Krauthammer 2/27/09

What Obama Wants: Part 1

My take on Charles Krauthammer's latest. His column was published in the Washington Post.

Summary: Yesterday's speech laid out Obama's main goals: (1) Universal health care; (2) Universal education; and (3) Government regulated and funded green energy economy. These changes will be a major change in American society.

Quote:

. . . the current crisis gives Obama the political space to move the still (relatively) modest American welfare state toward European-style social democracy.

My Views: The problem with government regulation and control is that while it limits economic downturns, it also limits economic upturns. Despite these downturns, the economy has expanded rapidly over the long term. Limiting upturns will slow that long term expansion. We will be less well off in the future because of this.

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Charles Krauthammer is a more establishment columnist. He came to punditry by way of psychiatry (at Massachusetts General Hospital) via the New Republic Magazine. He appears on TV where you never see his wheelchair. Here's his Wiki bio.

He wrote a book which is pictured at the right. I am drawn by the substance and the thinking than any particular writing flair.

Krauthammer 2/20/09

Lower Profile Diplomacy

My take on Charles Krauthammer's latest. His column was published in the Washington Post.

Summary: He lists the foreign policy reverses that various countries hit the US with since the new President took office. Every new President is tested but while Obama's tests have been small ones, he has not stood up to them well.

Quote:

I would like to think the supine posture is attributable to a rookie leader otherwise preoccupied (i.e., domestically), leading a foreign policy team as yet unorganized if not disoriented.

My Views: I'm not sure I agree with K's conclusions. A chess game may start with a slow, passive plan. The player uses a passive layout because he wants to build up for the middle game. Obama may have calculated on sacrificing a few reverses early on in order to disipate ill will. Once he has revamped America's diplomatic position, he may want to get more aggressive later on.

There's also a good arguement that America ought to lower its profile for awhile. First, to regroup its economy and second, to encourage other friendly countries to take up some of the slack in foreign obligations.

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Charles Krauthammer is a more establishment columnist. He came to punditry by way of psychiatry (at Massachusetts General Hospital) via the New Republic Magazine. He appears on TV where you never see his wheelchair. Here's his Wiki bio.

He wrote a book which is pictured at the right. I am drawn by the substance and the thinking than any particular writing flair.