THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUTH & AGE

Submitted by Roldo on Sat, 12/19/2009 - 15:21.

The discussion on Bill Moyers show last night on PBS between Robert Kuttner of the American Prospect and Matt Taibbi of Rolling Stone offers insight into the difference between youthful smarts and elder wisdom.

 

Taibbi would vote to kill the health reform bill. Kuttner would hold his nose and vote for it.

 

We know that at least temporarily (who can tell what will happen) the Democrats have welded together 60 votes in the U. S. Senate to pass the bill out of that body.

 

Many of us don’t like the bill. Some of us, me included, will take even a watered down bill with hope of improving it in the future. Lack of a bill would not leave open the possibility of future process and improvement.

 

The discussion presents the stark difference, I think, between the youthful desire for real change and the older wisdom of taking some change as a step toward more change.

 

Here’s the discussion between Kuttner and Taibbi:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/18/taibi-kuttner-debate-heal_n_397757.html

 

 

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great discussion

Submitted by Susan Miller on Sat, 12/19/2009 - 19:38.

This was a fascinating discussion. Thanks for posting it. I went to the site and listened to the entire show: http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/12182009/watch.html

Until someone supplies Obama with the juice that helps him to grow into his presidential cojones, may we progressives somehow survive.

I have to admit that I went to read the article you linked from the New Yorker and could not read through it. The author, surgeon, Atul Gawande picked the wrong example for me - extolling the virtues of the IMHO failed and failing USDA. I could see "green revolution" flashing like a shorted out neon sign in my head and I just couldn't read through.

Raj Patel in his talk often mentions buying fair trade and how that isn't enough (to fix failed and failing agricultural policies globally). He follows by saying that of course he buys fair trade because "what's the option, bloody trade?"

I hear Kuttner on holding his nose and voting for it and even in his discouraged tone, one can sense the AAAAARRGH! he feels in saying that. I do wish as both of the guests do that Obama would have turned out to be a people's president right out of the gate. I abhor the fact that he has continued the wars, bailed out the banks, blah and blue. I would have it go an entirely direction as would both of these guests. I just have to ask, how long will progressive have to hold our noses? And if we hold them too long, will we still be able to gasp for that life saving breath at the last moment?

Eliot, as usual comes to mind:

Like a patient etherized upon the table... I grow old, I grow old Shall I wear my trousers rolled?

Interestingly when I googled to be sure I had the words (memory evades many days) I found this depressed blog post that sort of sums up how many progressives must be feeling about now. Weary, the audacity of hope wearing thin.

Still, as the holiday nears, I do hope that we can give it a rest at least until 2010 arrives.

Will the Senate be working over Christmas recess?

Maybe we all need a little break.

 

 

Change is on the way!

Submitted by Lee Batdorff on Sun, 12/20/2009 - 00:27.

Social Security started as a shadow of what it is today.

While I don't have a clear concept of the content of what the Senate approved, apparently the universal concensus, left, right, and middle, is that it is flawed. What ever results from a House-Senate compromise will likely be at least as flawed.

As so often happens the intended consequences may not match the actual results. Likely, there will be surprises in store for the citizenry. Again, through the grind of politics, more change is on the way. The question will be: for better or for worse, for the citizens.