The recent calls for the American people to sacrifice in the face of this economic crisis by, among others, Chuck Todd (mentioned by Kos in a front page post) remind me of the structural adjustment packages imposed by the World Bank on debtor nations in the face of their own economic crises.
As I understand it, third world countries tend to get loans from the World Bank that go toward huge projects which tend to mainly benefit local elites and foreign companies. These loans result in huge debts that are ultimately paid for through imposition of these structural adjustment packages that call for privatization of public assets, reductions in government spending on health, food, and fuel subsidies to the poor, and other "reforms" that tend to squeeze the poor.
The parallels to the current situation are not difficult to find. The current economic crisis was brought about through activities that primarily benefited the wealthy in this country. The proposed solutions will be those which primarily squeeze the poor.
I was brought up as a country club Republican and morphed into a libertarian. Now I find myself thinking and writing like some kind of Marxist. Odd damn world.
This morning, I caught a bit of some right-winger or another on the extremely liberal MSNBC network that features 3 hours per morning of former Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough. (Damn liberal media.) Anyway, the speaker was suggesting that if government would just get out of the way and stop trying to fix our problems, then our problems would more or less go away. See, government was the problem. (There were no questions, while I was watching at least, on how this theory of government being the problem squares with the lack of regulatory oversight turning into the AIG led financial implosion.) So, anyway, government should do nothing "for our own good" was the message.
Curv3ball at The Poor Man Institute also captures some of this when he notes the call for sacrifice from the common man.
Because we’re in a recession, it would be irresponsible - naive even - for Obama to refrain from exacting a pound of flesh from average Americans. How long can he continue to deny reality? After all, in down economic times, we "all" have to make sacrifices. Like, say, slashing social security, medicare and unemployment benefits. Or raising taxes on the middle class, lowering minimum wage and laying off police officers, firefighters and teachers. That’s just off the top of my head. It’s the responsible thing to do.
Fear not, though. Those sacrifices will make the sacrificees better in the long run - reinforce their moral fiber and, ultimately, lead to true happiness! Struggle is good for the soul and the spirit! Everyone should do it! Almost.
Reminds me of the great line from Cool Hand Luke:
Captain, Road Prison 36: You gonna get used to wearin’ them chains after a while, Luke. Don’t you never stop listenin’ to them clinking. ‘Cause they gonna remind you of what I been saying. For your own good.
Luke: Wish you’d stop bein’ so good to me, cap’n.