The Con in Congress

The election of Barack Obama hasn't changed the unfortunate fact that we're still at the mercy of idiots, ideologues and did I mention idiots, otherwise known as Congress.

After one phony, disingenuous, lying argument after another, the people who are merely imbecilic have become the power brokers on the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Senate barely has a deal to pass something, which is good, but what they're passing is not good enough. Too much of what President Obama touts in his radio address--and which I'll bet he'll be talking about in Indiana and Florida and on national TV Monday--isn't in the bill anymore.

It cuts aid to education, some green measures, and of all the stupid things, money for state governments. Don't these Congresspeople talk to their Governors? Aren't some of them supposed to be in the same party?

All their dancing around to show that they are cutting spending, which is only going to result in cutting jobs--Paul Krugman figures they've destroyed the job creation prospects by 600,000, almost precisely the number of new unemployment claims in January. "According to the CBO’s estimates, we’re facing an output shortfall of almost 14% of GDP over the next two years, or around $2 trillion. Others, such as Goldman Sachs, are even more pessimistic. So the original $800 billion plan was too small, especially because a substantial share consisted of tax cuts that probably would have added little to demand. The plan should have been at least 50% larger... Now the centrists have shaved off $86 billion in spending — much of it among the most effective and most needed parts of the plan...This is really, really bad."

As an example of the spiteful, chickenshit stuff this Senate is pulling, here's something they passed with wide support, Republican AND Democrat, the Coburn amendment:

None of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used for any casino or other gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course, swimming pool, stadium, community park, museum, theater, art center, and highway beautification project.

This is such a self-defeating, shameful, embarrassing, mean and stupid amendment that I'm almost speechless but not quite. Here's a quick quiz for you--what are the most remembered and most lasting achievements of the New Deal? You know, that economic recovery and reinvestment and stimulus New Deal that got the country started upward out of the Depression? The answer: anything they did in the arts, theatre, public parks and other constructions and repairs for public services. A lot of them are still here, still serving us as individuals, families, communities. Something wrong with that?

Just look at that dishonest, craven amendment. It starts out denying funds to casinos and gambling establishments. Is anyone proposing spending federal money on private for profit businesses like casinos? If it's in the Obama plan I missed it. Maybe if there's a medical clinic in one of those casinos, they might get a new computer?

But right away it goes to very similar institutions: acquarium, zoo--then it sneaks in golf courses--before proceeding to community park, museum, theatre, art center, community park---Huh?

Let's note and then put aside the fact that nothing else on the list is remotely like casinos. There might be a few (absent golf courses) that are for-profit, but very few.

Let's note and put aside for the moment that building or repairing or installing insulation and solar panels for anyplace at all is going to mean jobs and money spent on materials etc. and therefore more jobs. Let's even note and put aside that these places are likely to be nonprofits and adjuncts of educational institutions, and performing a public good. Let's concentrate on the fact that theatres, museums, art institutions etc. all employ people and generate economic activity everywhere around them. They're stimulating, in every sense!

So why did this amendment pass 72-24, with every Republican supporting it, PLUS 32 Democrats including such used-to-seem-like-non-idiots-but I'm way not sure now, as: one of MY Senators Feinstein, plus liberal icon Feingold, Obama boosters Casey of PA, McCaskill, Klobuchar and Stabenow, and supposed liberal stalwart Chuck Schumer of New York. How could any Senator from New York or California vote for an amendment like this? Their economies depend on the arts--what's wrong with these people? Even new Democratic Senators that Obama people worked so hard to elect this year, voted for this. It's a disgrace.