Letter to the editor
When reading Mr. Kramer’s letter, “Where’s the fiscal responsibilty?” March 1, 2010, I was at first struck with his plausible arguments. Unfortunately, before long the political talking points started coming out; by the end, the same tired old shibboleths poured off the page. That is this series of mantras about poor business being so hampered by the very totalitarian capitalism it has created. And government being this evil menace interested only in amassing power and wealth on the backs of corporations, let alone the poor working people. It’s a set of pious platitudes we’ve been hearing for 30 years: jobs, deregulation, jobs, cut taxes, jobs—ad nauseum. Mr. Kramer and his ilk need to do several things, not least of which is to read some American history wherein he will discover that business is not really capable of policing itself. It requires rules and government monitoring to maintain that proverbial level playing field on which any American is supposed to be free to achieve. He will learn that taxes have not driven jobs overseas; rather, the lust for profits has done so. In case he hadn’t heard, the eight million jobs lost during the recent financial unpleasantness are NOT coming back. Economists of every stripe are certain of that. What’s to take their place? Perhaps if Americans are willing to work for $1 per hour (like their overseas counterparts), business might surely bring some of those positions back here. One day, when we realize how foolish it is to have an economy that is 70% dependent on consumer spending, we might see that government’s role is quite necessary in altering this situation. We’ve stopped manufacturing and produce “service” instead—whatever that is supposed to mean. We also produce “financial instruments” that we sell to the rest of the world; not products, not goods, not tangible assets. It’s a mess. No, Mr. Kramer, we will NOT prosper if we let the free market run its course. We have that tee shirt already. We need to get to some deeper foundational basics than that old saw.
Eric Hill’s point is well taken (as I read it): what kind of government do we want, really and truly? Tossing around talking points is not the way to go; tossing around genuine ideas IS the way to go. We need desperately to have an honest conversation about what needs to be done to preserve this country. We do NOT need more politicians jockeying for political advantage at our expense. If we are willing to sell our honor for phrases and catchy slogans without substance, then we will reap what we deserve. Right here in Virginia we’re hearing about tolls as “user fees” for riding on the highways. By any definition, a toll is a tax—but we’ve heard forever and a day that there will be no taxes raised in this state. If we hear it long enough, will we believe it? Will that make it true as we pay the tolls on I-95 and I-64, knowing they are not taxes, but user fees? Have we become that trapped in doublespeak to such an extent that we can’t see the truth any longer? We need to recognize that the government IS the people – it is US – and unless we are willing to speak with one another and LISTEN to one another, we’re finished. A banana republic with nukes is not what the Founders had in mind, I don’t think, but a country that grows and develops with the times is. We’ve got some changes to make and we need ideas, not talking points. And then we need the will and desire to carry them through to fruition. It is a daunting challenge.
Stan Kustesky is a professor in the English department.
