Left of Centre http://thorsteinveblen.blogspot.com

Freddy and Fannie were not the the entities which caused the subprime mortgage crisis. In fact, the definition of a subprime mortgage was one that these GSE were not permitted to back.  Frankly, if you are so concerned with their influence on politicians why aren't you up in arms about McCain's campaign chairman Rick Davis' lobbying on behalf of them.

Your claim about ACORN stealing the election is hilarious. The basic idea behind the GOP use of ACORN is to claim that brown people will rule the country under Obama without actually saying it. 

 You are either a rube stirred by the GOP or a GOP operative trying to stir the rubes. Unfortunately for you, this Web site has few rube readers besides the ones who regularly stock Hutch. And they don't really need any encouragement from you.

Thats what I read anyway - he got less money, but the money he got was a higher percentage of his contributions - and one of his main advisors got 2 mil in payments from Mae&Mac.

All the politicians are responsible for this economic mess. But I hold the republicans MORE reponsible, because they CLAIMED to be the party of fiscal responsibility.

Instead, they pigged out at the corporate trough like the rest of them, and increased future taxes with years of astronomical deficits.

Bill,

     I voted today in FL and stood in line for two hours. I found it interesting that everyone was polite and civil regardless of their politics. I have seen you rage against the GOP on this blog and I know that Voices is a left leaning paper but I do have one question: What do you propose we do?

     It appears that we all agree that the two party system is pretty bad (two sides of the same coin). Corruption exists on both sides as do good people. We vary on our approaches to government but I think we all want the same end state (healthy economy, strong schools, jobs, etc.). It appears that we continue to feed the same system and the press is out of hand this election. Do we push for an independent party? Are the voters energetic enough to actually have to do research on a candidate or do we continue electing the person that promises the most (and then never delivers)? Might be time to stop throwing around names and start working towards some answers!

The idea on the table is how could an independent candidate make it to the Senate/White House? Perot had a shot in 92 despite being crazy but his shot was due to large amounts of personal $ and voter dissatisfaction. If Obama wins and then falls down the same predictable path, will the country be ready for a real change?

It's true, I am very displeased with the GOP. I could spend time listing reasons why, but your question interests me.

However, we've gotten ourselves into such a hole I really doubt we as a nation are going to be able to do much. We had chances, as a nation, and we threw them away.

For example, you suggest a third party candidate. I'm a 'third party' advocate, and a registered libertarian, but I have no faith that a third party can win a national election, and I also do not believe Libertarians can govern, for much the same reason that neoconservatives can't govern.

When independent parties have a good idea, that idea will be co-opted by the two big parties. And I think thats not the worst that could happen - the third parties are laboratories in which new ideas are cooked up.

What do I propose we do? Well, my world-model may be so radically differet from yours that some of my priorities will seem "socialist" to you. But, given that I don't think third party talk is realistic, this is what I plan to be promoting:

1. First, we have to start getting the money and corruption out of politics. We have to make the politicians afraid, which means, yes, harsh regulation of political campaigning and donations. (oooooh, the regulation word. Sorry, republicans, the chicago school has been discredited.)

2. Personally, I think the 'neoliberal' free trade experiment has been a national disaster. We've moved our manufacturing base out of the country, embraced consumerism for it's own sake and "debt as income", and surprise surprise, it turns out that has a bunch of unintended negative consequences.

So we have to reverse this - and that means more regulation, and tax policies that punish anything that doesn't increase internal economic security, and reward anything that does increase internal economic security.

3. In the name of deregulation and privatisation, we've let our infrastructure rot, and stifled technological growth. I propose a national crash program of infrastucture replacement and technological developmernt. Install the best internet the planet has ever seen, right here in this country, install a new smart electrical grid, and promote new generations of energy efficient autos, homes, and other infrastructural technologies.

4. And, to pay for this, we dismantle this ridiculously huge and bloated military-indudtrial complex, and give up our dreams of empire, and these disasterous wars of adventure and occupation.

So, to sum it up - tons of re-regulation, starting with campaign reform, tax and government policies focused on  restoring internal economic security, crash national programs of infrastructure replacement and technological innovation, paid for by cutting defense spending by at least 50%.