Today, in a op-ed love letter to the oligarchy in Rupert Murdoch's Wall Street Journal, Obama writes:
Over the past two years, the goal of my administration has been to strike the right balance. And today, I am signing an executive order that makes clear that this is the operating principle of our government.
This order requires that federal agencies ensure that regulations protect our safety, health and environment while promoting economic growth.
I just want to stop write there and talk a little about one of my worthless senators: Kay Baily Hutchison. I used to write her letters about issues. Every reply back was the same formula: "Sure I'm all for (something that would make this a better nation) but we have to promote economic growth."
I got those letters back from her office for years until I got sick of the charade.
And that's what I think Obama is doing here. He's running a hard campaign to woo the corporations to his campaign coffers; especially with a date with the venomous Chamber of Commerce in February.
Now don't get me wrong, the plan he puts down on paper seems like a good thing.
As the executive order I am signing makes clear, we are seeking more affordable, less intrusive means to achieve the same ends—giving careful consideration to benefits and costs. This means writing rules with more input from experts, businesses and ordinary citizens. It means using disclosure as a tool to inform consumers of their choices, rather than restricting those choices. And it means making sure the government does more of its work online, just like companies are doing.
Who can't agree with that?
We're also getting rid of absurd and unnecessary paperwork requirements that waste time and money. We're looking at the system as a whole to make sure we avoid excessive, inconsistent and redundant regulation. And finally, today I am directing federal agencies to do more to account for—and reduce—the burdens regulations may place on small businesses. Small firms drive growth and create most new jobs in this country. We need to make sure nothing stands in their way.
Again, more of a good plan. Although I do wonder if he means real small businesses or "small businesses" that are toys of the wealthy.
So, what's not to like? It makes sense. It's not the whalloping the corporations deserve, but it seems like a perfect middle road between the welfare of the citizenry and unbridled greed of industry.
So what's the elite's take on this?
The WSJ itself isn't panning it outright, but they do make a short list of the major "problems" the multinationals have with the White House:
- No movement on Free Trade Agreements
- new Heath Insurance regulations
- new Financial regulations
- need a more favorable corporate tax code
Even some of the president's corporate allies have joined criticism of the White House's regulatory and tax policies. The Business Roundtable, an association of chief executives of many of the largest U.S. corporations, last year compiled a 54-page report that includes proposals to streamline rules proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Communications Commission, among scores of others. It was accompanied by public criticism from the Roundtable, whose members have frequently advised the White House on the economy.
They're not calling Obama a socialist, just letting him know that he can do more for his good, dear friends.
It's a risky gamble Obama is playing; play up to Big Money at the risk of alienating his base. It's a delicate balance he's going for with rationed small social progress and big corporate giveaways to keep both Wall Street sated and Main Street be-speech-ified. From the outside it certainly looks as if Obama is inviting the scorpion to ride across the river.
UPDATE
Here's a link for the actual Executive Order (as suggested by Benintn and Betty Pinson): http://www.whitehouse.gov/...
UPDATE 2
To back up and add a little heft to the argument that Obama is being less than honest in his op ed: Just Announced: Comcast/NBC Merger Approved By FCC. I guess the regulations preventing a monumental media behemoth just wasn't "smart."