We *know* what the problem is - how do we *fix* it?
Lord knows I love Krugman, but I've been noticing that for as strong as he is on *description*, he is surprisingly weak on *prescription*.
He has of course been very strong on calling gdub a liar about the nonexistent Social Security crisis lately. But in his most recent commentary, he "misses" an excellent potetial way for Democrats to deal with the "issue":
"Everyone has noticed the use, once again, of crisis-mongering. Three years ago, the supposed threat from Saddam somehow became more important than catching the people who actually attacked America on 9/11. Today, the mild, possibly nonexistent long-run financial problems of Social Security have somehow become more important than dealing with the huge deficit we already have, which has nothing to do with Social Security."
Aside from just how damning these statements are - and they are damning - this paragraph provides a rhetorical outlet for Democrats. And it's based upon the same fundamental issue that republicans have relied on for the last 40 years - that Americans are, by and large, stupid. In particular, if you repeat something often enough, it achieves the status of true-in-the-public's-eyes.
So the strategy given by Krugman - unwittingly perhaps - is simple: hit the American public over the head with the deficit. Over and over. Don't stop. Keep doing it. No wait - do it again. You thinkin of stoppin? Don't - hit em again. One more - no, one one more. Ok - now one more.
As idiotic as it sounds - and it does sound stupid - it worked for Iraq, and it's currently working for Social Security. It's not fair that only evil people can exploit the stupidity of the American public - I think Democrats should be able to do the same. Hit em over the head with the deficit.
The deficit isn't sexy? Doesn't matter - neither is - WAS - Social Security - UNTIL WE STARTED GETTING HIT OVER THE HEAD WITH IT. Then it became sexier than Carmen Electra - go figure. So to can the deficit become sexy - just say it over and over - in response to every single question/statement about Social Security, Iraq, everything.
Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing - but only after they've exhausted every other alternative. Someone famous and beloved said that, I think.
He has of course been very strong on calling gdub a liar about the nonexistent Social Security crisis lately. But in his most recent commentary, he "misses" an excellent potetial way for Democrats to deal with the "issue":
"Everyone has noticed the use, once again, of crisis-mongering. Three years ago, the supposed threat from Saddam somehow became more important than catching the people who actually attacked America on 9/11. Today, the mild, possibly nonexistent long-run financial problems of Social Security have somehow become more important than dealing with the huge deficit we already have, which has nothing to do with Social Security."
Aside from just how damning these statements are - and they are damning - this paragraph provides a rhetorical outlet for Democrats. And it's based upon the same fundamental issue that republicans have relied on for the last 40 years - that Americans are, by and large, stupid. In particular, if you repeat something often enough, it achieves the status of true-in-the-public's-eyes.
So the strategy given by Krugman - unwittingly perhaps - is simple: hit the American public over the head with the deficit. Over and over. Don't stop. Keep doing it. No wait - do it again. You thinkin of stoppin? Don't - hit em again. One more - no, one one more. Ok - now one more.
As idiotic as it sounds - and it does sound stupid - it worked for Iraq, and it's currently working for Social Security. It's not fair that only evil people can exploit the stupidity of the American public - I think Democrats should be able to do the same. Hit em over the head with the deficit.
The deficit isn't sexy? Doesn't matter - neither is - WAS - Social Security - UNTIL WE STARTED GETTING HIT OVER THE HEAD WITH IT. Then it became sexier than Carmen Electra - go figure. So to can the deficit become sexy - just say it over and over - in response to every single question/statement about Social Security, Iraq, everything.
Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing - but only after they've exhausted every other alternative. Someone famous and beloved said that, I think.
posted by sherifffruitfly | 5:17 AM
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