Monday, July 11, 2011

Magic Levers?

Who wants to be wrong? No person in their right mind wants to be wrong. In an editorial posted in The New York Times titled The Magic Lever written by David Brooks. In the editorial it talks about the economy and how people see it. David Brooks writes that since the start of the recession there have been groups that have proclaimed that they know the solution to all our economic problems. This is a key point because the recession started with the Republicans in power and now 4 years later we have the Democrats in power. David Brooks discuss each group's Magic Lever was supposed to bring an end to the recession but did not and now the United States is in a deep hole and trying to climb out of it. He goes on to state and pit the blame on both parties that they can't fear going back on what they said before if we want to solve the deficit. I found David Brooks view to be highly accurate and I agree upon his statement that there is no one way to solve this crisis. Though David Brooks view is conservative he remains neutral throughout the article. Though at the end he does put his own political views into the mix by saying that the government needs to "Control debt. Control entitlements. Keep tax levels reasonable and the tax code simple. Work on the economic fundamentals: human capital, productivity, labor market flexibility, open trade, saving and investment." On this standpoint I have to disagree with him because I believe that we do need to raise taxes but only briefly until we can manage our finances better and reduce the deficit. He however realizes how the hubris of each group is preventing a solution and that this situation cannot stay the way it is which is the main topic of this editorial. David Brooks is talking for the average citizen who doesn't really know whats the fine details are in solving this crisis but he does know that it needs to be fixed and our pride is getting away which as he states at the very end of the editorial "is the oldest story known to man."

Picture from http://lapsych.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/choices.gif

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