Progressive Government: The New Center
The man can give a speech. Confident, relaxed, bold, serious, President Obama made his case to the American people with boffo reviews from all who saw it no matter what their party allegiance.
And his case was a clear and bold statement of the need for progressive government as the vital instrument to move us out of this crisis and into the future. The recovery plan to put people back to work. Banking reform and "new rules of the road" to get banks working once more. The mortgage initiative to help homeowners stay in their homes.
But more, the need for sustained public investment and leadership to move us into the future with new energy, reform of our broken health care system, and provision of a world class education from birth to a career for every child.
He vowed, sensibly, to bring the deficit down - once recovery begins - to half of its current levels by the end of his term. A return to growth will do most of that. And every other choice was a progressive one: savings from Cold War weapons and no bid military contracts, from billions provided insurance companies to compete with Medicare, from agribusiness (and unspecified education programs that don't work). And then progressive taxes - reversing the Bush tax cuts for those making over $250,000, ending tax breaks for companies taking jobs abroad (and unmentioned in the speech, sustaining the estate tax and raising the capital gains tax). He also called for moving on cap and trade on carbon emissions - and his budget will project revenue from this effort, so he won't just let companies pocket the proceeds.
The signature riff, to my mind, was his evocation of US history as proof that progressive and active government is American as apple pie:
I reject the view that says our problems will simply take care of themselves; that says government has no role in laying the foundation for our common prosperity.
For history tells a different story. History reminds us that at every moment of economic upheaval and transformation, this nation has responded with bold action and big ideas. In the midst of civil war, we laid railroad tracks from one coast to another that spurred commerce and industry. From the turmoil of the Industrial Revolution came a system of public high schools that prepared our citizens for a new age. In the wake of war and depression, the GI Bill sent a generation to college and created the largest middle-class in history. And a twilight struggle for freedom led to a nation of highways, an American on the moon, and an explosion of technology that still shapes our world.In each case, government didn't supplant private enterprise; it catalyzed private enterprise. It created the conditions for thousands of entrepreneurs and new businesses to adapt and to thrive.
We are a nation that has seen promise amid peril, and claimed opportunity from ordeal. Now we must be that nation again.
Providing the Republican contrast, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindel argued simply that government can't work. Don't do investment, do tax cuts. Republicans are for universal health care, good education and new energy -- they just don't think government should do much to get there.
"It comes down," as Jindel said, "to an honest and fundamental disagreement about the proper role of government." Republicans scorn common purpose and the need for government to set rules for markets. That may be a hard sell in an economic collapse triggered by speculative excesses of a deregulated financial system.
The president has huge challenges ahead. He'll have to come back for a bigger stimulus. He'll eventually have to take over the zombie banks and reorganize them. Fixing health care and energy will be truly heavy lifting. Empowering workers and other vital structural reforms have to be fought out.
But the president demonstrated clearly once more that he is a leader who can educate and inspire Americans. And he uses that mastery to make the case for a progressive and active government investing in our future. No longer will the president scorn the government that he leads.
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Dear Bob:
Bobby Jindal is spelled Bobby Jindal, not Bobby Jindel. Otherwise, this is a wonderful piece, telling us exactly what we need to hear. Your use of the word "riff," for example, in context of Obama's speech completely modernizes our apprehension of it. Bravo.
The Playdo Insititute
Handel Glassberg, President
As I read some of the comments on this article, I am reminded of another article on the Huff....
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-lakoff/the-obama-code_b_169580.html
Obama is as good at communicating from left of center as Reagan was from right of it.
Obama ain't no progressive.
He charismatically talks the talk, but has a reactionary cabinet and administration. He supports Israel without reservations, wants a surge in Afghanistan, seeks to continue our imperial domination of the globe, supports NAFTA, refuses to investigate war criminals for apparent political reasons, gives stimulus money to the thieves who caused our economic disaster forgetting the base who elected him), etc., etc. He has frittered away progressive ideals in a fruitless stab at bipartisanship.
The new center may be a little to the left of the old one , but so far cannot be considered to be liberal or progressive in areas at the heart of both.
Obama ain't no progressive.
He charismatically talks the talk, but has a reactionary cabinet and administration. He supports Israel without reservations, wants a surge in Afghanistan, seeks to continue our imperial domination of the globe, supports NAFTA, refuses to investigate war criminals for apparent political reasons, gives stimulus money to the thieves who caused our economic disaster forgetting the base who elected him), etc., etc. He has frittered away progressive ideals in a fruitless stab at bipartisanship.
The new center may be a little to the left of the old one , but so far cannot be considered to be liberal or progressive in very important areas.
Obama is the funniest progressive I've seen, with his dyed-in-the-wool free market advisers, his surge in Afghanistan, his support of Israel and his refusal to prosecute war criminals. His talk is progressive, but many of his actions in the most important areas are regressive
You've been asleep for the last month right?
I agree with Borosage's selection of the "signature riff." History proves that Obama is on the right track.
"In each case, government didn't supplant private enterprise; it catalyzed private enterprise. It created the conditions for thousands of entrepreneurs and new businesses to adapt and to thrive." And Obama is working to make sure it happens again. So should all of his supporters, in politics and everywhere else.
I liked Obama's speech, but the only part I feel really inspired about is when he talks about energy. I'm really glad he's finally taking Dean Baker's advice (most eloquently written in "From Financial Crisis to Opportunity" in the book Thinking Big) and STOPPING the tax breaks for corporations that send their jobs overseas!!!
Obama has been saying that for 2 years....Anyone can see that tax breaks for companies shipping jobs overseas isn't health economic policy, not just those who read Dean Baker. I've never heard of the guy and I figured as much.
"Progressive government" means they progressively steal more and more of our freedoms under the guise of help. Liberalism mean giving up all of you personal freedom to a central government because the vanguard party knows best.
Wow, what personal freedoms are you worried about losing? The freedom to be denied health insurance? The freedom to lose your 401k due to unregulated mis-managed banks/industry?
Were you equally concerned about your personal freedoms during the republican rule of the last 8 years? Were you concerned about the domestic spying? Are you concerned about the "morality" legislation the religious right wants implement?
How is this different that Clinton's mismanagement and lack of regulation during the dot com bubble? Enron, Worldcom, Global Crossing etc. were exposed during the Bush administration, the problems occurred under the Clinton regime.
What freedoms were lost? Free speech? What about Air America or even this website? Weren't these started in the last 8 years? Did Bush shut them down?
Do I need to answer that?
Also, in the past 2 years of the Democrat controlled congress, what charges have been brought for "domestic spying". You would think that all of the presidential candidates would have gotten a great deal of traction in the election for prosecuting those. Sadly, nothing happened, unless you take Kucinich seriously, and who does that?
TIME TO DEMAND OUR STATE GOVERNMENTS BE OPEN TOO!!!!!!!!!!
No more State Contracts handed to supporters without the bid process.
No more Illegal Bank account transfers to Politicans.
If Obama is this good at communicating after his first congressional address, just wait until he really gets the hang of it.
No s*&t! That's the genius of President Obama - the ability, and mindset, to grow. How very refreshing. Luckily for us, and the world, he chose not to "wait his turn" (thanks Dick Durbin!).
I loved the speech and the direction where Obama wants to take the nation, which is away from disastrous government, ineffective government, fascist government, but it is not progressive. He is moving away from the above toward a more progressive government, but it is HOW he does it, his methods of achievement and accomplishment that will tell if he is progressive or not.
http://eye-on-washington.blogspot.com
Obama is a freakin' genius. Not only is he brilliant but he has a vision. He is so far ahead of most other folks it's not even funny. We all need to chill and let the man get to it.
No freakin' kidding.
Worth saying again ...
... in your words "Obama is a freakin' genius. Not only is he brilliant but he has a vision. He is so far ahead of most other folks it's not even funny. We all need to chill and let the man get to it."
Amen to that!!!
it was so wonderful to see Obama walk out (no "Hail to the Chief) and see the pride in his face. He deserved to be there.
I would always start watching Dubya, but could never quite make it through - I will enjoy going back and finding old SOU's to compare and contrast.
Nancy P looked like the cheshire cat.
Just think what Nancy would have looked like if he said that we should stop using taxpayers money to fund private jets. Oops, she just got a big one to go back and forth to California, courtesy of the taxpayers. She needs to get into the 21st century and try 'go to my PC' or cell phone. "We all need to tighten our belts", except us.
Man, I sure wish Ron Paul had half of Obama's wonderful rhetorical ability! Gotta give Obama credit, he did give what he promised -- hope. It cannot be denied that this new President makes Bush's clumsy gathering of neocon creeps look like a gang of thugs (which they are).
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