On the Contrary

David Brooks, a reasonable conservative, one might even say moderate Republican, gave a five point plan for how the G.O.P. could not only help their country, but begin the resurgence of their party (Taking a Depression Seriously).  So I thought I would look at this plan and ask a few questions/comment on the five points.

1. “First they take the current economic crisis more seriously than the Democrats.” -  What David is arguing here is that the Obama administration has been too rosy in its economic forecasts and therefore all focus should be on the economy.  Okay so far, but then he says that focusing on other priorities such as education, health care, energy is too distracting.  In other words this is not an opportunity to reinvent these failing policies but we should be focusing only on the economy.  Uh, David?  Isn’t health care, energy, and education intrinsically linked to our economic well being?  For us to have a vibrant economy in the future, we need to be leaders in these fields.  Somehow David is implying that these, although important, are side issues to fixing the economy.  He doesn’t say what investments or strategies he does recommend for “focusing” on the economy so one is left to wonder if this is more tax cutting.  I think David knows government must play a role here, but he is not going out on a limb so say what that role should be while the G.O.P. continues with its tax cuts fix everything chant, and cap all federal spending.
2. “Republicans could admit that they don’t know the future holds, and they’re not going to try to make long range plans based on assumptions that will be obsolete by summer.” – This to me is just another attempt at saying we should not be investing in our future now.  What he is really saying is we need to restore the market to where it was before, then we can consider our way forward.  I also reject this.  First the markets were fundamentally flawed.  Part of restoring the market is to fix it in a way that does restore our future.  Secondly, as noted above, if stimulus is required, and that is what most of us believe, shouldn’t we be spending in things that have long term strategic value instead of whatever gets the market going again, but doesn’t give us any long term assets for our future?
3. “Republicans could offer the public a realistic appraisal of the health of capitalism.” – In other words instead of pushing the market place solves all problems, recognize that it is the best innovative force but has serious problems that have to be addressed.  I couldn’t agree more with him here, although I have a feeling that the Republican’s idea of regulation and the Democrats idea are very different.  Their last go round left holes you could drive Mack trucks through as the Republicans led the charge on deregulation although the Demos went along.
4. “Republicans could get out in front of this crisis for once.  That would mean being out front with ideas to support the wealth-creating parts of the economy rather than merely propping up the fading parts.” – Now here David gets a little more specific to include encouraging the global community not to depend on just the U.S. stimulus, but to put pressure for them to also join in.  He also calls for an end to populist talk about letting Citigroup and others fail as this would be counterproductive.  I would agree with both points here. It would appear that David is supporting the stimulus package, or some sort thereof, since he thinks other countries ought to join in.
5. “Republicans could make it clear that the emergency has to be followed by an era of balance.” – I am not sure what this means, but I think I agree with it.  It says once we get the vehicle back on track we need to start reducing the debt.  I think President Obama has already said this, but the devil is in the details.  If you take this in light of #1 & #2, it means getting the economy running again and then little progress on health care, education, or energy which most of us think are the way forward.

David does not expect Republicans, at least in the near term, to shift to these priorities.  It appears to me that David is showing his moderate Republican stripes because it is clear to me that he does support federal (and international) stimulus support.  The critical question is what kind of stimulus spent on what.  Republicans, both moderate and red state maniacs, don’t want to see investments in health care, education, and energy research because of their belief that government programs are inherently inefficient.  But many of us think these investments are the key to reviving our economy.  This is the real battle ground.  We have followed their lead for the last eight years and we are at least eight years behind in where we could have been reviving our nation.  David will be forever hobbled in his thinking by failing to see that the government has to be an important partner in our economic future.