We've just heard Barack Obama prose yet another "stimulus" plan in which 800 billion dollars we will borrow/print are to be spent.
Everything he said made sense on one level, but sadly, our national financial problems are caused at many levels by a whole complex of factors. And it will take much more than a simplistic "kitchen sink" strategy to fix this mess.
At the core, just about all of our current difficulties are caused by the cumulative effects of waste/fraud/corruption. The REASONS we got into this mess need to be boldly, clearly and intelligently articulated by Obama; and he must articulate specific policy/legislative remedies as part of any plan to repair/recover/heal the current crises in both the long and short terms.
This crisis is an opportunity to address the legalized corruption that is our "pay to play" campaign finance system.
This crisis is an opportunity to implement really strong (some might say, draconian) ethics laws that create and increase the criminal sanctions for violations of the public trust in BOTH the public and private sectors.
In truth, there is no "private" sector; we are all affected/afflicted when our economic infrastructures are riddled with corruption. American cannot ever be both a kleptocracy and a democracy; the status quo is not sustainable.
Corruption is what drives bad public policy. That includes things like the "Iraq war", and our bloated and ineffective health care system that winds up killing poor people and rich people because it's more about profit than healing.
America is sinking, simply "bailing" out the water without fixing he leaks isn't a long term strategy.
We progressives must insist that our new president implement wholistic, comprehensive and thoroughly progressive solutions. We aren't doing Obama any favors by passively/blindly accepting/"supporting" flawed proposals.
We can do better than this, much better. Barack Obama can do better than this, much better...and we must demand that he deliver on his potential to become a truly transformative president.