Interestingly enough, many of the economic arguments I have heard or read in the past year, especially over the policies of the Obama administration, seem to be echoed in Dr. Farrell's column, which is based on an another Op-Ed column; "Four Deformations of the Apocalypse," written by former Reagan Administration Office of Management and Budget Director, David Stockman, which had appeared July 31st, 2010, in The New York Times. These fiscal policies also have a direct correlation to the current conservative v. liberal cultural war being waged on topics such as Gay Marriage Equality, DADT, ENDA, Immigration Reform, and of course the big Kahuna, Healthcare reform.
Dr. Farrell writes:
"How my G.O.P. destroyed the U.S. economy." Yes, that is exactly what David Stockman, President Ronald Reagan's director of the Office of Management and Budget, wrote in a recent New York Times op-ed piece, "Four Deformations of the Apocalypse."Get it? Not "destroying." The GOP has already "destroyed" the U.S. economy, setting up an "American Apocalypse." Yes, Stockman is equally damning of the Democrats' Keynesian policies. But what this indictment by a party insider -- someone so close to the development of the Reaganomics ideology -- says about America, helps all of us better understand how America's toxic partisan-politics "holy war" is destroying not just the economy and capitalism, but the America dream. And unless this war stops soon, both parties will succeed in their collective death wish. But why focus on Stockman's message? It's already lost in the 24/7 news cycle. Why? We need some introspection. Ask yourself: How did the great nation of America lose its moral compass and drift so far off course, to where our very survival is threatened?
We've arrived at a historic turning point as a nation that no longer needs outside enemies to destroy us, we are committing suicide. Democracy. Capitalism. The American dream. All dying. Why? Because of the economic decisions of the GOP the past 40 years, says this leading Reagan Republican.
Please listen with an open mind, no matter your party affiliation: This makes for a powerful history lesson, because it exposes how both parties are responsible for destroying the U.S. economy. Listen closely: [ Article Continues Here. ] "
As I watch the decay of civility of the American political scene, as evidenced by the increasingly harsh rhetoric of the Tea Party Types, or the Ultra Christian Anti-Gay organisations such as Focus On The Family, The AFA, or even Family Research council, I am also watching the denigration of American society brought on and fomented by these economic policies which proceeded the current crisis and contribute to breakdown of civility in other areas as well. How can one be civil when one is facing economic meltdown? Historically, economic crisis is that which gave rise to extremism.
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"Historically, economic crisis is that which gave rise to extremism"
That is a universal truth with large systems, governments, and other organizations, but it is seldom that case with families and small groups of people. I would suspect that part of the concerns that give rise to the extremism is the thought that we will be overlooked, forgotten, or worse, in some way blamed ourselves. Almost invariably the solution is respect for each other, listening with an open mind, and consideration for others.
In some way it must be a reverting to our ancient tribal or even pre-tribal behaviours. Defend your perimeter at all costs in times of crisis is the old way, but that almost never works, and certainly not in our current interconnected world. We need to be open, not closed in upon ourselves.
Well said, Trab.
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