Comments on: A Question of Priorities

By: Postmodern Papist

Postmodern Papist — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:36:30 +0000

As with Policraticus, I don’t support Obama, and would follow the same order of priorities as he lists.

Good point made in the first paragraph, by the way, Blackadder.

- Kyle

By: blackadderiv

blackadderiv — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:14:07 +0000

I didn’t include foreign policy because it isn’t subject to the same constraints. If a President Obama wanted to bring the troops home from Iraq, for example, he wouldn’t need congressional authority to do so.

By: Michael Denton

Michael Denton — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:10:03 +0000

I’m not sure if I should comment, seeing as I have no intention of voting for Obama, but I was a little curious why the issue of the war/foreign policy was not included? I know the Democrats are trying to talk more economically to respond to the main interests swing voters are identifying in the polls but I think most Democrats, and most of the people on this blog who are voting for/sympathetic/tolerant of Obama would make that a top priority. I don’t know if they’d put it over health care but I’m curious to see.

By: Bill H

Bill H — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:45:01 +0000

There’s no big need to prioritize undoing the Bush tax cuts. If Congress does nothing whatsoever, most of them will expire on Jan. 1, 2011. Given that the 2009-2010 Congress will most likely be dominated by Democrats, a vote to extend them seems unlikely. If I were hypothetical President Obama, I’d cash in my political chips elsewhere.

By: blackadderiv

blackadderiv — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:26:10 +0000

Zach,

Not a problem.

By: Zach

Zach — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:25:01 +0000

Sorry Blackadder

By: Mark DeFrancisis

Mark DeFrancisis — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:52:43 +0000

….The last two days have been disappointing, IMO. Very little focus. But leave it to the Democrats to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory.

They really will outdo themselves if they lose a presidential election while the outgoing president has a 29% approval rating. It would not be surprising, however.

By: Morning's Minion

Morning's Minion — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:39:15 +0000

BA: I didn’t answer because I don’t see (1) and (3) as totally independent. I would prefer using the proceeds from the Bush tax cuts to pay for health care– and that, by the way, is my main priority.

Incidentally, I would have liked to have heard more about health care last night, and the fact that Obama will cut taxes on all but the very rich. Tax credits for big oil? Yes, we get it, but after 5 hours it gets a bit tedious.

By: blackadderiv

blackadderiv — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:21:27 +0000

That said, I would be interested in hearing MM’s take on which of these issues should have the highest priority.

By: blackadderiv

blackadderiv — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:20:24 +0000

I really rather not get bogged down in a debate about whether Obama’s proposals on these issues are good or bad. If you think that Obama’s health care plan means socialism or that his tax policy would be class warfare, then my question isn’t really directed to you.

By: Morning's Minion

Morning's Minion — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:17:13 +0000

Zach: what you call socialized medicine is not a “terrible idea”, but one that works quite well in the rest of the world, delivering universal coverage at lower cost and better outcomes than the US system.

By: Zach

Zach — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:55:34 +0000

If I had to choose one policy to be enacted, it would be whatever his plan is for climate change. I think it would have the fewest deleterious effects.

If I had to choose two of his policies:

1) I’d like to see the Bush Tax cuts repealed, because that would have the most obvious negative effect on the economy and would provide more empiricial evidence to be used when arguing against Democratic economic policies.

2) Climate change, for the reason outlined above.

I’d prefer not to have his health care plan implemented – socialized medicine is a terrible idea and would fundamentally change our political culture and institutions for the worse.