Mocking the Right's 'Free Market' Agenda Is Too Easy -- Problem Is That the Dems don't do it

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http://www.alternet.org/teaparty/156298/tom_frank%3A_mocking_the_right%27s_%27free_market%27_agenda_is_almost_too_easy_--_a_real_problem_is_that_the_dems_don%27t_challenge_it/

Tom Frank: Mocking the Right's 'Free Market' Agenda Is Almost Too Easy -- A Real Problem Is That the Dems Don't Challenge It


Cultural critic Thomas Frank loves a paradox. Why has the worst economic crisis in generations led to a resurrection of free market orthodoxy? How can Budget chairman Paul Ryan, Republican from Wisconsin, rail against “corporate cronyism” and then enjoy $700 worth of wine with hedge fund manager Cliff Asness?

In his provocative new book, Pity the Billionaire: The Hard-Times Swindle and the Unlikely Comeback of the Right, Frank looks at the conservative arguments for austerity in an economic downturn. In the aftermath of the collapse of Wall Street, the Republican Party morphed anger at big business into anger at big government.

The GOP’s “anti-big-business message catches the bitter national mood,” Frank writes. “What the Right actually does is deliver the same favors to the same people as always.”

Even though deregulation played a major role in creating our economic woes, conservatives have been calling for more deregulation—and winning office on this platform. “The reborn Right has succeeded because of its idealism, not in spite of it,” Frank says. “This idea that we can achieve a laissez-faire utopia, where everything will work perfectly, is very attractive to people.”

And the Democrats? Where are they in this debate over government intervention in the market?

“The liberals could not grab the opportunity that hard times presented to advance their philosophy,” Frank argues, noting their technocratic talk turned people off.

[Edweird]

1. Oh BS. The DLC/New 'dem'/3rd wayers are just as in love with the 'free market' as RW'ers.

" “The liberals could not grab the opportunity that hard times presented to advance their philosophy,” Frank argues, noting their technocratic talk turned people off. "

More BS. It's not that hard of a message to put out. Hell, FDR did it when all he had was AM radio. Everybody already KNOWS they are getting fucked - it's not like it's a secret or anything. It comes down to political will and today's 'dems' are the 80's GOP and there won't be any serious regulation coming. Look at how the health care 'reform' ended up being a WINDFALL for the insurance companies - WHICH ARE THE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE. We are all well and thoroughly screwed at this point. So lie back and think of England.