Published: February 5, 2009
A not-so-funny thing happened on the way to economic recovery. Over the last two weeks, what should have been a deadly serious debate about how to save an economy in desperate straits turned, instead, into hackneyed political theater, with Republicans spouting all the old clichés about wasteful government spending and the wonders of tax cuts.
It’s as if the dismal economic failure of the last eight years never happened — yet Democrats have, incredibly, been on the defensive. Even if a major stimulus bill does pass the Senate, there’s a real risk that important parts of the original plan, especially aid to state and local governments, will have been emasculated.
Krugman seems to agree with Peacenik's post yesterday that playing nice with the Republicans is a complete waste of time. Krugman seems to think that the stimulus plan has a chance to succeed, to some extent. But notice how dire Krugman thinks the situation is. Of course Peacenik thinks the situation is even more dire. Peacenik thinks it is too late. Peacenik is going to buy a pot and a pan and a pitchfork. Read Naomi Klein's article on how some simple non-violent protest brought down Iceland's government. Peacenik is ready to protest. Are you?
