Here is a paradox I can not shake

[ThomWV]

It is troubling to at once believe two things which seemingly contradict one another. Here it is:

I believe that President Obama is just as responsible as the Republicans are for the current economic mess*, but at the same time I think that the only people who can fix our problems are the Democrats.


* that part of our overall economic calamity that has come into being within the last 90 days.

[brooklynite]

1. Easy resolution...

all you have to do is believe that President Obama isn't a Democrat...which appear to be a popular mantra in some threads.

[xchrom]

2. In the style European socialists enacting austerity -

A Neo- liberal democratic party cannot fix these problems.

It has to revert to a rather old school socialism or FDR trajectory.

[craigmatic]

3. Liberal democrats need to retake the house and keep the senate to really fix this mess.

Gridlock is killing this country. We need action-now.

[HereSince1628]

7. Action would require spending.

It's pretty clear that the R's have the economy exactly where they want it for 2012. There will be no stimulus spending bills coming out of the House this time around.

[maxsolomon]

4. how is he "just as responsible"?

by negotiating?

[ThomWV]

5. Who signed the bill?

[maxsolomon]

10. who held the hostage?

versus who paid the ransom?

[HereSince1628]

6. Well, it seems to be that supply-side is a failure

Obama and his corporate leaning advisors took a right turn when they should have gone left.

Left, where resides the democratic heritage, is where the answer would be...if there were any money left. Unfortunately there really isn't. People vote their pocket books and Obama's re-election is looking very vulnerable at the moment.

[dtexdem]

8. It's very clear that the Repukes are much more responsible.

But that said, it's fairly clear that Obama will not act to overcome what they have done.

[Horse with no Name]

9. I do too

I recc'ed but the folks that insist that Obama remain teflon are out in force.

The FIRST thing that I learned as a nurse was to accept responsibility.
It doesn't mean that the entire blame is yours...but accept responsibility for what YOU did.

For instance...a Doctor's order is transcribed incorrectly. It makes to the Medication record and because I am in a hurry, I don't doublecheck and I give the medication.

Now, "technically" it is the fault of the person who made the initial mistake in transcription...but, because I am the one who gives the medication...it is MY responsibility to make sure that I am giving the correct dose of medication.

Now sure...I could stomp and throw a fit and say that the person who did it initially screwed up which is what caused me to screw up, but that is not what you do. You take responsibility, then start to try to undo any damage that the mistake caused.

Of course we all make mistakes...and I have. Fortunately nothing ever bad. I have watched colleagues attempt to shirk responsibility for their mistakes and no matter how minor the infraction, if nothing else, they lose the respect of their peers.