Laura Bramble
The More Things Change...
They say that history repeats itself. This has certainly been the case in Washington the last two weeks. Senior members of the house are carrying around history books, trying to decide who to emulate. Reid is currently fond of FDR, McConnell and Cantor of Winston Churchill and Newt Gingrich. Each are looking for clues on how to best spin the stimulus bill fight and its potential political aftermath. Both Republicans and Democrats are pinning the future hopes of their parties on this legislation, with both knowing the outcome of the 2010 mid-term elections is riding on its success.
The House Democrats are using their majority control to set the agenda on a definitive liberal slant, hoping to pass programs and initiatives that were gridlocked during the Bush years. Significant health care reform, environmental protection, alternative fuel source development, and greater regulatory control of business and industry are all on the agenda. The stimulus bill was a way to get some immediate action on these issues by tacking them onto a much needed jump start. But will increasing the deficit to fund these programs provide the impetus the economy needs, or is the money being spent in areas that will be of no help to ending the recession?
The Republicans are still holding firm to the doctrine of trickle down economics through corporate and individual tax cuts and breaks, believing that money given to the upper strata and corporations will boost spending, and therefore production, which will reduce unemployment and kick start a flagging economy. However, history has not shown trickle down economics to be successful; corporations have tended to want to keep its wealth for itself and many people are saving their money instead of spending it and promoting business growth.
Only time will tell who is right, but the way this whole situation has played out goes to show one thing. No matter how strong the mandate for change is, old habits die hard. Bipartisanship, like world peace and a delicious non-fat cheesecake, is an idyllic vision we can dream of and hope for. It seems to be just as realistic too.
Laura Bramble
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