Aftershock

I’ve heard Robert Reich speak about his new book Aftershock about a half-dozen times. I never tire of listening to him; he’s right up there with Paul Krugman. Last night, he was on The Colbert Report and they talked about something that one never hears: if the middle class keeps losing its economic power, they may revolt and elect truly liberal or (Gasp!) socialist leaders who will actually enforce labor laws and bring the top income tax rate back up to 90% and make Social Security an equal or ever progressive tax instead of the regressive tax that it is. One thing you can say about Americans is that they feel entitled to a high standard of living. They will only accept this level of economic inequality as long as their lives are pretty good. Then it’s Europe time!

I look forward to this. My only concern is that somehow, such changes would get in the courts and in another 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court would find such legislative changes unconstitutional. If that happened, I would hope we would have a constitutional convention and not an armed rebellion. Because if there is armed revolt, you’ll find me cowering in my room—just like always.

Chris Coons

Christine O’Donnell is getting all of the press in Delaware because she’s a wingnut. Her opponent, Chris Coons, is expected to win just because he is not her. But the New York Times wrote an excellent profile of him yesterday. I find him almost irresistible.

End of DADT?

U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips issued a worldwide injunction, ending the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in the US military. My understanding from past discussions of this expected ruling is that the Whitehouse will put off making a decision about whether to appeal until after the elections. I’m not sure why they would do that, though. On most issues, the American people are far more liberal than their leaders. Why is that?