Krugman: Triumph of the Machine

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/01/opinion/01krugman.html?pagewanted=print

The campaign for Social Security privatization has degenerated into farce. The "global war on terrorism" has been downgraded to the "global struggle against violent extremism" (pronounced gee-save), which is just embarrassing. Baghdad is a nightmare, Basra is a militia-run theocracy, and officials are talking about withdrawing troops from Iraq next year (just in time for the U.S. midterm elections).

On the other hand, the administration is crowing about its success in passing the long-stalled energy bill, the highway bill and Cafta, the free-trade agreement with Central America. So is the Bush agenda stalled, or is it progressing?

The answer is that the administration is getting nowhere on its grand policy agenda. But it never took policy, as opposed to politics, very seriously anyway. The agenda it has always taken with utmost seriousness - consolidating one-party rule, and rewarding its friends - is moving forward quite nicely.

One of President Bush's great political talents is his ability to convince people who do care passionately about policy that he is one of them. Foreign-policy neoconservatives believe he shares their vision of a world transformed by American power. Economic conservatives believe he shares their dedication to dismantling the welfare state.

But a serious effort either to transform the world or to dismantle the welfare state would require sacrifices Mr. Bush hasn't been willing to make.

[Strelnikov_]

1. This Statement Sums Up GOP Governance

In fact, you can argue that the administration does a bad job at governing in part because its highest priority is always to reward its friends. Most notably, the Iraq venture would have had a better chance of succeeding if cronyism and corruption hadn't undermined reconstruction.

[Old and In the Way]

2. "But it never took policy, as opposed to politics, very seriously anyway.

Absolutely spot on. That is this administration in a nutshell. It's all about politics, screw policy. That's for Presidents like Bill Clinton.

You'll never hear anyone call George W. Bush a policy wonk.

[Larkspur]

7. The Neocons have policy, but it's corporate robber baron policy

not good management policy.

I look upon the Iraq invasion as a hostile corporate takeover. The predators eliminate the prey's workforce and steal the assets. In America, workers have unemployment compensation and welfare (at least for now) that can alleviate some tension. In Iraq they don't have that, but the Bush Admin let them take their guns and bullets home. Looks like we're paying in Iraq for blind trust in the US Constitution's 2nd Amendment.

Also, the Bush Admin didn't comtemplate that their prey, Baath Party in Iraq, may have been playing possum. If reports I'm reading are true, Saddam or more likely leaders of the Baath Party had been planning a counter-insurgency, a la Viet Cong, against the Americans for at least 2 years before the invasion. They may have been planning it since the end of the Clinton Admin.

[driver8]

3. Sacrifice?? Like what...show up at the office once in awhile??

It's tough to do business when you are out of town 90% of the time.

[enough]

4. kock

[madinmaryland]

5. Triumph of the Machine - Paul Krugman

By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: August 1, 2005
The campaign for Social Security privatization has degenerated into farce. The "global war on terrorism" has been downgraded to the "global struggle against violent extremism" (pronounced gee-save), which is just embarrassing. Baghdad is a nightmare, Basra is a militia-run theocracy, and officials are talking about withdrawing troops from Iraq next year (just in time for the U.S. midterm elections).

On the other hand, the administration is crowing about its success in passing the long-stalled energy bill, the highway bill and Cafta, the free-trade agreement with Central America. So is the Bush agenda stalled, or is it progressing?

The answer is that the administration is getting nowhere on its grand policy agenda. But it never took policy, as opposed to politics, very seriously anyway. The agenda it has always taken with utmost seriousness - consolidating one-party rule, and rewarding its friends - is moving forward quite nicely.

One of President Bush's great political talents is his ability to convince people who do care passionately about policy that he is one of them. Foreign-policy neoconservatives believe he shares their vision of a world transformed by American power. Economic conservatives believe he shares their dedication to dismantling the welfare state.

>>snip

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/01/opinion/01krugman.html

Once again, Paul Krugman has it dead on what the goal of this misadministration is all about.

[papau]

6. Excellent - spot on - n/t

n/t