Government: Historical Engine Of Economic Development

Today's Washington Post prints a piece by columnist E. J. Dionne shedding light on the positive role the federal government has always played in fostering economic development in this country. In fact, he says, the federal government "is the solution," not the problem in our present economic situation.

"The case for government’s role in our country’s growth and financial success goes back to the very beginning," Dionne explains. "One of the reasons I wrote my book “Our Divided Political Heart” was to show that, from Alexander Hamilton and Henry Clay forward, farsighted American leaders understood that action by the federal government was essential to ensuring the country’s prosperity, developing our economy, promoting the arts and sciences and building large projects: the roads and canals, and later, under Abraham Lincoln, the institutions of higher learning, that bound a growing nation together."

I have previously pointed out that, during the great depression, forward thinking leaders pressed on with grand undertakings.  We just observed the 75th anniversary of one of those undertakings, the Golden Gate Bridge. The 1930's, our most challenging economic period ever, became the period of our most lasting structural achievements.

Today, we keep hearing, "oh, we're broke;" "we can't afford to (fill in the blank)." And who keeps chanting the mantra of American inability? Republicans!

Republicans offer us leadership by fraidy-cats and wimps. Republican dominance of federal and state budgets has taken our median wealth back to what it was before Bill Clinton's policies led to the greatest sustained period of growth since the 1960's. Not a single republican voted for the Clinton budget.

Their predictions were wrong. When they got control over the budget, they drove the economy into the ditch and for the past two years have intentionally sabotaged every effort to call in a tow truck.

If you want to bring about a future of American economic decline, by all means vote for Republicans. Otherwise, let your elected representatives know you want to see positive economic efforts.

Don't just stand there, do something! If that doesn't work, do something else! Inaction is not an option - the problem is jobs, not debt. Make white water!