Isn’t it sweet to be surrounded by so much make-believe? So much pretending. Various characters pretend our economy is just peachy. Pretend that any day now it will kick into higher gear. I hate to be the guy who tugs back the curtain to reveal the Wizard of Oz. But, things ain’t peachy. […]
Isn’t it sweet to be surrounded by so much make-believe? So much pretending.
Various characters pretend our economy is just peachy. Pretend that any day now it will kick into higher gear.
I hate to be the guy who tugs back the curtain to reveal the Wizard of Oz. But, things ain’t peachy. It is time to stop pretending.
This has been a dismal economic recovery. Despite being fueled by the easiest money in history, the economy is anything but robust. Let us stop pretending, please, Washington. The Obama economic policies have worked poorly. We may be headed toward another recession.
Your doctor checks your vitals. Economists do the same with the economy. Lately, the economy’s vitals have missed expectations by the most in six years. New jobs are weak. So is investment. So are exports. So are new business numbers and retail sales.
Suppose your doc said your blood pressure stinks. And your ticker flutters. And your blood analysis is lousy. What would you think? Well, that’s what you should think about your economy. Let us stop pretending.
On the political front, we are asked to pretend a bunch of stuff about the Clintons — in the wake of the accusations in the new book “Clinton Cash.”
Enough already with the pretending. When you tug the curtain back, you see influence peddling and influence buying.
The only reason people cough up millions to a politician is to get something in return. Period, end of fairy tale. People lay out the big bucks to buy influence.
Politicians take the money by promising favors. Or, hinting it, nudge, nudge, wink, wink. Or, by having a proxy do so.
Let’s get real here. It doesn’t matter what the front is. “Yeah the bucks are going to charity.” It doesn’t matter what the defense is. “There is no evidence, you know.
No evidence.”
C’mon, c’mon. Everybody knows there’s a whole lot of influence peddling going on. And, the Clintons are wizards at it.
If you want to pretend this doesn’t go on in Washington (or Albany), I will pin this year’s Casablanca award on your chest. (“I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going in here!”)
If you want to pretend the Clintons are not running the biggest and best-oiled influence machine in town, I’ll pin two of them on you.
A genuinely honest defense of the Clintons should begin this way: Hey, influence-peddling is the lifeblood of this town. And the Clintons run the best game in town.
So what’s your problem?
Now, that would be an honest defense. No pretending.
From Tom...as in Morgan.
Tom Morgan writes about political, financial, and other subjects from his home near Oneonta, in addition to his radio shows and TV show. Contact him at tomasinmorgan@yahoo.com
PULL QUOTE: Lately, the economy’s vitals have missed expectations by the most in six years.
