Rootsgap indeed. (4.00 / 1)

The media makes it even worse.

I watched this Gregory character this morning.  What a moron.  Using unidentified Democrats to undercut Obama's message that a stimulus is spending.

The media is the problem, along with Vicy Dems.

---

by: Tom Wells @ Fri Feb 06, 2009 at 16:13:10 PM UTC

well maybe now Obam will instruct his (4.00 / 1)

justice department to start anti trust proceedings in both the media and teh banks.

---

by: teral @ Fri Feb 06, 2009 at 16:24:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

We are not a free country. (4.00 / 1)

We are occupied by the Global Corporate Elite.

If Obama wants to be a Lincoln, let him issue an Emancipation Proclamation for the 21st Century; if he choses to fight this war, we will rally to him.

---

by: Paul Goodman @ Fri Feb 06, 2009 at 17:18:13 PM UTC

Combine these numbers (4.00 / 1)

with the fact that even in a Democratic WH, led by a Democratic President who campaigned on Buy American, outside parties have to agitate like mad to implement such provisions.

Feel a little cognitive dissonance when you do so?

What kind of democracy is this?

---

by: frankly0 @ Fri Feb 06, 2009 at 17:25:56 PM UTC

Defence contractors (4.00 / 2)

Much of the problem stems from defence contractors (who live off the bounty of the government and the paranoia of our opinion leaders).  Nearly all the substantial lobbying effort against "Buy American" traces to these parasites.

They are currying favor with foreign governments in an effort to protect their own foreign markets for fighter jets, tanks, bombers, etc.  Defence contractors and their lobbyists are particularly notable in the DC area where one actually sees billboards and hears radio ads extolling their products.

Despite the warped economics, the intensive lobbying and the media, Buy American is a policy whose time has come.  The people can smell out this con.  As Mr. Lincoln said, "You can't fool all of the people all of the time."  We are simply not fooled by this road show any more.

---

by: David Kowalski @ Fri Feb 06, 2009 at 17:31:39 PM UTC

Well (4.00 / 1)

This same argument;

It's amazing that 84% of Americans support these provisions, and yet they are portrayed as "controversial" in Washington, D.C.

could be made for the Iraq war in 2002 too. Popularity polls does not necessarily mean good policy.

Most Americans only see Buy America and think "oh, hey, great idea,yay America" but do not know the pros and cons of a provision.

You could argue "if we buy American, it will create jobs in America" (which is considered logical) and that number can go up to 95%, or you could argue "If we buy American, it will create a trade war that can cost jobs" (which could also be logically argued) and that number can drop to like 30%.  

---

by: NFR83 @ Fri Feb 06, 2009 at 20:05:56 PM UTC