The Infamous Ink

I read the New Yorker less frequently than I used to. I had to admit at a certain point that I didn’t understand half of what they write about, and their fiction section is as thrilling as moon pie on a paper plate. Occasionally they still write something that grabs my attention and today yielded this article on the so-called paradox of free trade:

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2008/05/26/080526ta_talk_surowiecki

The author plays into an age old fallacy of believing that political candidates (in this case, Clinton and Obama,) actually plan to follow through on the promises they make during the campaign. They compare the primary contest to a “who hates free trade more” competition and then chastise the Democratic candidates for not understanding the “paradox” that free trade represents.

That paradox: raising tarriffs on China to help middle Americans will eventually hurt middle and lower class Americans because it will effect their buying power. Buying power that is used to by cheap clothes and shoes made by Chinese children who earn less than a dollar an hour in a sweatshop.

The logic is the same that has brought us the (Still waiting for my) economic stimulus package. Ordinary Americans will quickly spend the money that is being sent to them, and thus will help the economy. If you read between the lines, the administration is saying that poor people are stupid and will give the money right back to us by purchasing useless shit.

I may benefit from cheap goods made in China. In fact, I’m wearing a pretty cheap button-up shirt right now that was made there. But you know what I would benefit from EVEN MORE? A real job that pays well, is protected from outsourcing, and has the backing of a union. Then maybe, just maybe, I could afford to stop buying cheap goods that don’t last very long, and enjoy the luxuries of travel and education like the wealthy.

The anusless masses who subscribe to the New Yorker and the National Review should be smart enough (because of all that expensive education) to understand that lower and middle class Americans wouldn’t make such supposedly stupid buying decisions if they could actually afford to make good ones.

Obama has played the populist card as well as anyone, while nobody (except the middle class people who refuse to vote for him) seems to notice that he thinks free trade is the greatest thing since the wheel. It says so on his website.

Meanwhile, nobody was more responsible for the unleashing of free trade than Bill Clinton. Is it not painfully obvious to anyone that the Democratic party doesn’t give a fourth of a flying fig about average Americans’ interests? (Which is still twice as much as Republicans)

Don’t buy the hype. The benefits of free trade for average Americans (and Chinese) are far outweighed by the costs.

Is this Democracy?

The National Journal came out recently and declared that Barack Obama is the most liberal member of the Senate, according to a scientific nonpartisan formula that really isn’t as interesting as it sounds. Here is a breakdown of the issues that Hillary and Obama voted on:

http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/votes.htm

As you can see, their voting records are virtually identical. Barack chose not to vote on more occassions, presumably to avoid alienating swing voters. I have ranted on his not taking a stand on these issues before, so I won’t now. The real problem here is the problem of choice: that being there isn’t one. Democrats get to “pick” between a woman with experience and a black man with a silver tongue. These differences are skin or genital deep at best.

Should Barack Obama get the nomination, his cabinet is going to be chocked full of former Clinton aides; they represent the exact same “values” of the mainstream Democratic party. This means that once again progressives are left out in the cold with no candidate who actually has a chance of winning representing them. (Sorry, Ralph.)

The Journal can call Obama a liberal all they want, it doesn’t make it so. They are moderates, and by moderates I mean they aren’t going to really address the issues that matter to Americans. Bill Clinton opened up free trade and cut welfare: these Democrats are socially liberal and economically conservative, which is another way of saying that they have no values whatsoever. (See Obama’s disturbing vote on terminating fetuses that survive abortion.) (See Clinton’s attempts to get Michigan and Florida’s votes to count.)

My friends, we have been betrayed. Americans who really want change, who really believe in an ideology, be it progressive or conservative, have been betrayed by the parties. The Republicans have shamelessly supported their own who have been mired in gross sex or ethics scandals, but still claim to believe in family values. The Democrats have sold their revolution to the wealthy elite and abandoned those of us most in need.

The Republicans went big government and the Democrats have failed to stop the war.

My friends on both the right and the left, we have been hoodwinked, vamboozled, hornswaggled, and out right fucked in the ass by both the Elephants and the Donkeys. It’s time for a true revolution, where we stop voting for candidates because they’re electable or charismatic and start voting for candidates because they actually represent our values, no matter what they are.

Dear Mr. Edwards,

I’m sorry to hear that you are dropping from the race today. You would’ve had my vote here in Illinois and hundreds of thousands of people’s around the country.

I’m not dissappointed or upset–although now that you and Mr. Kucinich are out we are forced to choose between nepotism and inexperience–but I am worried about our country.

Mr. Edwards, thank you. Thank you for campaigning for as long and as hard as you have about those issues that truly affect 310 million people’s live all without the Clinton name or Obama’s dirty money. Thank you John, thank you so much. Get some much deserved rest and see that your family is healthy; the country will need you again shortly to lead the Senate.

Well done and no hard feelings.

Peace and Progress,

The Infamous Ink

Well, my big nerd self watched the Iowa returns at my neighborhood bar. I couldn’t stand to sit at home, without anyone around, and yell at the TV for their shoddy coverage of Edwards, Kucinich and hell, even Mr. Ron Paul.

Obama is after all one of my Senators and Clinton is a Chicagoan (whatever that means in the topsy-turvy world of political rhetoric) but neither of them deserve this blogs endorsement or my vote when the Illinois primary swings through here in February. I am going to stick to my guns, however foolish you Clinton and Obamacrats think it is, and back Edwards and I encourage other “card carrying Greens” to do the same.

Let’s face it, Obama is a hawk (something I will not touch with a ten foot pole right now) and Clinton is just another legacy campaign that is part of the strict oligarchy of old money and families that have been expanding their spheres of influence and control for nearly eight decades. Both are out of touch with the needs of the 307-some-odd million Americans that have had to tolerate nearly 8 years of oligarchical and ethically questionable rule by the Bush administration.

According to a poll on democrats.com fifty percent of respondents want Edwards as the next President of the United States. New Hampshire, does that sway you?

Don’t let CNN, FOX or even the well respected and trusted NPR sway your better judgment. John Edwards is America’s best viable option for President; remember, this election is not about precedent and history, it is about getting America back on track as a world leader in technology, production and the economy. It is about restoring the respect in our foreign policies among other nations, ridding human rights abuses from our shores, military bases, farms, factories and work places. This election is about the people, for the people and ultimately needs to be led by the people and John Edwards is the only candidate that can do that.

As many of my readers know I keep a link up on my site for John Edwards. I sensed that wasn’t endorsement enough–especially with the Iowa caucuses right around the corner (Thursday, Jan. 3)–and it was time to ACTUALLY write one. So, here it is America… The Editor of TheInfamousInk.com endorses John Edwards for President in 2008.

In his Plan to Build One America, John Edwards promises to:

*End the War in Iraq: We should immediately withdraw 40,000
to 50,000 combat troops and bring home the rest within nine to
ten months. We also need a “diplomatic surge” to engage all
nations in the region in reaching a political solution in Iraq.

*Guarantee Universal Health Care: This is a moral issue. I will
stand up to the big drug and insurance companies and
guarantee health care for every American, while cutting costs
and improving care. My plan costs $90 billion to $120 billion.
To pay for it, I will repeal the Bush tax cuts for families above
$200,000 a year to pay for it.

*Support Middle‐Class Families: I will raise the minimum
wage, strengthen workers’ rights to organize and reject bad
trade deals. I will help families save, cut taxes for middle‐class
families, protect pensions and lift millions out of poverty.

*Teach Our Children: We must end No Child Left Behind’s
punitive approach and restore a comprehensive curriculum. I
support universal early childhood education, smaller classes
and better teacher pay. My College for Everyone plan will
make college affordable for every student willing to work
part‐time.

*Achieve Energy Independence and Fight Global Warming: The
crisis of global warming demands action today. I will cap and
reduce greenhouse gases by 80 percent by 2050, as scientists
say is necessary, and invest in innovation and renewable
energy to create new jobs that cannot be sent overseas.

*Revitalize Rural America: My Rural Recovery Act will invest
in local Main Street businesses, attract new industries like
renewable energy and strengthen rural schools. I will stand
up for family farms with country‐of‐origin labeling, antitrust
enforcement, a ban on packer ownership and a moratorium on
building or expanding concentrated animal feeding operations.

(Source: John Edwards’ Plan to Build One America)

Mr. Edwards is a true progressive and, I believe, both exemplifies American virtues and has what is best for America in his heart. Dare I compare him to John or Bobby?

John Edwards for President in 2008!