Conservatism's third failure

[WilliamPitt]

Conservatism's third failure
By Robert Kuttner | April 14, 2007

THREE TIMES in my political adulthood, we have seen the exhaustion of a conservative ideology and presidency. Under Presidents Nixon and Bush II, the ingredients were corruption, corporate excess, and overreach of presidential power. During the 12 years of Reagan and Bush I, the hallmark was the failure of conservative economics.

And twice, the electorate ousted Republicans only to get centrist Democrats, who ran more competent administrations but did little to redress the structure of financial inequality in America.

Now, the third era of conservative Republican rule is collapsing -- with the most spectacular mélange of overreach, incompetence, economic distress, and sheer corruption of all. But who, and what, will succeed Bush? The forces of privilege and inequality are now so deeply entrenched in America that it will take a Democratic successor at least as bold as FDR or LBJ to change course.

(snip)

This week, I heard Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, former chair of Clinton's Council of Economic Advisers, demolish the idea that budget balance was the source of the 1990s boom. Rather, it was increased productivity and declining interest rates, and a brief financial bubble. Stiglitz argues that America, then and now, needs a more progressive tax code, with new revenues spent not on budget balance but on neglected social needs that pay dividends in higher growth -- quality pre school, research and development, universal health care.

But Stiglitz is not running for president. Of those who are, it remains to be seen which, if any, would tackle the deeper sources of inequality and insecurity.

More: http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/04/14/conservatisms_third_failure/?p1=MEWell_Pos1

[fasttense]

1. Only three failures?

Seems they had majority control right before the Great Depression too. One thing you can count on with Republics is that they will leave a huge mess behind to clean up.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

2. Author is talking about during his own political adulthood.

This, presumably, does not include The Great Depression.

[C_U_L8R]

3. three colossal failures

countless thousands of funny-ass flops, frauds and freepy foibles

[VP505]

4. We should all

keep the word "FAILURE" in mind when discussing conservative ideology. The reason I say that is the current crop of conservative politicos are trying to frame every failure of this admin as simple incompetence, if they are successful in doing that we may well see the likes of Bu$hCo rise to power again. The failure of the Bu$h admin IMO is NOT because they are just incompetent but because their ideology DOESN'T WORK. To them, competence is irrelevant because they don't want government to work, the more failures they have, the better to point to their failures and say "see, big government doesn't work", let's do it our FASCIST way, smaller government, outsource and privatize everything.

[TwilightGardener]

5. Good point--the GOPers are desperately in search of a more conservative

'08 candidate at a point in history when conservatism is not going to sell well, mostly because of the unmitigated disaster that is Chimpy. But Chimpy's problem is not just his incompetence, but his (relatively) conservative policies--what good has he wrought, as a conservative? They are shooting themselves in the foot, and we shouldn't stand in their way.

[Selatius]

6. Should we elect more economic centrists? Or should we elect more economic FDRs and LBJs? n/t

[bleever]

7. This vast failure begs for a similarly vast progressive move forward.

Look beyond the first victories to what is possible, and in fact required if we are true to progressive ideals.

[Vincardog]

9. Exactly we need no have to have real populist progressives to deal with

the economic and political disaster thar "Conservative" ideology has wrought.

[babylonsister]

8. Thanks for posting this one, Mr. Pitt..

I thought about it, but figured no one would take notice. You should do this more often for good articles, including your own.:thumbsup:

[bananarepublican]

10. I'm sorry I can't countenance any praise for LBJ. Had Kennedy lived...

... we would not be living this 'cluster-fuck' now. NSM263 signed by Kennedy would have stopped the Vietnam War dead in its opening tracks.

[rasputin1952]

11. FDR and LBJ spent a lot of money on domestic programs that

paid dividends in both the short and long runs. Both contended w/wars as well,which in turn boosted domestic productivity.

Under GOP tutelage, domestic programs have been cut and people all over the nation are suffering, not just financially, but also in safety, as bridges, tunnels and roads are neglected. The neo-con conservative ideology is essentially, "too bad, it is your fault you are poor or disabled."

One of the reasons we have an urban blight is that opportunity has dried up. One of the quick ways, (albeit dangerous), to make money is in dealing drugs. For this, many people suffer, but cannot get the treatment they need to clean up their acts, what they get is jail/prison, the neo-con answer to drug treatment. The whole illegal drug business creates terrorism w/in the the areas, since we cannot control our domestic terrorism, how can we be expected to do it on a global scale, w/people who have many more resources?

It may take up to a generation +, to undo what bush has done. It will be hard work, but we must lay the groundwork to ensure nothing like this administration comes to power again. It is imperative to restore the rights and privileges to the citizens of this nation. It is imperative we become a nation of producers again, not just consumers based on a service economy. We need to return to the age where this nation created new and exciting products that will catch on, not just domestically, but worldwide. We've always had a "maverick" spirit in this nation to put forth new ideas on many fronts, it is time to return to the notion that we can do anything we put our minds to, educate our youth in the basics, then add some opportunity and challenges. We can do it, but not under the fiefdom that bush wants us to become. Big business does not open the doors to opportunity, it just swallows up vast amounts of cash, then refuses too put some of that cash back into the society it sucks dry.

[The Count]

12. The author is too kind...With Raygun and Poppy, Dem majority in Congress

kept them in check from worse blunders...And trully, reagan put the foundations for all W's moves - the RW media, empowering the "moral majority".
But I guess I have to be happy that the media is finally putting it all together and realizes that it's not just Idiot Boy who's a failure, but the entire conservative doctrine. Some day, they'll even dare to say "GOP"