Really enjoy Sunday morning talking heads shows. Will seriously miss Tim Russert. My favorites are George Stephanopolis and CBS' Sunday Morning but watch all of them.
One thought struck me yesterday and fermented there overnight. Trickle-down economics is not working (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trickle-down_economics). Ronnie, did you do us wrong? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaganomics) Of course, Bush Sr. and Clinton did their part, too. And there is a lot more to Reagonomics than trickle-down and most of it good. It may be true that there was a relatively short term benefit in that we had a period of prosperity. But there is the other side, the separation of the wealth and immorality, the profits of large military-industrial complex industries and their CEO's from the real world.
In the talking heads shows yesterday, there seemed to be a real difference between the Republican support of the old (from Reagan to now) and Democratic shift toward taxing the upper income and away from the middle class. Made a definite for-now decision subject to review as more information is acquired. On taxes and this aspect of economic policy, Obama gets a really big check. And this one may be a critical one.
One other thing that came up in the news from yesterday was Obama's church presentation. The basic idea that fathers should be dads is very true. Bravo. But he tried to put the blame on oppression of Blacks by Whites and/or society. Maybe I do not understand. True, there are problems and have been really serious problems thanks to Whites and society. But problems are to be overcome. And blaming others will not solve any problems. No whining. “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” No one else is to blame for all my many failures and no one else can take credit for my occasional success. Do not know if I want a President who whines. Did not put personality items in my check list (see 10 June posting) but Obama loses a point on this one.
What say you?
I don't have an opportunity to watch the talking heads on Sunday morning - as I am usually getting ready for church and then in church. So I have nothing to say about their observations -
I think Obama needs to look at the tax policies of John F. Kennedy - probably the most effective tax cuts this country had even in a time of growing military spending.
People don't like whiners - they sound petulent, immature, and 'poor me' - if you want the nation to 'grow up' - you have to act and lead from a 'grown up' posture.
ron
As for the TV talking heads - there have been forums recently aired on C-Span where some 'heads' discussed show quality, credibility, and how to increase ratings since there's slowing interest in what they do.
...not sure interest in such shows is really down but those doing the talking seem to think so.
HELLO. Hope this finds you and yours doing WELL!
I only saw 'clips' of Senator Obama's speech in the black church the other day. What they showed was Mr. Obama giving his fellow black 'dads'? a scolding for NOT being IN their kid's lives. Like Bill Cosby TRIED to say/do a short time back.
"I" always try, my friend, to THINK what it would be actually LIKE to have LIVED as a "BLACK" skinned America in 'the day'? NOT a GOOD vision in MY head, my friend. LOTS of WOUNDS to heal. Methinks they will NOT heal from the OLDER generation. And, methinks it's to be EXPECTED, my friend.
I believe that AFTER OUR 'boomers' are GONE from this earth, the YOUNGER folks will NOT feel such DIVISIONS based on colors of skins.
I also think that as years pass by and more folks of DIFFERENT colors MIX, we WILL have a TRUE MELTING POT some day. WINK.
As for 'trickel down' economics -- I'm reminded of then 'candidate' the FIRST "GEORGE W" BUSH who called Mr. Reagan's economics plan, "VOODOO ECONOMICS".
I'm also reminded of the OFT repeated SLOGAN: "A rising tide lifts ALL boats".
While on the PHYSICS that IS true, that the WATER WILL RISE ALL boats, one may have a ROWBOAT in said water while one may have an 80 foot YACHT! SMILE.
My BEST to you and yours, KIND SOUL.
TallPockets.
Agree very much with most of what Obama said in that address. Until he said the family problems were the fault of Whites. Agree to some extent but the solution to the problem is in not blaming whitey but getting your ass in gear and taking responsibility.
Generally I not only have a tolerance for whining (or as I like to call it "expressing the pain'), but believe it has its place in healing. As does placing a call for change in its historical setting.
But a lot of damage gets caused by those who don't move out of the whining stage, who get stuck there and accept their own responsibility to make this a world where there is less need for whining.
Obama's speech had the right idea, certainly. It was right on the money for the most part. But he clearly blamed Whites and society for the family problems. That only gets him Black votes - is divisive and accomplishes nothing in terms of solving the problem.