The Democrats' model

Although they would deny it, if a Democrat was in the White House now, and the Republicans controlled the Congress, any relief legislation would be difficult to extract, and it would be even more heavily loaded with favors for the oligarchs than the ones we are seeing enacted.

In addition, there would be phony hand wringing about running up the deficits and snide comments about people - especially minorities - getting something for nothing. However, since it's an election year and their power is in jeopardy, the Republicans are cooperating with the party that actually is capable of governing - the Democrats.

In 2009-10, that's what happened, prolonging the recovery and resulting in a change in congressional leadership, partly as a result of the Tea Party going crazy about deficits. Now that there's another crisis, it's the Democrats, cooperating with the Republicans in power, that are doing something about the crisis.

A party that spends its time and rhetoric on telling everyone how government is the problem, not the solution, turns to the party capable of governance to help solve the problem. If it weren't for the Democratic Party, the relief bill would look very different. It would still exist because without it, Republicans would lose the election. But it would be loaded up with goodies for the oligarchs and their friends.

Larry Williams

Libertyville