I’m not much for conspiracy theories.
In my long-ago days in City Hall, we often encountered folks–sometimes they were neighborhood activists, sometimes representatives of organizations aggrieved about some action–who were absolutely convinced that city officials had cleverly and surreptiously implemented a plan to screw them. What they didn’t understand was that we lacked the cunning and imagination needed to carry out the nefarious plots they attributed to us. As a former co-worker used to say, incompetence explained so much more than conspiracy.
But just because most accusations of intentional conspiracies tend to come from paranoid folks doesn’t mean that bad behavior is never intentional. (As the old saying goes, even paranoids have enemies.)
Which brings me to an unsettling theory advanced by Robert Reich in a recent blog post.
Robert Reich, as most readers know, was Secretary of Labor in the Clinton Administration. He now teaches at Berkeley. His politics tend to be considerably to the left of mine; that said, however, his is a credible and very respectable voice, and he is not given to conspiracy theories.
Reich writes about persistently high unemployment, and the unwillingness of Congressional Republicans to do anything about it. These are facts. Unemployment remains high, and the House GOP remains stubbornly opposed to even the most reasonable measures to address that problem. The question is, why? Reich dismisses the notion that Republican obstinacy is entirely due to hatred of President Obama (aka the black guy in the White House).
First, high unemployment keeps wages down. Workers who are worried about losing their jobs settle for whatever they can get — which is why hourly earnings keep dropping. The median wage is now 4 percent lower than it was at the start of the recovery. Low wages help boost corporate profits, thereby keeping the regressives’ corporate sponsors happy.
Second, high unemployment fuels the bull market on Wall Street. That’s because the Fed is committed to buying long-term bonds as long as unemployment remains high. This keeps bond yields low and pushes investors into equities — which helps boosts executive pay and Wall Street commissions, thereby keeping regressives’ financial sponsors happy.
Third, high unemployment keeps most Americans economically fearful and financially insecure. This sets them up to believe regressive lies — that their biggest worry should be that “big government” will tax away the little they have and give it to “undeserving” minorities; that they should support low taxes on corporations and wealthy “job creators;” and that new immigrants threaten their jobs.
I suppose this theory doesn’t really amount to a conspiracy, but it does suggest that the GOPs blocking maneuvers are prompted by actual reasons, no matter how much their behavior resembles a two-year-old’s tantrum.
If Reich is correct–and I’m still dubious–members of the House GOP are both smarter and much more despicable than I had previously imagined.
Perhaps the GOP are mere foot soldiers for their corporate overlords. Congressman don’t need to understand the reasons for the strategy they’re paid to implement.
Hats off to Robert Reich, Sheila Kennedy, and Michael Wallack. You’ve all cut through the clutter and made things much more clear.
Reich’s theories are the best I have read. The economy is undergoing structural change. The unions’ strength has disappeared, American labor force is larger than an info/tech economy needs…..all of which suggests that Republican / corporate strategists have extraordiary power to control outcomes.
Its no longer a theory of conspiracy if it is true.
We were never taught in grade school that Prez Lincoln was assassinated through conspiracy…other important office holders were attacked on the same as night Lincoln was shot.
A well planned and executed conspiracy…That killed a president of the United States.
…With advances in technology I would easily assume that conspiracies have evolved as well. Their still here… plotting, exploiting and preparing for then next conspiracy to…?
“First, high unemployment keeps wages down. Workers who are worried about losing their jobs settle for whatever they can get — which is why hourly earnings keep dropping. The median wage is now 4 percent lower than it was at the start of the recovery.”
…And put less money into the economy through Workers having less to spend.
“f Reich is correct–and I’m still dubious–members of the House GOP are both smarter and much more despicable than I had previously imagined.”
“despicable” …I’m guessing you forgot about Colson , Carl Rove’s hero.