Paul Siegel: October 2008 Archives

In this period of nasty campaign innuendo and smears and falsehoods about the motives, beliefs and actions of those on the "other side," it's time to stop and ruminate about what is an American. More than one Republican has been throwing anti-American brickbrats at Obama and other Democrats. Is this the American way?

This sounds like a contradiction in terms. If you want to win - and nothing is more important than winning - then you must do everything to denigrate and ruin the reputation of your opponent. This nasty politics has been with us for a long time. However, yesterday's debate between John McCain and Barack Obama proves that nasty is not always the best approach. Nice guys finish first.

Since the Dow started its downward spiral all economists have focused on how to save our economic system. The same economists that led us into the current quagmire are offering solutions for extricating ourselves from it. More of the same, more of the same. It's time to disregard the old economists and to try to rebuild our capitalism.

The economy is nosediving and we need to do something, not to restore the credit markets (what does that mean?) nor to increase confidence (which is elusive), but to help the citizens of the U.S. who are and will be in financial trouble. We need a bailout alright but not a bailout of fat cats who will get along nicely regardelss of what we do, but a bailout of workers and homeowners.