|
All I Want for Xmas Is a Consultancy
By David R. Zukerman, NYC and Winsted
Whereas "Our System" has no time to accept unsolicited, free grassroots advice but will limit itself to suggestions from major campaign contributors, book authors and political consultants, I herewith offer my services as political consultant for the modest wage of $10,000 a week. Although my instruction would normally begin with Federalist 57, I would be willing, for an additional $5,000, to highlight Walt Disney's "Mickey and the Beanstalk" at the first session.
Seriously, folks. The message of this film is that when an ogre controls the country from way up above, the land becomes desolate. If you recall, Mickey's land blossomed with the melodies played by the magical, singing golden harp covering the landscape. But the ogre wanted to have the harp all to himself, and with the harp under lock and key in the ogre's castle, Mickey's land withered and Donald Duck quacked in anxiety and depression. When Mickey, Donald and Goofy finally recovered the harp, joy returned to the land, and the ogre turned out to be not such a bad guy after all.
Now let's look at our landscape. President Bush on December 6 removed Paul O'Neill as his treasury secretary. (Some observers called the dismissal of Mr. O'Neill "brutal," but it could have been worse—his birthday is December 4.) In making the appointment less than two years ago, Mr. Bush indicated that O'Neill "is a steady hand, who, when he speaks, speaks with authority and conviction and knowledge." Mr. Bush went on to say of O'Neill on December 20, 2000: "I look forward to having this good man by my side."
Announcing the O'Neill nomination, President Bush first pointed out that "the secretary of treasury and the president must work closely for the good of the American people." The dismissal of Mr. O'Neill suggests that he was not working "closely" with the President. Indeed, commentators have pointed out that Mr. O'Neill was not keen on the President's plans for tax cuts. An editorial in the New York Times on December 21, 2000, praising O'Neill as a wise choice, took note of conservative "grumbling" at the nomination. Could O'Neill's tenure have been shaky from the outset?
At the news conference on the O'Neill nomination, President Bush indicated that he saw in O'Neill "someone, should the economy take a downturn, who can calm people's nerves, calm the markets, claim those who would speculate in the dollar." The news story on the O'Neill nomination by Times reporter Alison Mitchell—on December 21, 2000—noted that the Federal Reserve was "pointing to rising energy prices, an erosion in consumer confidence and stress in financial markets." Does this sound familiar two years later?
At the news conference on the O'Neill nomination—I will return to the Walt Disney economic instruction shortly—President Bush also stated that "the cornerstone" of his economic plan "will be tax relief, free trade, Social Security reform, less regulations." But do we have meaningful tax relief today? Liberals insist that tax cuts are a cost, not limit on government encroachment. Free trade? Not with respect to steel. Fewer regs? I don't think so. So my analysis is that the Bush economic "cornerstone" is the functional equivalent of the golden harp in Walt Disney's "Mickey and the Beanstalk." When will that cornerstone be returned to the grass roots?
Republicans should understand that my consulting services will not be limited to teaching the economic gospel of Federalist 57—that people who aggrandize on the sacrifice of the many do not promote a bustling economy, and that officials must be close to the people or the system will become oppressive. As Wall Street Journal Editor Robert L. Bartley noted on November 4 (the day before last month's election): "Republicans haven't been able to muster the wit and courage to build a new dominance." The heading over that Wall Street Journal commentary was "Declining Democrats, Intimidated Republicans." Clearly, Republicans are badly in need of instruction in dealing with the "hysteria and name-calling" from the liberals, as Mr. Bartley described the current political climate in his November 18 Wall Street Journal column.
For eight years I have tried and tried and tried to rally Republicans by way of Voice submissions. Very, very reluctantly, I will now augment my submissions by billing Republicans—$10,000 a week. Truly a great sacrifice for a populist, but as the expression says: fire must be fought with fire.
|
|
