tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31671374.post7707807128674545577..comments2023-10-30T07:10:34.610-07:00Comments on Underbelly: Elizabeth Warren meets PoliticsBucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16452321114185736762noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31671374.post-24128453975086599572011-09-24T00:59:56.096-07:002011-09-24T00:59:56.096-07:00As an outsider looking in on American politics and...As an outsider looking in on American politics and economic affairs Elizabeth Warren's emergence is one of the few signs of hope for the future. American politics have a huge effect on the rest of the world and we have next to nil influence on the whole process of electing representativesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31671374.post-54881234992338406232011-09-23T10:54:43.785-07:002011-09-23T10:54:43.785-07:00"... the real beef with her: she idealizes, r..."... the real beef with her: she idealizes, romanticizes this hypothetical "middle class" of honest, hard-working Americans, in no way the authors of their own misfortune ..."<br /><br />Yes, the middle class *should* have recognized in about 1975 that their real standard of living was not going to grow for a generation. Had they anticipated the next 30 years, they would have worked harder, saved more, avoided debt, changed careers, ...<br /><br />blah, blah, blah<br /><br />Did Wall Street do any of those things? Prudent, long-term planning? Hah! Quick fixes every quarter is their only plan.<br /><br />I think Warren's brand of morality -- which I largely agree with -- is that in a completely asymmetric power relationship, the POWERFUL party needs to exercise restraint. So, for example, the credit card companies need to be regulated to stop offering financial crack to potential junkies. <br /><br />While I agree any individual *can* make better choices, it's unrealistic to expect ALL of them to do so ALL of the time. And as long as there are suckers, there will be grifters to exploit them, while singing, "it's all about the Benjamins, baby!"<br /><br />Good for Warren. She's reminding people that *community* is a value too.Sethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16486234948199900568noreply@blogger.com