In 2008, American liberalism seemed poised for its comeback. The pendulum of Arthur Schlesinger’s “cycle of history” was swinging back toward a new progressive era. Obama would be the liberal Reagan.The rules didn't change, the government is not doing enough, Americans don't wanna let go of, say, unemployment benefits or social security or Medicare, I dunno what populism you're talking about, Americans don't care about the deficit.
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But what about when the rules change? For nearly a century now, the rules have said that tough economic times make big government more popular. For more than 40 years it has been a rule that environmental disasters — and scares over alleged ones — help environmentalists push tighter regulations. According to the rules, Americans never want to let go of an entitlement once they have it. According to the rules, populism is a force for getting the government to do more, not less. According to the rules, Americans don’t care about the deficit during a recession.
Nobody with sense pays attention to Jonah except for yucks, but Mr. Obama might do well to be the demon the right thinks he is.
10 comments:
When I read this when it came out I said, "No way," but now.
I think I was writing that I expected to be disappointed...but it's like listening to country music before you've had your heart broken. You can understand in an intellectual sense, but experience is different.
I dunno, subs, seems to me you shoulda saved "Untitled" for a real estate foreclosure post or something. I just don't see how it works here...
Quite right mikey.
Property Title: Theft!!
like listening to country music before you've had your heart broken
Or prior to tearing up a honky-tonk & landing in jail (w/ no one to go your bail).
You may not be listening to the right kind of country.
You mean like this?
If you can't trust rich people and media magnates to tell you what Americans care about, who can you trust?
Enough people who are otherwise respected have chosen to designate Jonah as hopelessly stupid such that his upside has a uniquely measurable ceiling.
And from what I've been told, Ceiling Cat awaits her revenge...
For more than 40 years it has been a rule that environmental disasters — and scares over alleged ones — help environmentalists push tighter regulations.
I'd love to see him explain the bolded part.
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