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.