The Horror, The Horror Yet To Come

[babylonsister]

Robert L. Borosage
Posted October 17, 2008 | 07:47 AM (EST)
The Horror, The Horror Yet To Come



The Wall Street Journal editors peer fearlessly into the increasingly likely terror of an election that produces a Democratic President with larger Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress. Disregarding the delicate sensibilities of women and children, the editors expose to all the stark horrors that could ensue:

Voters will be registered. Workers organized. Banks regulated. Health care provided for all. Government investment will drive a green revolution that generates millions of jobs. The wealthy will pay more in taxes. Guantanamo will be shut down; torture will end. Net neutrality will be mandated. Citizens may even be able to sue corporations that negligently do them harm. And that doesn't even mention ending the war in Iraq.

The horror of it all. Can the Republic survive? The editors hold out one slim hope. Perhaps Democrats will divide. Perhaps the entrenched lobbies, the interest of the corporations and the wealthy will buy enough support to stand in the way of the tumbrels.

And that defines our job pretty clearly: to organize engaged citizens to hold Democrats accountable to the promises that have been made and the agenda the country needs. If we do that well, just maybe we can deepen the Wall Street Journal's lamentations. Cut the military budget. Forge a national strategy for the global economy. Make college affordable for all. Provide the basics in education, from pre-school to small classes, to lifelong learning. Revive national service. Rebuild trust in government. Launch the unspeakable - a true war on poverty.

The horror, the stark horror of it all. Can Americans - after Iraq, Katrina, bankers run amok, gilded age inequality, Robber Baron corruption - actually have the gall to vote the bums out? Say it ain't so, Joe the plumber, say it ain't so.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-l-borosage/the-horror-the-horror-yet_b_135499.html

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Oh, the horror of 'activist government'!!!

As opposed to the 'do-nothing, know-nothing' government that the WSJ favours, and which has produced such marvellous results like Iraq and unregulated bank speculation, I suppose. Yeah, governments which actually govern are a Good Thing.

[fencesitter]

2. I read the WSJ article...

We're doomed.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122420205889842989.html

"Taxes. Taxes will rise substantially, the only question being how high."

"The green revolution. A tax-and-regulation scheme in the name of climate change is a top left-wing priority."

"Free speech and voting rights. A liberal supermajority would move quickly to impose procedural advantages that could cement Democratic rule for years to come."

"Felons may also get the right to vote nationwide, while the Fairness Doctrine is likely to be reimposed either by Congress or the Obama FCC. A major goal of the supermajority left would be to shut down talk radio and other voices of political opposition."

"Special-interest potpourri. Look for the watering down of No Child Left Behind testing standards, as a favor to the National Education Association. The tort bar's ship would also come in, including limits on arbitration to settle disputes and watering down the 1995 law limiting strike suits."