Quote:
|
"The United States could be facing another jobless recovery. Again, that's why we've advised against fiscal consolidation that is unduly hasty – even as we stress the importance of getting a fiscal consolidation plan agreed soon. We've also recommended active labour market policies to stem the rise in structural unemployment, and measures to ease adjustment in the housing market (for example, mortgage relief)."
|
from christine lagarde's statement.
the degenerate state of american political discourse has fallen behind even that of the imf.
well played.
but what this highlights is the obvious: the right does not want to see the state investing in programs that might ease the very considerable structural unemployment and begin to address the consequences of 40 years of neo-liberal enabled restructuring of the american economy not because it isn't needed, but rather because it would make a party with absolutely nothing to say, no programs to offer, no solutions---and no viable candidates---unable to continue to pretend to itself that if it just damages obama long enough that somehow people will take leave of their sense and vote for less-than-zero because it's not obama.
so the right would rather impose unnecessary austerity measures for no fucking reason in the middle of a crisis than address the crisis for reasons of petty partisan politics.
and the ultra-right imagines they will benefit by creating more difficulties for more people---including themselves.