What Next?

Much has been written before and since the election that describes a disaster for progressive government. From the point of votes, it surely was a disaster. Unfortunately, progressive government has yet to be tested in our nation.

I don't consider the initiatives taken by President Obama and congress to be truly progressive. One may consider the legislation as more liberal than what would have been passed in a conservative Republican Congress. However, progressive it is not.

Our nation may never be capable of incorporating a progressive government. Our national ethos, generated from first day, is built on individualism. People genuinely consider that each person is the responsible agent for him/herself. Government should not intrude.

With this background, it is understandable that so many consider the Healthcare legislation as socialistic. From the vantage point of pure individualism, it does appear to be a drastic difference. However, measured against the features of a progressive government, e.g., Scandinavian countries, we have a long, long way to go.hisinto the immediate future, it is hard to see how the government will address our nation's economic problems. In fact, I know of no one that addresses the huge problem of no jobs for so many.

My problem is that there seems to be nothing that will generate the number of jobs commensurate with "full employment". Many of the more liberal economists, e.g., Krugman, discuss the fact that the "stimulus" was insufficient. It should have been twice as much! Let's say that we spent all sorts of money in addressing our infrastructure, creating all sorts of construction jobs and jobs related to the construction industry. Surely, this would be a great increase in available dollars for consumption. I am sure that our current unemployment rate would decrease. But, what would that do for the likes of Newton, IA, featured in a recent "60 Minutes" edition? This vast nation is segmented between coasts which are relatively strong economically, and the vast midlands that have historically been our farmlands and industrial manufacturers. Addressing our infrastructure will not filter into the midlands of America.

I have no idea how we are going to get America employed. And I have seen no one else that seems to have an answer.