Government is the solution

[formerlurker]

MBS (4,068 posts)

 
EJ Dionne : Government is the solution

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/government-is-the-solution/2012/06/10/gJQAvy9ITV_story.html
Why don’t Democrats just say it? They really believe in active government and think it does good and valuable things. One of those valuable things is that government creates jobs — yes, really — and also the conditions under which more jobs can be created.

You probably read that and thought: But don’t Democrats and liberals say this all the time? Actually, the answer is no. It’s Republicans and conservatives who usually say that Democrats and liberals believe in government. Progressive politicians often respond by apologizing for their view of government, or qualifying it, or shifting as fast as the speed of light from mumbled support for government to robust affirmations of their faith in the private sector.

This is beginning to change, but not fast enough. And the events of recent weeks suggest that if progressives do not speak out plainly on behalf of government, they will be disadvantaged throughout the election-year debate. . .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101631387

Just lit.     

[Karin]

if progressives do not speak out plainly on behalf of government

I don't know what EJ Dionne is smoking, but we hear the praises of government sung all day long!

And the events of recent weeks suggest

Well the events of recent weeks in my own life suggest that "government services" equate only to meddlesome bureaucrats, wholly indifferent to the problems of citizens, making my life worse, and extracting every last dollar, so that they all can retire at age 45. 

 

[JohnnyReb]

I don't know what EJ Dionne is smoking, but we hear the praises of government sung all day long!

Well the events of recent weeks in my own life suggest that "government services" equate only to meddlesome bureaucrats, wholly indifferent to the problems of citizens, making my life worse, and extracting every last dollar, so that they all can retire at age 45. 

 

This is true.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

If government jobs are good jobs then why is my signature true?

Obama is firing 50,000 troops and hiring 20,000 tax agents. That tells you he distrusts Americans with their own money more than desires to protect them from their enemies.

[thundley4]

One of those valuable things is that government creates jobs — yes, really — and also the conditions under which more jobs can be created.

That is actually two things. However, the first should have a qualifier.  The government only creates jobs, that are unnecessary, by taking money from the economy that would have created jobs that produce something.

As for the second part, the government creates conditions that are detrimental to job creation, and then tries to create solutions to those problems.

A government that does the least, does the most to help people.