a reason for pull back.  Both local government and the College need to double down on positive efforts to work together for the common good.

 

SACRIFICE & COMPROMISE

The two most important words the day after the election will be sacrifice and compromise.  These two principals must quickly mutate from campaign unmentionables to rallying cries to avoid another crisis.  The fiscal cliff will send us reeling into another recession unless the country comes together under its political leadership to make tough choices.  This must be done by a lame duck Congress and the President at the end of the year no matter who takes the oath of office in January.

Our political campaigns, particularly the presidential contest, have become a feel good fantasy based on: 1) positions along strict ideological lines to keep intact each parties’ base (no compromise) and 2) speeches on how each candidate will make us better off than the other guy, to capture independents (no sacrifice).  It is ironic how these two words, which are truly the lifeblood of a democratic republic, are conspicuously absent during the long election season. American voters do not want to be told the truth during campaigns.  They want their selfish addictions fed with “campaign-crack” and refuse to face the inevitable rehab which includes higher taxes and lower benefits.  Interestingly, this is not true in Europe, where even the socialist candidates, who have been winning elections of late, recognized the need to discuss austerity measures to balance budgets and the need for compromise with other political parties.

After the voters have spoken we can all blink, shake off the sound bite hangover, and the fantasy will disappear.  Decision making, similar to four years ago when the world’s economy was falling apart, can again be based on fundamental economic principals and sound political policy.  Conservatives will get a good measure of austerity and deficit reduction.  Liberals will receive progressive tax rates, with those who have more paying their fare share.  The whole shebang will be disguised so that the compromise does not look like either side “gave-in.”  In this way, when the political rutting season begins anew three years from now, each candidate can claim their pockets were picked by the other.

Post election, sacrifice will enter the discussion and become a positive image.  There will be more talk coming from our political leaders about “what we can do for our country” and less about “I built that without your help.”  Instead of the election message that stresses giving up hard earned rewards to help shiftless welfare recipients, sacrifice will be framed in terms of our children, our elders and neighbors.  Giving back will be patriotic again so that the next generation has something solid to build on to keep the dream alive.  Like compromise, sacrifice will be a fleeting thought as the next election cycle approaches.  Hopefully enough will be done in the time allotted to make a difference.