Scared because you're afraid they'll disappoint? I'm currently worried about the elections, then (hopefully) a lame duck session, then that the media will successfully villify any opposition to President Obama's agenda. I'm also afraid the "tea party" Republicans will get absorbed into the fold and they'll resume their spending spree as "democrat-lite". There's a lot more ways it can go wrong than right eh?
The majority of Americans want to be able to ignore the vicissitudes of life, to take "safe" risks, as it were. Up till now, this required increasing the safety net; but we've passed that point, and now the government is intrusive in every part of life. There is and will be a backlash from that.
To bend a metaphor, americans want support from their parents, but want to live out of the house.
Once again, I point out that at least some of the nominal pachyderm pols get it, i.e., Tim Pawlenty said that, if the GOP screws it up this time, 2012 will be The Year Of The Third Party, and Marco Rubio said pretty much the same thing in his acceptence speech.
I dearly hope Ian is right about the national character and you're right about politicians starting to grasp that character. There's a lot at stake here.
I'm long winded. Getting my thoughts down to a punchier, more digestible form is an ongoing goal, and one I practice with varying degrees of success in comments to other people's blogs. But this is my house, and here I can stretch out on the couch.
Scared because you're afraid they'll disappoint?
ReplyDeleteI'm currently worried about the elections, then (hopefully) a lame duck session, then that the media will successfully villify any opposition to President Obama's agenda.
I'm also afraid the "tea party" Republicans will get absorbed into the fold and they'll resume their spending spree as "democrat-lite".
There's a lot more ways it can go wrong than right eh?
I'm scared in the way that getting to the top of the high point of a roller coaster makes me scared. IOW - bring it ON!
ReplyDeleteI want to be with you, Ian, but am scared Tony's attitude will be more on-target. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe majority of Americans want to be able to ignore the vicissitudes of life, to take "safe" risks, as it were. Up till now, this required increasing the safety net; but we've passed that point, and now the government is intrusive in every part of life. There is and will be a backlash from that.
ReplyDeleteTo bend a metaphor, americans want support from their parents, but want to live out of the house.
Again, man, I sincerely hope you're right.
ReplyDeleteWe shall see, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, I point out that at least some of the nominal pachyderm pols get it, i.e., Tim Pawlenty said that, if the GOP screws it up this time, 2012 will be The Year Of The Third Party, and Marco Rubio said pretty much the same thing in his acceptence speech.
ReplyDeleteI dearly hope Ian is right about the national character and you're right about politicians starting to grasp that character. There's a lot at stake here.
ReplyDelete