Obama's Great Society

In 50 minutes last night, the president of the United States used his first speech to a joint session of Congress as a launching point, a chance to transform the bulk of his entire campaign platform into the core of a bold first year agenda. In one of his most compelling arguments to date, he laid out a blueprint going forward, rich with clarity and powered by an ever-accruing political capital.

What was most impressive about the speech was not its cadence and tone, but the framing used to sell its contents. Obama couched his unabashedly progressive agenda as critical to the country's long term economic future. Where President Clinton became famous for taking Republican ideas and wrapping them in Democratic arguments, President Obama called for some of the most liberal policies in a generation, and did so using the voice of a fiscal conservative.

He argued that investments in education were critical if the next generation is expected to compete in a global economy. He saw health care reform as critical relief to businesses that are buckling under the weight of providing for their employees in a badly broken system. And he argued that renewable energy policy was a national security issue, not an environmental one.

The president seems to recognize, as Lyndon Johnson did some 45 years ago, that there is exceptional power behind the mandate he's been given. Johnson knew, upon taking office, that he could use the legacy of President Kennedy to push through a bold new program, but that such a mandate might recede at a moments notice. So he asked his advisers to "push ahead full-tilt" and, in doing so, sparked the political flame that would ultimately have him sign into law the most sweeping legislative program since FDR's New Deal.

Obama, too, sees that the scope of his crisis is wide enough to drive a revolutionizing agenda through it, but that his time may be limited. With sky-high popularity, a self-destructing opposition, and a hulking majority in Congress, he understands the opportunity before him.

And so, he has called for health care reform by the end of the year; a sweeping energy policy, equipped with a cap and trade system and major increase in renewables; a substantial investment in education; an expansion of veteran's benefits and a restoration of civil liberties; an overhaul of regulations; an unprecedented level of transparency, and an end to the war in Iraq.

He knows what recent polls have told all of us - that the American people want the policies they voted for in November, that they want him to clear the hurdles put in his way by the Republicans, that they want Republicans to work with Obama, as long as the result is the Obama policy. They want him to have his chance.

If he succeeds, if at year end, all Americans have access to health care, if the economy is moving toward recovery, driven by renewable energy construction and technological innovation, if homeowners are saved from foreclosure and banks returned to stability, if new classrooms are built and new investments made in education, then by year end, President Obama will have fathered his own Great Society, and in record time.

Comments

[Bonobo]

If he's going to accomplish all that by year's end, he has to stop wasting time chasing after his Unity fantasy. Yeah, a good foundation is important, but you've missed the point if you spend some much time on it that you don't have walls and a roof when the blizzard hits.

[bighat]

Part 1

Dear American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists, Marxists and Obama supporters, et al:


We have stuck together since the late 1950's, but the whole of this latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce. I know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future generations, but sadly, this relationship has run its course. Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will not ever agree on what is right so let's just end it on friendly terms. We can smile and chalk it up to irreconcilable differences and go our own way.

Here is a model separation agreement:

Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by landmass each taking a portion. That will be the difficult part, but I am sure our two sides can come to a friendly agreement. After that, it should be relatively easy! Our respective representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both sides have such distinct and disparate tastes.

[bighat]

Part II

We don't like redistributive taxes so you can keep them. You are welcome to the liberal judges and the ACLU. Since you hate guns and war, we'll take our firearms, the cops, the NRA and the military. You can keep Oprah, Michael Moore and Rosie O'Donnell (You are, however, responsible for finding a bio-diesel vehicle big enough to move all three of them).

We'll keep the capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical companies, Wal-Mart and Wall Street. You can have your beloved homeless, homeboys, hippies and illegal aliens. We'll keep the hot Alaskan hockey moms, greedy CEO's and rednecks. We'll keep the Bibles and give you NBC and Hollywood .

You can make nice with Iran and Palestine and we'll retain the right to invade and hammer places that threaten us. You can have the peaceniks and war protesters. When our allies or our way of life are under assault, we'll help provide them security.

[hangdogit]

Let me guess. You voted for McCain/Palin even though they are way too far to the left?

[Morpheus008]

The educational deficit in this country is clearly represented in so many of the responses here. Either most of them slept through economics 101 of never bothered to break open the book. I have never heard so many ignorant political talking points offered as economic insight. Obama's greatest suggestion last night >>> GO BACK TO SCHOOL>>>> , ANY SCHOOL, PLEASE> no democracy can survive this incredibly high level of ignorance. Ignorant talking heads is another matter, its their well paid gig, but come on, we should know better than repeat that stuff. Try this -- ITS NOT TRUE THAT PEOPLE DO NOT SPEND MONEY BECAUSE TAXES ARE TOO HIGH - therefore, a tax cut will cause them to spend and revive our economy. Imagine a system where no one spends - households (No Jobs) business ( few Customers) or government (minimal spending) - all cutting back at the same time.. its called ...DEPRESSION. Welcome to Econ 101folks.

[VikingQuest]

"Welcome to Econ 101 folks"

So what part of Econ 101 says that if you are living dangerously close to edge and up to your eyes in debt . . . the answer is to spend more money you don't have?

[jhm1953]

Right on!

[raechel]

Scientists, even social scientists, stay away from saying things like "dangerously close to the edge and up to your eyes in debt." They're statements with evaluative or emotional content, but that's it. No different from saying "oh no!" Lots of emotion, no meaning.

[ruberube]

The middle class needs a leader...
a leader to protect them with the ability to educate and provide health care for their families...
a leader that believes in diplomacy first and war only for the the last resort...
a leader that can provide oversight and regulation from the tyranny of neoconservative politics...

What we have experienced as a nation the past eight years was not democracy...
Denial is now the mantra for neoconservatism.
We now have a leader that can think, he can speak and he brings something to the table other than fear and division!

[Donna Dunn]

A leader who is being led by typical politicians from the 90's. I thought I purchased Change. I haven't seen any. Yes, Obama can speak well, but so far, I'm not hearing anything suggesting change of any kind except to take more money from people with "nice-nice" talk. I'm really disappointed so far. A country that has suffered from a credit bubble can't possibly claw its way out with more "lending" from those Tarp funds. More credit is not what we need. We need for bad banks to fail so other banks can surface as the new ones. We need jobs, not unions whose products cost too much. I'm disappointed that the Democrats have gone on a drunken sailor spending spree.

And now I am supposed to pay for swine odor control in Iowa and tatoo removal? I thought Obama said no "earmarks." Sorry but I am not stupid; sounds like earmarks to me. And under the radar is the the Dominican Republic about to get full state's rights without going through the Constitution. This party of Democrats is completely trashing our Constitution and in this case, the 23rd Amendment.

Gosh, I am not just disappointed, I am angry at this so-called President. He is presenting class warfare all over the place.

[JimR]

"And under the radar is the the Dominican Republic about to get full state's rights without going through the Constitution. "

What on God's Earth are you talking about?

[AJM1963]

I could not agree more. The exciting thing that we are witnessing each day is that we have the first couple who are educated, look real, look down to earth, look rich inside, that is what we need for our children to see on screen. Obama may never solve the current problems as a president, but the great message that he and his wife are sending to us and our children are worth of our cheer and hope for future. No matter what you do, you have to know your trades, you have to be able to speak in a manner that people have to respect you while they may not necessary agree with you. I see our president and his wife are setting role model each day, I am glad that my children are in good hands.

[uneeda]

but where is the beef ? this was just more of the same old.... we're not running for office any longer....­.campaign'­s over...we won......and yes it's time to fill in the dots.....but if we're still in the planning stage,then stay off the atrwaves until we have sorted it all out....thus avoiding euphoria fatigue

[raechel]

The beef is in the budget. Read it.

[bighat]

borrows from peter to pay paul. Hoping to make a profit. but profit is now considered a dirty word

[MarkSulzman]

Not sure if the Govt created by years of Conservative dominance is set up to solve much of anything. Revenues (Taxes) have but been significantly cut over the years so "Great Society" comparisons could be kind of an "apples /oranges" kind of thing since now a days things are set up / financed more for "free market " / "small govt". Certainly no surprise the absense of this in the mainstearm media. Does Obama understand this? Is he insulting our intelligence? He's been throwing back at them "your way failed", "I won" - what about starting with citing failure of Conservative policies / ideologies and going back to pre-Reagan tax rates - then we can talk about solving some problems around here.

[bighat]

Losing faith in our great leader after a month.

shame

Write a letter and tell the President set John Conyers loose. Will not change anything but I am sure you will sleep better at night. Unless you think of the precedent it says. Dem are running the show today but will they forever?

[dadw5boys]

THIS IS: " THE AMERICAN RECOVERY OF THE GREAT SOCIETY ", this is part 2 where the American People woke up from a GOP Nightmare where their future was almost stolen and the population placed into indentured servatude !!!!!!

[jobman]

Sorry to bust your bubble but the nightmare started after the election. You can't spend your way out of a ression. Think about you using your credit cards to pay bills. You still have to pay the credit card companies! Oh yeh thats right,the big O will take care of that for you. You won't have to pay that debt. He will make me pay for your lack of money skills.

[gabemill]

"Sorry to bust your bubble but the nightmare started after the election."

WHAT???????
This is a joke, right?
Earth to jobman, come in, please......

[Donna Dunn]

Jobman, I see it all clearly as you do. I'm supposed to pay for those people who won't. But here's a news flash, I just won't do it. I won't pay for anyone else's mistakes, ever. My charity stops at my checkbook for people who didn't do the right thing, and for people who did the right thing and fell on hard times, Mr. President will take care of you.

[gobeavs]

My question would be, we had the Johnson Great Society and we had the Jimmy Carter years.
What exactly happened? Why did they not work then, but will work now.
I am just wondering.

[jobman]

There was a geat comic book called the Great Society. What I laughed at back then in that book. Welllllllllllll this would be a great follow up.

[Bonobo]

Largely, mismanaged foreign conflicts. Both Johnson and Carter inherited messy situations from prior American (and French and British) stupidities, and were too afraid to take a hit on looking "weak" to cut their losses. In Johnson's case, resources needed for his Great Society got sucked up, and Carter was too politically damaged to function. Some cautionary lessons for Obama, here.

[gdogs]

"American people want the policies they voted for in November"

You may want to keep in mind that only a little over half the country voted for him. The sad reality is that Obama still thinks he's campaigning. All I heard last night were the same promises and campaign rhetoric that we've been hearing for months. I also heard a lot of $$$. Not sure how that's going to work out, but I guess is doesn't matter if you can keep the masses happy with promises of universal health care, and bailing their asses out. 2010 2010 2010 2010, I just keep saying it to myself. Hopefully it won't be too late to save the country.

[Goldilocks]

Hey gdogs, it is time that you and those who share your lack of vision begin to allow some fireworks to take place in your thinking. He went beyond the promises and he will deliver. It seems that people who did not support him still come up as losers because they refuse to get on board. Stop being a whining loser and get on the train.

[gdogs]

A year from now your health care costs will be the same as the are now, or the will have gone up. There will not be universal health care for every American. The same promises he is making now will be the same promises he will be making then. And most of you will be wondering what happened. Oh yeah, and the deficit will be atleast twice what it is now.

[SingingBird]

Goldilocks, I don't agree with gdogs. However, remember what got us into this mess in the first place....people blindly following shrub and his "either your with us or against us" comment. Think how different times would be if Shrub was questioned more, civic discourse / honest debate followed. Maybe we would have been lucky enough to avoid the war.

Civic discourse is needed, even when we don't agree with the views of the people that are asking.

Gdogs - Yes, you are correct, Obama won the majority. It's very astute of you to notice that fact. And as such, he is governing for the majority of the population. As for making promises, he is delivering on his promise to pull the troops out of Iraq. He delivered on an economic package. He is just getting started. He has accomplished more positive legislation in a month than Shrub has accomplished in eight years.

Obama is the face of real leadership!

[bighat]

Goldilocks, I am on board. I am no longer paying my mortgage or my credit cards. Do you have an address I can forward this mail to or should I simple forward it to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

[Wilsonfisk89]

Haha the comedy page is called 23/6, this is Politics. But no seriously, get yourself a Bobby Jindal doll to hug or something. America is moving forward, you people will come with, or be left behind..

[bighat]

How can we be left behind. The dem is open to all frames of mind. Plus we just learned how not to pay our bill. In order to live better than the rest I will lead a protest for something close to Nancy's heart and I am sure I will be richly rewarded.

[Donna Dunn]

I never heard what the policies were back in November except tax cuts for 95% of working Americans, free health care, and so forth. People are getting shocked shortly because $13 a week is such a terrific tax cut; shoot, I can buy a bottle of Jim Beam with that I think. People didn't listen closely enough when Obama told Joe that plumber that he believed in spreading the wealth. We are seeing that happen right now. Take a bucket of water from the deep end and put in the shallow end and our problems will be a lot less. The Frank Luntz focus group analyzed the speech last night and lots of people were unhappy, especially with $13 a week. That was an insult to many of them. I don't work, so I won't even get that. At some point, as wonderful as a speaker as Obama is, his oratory speeches will not be enough to maintain popularity. People are in dire straights and need action, not words.

[DennyCrane]

I hope he accomplishes everything he set out to accomplish and on the timetable he's put forth. But the problem with such expectations is that there's a greater chance of being disappointed. He might only accomplish only one of his expressed goals and everyone will be declaring him a failure.

[flytyer]

The only thing his speech conviced me of is that I should go out and buy a house, put no money down w/ a mortgage I can't afford and the govt will bail me out.

[raechel]

Funny. Are you sure you listened? Obama said specifically that people who were in houses they couldn't afford would lose them. Maybe you tuned out when he started the responsibility discussion?

[jobman]

I got distracted with Nancy jumping up and down all night. They should have tied her to the chair.

[Donna Dunn]

Raechel, yes that's what he said, but is that what he is actually doing? Those are two different things. Politicians promise everything and justify those failures later. Gibbs even said that people who "tried" will be considered. The only one thing for sure is in order to qualify, a person has to show an "income stream" whatever that is. That is completely open to interpretation such as part-time workers.

[pubear]

Two quick points: That was a lot of if's and what happens when republicans takeover again. If green energy is profitable(without huge subsidies), why doesn't it power our homes? Can we afford single payer healthcare? Price is a rationing device. How would the government ration healthcare? What happens when the "brilliant" people vote in another Bush? How are we going to pay for all of these bad mortgages? Should we? There are far too many questions for this man to be inspired.

[Downix]

How can we not afford single payer healthcare? The US system is one of the least efficient in the world, where small businessess cannot afford to pay for the health of their employees, resulting in higher cost per wage, weaker employee loyalty, and that little thing about "They get sick" which means work lost and opportunities missed. Truth is, if we want to stay competitive in the global economy, we have to rise up to the standards met in foreign countries with a single payer healthcare system. To meet them, we need to stand together, to care for the least amongst us, and to blaze forward proving that we are not a country of consumers, but a country of producers.

[raechel]

I really like that: not a country of consumers, but a country of producers. Well said.

[tangerinesong]

Down,

Have you read the stimulus Dear? Aint no more producers coming out of this society.

It takes incentives to get production and those incentives as seen now will be non exisitant in a few short years. Just like my company after its sale to our customer in Hong Kong. Yep, customer in Hong Kong as well as 55 other countries. They are to keep my employees unitl 2010 before they transfer the business. I started the business on my kitchen table 30 some years ago and will sell now while the individual owner value is still there. Source? Wall Street........


TS



TS

[raechel]

We MUST reform health care -- it's already rationed, it already produces inferior results, and we're already spending more on it than other industrialized countries. We MUST reform health care because we can no longer afford what we have now.

Green energy isn't as profitable as oil because we fail to take into account the true costs of oil production. What do you think Iraq is about? Your tax dollars to keep oil coming ... a trillion dollars, and we're all distracted by prices at the pump. And the damage to health and environment ... The truth is there is no such thing as cheap energy; we've just been paying for it twice -- at the pump and in our taxes. Makes it look cheap. Makes Exxon shareholders happy. If we're going to nationalize something, maybe it should be ...

We aren't going to "pay for all of these bad mortgages." Banks' role is to keep credit flowing -- help people refinance their homes, which they can't do right now because their home values have dropped too far; and help businesses keep going so there are fewer job losses.

We are going to pay for our excesses of the last decades one way or another. If we elect another W because he tells us we don't have to sacrifice, or because he tells us some bad guy in another country did all of this to us, then we deserve what we get. I surely hope we're smarter than that.

[greginwva]

Healthcare couldnt be more rationed right now! Employers switch health companys all the time and Its always to a cheaper insurance that covers less of the care you get while telling the Doctors what treatment or brand drug they should prescribe.I was in the examining room two weeks ago when the Doctor got a call from the hospital telling him that one of the people his patiant's insurance company was on the phone screaming bloody murder.I can think of plenty of other gripes Ive had from them in just the past 3 months but I know youve been thru it yourself or heard it all before.

[pubear]

Healthcare must be rationed if supply can't meet demand. The question is how. It can either be rationed by price or it can be rationed by someone saying you must wait for the procedure you need to live. One you have some control and one you have none. Why do you choose no control? As for green energy and Iraq, the Iraq war was a another stupid republicrat idea and green energy is fine with me. I don't mind paying for a service. I refuse to start a company , fund a company, and then pay for a service.

[ProudLiberalDan]

"Price" is already a rationing point. That is why 20% of the country has no access to the health care system and just as many are under-accessed.

However, I don't don't see much "rationing" with CEO salaries and bonuses for insurance industry corporations.

[Bill64]

After reading some of these post there just might be hope for the Obama liberal supporters. His programs were not his the congressional democrats wrote the darn bill Obama was still busy campaigning. Most European nations along with Canada has nationalized health care, but they come to this country seeking health care, kind of interesting don't you think. As for politicians, the majority would rather climb a tree and lie, than stand on the ground and tell the truth. I for one will make it through the recession because I worked and planned for myself and my family, I don't need the government to bail me out. By now most of you should realize this bill was a pay off for the support they gave this administration. 30 million for a mouse, give me a break. It is ashame that we have 1 in every 154 children is diagnosed with autism, but no one wants to bail them out. Get real folks this is the real world.

[bighat]

Did not realize emergency room turned away people in your area. How cruel

[SingingBird]

Pubear ....your scenario of the republicans taking over again isn't even an "if"....it's a pipedream at this point! Did you see Jindal's response last night? Have you seen the way they have behaved in regards to recent legislation?

As far as green energy ... it depends on how you define "profitable". Do you define it in the immediate sense (as cost of production) or do you take a long term approach and define it as an investment that provides return on investment in operating costs? Let's take a look at the cost of replacement windows for a house. Replacement windows are an expensive investment upfront. We have 26 windows in our house and it costs us almost 20K between cost of goods and installation. When we ran a break-even for our house, we determined that in 10 years, the windows would pay for themselves in relation to the savings they will provide in heating and air-conditioning. That is at today's rate of natural gas prices...it doesn't include any price increase. Given that prices have increased 10% over the last year, this investment is going to pay off earlier than 10 years. Now image if we made that investment across the entire country! Think 15K per home x number of homes in the US. That is a pretty substantial savings that stays right here in the US!

[bighat]

If you think the republicans will not rise again you are seriously mistaken. Just what in the history of America have you seen where one party is down and out forever.

[pubear]

Then I will buy myself some new windows. Why should I ask you to buy them?

[c1ee]

Woohoo, i love what you said in your last sentence. Great writing

[SPQR1775]

regardless of who runs the economy, wall street wrecked it with its unethical ways supported by Bush and his laggies in congress, who allow CEOs to ship jobs and trillionof American tax dollars overseas. It is time for the IRS to go after them. YES WE WILL!

[Bonobo]

I agree with the sentiment, unfortunately, the head of the IRS is a wall street tax cheat.

[raechel]

Well, many of the big cheats weren't Wall St. guys, they were mortgage lenders. They're all gone, or mostly gone, along with the big bucks. What banks did, the ones that were taken by the rampant fraud among mortgage lenders, was look the other way when they purchased those loans. They allowed themselves to be conned, as people do, because of greed. Made a good bunch of money in the process, too. But the IRS can't do much about that. Shareholders might be able to go after them for their negligence and complicity, etc. I'd like to see us take down all of the CEOs of those mortgage companies, and all of the employees who participated in the fraud.

[billionaireby16]

I love My President, but his core policy is not what will make America more independent of its government or of its world neighbors.

The core problem of the economic crisis, isn't the nature of the Free-Market. The problem, that is the core of the economic crisis, is that Wall-Street runs the Market and not Americans.

We have Political Democracy (arguably, lol), but we have Economic Plutocracy. We need a Change that enables the people to be independent of their government, not subsidized by their government. And I have such a plan that will enable EVERY AMERICAN to become a PROPERTY-CAPITAL OWNER, just like the current Top Ten Percent.... Here it is...

Capital Homsteading for the 21st Century: Economic Justice in an Age of Economic Plutocracy
-http://cesj.org/homestead/summary-cha.htm

The Just Third Way: A New Paradigm for Wealth Creation, Distribution and Ownership
-http://cesj.org/thirdway/paradigmpapers/pressclub-nkmgdb-ppr.htm
-

[cobobs]

It is not healthy for everyone to be a billionaire. What then, would be the incentive for doing what needs to get done?

[NoToGOP08]

A competition to become poor again

[billionaireby16]

All of you have obviously not read my proposals that I provided links for in my previous post. This isn't about working for greed. This is about working for JUSTICE. Right now, we have a Political Democracy, but an Economic Plutocracy. This is why we as people are dependent on the government to get us out of this, but there is another way.... A JUST THIRD WAY, from Capitalism and Socialism. Please, read my actual papers and you all will not be disappointed!

Thanks!

[raechel]

Sorry, hon, you were born too late. You missed the "Greed is Good" years. Now it's all about responsibility. Tough luck.

[humanbeinghuman]

not everyone wants to be a billionaire, or even rich. for some of us "enough" is plenty.

[Bonobo]

Skimmed the manifestos. Glimmerings of useful ideas, but four significant problems.

1. Too long, too complex. Needs a significant college education to follow and evaluate, and the Great Lesson of Enron is that the more complex a system, the easier it is to game.
2. Confusion between mechanisms and goals. Among other failings, the Bushies mistook goals for mechanisms, both here and Iraq. Any useful plan must clearly state both the goal and the proposed mechanism for achieving that goal.
3. Assumes broad competence among citizenry. That is, a supermajority are able to manage investments, evaluate business plans, and not get hooked on drugs, gambling, or religion. Nice utopia, but somehow I don't think we're quite there yet.
4. It replaces a simple redistribution scheme (progressive taxation of income) with a very complex redistribution scheme (broad-based stock ownership). Proper accounting, oversight, and enforcement become much more costly. If not done, we're just back to the same old wealth pyramiding paradigms.

Power to the People never lasts long. Governments are just too darn useful. The risk is replacing an elected government with economic warlords.