Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Good economics is often not good politics

It's less than 24 hours after the budget deal and Republicans are partying it up and Democrats are ready to jump off a cliff.  I've read much more of the details of the plan and there's not much to like, but the alternative - no deal - would have been very bad economically.  This deal will give a moderate boost to the economy, albeit nothing like a real infrastructure jobs program would have.  I would love to take away the tax cut for the rich and spend that money on new roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, etc.  But that had zero chance of happening.

Democrats are right to be upset at the politics of this.  If we can't win even when the majority of the public agrees with us... wow, we really are losers... but the politics should have played out before the election.  I honestly believe my side would have faired better in the election had we forced Republicans to vote against the middle class tax cut in favor of tax cuts for millionaires.  We didn't seize that opportunity and the election is over.

Whatever political points scored in December 2010 will long be forgotten by November 2012.  What's important now is getting the economy back on its feet.  This bill is not great.  It's not even very good, but a tenth of a loaf is better than no loaf.

1 comment:

  1. I wonder who the democrats think actually BUILD hospital and schools?! Walk down the halls of ANY hospital or new Gym in a school anywhere and you will see the new rooms and wards named after these "evil" millionaires. A tax break for this group means building more industry, enlarging businesses, CHARITABLE DONATIONS and GASP job creation! Millionares own the businesses that make money and create jobs, not the Government. The Government doesn't build anything it just consumes!
    I think it is stupid to hear our president blabing on and on about how HE knows better how to spend everyone elses' money than the people who actually MADE THE DAMN MONEY.
    There are no "pork" projects and far less waste when it comes to private citizen-philanthropists donating money to build a childrens center in the hospital or a new gym in a school.

    Karey

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