Getting Through the Coming Depression

Barack Obama is inheriting a godawful mess as he prepares to move into the presidency, virtually none of it of his making. The governmental/corporate looting system that was the CheneyBush Administration, with greed as its organizing principle and lack of oversight as its all-clear authorization, has broken the back of the American economy. And because when America sneezes the rest of the world catches a cold, the situation is even more dangerous and desperate.

REBIRTH OF "NEW DEAL" PROGRAMS

Obama, some in our men's group speculated, might well turn out to be this generation's FDR, if he has the willingness and intelligence to seize the moment -- and luck on his side.

In his comments toward the end of his campaign, Obama talked about the necessity to put our citizens back to work, so it's possible that he will initiate huge infrastructure projects that will generate millions of salaries. Likewise, by moving ahead quickly with massive alternative-energy projects, he may be able to create millions of other "green" jobs. However, to be able to start these massive projects, he will have to borrow immense sums of money from the international community (read: China, which is undergoing its own economic downturn).

None of this will guarantee success. We're talking long-range investments here, which may pay off many years down the line. But the point is that the federal government, after being ideologically and intellectually asleep at the wheel for eight full years (the better to allow for the organized looting by their corporate supporters), finally will be headed in the direction of intelligent action.

If this means government-sponsored works projects, heavy borrowing up front to finance the initiatives, universal health care as a way of dealing with skyrocketing costs, tighter regulation of banks and other lenders, it appears that the American public, even including many staunch conservatives, will approve. Maybe we can grease the tracks for such necessary initiatives by not using the "s" word; we can refer to these projects as "national-security infrastructure programs" or some other euphemism.

In the meantime, many, like those in my men's group, will realize that to get through the coming lean years, there will have to be much more sharing by friends and neighbors of resources such as garden harvests, tools, vehicles, work, cash loans, meals, etc. We all know that this will entail a shared sacifice and that it takes a village's collective wisdom and strength to get through hard times.

It worked for our parents and grandparents, who transformed themselves and the U.S. in the process. There's no going back now. The "big shitpile" is where we are. We can either give in to despair and hopelessness, or, in a spirit of hope and optimism, we can work to change things for our generation on behalf of our children and grandchildren. In so doing, we have the chance to transform ourselves, and our country, for the better. #

Bernard Weiner, Ph.D. in government & international relations, has taught at universities in California and Washington, worked as a writer/editor with the San Francisco Chronicle for two decades, and currently serves as co-editor of The Crisis Papers (www.crisispapers.org). To comment: crisispapers@comcast.net .

First published by The Crisis Papers and Democratic Underground 11/18/08.
www.crisispapers.org/essays8w/depression.htm

Copyright 2008 by Bernard Weiner.

 1  |  2