Month: November 2004

Bush's Bait and Switch… and Why I Like It. George Bush got re-elected on the strength of two issues: the “War on Terrorism” and “Moral Values.” That's what motivated a decisive share of the electorate to come out and vote. So, isn't it a bit surprising that the two pillars of his agenda for the… Continue reading Bush's Bait and Switch… and Why I Like It

The US election and oligopolies Whatever else the U.S. election means for a variety of issues and groups, among the biggest winners are oligopolies. That's not just my opinion; it is the opinion of the pro-business Wall Street Journal (“Another Winner Is Big Business”, 11/4/04). The Bush administration makes no secret of its pro-business policies.… Continue reading

The US election and oligopolies

Whatever
else the U.S. election means for a variety of issues and groups, among
the biggest winners are oligopolies. That's not just my opinion; it is
the opinion of the pro-business Wall Street Journal (“Another Winner Is Big Business”, 11/4/04).

The
Bush administration makes no secret of its pro-business policies. But
it might be more accurate to call them pro-big business strategies. And
more such activities will come. As the article puts it, “many
companies and industries expect specific gains from new federal
policies and programs, and the Republican Party's stronger hand in
Congress will mean that those legislative proposals will face
relatively fewer hurdles.”

Among the areas where big business expects to gain:

• The government to reduce corporate liability by putting limits on jury awards and class-action suits.
• Privatizing social security and pushing for health savings
  accounts, which will tend to flood the stock market with new private
  investment money, much to the advantage of most publicly-traded
  companies and especially of the financial service companies.
• A further relaxing of environmental policies to the advantage of manufacturers.
• Few restrictions on coal, oil, and natural gas companies.
• No move on fuel economy standards, to the delight of the auto industry.
• A loosening of labor rules and nor raise in the minimum wage, a big plus for the McDonalds' and Wal-marts of the world.
• No fear that the government would bargain directly with drug
  companies to lower drug prices for Medicare and Medicaid recipients.
• An open checkbook for defense contractors, especially those favored by the government.
• A continuation of the tendency to allow big media companies redefine the copyright laws.
• No limits on outsourcing, relocating companies operations abroad, or any restraint on free trade.
• Making permanent tax cuts for big companies and for their richly rewarded CEOs.
• Even the tobacco industry may see some relief from government regulation and a settlement of federal lawsuits.
• A continued easing of antitrust regulation.
• In general, an invitation for the biggest companies to help draft regulations and laws and sit on key advisory groups
  

They are right: Public Education onto the trash heap.  I spent a little time abusing, reviling, and revising U.S. Public Education. It's a relic of an earlier time and completely out of line with what could be useful in today's society. We need experimental schools that pursue something like what I outline, staffed by bright… Continue reading They are right: Public Education onto the trash heap

Business Week. Mark Weisbrot agrees with me as he makes the case that the US cannot sustain superpower spending for much longer. A combination of a high current debt levels (67.5% of GDP), a high annual deficit of $639 billion (this is less the sleight of hand with the trust funds), rising interest rates (inflation… Continue reading Business Week

“Committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the President”. Oh, jeez — it looks the first major vote-tallying computer error has come out of Ohio, to the tune of nearly 4,000 votes accidentally awarded to Bush in one voting precinct alone. Given that the current difference between Bush and Kerry in the state… Continue reading “Committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the President”