Kucinich on Obama: I'm Hopeful that Obama Will Take a Page out of FDR Rebuild America

[SLSmith]

Run time: 01:17 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqdsPLSOx_E   Posted on YouTube: October 25, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: October 25, 2009 By DU Member: SLSmith Views on DU: 2017

 
October 25, 2009
Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) on Washington Journal
Commenting on President Obama's first 10 months in office.

Three other videos uploaded from Kucinich's appearance. Youtube has had problems last couple of days - cannot link the videos - so here they are.

Kucinich: TARP Does Not Protect Democracy - Bi-Partisan Disaster
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNCb6zBBRfg

Kucinich: Exit Plan for War on Poverty is a JOB - 15 Million Unemployed Americans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4cVPONBVx0


Kucinich: Put Federal Reserve under Treasury - Stop Creating Money Out of Nothing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDf9t0pf6XI

[jwirr]

1. I love Dennis but why is he talking about roads, bridges, etc as our

new jobs - the roads/bridges jobs here in MN are just about finished for the year here. Schools also have stopped work on new projects for the year.

Why are we not starting to rebuild America with jobs in the energy sector and green jobs? Those at least could include making things we need here for years to come. I agree that we need more jobs but if they are just programs to create jobs then we have nothing new. CETA was a jobs program that was supposed to create jobs instead it gave you a job for about 6 months while the government subsidized you and then the company found some reason to get rid of you so they could hire a new subsidized worker - this was a handout to business not the jobless.

[fake consultant]

2. it may be a question of "shovel-ready"

the types of projects you're talking about either involve siting energy generation at a physical place or creating the physical infrastructure to make that happen...or creating the bureaucratic infrastructure to lend or grant the money to build the same infrastructure.

all of that is not anything like approving a paving project or a bridge rehabilitation or a project to replace sewer pipe.

for example, to site a new windmill project will require an environmental impact statement or a determination of non-significance, the applicant will have to go back and modify any plans to satisfy community concerns, financing has to be put in place--and if that financing is going to come from the government an office will have to be opened, regulations will have to be promulgated, and applications have to be evaluated first.

geothermal siting is more complicated and requires more mitigation (http://www.powerscorecard.org/tech_detail.cfm?resource_id=3) including resolving the issue of how to treat the water used onsite.

building a windmill factory is even more complicated, if you're building on empty land. if you're looking to use existing facilities, there are still the issues of raising capital, acquiring technology, setting up a supply chain, putting together the actual assembly line, and hiring the people you'll need.

all of that means these projects are not economic stimulus projects as much as they are long-term investment programs...which means even if the obama administration is moving at full speed we shouldn't expect to see real results for at least two to three years--and maybe several more before anything really cranks up to full speed.

[jwirr]

3. That makes sense. But we need to get going on our NEW economic

base if we are ever going to get it up and working. I don't think anything else is going to work against this deep recession (depression). This one is not like the one in the 30s. We are facing some real environmental issues this time. We do not have abundant oil in our own country and we do not have local industrial base either. These two things need to be rebuilt and we need it NOW.

[fake consultant]

5. you're absolutely right...

...but in a way, the fact that we need to rebuild an industrial base and we have an energy problem are actually complimentary disadvantages, if that makes sense.

here's what i mean: we have a problem (energy), and we have a need to develop this new resource (green generation and a green grid), which gives us a place to focus productive investment--and it's a profitable investment, as we can save trillions down the years by reducing oil imports.

so let's get through health care and afghanistan this year, and come january let's get moving on this...and at the same time, let's move "stimulus the second" so that we ensure a declining unemployment number as we go into the '10 cycle in earnest.

this allows obama to say "i'm actually getting things done" and congressional democrats to say "we're different than the republiicans, who are clearly against everything you want".

that said, here's a bigger question: what good does it do for the consumer to trade big oil for big wind?

public ownership of the generation facilities is to the public's advantage, and we have several models to choose from: public utility districts, community ownership of the "town windmill", or something federal, not unlike the tennessee valley authority or the bonneville power administration.

i would suggest that any taxpayer money that funds green energy projects also ensures that the public gets access to low-cost power from the project, instead of guaranteeing profits for private investors by selling us expensive green power funded with taxpayer money.

[jwirr]

9. Obviously you have spent more time thinking this through than I have.

I have realized that taking these problems one at a time will allow all of us to get on the same wagon and at least universal affordable health care will set the stage for new growth. I am getting too impatient. Thank you for taking the time to show what you are talking about. So often we end up with just a squabble in these threads. I am here to learn what I do not know and to help in the areas that I do know something about - special ed and poverty.

[fake consultant]

15. i'm not sure...

...that you're being too impatient...instead i might suggest that we came into this thing with a huge "to do" list, and it all needs to get done, and here we are. frankly, we could have easily done jobs and energy this year and health care next year, but i suspect the politics of health care anger has pushed us this way.

that said, january is only eight weeks away, and this is as good a time as any to start reminding members of congress that we want action on energy issues as well...and soon...and that we want to own the assets we pay for.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kenfrequed]

11. uhm

Like the TVA?

Look it isn't just about the present, we really Need to focus on our future needs here and this snails pace 'lets-not-offend-the-fossil-fuel-crowd' is a cul de sac. It is the ultimate road to nowhere.

As far as economic stimulus the last I checked employing and paying people IS economic stimulus. If the private industry is unable to handle that than it must be done directly expecting corporate america to get on the bandwagon with unending tax breaks and indirect contracting is what has brought us debacles like the blooming Rumsfeldian Private mercenary industry, the for-profit prison industry, and for profit Lowest Common Denominator test schools like Edison.

[fake consultant]

14. i would differentiate between...

..."stimulus" and "investment" this way:

--stimulus is the sort of short-term spending you do in a recession to immediately create economic demand. the spending needs to impact the economy as quickly as possible, and it should be large enough to have a substantial economic effect (a mistake, according to paul krugman, that caught up obama in his march '09 stimulus bill). this is the classic "fix the roads, fix the sewers" kind of spending.

--investment spending occurs over a period of years or decades and is not related to the emergent needs of the economy. instead, the investment is intended to have a long-term impact on the economy. that is the sort of spending that is represented by rebuilding the electrical grid into a "smart" grid and the installation of all that other new green energy infrastructure. the long lead times required for this sort of spending make it less favorable for use as an emergency stimulus for the economy--even though this is exactly what we need going forward.

as for the tva and bpa references: the idea was to demonstrate that there is precedent for the federal government owning generation, transmission, and distribution assets. there is no reason why those can't be green assets, such as windmills--and there is no reason, in the end, why we should subsidize some company's desire to sell us expensive green power when we can own inexpensive green power that we sell ourselves.

[bertman]

10. Infrastructure rebuilding projects are year-round projects in most of the states, jwirr.

So, I understand why those types of projects would be a quick starting job-creation program that could be implemented right away and have a positive impact on job creation.

Another is energy-efficient retrofits of existing homes and businesses. There are hundreds of thousands of contractors who would love to include "green" energy efficiency upgrades in their business plans. They are easy, don't require a lot of high-tech equipment, and we already know what to do. We just need some incentives for homeowners--how about grants or long-term low-interest loans for homeowners? The blue-collar work force would benefit hugely from this, but so would white-collar workers and "green" product manufacturers.

We could stimulate the manufacture and distribution of high-efficiency windows and doors, insulation, HVAC systems, solar hot water and other high-efficiency hot water production methods without even having to do anything except put the money on the table. The facilities are already built and waiting for workers to kick the industry into high gear. Thousands of carpenters, plumbers, HVAC contractors, insulation contractors, are laid off and need work. This would get them rolling right away.

As usual, Dennis Kucinich is ahead of the curve on practical ways to solve problems. The Democratic leadership should be listening to him instead of Rahm Emanuel.

[kenfrequed]

12. Agreed

Rahm represents the very flaw of giving actual governance (and broader political strategy) over to a campaign tactician. He thinks about everything like it is the next round of rubber chicken fundraisers and can't be coaxed out of that box to think of broader issues or actual change.

We need actual policy and not continual subjagation to corporate interests.

[bertman]

13. "the next round of rubber chicken fundraisers. . . " Love that one. You're right about Rahm.

[earcandle]

20. But if our roads and bridges fall apart (like yours did) we can't go anywhere. Fix the

infrastructure first, and while that is going on put the
technology to work for our communications in health systems
and in schools and in our government, not to mention the web. 
 But, what do I know?  We all got opinions.  Who will make it
happen? 

[Hulk]

4. What about tarrifs??

We had them! They protected jobs in this country for decades upon decades. Other countries have them yet today.

But along came the "corporatacrocy", and we allow them to ship the jobs over seas....send their cheap products back here to sell at Wallmart and nearly every other outlet at lower prices, while at the same time permitting THEM HUGE PROFITS and sticks the knife in the back of the middle class worker who is sitting idle.

Tarrifs are ONE means. I remember buying a pair of shoes in Italy back in the 60's, and I had to pay a tarrif on them when I picked them up at the Post Office because it protected OUR jobs of shoe manufacturing HERE!! Where did that go?

Now, we go shopping at Wallmart/Target/Wallgreens/etc...and ALL you can find is cheap shit made in China or possibly elsewhere that flows into this country unchecked, unregulated, and provides nice hefty profits for the corporate scags that are taking this country into the sewer of NO PRODUCTION whatsoever.

This is sad.

Wake up America!! Buy American, or DON'T BUY AT ALL!! Push for changes in these trade laws and tarrifs..that are NON existent today.

We are controlled by this corporate power, and we are taking it in the ass whenever they feel like pushing.

[timefortherevolution]

6. what does Kucinich see that we aren't seeing when it comes to Obama?

The economic situation for the middle class can be likened to a large snowball, rolling
down a steep hill, gathering in size and intensity, waiting to crash.

And we have Obama talking about a flu emergency?
Yikes.

[winyanstaz]

7. Dennis is correct...as usual...

He hits the nail on the head.
We do need to do the type of job creations that FDR did to start us back to the road of recovery.
We also need to put tariffs on the goods corporations have other nations make.
It worked before..why not do it again?
If a Corporation's base of production is in another nation...they are no longer an American company..even if they have a main office here.
Deny them the means to exploit other nations as well as Americans and I am sure they will come running home again.

[slipslidingaway]

8. THanks for posting knr nt

[SlingBlade]

16. Absolutely, I was thinking the same thing

FDR put America to work on American Projects and there is much work to be done with our crumbling infrastructure which is nearing complete meltdown



Kucinich Rocks !:toast:

[ensho]

17. Dennis has it right

nt

[Overseas]

18. K&R /eom

[theFrankFactor]

19. In Reality the Stage is Perfectly Set for the Progressive Agenda but...

Democrats in Congress and our President are so fucking horrible, so fucking cowardly, so fucking owned by and the real power in America (finance) that you will not see what should be as clear as daylight.

On the heels of a fucking failure in leadership the likes of which we have maybe never seen in our history, the expansion of corporations in government, the debacle of an oil based energy system, the repeated trampling of Constitutional and Civil rights, the results of bi-partisan deregulation of finance, the waste and fraud in the health care industry we are force fed SHIT on a stick ("public option") and told it's fucking T-bone steak!

What are we gonna do about it? Or do you think I'm wrong?

[earcandle]

21. It looks like a general strike is in order if we don't get things moving our way soon. Maybe they

need a fire under their asses.  The repukes do it by raising
cash. How do the dems do it?  Stopping work. 

[earcandle]

22. We might as well. We hardly have any anyway. We just got to get those unions behind it.

[BREMPRO]

24. Dennis says basically: "your not mopping fast enough"

I don't generally disagree with Dennis, but he's not being fair or realistic. It's easy to criticize and pronounce his ideals on policy, much harder to govern in the real world facing attacks from powerful corporate lobbyists, obstructionist Republicans and weak-kneed blue dog Dems in congress, teabagger nation, the RW noise machine fear-mongering and lying about your every move, and no easy choices in Afghanistan- not to mention attacks from the left.