Bob Herbert: "Losing Our Way"

Bob Herbert (NY Times):

So here we are pouring shiploads of cash into yet another war, this time in Libya, while simultaneously demolishing school budgets, closing libraries, laying off teachers and police officers, and generally letting the bottom fall out of the quality of life here at home.

Welcome to America in the second decade of the 21st century. An army of long-term unemployed workers is spread across the land, the human fallout from the Great Recession and long years of misguided economic policies. Optimism is in short supply. The few jobs now being created too often pay a pittance, not nearly enough to pry open the doors to a middle-class standard of living.

Arthur Miller, echoing the poet Archibald MacLeish, liked to say that the essence of America was its promises. That was a long time ago. Limitless greed, unrestrained corporate power and a ferocious addiction to foreign oil have led us to an era of perpetual war and economic decline. Young people today are staring at a future in which they will be less well off than their elders, a reversal of fortune that should send a shudder through everyone.

The U.S. has not just misplaced its priorities. When the most powerful country ever to inhabit the earth finds it so easy to plunge into the horror of warfare but almost impossible to find adequate work for its people or to properly educate its young, it has lost its way entirely. MORE...

State of the Union Roundup

"Americans Want Obama to Spend More Time on the Economy, Poll Finds" (Wall Street Journal):

On the eve of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, voters think the president should be spending more time on the economy.

According to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC poll, 51% of Americans believe Mr. Obama has paid "too little attention" to the economy. Forty-four percent think he has paid "too much attention" to his proposed overhaul of health care. A plurality continues to think that Mr. Obama's health-care plan is a bad idea.

"Obama will 'accept responsibility' (but not blame) for the lack of promised change" (AMERICAblog/NY Times):

The latest revelation about tonight's speech, via Jeff Zeleny at the NY Times, is that Obama will be somewhat contrite in his speech tonight. Giving this leak to Zeleny means the White House team really wanted prominent placement for this aspect of the speech (and for it to be part of the pundit chatter today.)

"House to Senate: We're Ready On Health Care If You Are" (TPM):

Leading Democrats in the House still insist that "all options are on the table" to move ahead on health care. But for the first time since last Tuesday's special election in Massachusetts, it's clear that they're coalescing around the most widely discussed option: moving ahead with the Senate bill once it's clear that it will be changed through the filibuster-proof reconciliation process. Before they can move ahead, they need the Senate to make some real headway on their end of the bargain--and they're not getting the signs they need.

Howie P.S.: Tie health care to the economy, take a 2x4 to certain senators and "it's all good!" Hit the links for the full stories. More good news: Joe Wilson promises to"button it"! Ben Smith ruins my happy-talk party by linking to this from Politico: "Top Democrats at war - with each other." Another turd in the punch bowl: "The Sorry State of the Union" (Robert Scheer).