Topic: Religion and Government
Well, That Was a Waste of Time I was just listening to C-Span Radio, hoping to here some penetrating questions to the two major party candidates, and some hope-inspiring answers from them.by rtbohan
(libertarian)
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
No penetrating questions were asked, and the answers ranged from dreadful to trivial to posturiing.
The questions had, the moderator explained, all been screened in advance by the moderator and the Debate Commission, which was a clear indication that there would be no penetrating questions. The first question posed from the audience was one about what the candidates would do to help those on social security through the financial crisis. Obama said that the problems were all caused by the financial policies of the Bush administration, and he would punish the executives who had caused the problems and push for a middle class tax break. McCain responded that he would cut foreign aid and stop the government spending spree. He also advocated the government purchase of all bad loans and a renegotiation of the mortgage based on the current market price of the property. So much for expecting intelligent answers from the candidates.
Pleased with the non-responsive and frivoluous answers, Tom Brokaw followed with a question on who should be appointed Secretary of the Treasury to spread around the largesse. McCain answered that Warren Buffett would be a good choice, noting that the fact that Buffett is an Obama supporter showed that he believed in a bi-partisan approach. He also suggested that Meg Whitman of E-Bay might be a good choice. But he noted that he believed the economy was strong and would recover quickly. Obama agreed that Buffett would be a good choice, and chided McCain for saying the economy is sound when it obviously is not.
So the chance to probe the vote of the two candidates for President fot he Paulson unplanned plan to rescue the economy was gone, and it was passed over as a problem of interest only to the bureaucrats and a chance for the two candidates to repeat their familiar soundbites.
Both candidates stated that they would solve the problems of energy and social security and health care and not raise taxes for most people: Obama continues to insist that he can implement his programs by increasing taxes for the rich and for the large corporations. McCain says that the government will spend money on alternate energy research and turn over the results of the research to private corporations and give a $5000 tax credit to people, after they give $5000 to the insurance companies for health care. So he will not have to raise taxes--except, of course, for all the taxpayers who do not qualify for the $5000 credit, to enrich the insurance companies and drive up the cost of health care.
Neither candidate seems to realize what has happened throught their "Let George" response to the financial collapse. And both seem to think that they can not only continue with the big central government philosophy with no adjustments to economic reality. Thanks to the Democratic leadership in Congress, taxes have already gone up. Thanks to the bailout plan almost $1 Trillion dollars is being added to the national debt. And both are finding new projects for spending money and claiming no one will feel the pinch.
In the field of foreign policy, both candidates, carefully disclaiming any interest in the United Nations, but both claiming they woucld create a new alliance to cover their actions, endorsed the policy of pressure on other countries and preemptive wars. Obama was particularly expansive, continuing to suggest spreading the Afghan occupation into Pakistan, and mentioning military involvement in Darfur to help the peacekeeping forces of the African Union.
Both outlined the policy by which they will advance the new American Empire: establishing American control over the transport of oil and of the development of nuclear power in other countries.
I found nothing encouraging in either the questions or the candidates at this second debate.[1] If you were encouraged, let me hear about it. I look forward to the third party candidate debate on Restore the Republic Radio tomorrow night. Maybe we'll have better luck there.([2]
The views expressed in this
article are those of rtbohan only and do not represent
the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. rtbohan is
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employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
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