One of the benefits of living in Los Angeles is the occasional celebrity sighting. Just the other day, at the local movie theater, I ran into Jeff Garlin -- actor and executive producer of the hit show: Curb Your Enthusiasm. And by "ran into," I mean that I shouted his name awkwardly before he waved back and scurried along. Britney Spears was even in front of me at the nearby Starbucks about a year ago.
Hollywood is right around the corner and there is a lot of cinema history in the entertainment capital of the world. In fact, one of the best known American movies, The Wizard of Oz, was filmed in Culver City and was originally shown in San Bernardino for a sneak peak.
The Wizard of Oz is renowned for a variety of reasons. One, its Technicolor was groundbreaking; the yellow-brick road awed audiences. Second, the music was inspiring, including the Oscar-winning song -- "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Third, Dorothy's dog and the Munchkins were adorable. Finally, it paved the way for the oft-quoted line, "We're not in Kansas anymore..."
I often wondered whether Kansas residents ever got sick of hearing that line. But recently, I have wondered whether Kansas residents wished they had left the state.
The Republican-controlled state is having some economic problems. The conservative-leaning Kansas has aggressively implemented tea-party economic principles. The Republican Governor, Sam Brownback, cut taxes and promised economic prosperity. He stated in 2012 that, "[Kansas'] new pro-growth tax policy will be like a shot of adrenaline into the heart of the Kansas economy... [it will] pave the way to the creation of tens of thousands of new jobs, bring
tens of thousands of people to Kansas, and help make our state the best
place in America to start and grow a small business..." He may need another adrenaline shot.
Unsurprisingly, the opposite has occurred. Kansas is now facing a huge budget deficit -- $508 million less in revenues compared to the last fiscal year. By 2019, economists expect a deficit of close to $1 billion unless something is changed.
Employment is not the "best" either. Neighboring states are increasing employment at better or similar rates and two large companies, Boeing and Applebee's, have announced that they will move thousands of jobs to other states. Kansas voters are acknowledging the failures; only 33% of voters support Gov. Brownback. The candidate running against Brownback is taking the opportunity to point out that, "The governor [championed] a red state model, and it’s truly not working."
Besides the fact that Kansas schools are being harmed, it may be difficult for Kansas to follow the state's Supreme Court ruling that more must be done for low-income districts. The Republican's policies simply cannot provide an education to a number of its young citizens.
It is truly unfortunate, but again, what can we expect at this point. Republicans will not face reality when it comes to science, facts, or reality. Predictably, the Governor has blamed President Obama...He will not take credit for the situation that he created. Kansas has not been the only state to champion "conservative" economics and been proven wrong by the data. North Carolina, also Republican-controlled, cut unemployment insurance for millions of unemployed Americans. They said that it would lead to job growth and fortune. The reverse happened: most just left the labor force in despair.
If I were in the the land of Oz, I would try to stay there. What's the point of going back to Kansas? Ironically, I have to admit that I have some personal experience with Oz. In high school, I played the "Lion." I wasn't nominated for any Academy Awards but it was a great experience. One of my favorite moments was when I sang, "If I Were King of the Forest."
In honor of that moment, I now sing, "If I were king of the forest, I would not pursue voodoo economics." Because seriously, just like Oz, it's a fantasy to think that Republican economics will benefit everyone. We're not in Kansas anymore...and that's just fine with me.
Showing posts with label unemployment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label unemployment. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Static Union
"Big thinking has more often gotten us into trouble then led us to success..." - Republican Congressman Tom Cole.
Last night President Obama gave his State of the Union Address in front of his political adversary -- the "do even less" Congress. During the address, Mr. Obama focused on the personal stories of average Americans. He highlighted the anecdotes to paint a picture and establish a theme: citizens need help, and if Congress is unwilling to act, he will.
The economy has definitely improved since the Great Recession. Unemployment is down, stocks are up, the housing market is rebounding, and consumer spending is picking up. Yet, people are still hurting. There are still many things that can be done to improve the lives of tens of millions. The Federal Reserve can only do so much; fiscal policy can be much more effective in strengthening the economic recovery.
Hence, President Obama has declared that he will use executive action when possible to aid the economy. Congressional Republicans reacted in sync. "Obama has run out of ideas..." "If [Mr. Obama] tries to ignore the [Constitution], he's going to run into a brick wall." What has Speaker Boehner been calling the brick wall up until now? The GOP has made it a political strategy to block whatever it can to ensure that Mr. Obama does not have claim to legislative achievements. The Speaker presided over record setting Filibusters and historical intransigence.
The Constitution is silent on what to do when one branch of the Government has taken an indefinite vacation. So, while Executive Action is necessary, it is not a cure all. It should not become a fix to Congressional obstructionism.
I believe that Republicans want to do whats best for the country in the long run. Like Democrats and liberals, the GOP loves its country. They certainly have different policy ideas on how to accomplish that goal. But, Congress has decided that it must win elections first before it can do its job. It's a brazen strategy not worth hiding. In having good intentions and standing by strong held convictions, the GOP has resigned to the fact that Americans can wait. We shouldn't have to.
Our leaders should look to the American people as examples. Every single day we compromise. We do not agree with all persons we come across or do business with, but we find a way to negotiate and find common ground.
Like individuals who must agree every day despite having different beliefs, Congress should forfeit its strategy of letting 2014 come and go. The time delay may be politically convenient, but it is not a good policy for Americans. It is not a winning formula either -- people will reflect their frustration at the ballot box.
In sum, Executive Action can help only so much. Mr. Boehner and I agree that the Constitution is the foundation of our great nation and must be followed. That is why I call on Speaker Boehner to fulfill his duties under Section 8 of Article I of the Constitution. You see, you were not elected to win elections, you were elected to legislate. Get to work.
Last night President Obama gave his State of the Union Address in front of his political adversary -- the "do even less" Congress. During the address, Mr. Obama focused on the personal stories of average Americans. He highlighted the anecdotes to paint a picture and establish a theme: citizens need help, and if Congress is unwilling to act, he will.
The economy has definitely improved since the Great Recession. Unemployment is down, stocks are up, the housing market is rebounding, and consumer spending is picking up. Yet, people are still hurting. There are still many things that can be done to improve the lives of tens of millions. The Federal Reserve can only do so much; fiscal policy can be much more effective in strengthening the economic recovery.
Hence, President Obama has declared that he will use executive action when possible to aid the economy. Congressional Republicans reacted in sync. "Obama has run out of ideas..." "If [Mr. Obama] tries to ignore the [Constitution], he's going to run into a brick wall." What has Speaker Boehner been calling the brick wall up until now? The GOP has made it a political strategy to block whatever it can to ensure that Mr. Obama does not have claim to legislative achievements. The Speaker presided over record setting Filibusters and historical intransigence.
The Constitution is silent on what to do when one branch of the Government has taken an indefinite vacation. So, while Executive Action is necessary, it is not a cure all. It should not become a fix to Congressional obstructionism.
I believe that Republicans want to do whats best for the country in the long run. Like Democrats and liberals, the GOP loves its country. They certainly have different policy ideas on how to accomplish that goal. But, Congress has decided that it must win elections first before it can do its job. It's a brazen strategy not worth hiding. In having good intentions and standing by strong held convictions, the GOP has resigned to the fact that Americans can wait. We shouldn't have to.
Our leaders should look to the American people as examples. Every single day we compromise. We do not agree with all persons we come across or do business with, but we find a way to negotiate and find common ground.
Like individuals who must agree every day despite having different beliefs, Congress should forfeit its strategy of letting 2014 come and go. The time delay may be politically convenient, but it is not a good policy for Americans. It is not a winning formula either -- people will reflect their frustration at the ballot box.
In sum, Executive Action can help only so much. Mr. Boehner and I agree that the Constitution is the foundation of our great nation and must be followed. That is why I call on Speaker Boehner to fulfill his duties under Section 8 of Article I of the Constitution. You see, you were not elected to win elections, you were elected to legislate. Get to work.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)