And what if Obama does fail?

[soupkitchen]

When academic economists argue whether FDR's New Deal programs rescued us the the Great Depression they are missing the vital point: America survived the Great Depression with its democracy pretty much intact.

This was not a given at the time. And you can argue the economics all you want, whether this or that spurred or stymied economic growth, but what can only be argued against by ignoring is that many of the New Deal programs immediately alleviated the social pressures which historically have caused a society to implode.

When people don't have jobs, don't have shelter, don't have food to eat they take to the streets. I don't mean in protest, I mean in riot. And the ramifications of riot are never good.

So, anyway, if Obama fails what's next? The two alternatives: Republicans democratically regain control of the government, reduce taxes and everybody lives happily ever after (the alternative brayed and bleated by the Republicans) or complete chaos--no jobs, no food, no shelter--wilding in the streets, martial law, a permanent police state, the death of American democracy.

And this is why the Rush Limbaugh crowd wants Obama to fail. They don't believe in democracy. They believe in plutocracy. Having already stolen much of the wealth of this country, now all they need to do is destroy the rest for the rest, to foment chaos as a pretext for seizing power.

What it comes down to is that Obama wants to repair this country. And the Conservatives what to see their forty-year project to destroy the democratic fabric of this country completed.

Remember there is no one more conservative than a monarchist. And if Obama fails, maybe Rush can be King. He already lives in Versailles.

Such is the power of oxycodin induced megalomania. Such is the moral character of those who want Obama to fail.

[Mz Pip]

1. We'll all be screwed

If we have massive unemployment combined with inflation I can only imagine the civil unrest that will lead to.

[FreakinDJ]

3. We'll end up peasant surfs to corporations

The RATpubliCONs will cheer on the corporations as their saviors of Amurika as the Corps. buy up foreclosed homes and set up company towns and indebted servitude all over again

[Glorfindel]

5. "We fail? But screw your courage to the sticking-place...

and we'll not fail." Sorry, but "fail" and "screwed" brought Lady Macbeth's speech to mind. Massive unemployment combined with inflation actually might only lead to despair and surrender, which would be worse than civil unrest, in my opinion. Neither is a good prospect for the country. President Obama must not fail.

[global1]

9. Soylent Green.......nt

[midnight]

2. Well, I guess the working class will have to had over their

social security to pay the tax for having the Audacity to hope for a better life.

[FreakinDJ]

4. What is the Chinese word for "Your Welcome"

[Ezlivin]

22. All I know is that it's different from "You're Welcome"

:shrug:

[Sarah Ibarruri]

6. The GOP broke it - money is all that will fix it - if THAT doesn't work, nothing will

We kill off the entire GOP and put the money back where they stole it? LOL! I dunno!

Makes me crazy that the @$$holes pretend they didn't have anything to do with this mess, when they are the authors and have been working very hard at it for the better part of 3 decades.

[brazos121200]

7. I predict Obama will have to go much farther than FDR

did in order to rescue America from this depression. FDR, as good as he was, didn't really have a clear idea of what he wanted to do or needed to do to reverse the effects of the economic depression, Obama does have a clear vision of what he wants and needs to do. Most of FDR's relief measures were declared unconstitutional by the repub supreme court, which helped to prolong the depression, and they will be Obama's chief roadblock to real economic change. The repubs now generally have a 5 to 4 majority on the court, including the Chief Justice, Roberts. It might be hard for Obama to win over another vote on the court to get a 5 to 4 majority.

[BlooInBloo]

8. (shrug) People sitting around ruminating on "what if the worst possible thing that could happen...

actually happens?" don't usually achieve very much.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

10. I have questions.....

Why are you anticipating failure?

Why do you think there will be failure?

Have you been listening to the mass media, where the entire GOP is saying that this will fail?

[Richardo]

11. Marshall's Law: The persuasiveness of an internet post is inversely proportional ...

...to the use of "Marshall Law" in place of 'martial law'.

[ejpoeta]

12. think of how many of those programs FDR started have kept us afloat so far!!

Social security for the elderly.... Medicare..... FDIC insurance.... you want to see a run on the banks!! if people didn't know their money was safe you can bet that IndyMac would have been every bank!! There are so many things in place today because of FDR, and people take them for granted. that alone has helped our buoyancy.

[MercutioATC]

13. If Obama fails, the Republicans will be the least of our worries.

This "fix" is way too big to fail. If it doesn't work, things are going to get REALLY ugly.

[TWiley]

14. This is why the idealists need to shut up.

We should not allow the tweed coat crowd to go around bashing the rest of us. The stakes are too high. We do NOT need more bullshit idealists. We need activists willing to follow the philosophy that our leadersip has put out there. It is good, the stakes are high, and to the green tweed hat crowd I will say:

Please go sit in an empty Nadir for President office somewhere and let the rest of us get back to work without your incessant pie in the sky it is not good enough commentary.

[Jeneral]

15. Renaming

Anger and stupidty in the right--might as well call the cock-servatists rather than conservatists.

[Deja Q]

16. Don't you mean "martial law"?

[soupkitchen]

18. thank you. corrected. I plead ADD

[Yavin4]

20. Isn't Marshall Law About Forcing Us To Listen to the Marshall Tucker Band?

24/7?

[TahitiNut]

17. At the time of the Great Depression, both fascism and communism coveted predominance in the US.

FDR 'saved' capitalism from the capitalists -- who were largely inclined to adopt fascism. Had they done so, the EXTREMELY viable and active socialist/communist influences in the populace would have probably risen up and taken over. FDR precluded that.

Today, we're in a much more tenuous condition, with the entrenched powers of fascism far more viable.

IMHO.

[soupkitchen]

19. that's what we're talking about

[glowing]

21. Better read the history books... Bush family and various other stooges tried to

overtake the govt before, they failed. FDR's only fault was that he didn't try them for treason then. Obama is foolish to only look forward. The reason we need to have prosecutions of these people is because they only hide silently for a while and then they strike. Seriously, two Bush predecessors became Presidents. That family was all about fascism and turning America into Germany- Hitler style. The goal of the wealthy is to crush America. America has principles of freedom, democracy, people rule. Capitalism in its current form is just a nicer sounding way to say fascism. The various spy/ police/ info gathering units such as CIA and FBI, etc to control us. AND the media is complicit as usual. But the history of America has always been at a tipping point. It seems that when we are at the brink, somehow we survive, continue on, and outlast those that wish to destroy us.