Of all the NYT columnists Krugman, Friedman and Dowd are the ones I
always read, FIRST.
But lately, Tom Friedman's column has changed. He seems conflicted,
perhaps he wants to please too much. He seems like a child in a
dysfunctional family. Trying always to play it both ways.
I realize that Friedman is influenced by the large Jewish population
in the New York area, and Friedman is, in truth, Pro-Israel and
always has been.
But, still, Friedman's sad attempts to "justify" Dubya's Disaster in
Iraq, are annoying.
Worse yet, Friedman's LOVE OF INDIA makes me wonder why he just
doesn't move there! Yesterday's column attempting to "white wash"
and spin the migration of AMERICAN JOBS to the sub-continent, was,
well, intellectually "thin."
The notion that moving the American "back office" to India is OK,
because they use Dell Computers and drink Coke is nonsense.
First of all, most of that "American Hardware" is probably made in
China!
Finally, Friedman says that Indians are now doing American Cartoons
too! But that's OK because the voice overs are being done in LA! Oh
Pleaseeee.....!
LATELY FRIEDMAN HAS BEEN MAKING ABOUT AS MUCH SENSE AS SAFIRE!
DOWD'S ATTACKS ON DUBYA & CHUMS ARE CLASSICS! AT LEAST SOMEBODY ON
THE NYT OP-ED PAGE HASN'T "SOLD OUT!" A JOY TO READ. ALWAYS.
KRUGMAN'S COLUMN TODAY PRETTY MUCH REPEATS THE "GLOOM AND DOOM"
DOCTRINE ON WHERE THE US ECONOMY HAS TO GO TO SURVIVE.
WE NEED A NATIONAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAM LIKE EVERYONE ELSE HAS.
AND A BETTER SOCIAL SAFETY NET FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY "FREE TRADE,"
WHICH IS NOW A CODE WORD FOR "CHEAP LABOR" APPARENTLY.
I AGREE WITH KRUGMAN THAT KERRY HAS TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVER-PROMISE
ON JOBS. (But I said that here WEEKS ago!) So........?
PERHAPS THE HISTORICAL ROLE OF SOON TO BE PRESIDENT KERRY WILL BE TO
RE-ESTABLISH THE SOCIAL SAFTEY NET IN AMERICA, RAISE TAXES ON THOSE
WHO BENEFIT MOST FROM THE "CURRENT SYSTEM," AND THEREBY SAVE
PRESENT "FREE TRADE" SYSTEM FOR THE GLOBAL ECONOMY AND GLOBAL CAPITAL?
And, fortunately, that's all "doable." No Revolution Required!
