tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695598.post112629790576763621..comments2023-12-17T19:35:07.459-08:00Comments on Bouphonia: Friday Hope BloggingPhilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15849261651028725772noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695598.post-1126504797681374812005-09-11T22:59:00.000-07:002005-09-11T22:59:00.000-07:00DPR,The sad thing is, I may as well have called th...DPR,<BR/><BR/>The sad thing is, I may as well have called this "Friday Opportunity Cost Blogging," because that's all any of it really amounts to...a litany of the good things we forfeit by having evil, worthless people in charge.<BR/><BR/>But you're right...all one can do is point it out. And I actually <I>was</I> heartened by the number of editorials similar to that Dallas one...Philahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15849261651028725772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695598.post-1126327039690510862005-09-09T21:37:00.000-07:002005-09-09T21:37:00.000-07:00Yeah, you're both probably right. But then, that's...Yeah, you're both probably right. But then, that's why I call it "hope blogging"...Philahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15849261651028725772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695598.post-1126320864588777272005-09-09T19:54:00.000-07:002005-09-09T19:54:00.000-07:00In the halls of power in Washington and Wall Strea...In the halls of power in Washington and Wall Streat I fear that the destruction caused by Katrina is viewed as an opportunity not a tragedy. In that vein, the bulk of the "response" and "reconstruction" $$ promised by BushCo will likely wind-up in the hands of his wealthy buddies. The $9 Billion "lost" in Iraq is a perfect model for what will happen here. Not only will the poor and working class of the gulf region get pennies on the dollar but they also will have no say in what "reconstruction" actually takes place. There's no doubt BushCo and friends intend to rebuild something in the areas hit by Katrina, but my guess is that it will bear little resemblance to what was lost.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695598.post-1126318570526436862005-09-09T19:16:00.000-07:002005-09-09T19:16:00.000-07:00Learning from the Netherlands is an excellent idea...Learning from the Netherlands is an excellent idea; and why not throw wind-power and other energy alternatives into the mix. As for the CCC, I'm betting no chance. Any such scheme will be denounced as socialism, pure and simple. Making a cost-benefit argument won't matter one way or the other. Any more that facts. Much of the political leadership just knows the "free market" provides the answer. How this "free market" includes no-bid government contracts, etc -- don't even ask. In fact, the program you describe can be consistent with a capitalistic economy. But not a crony capitalistic one. Which is what we're well on the way to becoming. Look for taxpayer dollars to subsidize corporate ventures wiht limited to no accountability: socialize the risk, privatize the profits. That's been business as usual the past several years--and not even Katrina can change 30 years of think tank pressure, K street lobbyists, and a political system that depends on the donor class. For proof, just take a look at the <A HREF="http://www.americanprogressaction.org/site/pp.asp?c=klLWJcP7H&b=100480#3" REL="nofollow">recent energy bill</A>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com