||| FROM DOUG MARSHALL |||
Sometimes what is NOT said is more interesting than what is said. The political discussion of the past few months surprised me by largely ignoring four issues that until recently had been very contentious.
What Budget Deficit? From 1980 through the Tea Party elections of 2010 and 2012, the budget deficit and growth of our national debt were big issues. Even though our debt has ballooned during the past 10 years, and especially the past 3, neither R’s nor D’s were talking about it this year – perhaps because both parties are culpable.
What Trade Deficit? Last fall and winter, the President increased tariffs on China in an effort to force the Chinese government (the folks who finance our budget deficits) to sign a favorable trade agreement that would improve our unfavorable balance of trade with China by promoting US manufacturing and agricultural exports. It didn’t work, and was so hard on agriculture that billions of dollars of US taxpayer funds were then given to help our ag sector. If this was a campaign issue, I missed it.
What War? Four years ago candidate Trump promised to bring the troops home from the Middle East, but found it was “complicated”. During the recent Presidential and Senate campaigns neither party was arguing that we should leave . . . nor, on the other hand, were they arguing that we should fulfill the promises we once made to our allies in Iraq and Afghanistan to be there for them. A year ago, most Dems and many Republicans criticized the President for suddenly abandoning our loyal and reliable
Kurdish allies, pointing out that walking away damaged our country’s credibility as an ally. Even that wasn’t a campaign issue.
What Wall? Even when the President had Republican majorities in both the House and Senate, he couldn’t interest them (or Mexico) in building more than a few new miles. By the fall of 2020, candidates seemed not to have cared (either way). Perhaps their polling indicated the voters weren’t concerned.
The budget deficit, the international trade deficit, the wars in the Middle East, and a wall along our southern border all were recently major issues in Presidential and Congressional races. One wonders whether these issues are settled, at least for now, and whether both parties are now comfortable with increasing the national debt, with an unfavorable trade deficit, with continuing our military presence in the Middle East, and with addressing illegal immigration without more wall.
Like the weather, politics is always changing.
Interesting observations, Doug.
Thanks for sharing.
Earlier this morning, I “boomer-ed” my draft comment to your comment, Doug. I almost stopped by the shop. Now, there’s this. It would be nice to talk with you.
Thank you Doug!!! I find the current overall national political focus, emotional climate, and media coverage appalling.
I always like reading or hearing what you have to say, Doug; because from talking with you, i know that you are a deep thinker with a wider perspective. Who is fomenting the deep divide in our country, and to purposes? That’s a question worth asking. What’s frightening, for me, is how violent and abusive it’s all become, on both perceived ‘sides’ of some of these issues.
it’s up to we the people to educate ourselves about our history and trajectory – how can we move in any kind of conscious way, if we don’t? Are we doomed to repeat our errors til we destroy the planet? The dirt shoved under the rug is… entrenched, orchestrated beliefs. Without critical thinking skills, we’re destined to repeat our mistakes because we listen to someone else’s narratives that may only be for self-gain.
Class war foments all other wars and ‘isms’ – its underlying motive is greed. Almost nobody is talking about it, or about human-caused climate change – which will be our nemesis, unless we can stop the endless wars and colonization of sovereign nations for fossil fuel and mineral extraction for profit-for-the-few, who now own this planet and the assets, resources, and beings on it.
What feels worst about this is how many species and plants we’re dragging into extinction with us. It’s fascinating to read the spin Mainstream Media puts on it – about how climate change will cause more wars… when what caused climate change and deforestation/ecocide throughout human history? Greed> Wars> Colonization.
And almost nobody’s talking about this one constant denominator.