Letter to Rachel Maddow from a Jamaican man

[malaise]

http://www.abengnews.com/2010/01/26/to-rachel-maddow-welcome-to-the-third-world-debt-trap/
<snip>
In my view, the halcyon days seem irretrievable – by Obama or any other, as you have become the victim of that which made you great and now, like most Third World countries, you are in a debt trap. Debt that was used not for capacity building, infrastructure nor your human capital, but war, consumption, satisfying the behest of big business, and “currying” favour with the rich. Interest expense, which, like us, is fast becoming one of your largest budgetary items, can only be eliminated by discharging debt and surpluses needed to do this, can only come from excess revenue over expenses. Work the math.

Raising taxes is political suicide and may further exacerbate the problem of a depressed economy. Drastic cuts in expenditure, including withdrawing from Iraq and Afghanistan, has its obvious challenges and will not jump start the economy. Indeed it may very well bankrupt some of the industries that benefit from war and lobby generously for it continuously. Defense Budget seems to be sacrosanct. Without a surplus the debt cannot be retired or reduced….and ironically, like us Third World countries, you don’t have the IMF to force your hand. LOL!

The “transformational” leadership that is required at this time, to change Americas imminent destiny – as Obama has now realized, will never be permitted by the “special interests” which now control your Congress. As is wisely said, unbridled capitalism is as destructive as unbridled socialism.

[geckosfeet]

1. The “transformational” leadership that is required will never be permitted by “special interests"

[madokie]

2. He's right on

It worries me that we've allowed this to happen to us. The whole deal with us running up deficits is to reduce us the people to the equivalent of serfs. To do away with Roosevelt's 'new deal' if you will.

What is amazing is they were able to do this in front of our noses and that most don't seem to care. AT some point they will care but by then if very well may be too late.
I :cry: for democracy.

+1

[malaise]

3. The problem is that the said middle class who has been

robbed was busy shopping in the mall for trinkets as they were sold a basket of rubbish by the media and Madison Ave hacks. This is true not just about the majority of the American middle class, but the majority of the middle class across the planet.

I should have included this paragraph in the snip

Main Street remains convinced that the status quo ante is redeemable in the short term, oblivious of the fact that the fundamental relationships of the system that gave birth and sustenance to that relatively long period of abundance in America, have been eroded, mainly because of greed, abuse and short sightedness on the part of those “interests” who were and still are, the major beneficiaries of a society now in decline.

add

[BlancheSplanchnik]

4. fundamental relationships of the system ....

this piece gives me the most pause for thought, for whatever reason....

Here and there, I think there are the beginnings of thinking of and creating a new system, one that puts humanism and dialogue first.

This would take many many generations as well as "perseverance in the good" and a unity of purpose before it became noticeable I think, but this kind of change at the individual level seems to be the only answer.

[malaise]

11. I'm not sure

but I do think that way more people understand the system now than they did twenty years ago and I have no doubt that new media, blogs, and of course web sites like DU have facilitated this.

While a more humanist new system may be evolving, there is also one that promotes treating human beings worse than animals. There are people who would reintroduce a more brutal version of slavery and others who would kill humans to sell organs.

There are others who don't believe in human rights, trade unions or basic health care for all. Hopefully the good people will win this round.

[mmonk]

5. Thanks.

Recommended.

[DIKB]

6. Bleak

but amazingly accurate.

The U.S. is headed at break-neck speed towards becoming the most powerful third-world country, and people in their impatience, lack the will to change course.

[progressoid]

7. That's a letter to all of us.

Not just Rachel

[formercia]

8. "you don’t have the IMF to force your hand"

The boys will find another way to bleed us dry.

[malaise]

9. Yes they will

:hi:

edit subject

[formercia]

10. The boys have been sucking the life-blood from us for Centuries.

...but that was before the Internet.


It's almost always the usual suspects.

:hi:

[malaise]

12. David Sanger from the New York Times is a lazy journalist

There's a lot of Dougie Halsall's article in his column.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/us/politics/02deficit.html?hp