I wonder whether this generation is familiar with the story that is the title of this blog. As you probably know, the Emperor walks down the road in a parade completely naked, having been duped by two highly-paid rogues into believing he was wearing fine robes. The claim was that only stupid people couldn't see the clothes. Everyone ignores what their eyes clearly see except a young boy, who declares in a loud voice: "The Emperor is naked!" The fraud is then immediately acknowledged by everyone.
Who will it take to expose the Republican "recovery plan" for the fraud it is, so a majority of American voters will be sure to guarantee defeat of the Romney-Ryan ticket in November? Already, I have read critical analyses by Nobel Economist Paul Krugman; Times columnists such as Joe Nocera and Andrew Ross Sorkin; and even David Stockman, OMB director under Reagan. Their arguments confirmed what I already thought about Republican economic plans being just a lot of useless gibberish.
I think it would take someone special, who is recognized as an unquestioned authority in economic matters, above partisanship, and very patriotic. My nomination for this role would be Warren Buffett. If he denounced the Republican plan in the clearly understandable, folksy way that only he can do, I believe most people would see the light. I hope he does it, because there is a lot at stake here.
I am not writing now as a political partisan. If the Republican candidate had the answers, I'd vote for him irrespective of party affiliation. Obviously, this country is in trouble and millions of Americans are desperate for help. This is not the time to push policies that will accomplish nothing beyond blind ambition to win the presidency and serve the interests of the wealthy.
I am not going to rehash the arguments here; others have already done so in great detail. Suffice it to say that shredding the social safety net and giving more tax breaks to the wealthy are not going to produce economic prosperity. It's common sense and historical fact that this combo won't do it, yet that is the heart of the Republican program.
What disturbs me and what I want to convey here are the following thoughts: why aren't patriotic leaders like Warren Buffett speaking out? How can a great democracy like ours function when so many are so gullible? How short-sighted, greedy, and unconcerned about our fellow Americans can the rich be?
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