Like many on the right side of things, I’ve not been very high lately on people like David Brooks, Peggy Noonan and David Frum. In my view, they’re snobs who would rather be popular with the beautiful people than stick to principle. But as the saying goes, even a stopped clock is right twice a day. And David Brooks is right today when he wonders aloud about the myopia of our leaders in the current crisis. Of their inability to concentrate on the absolutely essential things and their willingness to divert themselves with plans, symposia and a ‘new global architecture’.
Many people used to wonder how the world’s leaders could be so myopic at various points in history — like during the Versailles Treaty or the turmoil of the 1930s. We don’t have to wonder any more. We get to watch the cosmic myopia replay itself in our own times.
What’s astonishing to me, however, is Brooks’ astonishment. As I pointed out in my previous post, Congress too often acts in its own political interest, even at times of great peril. While there are always clear thinkers in any group, it’s usually hard for the sane people to rise above the background noise. As a human proposition, the people comprising our Congress are no different than other ‘leaders’ in the current world.
If there’s going to be clarity, it’s got to come from ‘ordinary’ people with good sense. So here’s a focus list for our leaders, provided by an ordinary guy:
1. Stabilize the banking system. It’s the key to everything.
2. Cut government spending. And I don’t mean across-the-board cuts. I mean prioritized cuts, leaving what’s essential for the government’s constitutional functions. Like Little Man Rahm, I think we should never let a good crisis go to waste.
3. Allow the market to work. This means no more bailouts. I have never approved of bailouts. The doors of the bankruptcy court are wide – wide enough for AIG and GM. It’s going to happen anyway – let’s get it over with.
4. Support the dollar. It’s the bedrock of not only our own economy, but of the world’s.
5. Forget the welfare state – forever. Besides being economically unsustainable, it saps thrift, initiative, industry and self-reliance.
Just my opinion.
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