Economic Agendas

Tyler Cowan and Jacob Hacker were asked to present economic agendas for the Republicans in Tyler's case, and Hacker for the Democrats. Tyler presents his agenda lucidly as does Hacker, but both talk of Wishes, not passable agendas. I agree far more with Hacker than Tyler, but course, Cowan would expect my position. We would have to put Tyler’s Means-Testing for Medicare on top of Hacker’s universal health care system in some form; I prefer provision of Basic Services to all, Specialty Treatments coming out-of-Pocket, coupled with an Access fee of around $35 per Appointment. 401(k)s will express no greater promise than the greater economy, and no benefit comes from an intrinsically-built privatization system; likewise, Capital Gains tax reduction makes no sense, only allowing a specific Income set to pay less Taxes than average. An upgraded unemployment insurance program only makes sense, if coupled with a privatized 401(k) account; do I seem a little inconsistent? It only means a mandated Personal Savings system with cancellation of Public Fund dispersal in this Case. Hacker’s Stop-Loss protection signals only the failure of Capitalism, as there is no more risk in Business Risk.

Gerald Prante critiques political use of fundamental economic forces as justification for their own economic policies, even when there is no relationship. I must say, though, that the contention of progressives of Minimum Wage increases incurring added employment has some greater validity than Bush’s claim his Tax Cuts produced the added Tax revenues. The universality of Minimum Wage demands excite additional Production Costs, which pressures for Innovations; these might incite the need for additional labor. Minimum Wage increases will generate greater Emplyment when the Economy is not contracting.

John Irons presents a different analysis of the Bush Tax Cuts, more aligned to the actual impact. John always provides a good numerial case for his argument. All the articles protray other than current conditions would be radically more beneficial. This means that the current policy matrix is sadly lacking in provisional power to advance the interests of All Concerned; and accomplishes this insufficient task at great price. lgl