Bob Herbert:Beyond The Fat Cats

[cal04]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/opinion/11herbert.html

The most important thing the Democrats and President-elect Obama can do with regard to the economy is bring back a sense of fairness and equity.

The fat cats who placed the entire economy at risk with their greed and manic irresponsibility are trying to lay claim to every last dime in the national Treasury. Meanwhile, we’re nowhere close to an economic recovery program that will help the people who are hurting most.

(snip)
Congress and the new administration need to think big — bigger than the stimulus package of $100 billion or so, which is being kicked around. Now is the time for a coast-to-coast “Rebuild America” infrastructure program. Put people to work repairing and rebuilding roads and bridges, decrepit schools and ancient sewer systems. Get the construction industry back on its feet.

(snip)
The naysayers will claim that all of this is too expensive, that we can’t afford it. Where were they when we invaded Iraq? And how do they feel about the staggering amounts being funneled, with nothing like the proper oversight, to the banks and Wall Street?

Let’s try investing in America and its people for a change, rather than just hurling our billions into the abyss.

[dhpgetsit]

1. Right on, Bob Herbert

When the Champagne and caviar crowd is in trouble, there is no conceivable limit to the amount of taxpayer money that can be found, and found quickly.

Bottom-up investment is what is going to lift us out of this hole!

But I must add one thing. A big part of the infrastructure investment must go directly to green energy! It has to happen now.

The real cost is in NOT investing in infrastructure.

[Demeter]

2. We Need More than a SENSE of Fairness and Equity

We need the real thing, and a big heap of Justice, too!