Horsefeathers and American Government

We are being dragged down by all the horsefeathers in American government and politics these days.  It is certain that there will be even more horsefeathers after President Obama's address tomorrow evening to a joint session of Congress on the subject of the nation's economy and its need for the on-going creation of more jobs.  (Yes, "horsefeathers" can be used as one word in addition to two words.  Check out the entertaining article on the origin of this American slang expression at the British site The Phrase Finder , and for more go over to The Internet Movie Database for synopsis and information on the Marx Brothers' 1932 movie "Horse Feathers."  Something from the movie later in this writing.)

Since there is no point in trying to anticipate the content of the speech--let's just wait for it and then talk about it once the facts are known--this writing will set forth a framework in which to evaluate any such well-considered proposals, and also the entire political environment that will culminate in next year's elections.  The framework will probably grow and change over time, but this will be a good start.  Here it is:

• Urgency -- the speed with which jobs will be created and the economy improved is important; something that can be done today counts for more than something which cannot be done until later, all other things being equal.
• Sustainability -- policies, programs and actions that can continue to produce beneficial results over time are preferable over those that cannot do so.
• Pragmatism -- the critical stake-holders have to be able to get behind whatever the government will propose to do; identifying the stake-holders must be done once the proposals are revealed, sooner if possible.

All of us, irrespective of where we fall on the political and social spectrum, will naturally react to any proposal based largely on our own individual political and social preferences and beliefs.  In no particular order, here is the LeftWingCapitalist list:

• Protect and enhance the quality of life in our country, even if there's a bill to pay to make that happen.  Once upon a time, there were no seat belts or air bags or numerous other safety measures in automobiles, and the auto manufacturers tried to get us to believe that adding those things would make cars too expensive.  When compelled to act for improved safety, the ingenuity of American industry created effective devices at an affordable price.  DDT was once a widely-used pesticide because it was effective and inexpensive; unfortunately, it harmed everything in its path, not just the pests.  There are substitutes, and we are better off for using them instead of DDT.
• Government employment and private sector employment are both good, but for the long run let's create far more private sector jobs than government jobs.  Some jobs are done better by government employment; most jobs are done better by private sector employment.  Most--but not all--government organizations are staffed largely with dedicated and hard-working employees; most--but not all--private sector businesses are staffed largely with dedicated and hard-working employees.  Any government-employed wage-earner will pay taxes just like any business-employed wage-earner.
• History is important because it sets the path for the future, and if our history showed our flaws, then our future will continue to contain those flaws unless we take actions to correct for them.  There will be a bill to pay for doing so.  Numerous flaws have threatened the financial foundations of our free enterprise system--right down to the core values of trustworthiness and honesty--over the last decade and more.  Some corrective steps have been taken, and more might be needed.  These things are potentially expensive for government and business, and it is important to recognize that.  But it seems that doing nothing is much more expensive, especially in light of the costs to the country of the 2007 - 2009 financial crisis.
• Goldlilocks was right:  too little (government power, business power, opinion rigidity) isn't right; and too much (government power, business power, opinion rigidity) isn't right.  We have seen the results of a near-unfettering of certain business activities, and they are hurtful.  Consequently, there will be additional government regulations on business.  Some of those regulations could become burdensome and overly-expensive for certain businesses; if so, adjustments of the regulations will probably be justified.  
• The means justify the ends, and not the other way around, because it is the way that something is accomplished that reveals the most about the ethics that are used to reach the goal.  Listen to a clip from the movie "Horse Feathers" or read it here because Professor Quincy Adams Wagstaff (as played by Groucho Marx) shows how silly, self-centered and senseless it is to be uncompromising in one's orthodoxy:

                                       Whatever it is, I'm against it!
                                       And even when you've changed it or condensed it,
                                       I'm against it!


More to come after the President's address to the joint session of Congress.