I want to hear the ideas in Tom Friedman’s latest book brought into this discussion. The answer for repairing the economy, protecting national security, employing the poor, and saving the environment is a green revolution reinforced by governmental incentives. Specifically in regard to the recent bailout, Friedman advocated that the mortgaged properties in which there is now effectively a public interest should have to meet LEED energy standards.

The price of oil is down — rather than getting sucked into oil addiction again, we could use smart tax policy to set a price point for oil that would send a clear signal that green energy will be worth investing in.

Tom Friedman has been in the past in lala land on a lot of things, but he’s making some sense now to me.

Even if you did what he suggests it does not deal with the problems of health care which is a major issue and the elephant in the room.

Mr.Friedman’s ideas are not going to create that many jobs within the ranks of the poor. Not for people without good training.

I agree that we need to do something about energy, but solar and wind would not be enough for our energy needs.

There is a lot on the plate here. I do agree that we could a Marshall plan for infrastructure and rebuilding the national grid that includes a national health care system.

Deb Peters, owner of the environmental consulting firm, would not have a business if it weren’t for environmental regulations that have largely been the result of Democratic politicians. So Deb your business is a gift from the people through the government. If she doesn’t think she’s getting a good return on investment then she should try a new business. It also sounds like she needs a new accountant.

Will lifting the burden of health insurance from American business while providing access to group coverage to all Americans improve our competitiveness in the world?
It seems to me that GM would do much better. Why do countries in Europe with universal coverage spend half as much of their GDP on health care compared to the US? (3% v. 6%)

Why did the government not consider a stimulus package where every American taxpayer gets a real substantial amount of money? If you do the math, this package would come to far less than the “bailout” and still make people comfortable enough to spend some money, pay some bills and still have a lot left over. Corporate Socialism (Fascism) is the order of the day in this America. Rather unfortunate.

So many of those suffering in this economic meltdown talk about medical insurance. Had those in the government and big medicine listened to Harry Truman in the forties and opted for universal coverage, this would not be a topic of conversation.

In addition, had big automobile companies listened to Walter Reuther in the fifties and lobbied the government for federally backed pensions, people who have worked hard all their lives wouldn’t be in jeopardy today. Likewise, perhaps the auto companies wouldn’t be talking about bankruptcy because they wouldn’t be saddled with medical and pension costs.

Believing the propaganda about “evil socialism” back then has led us into a real mess.

I am a Canadian but listen to NPR and wanted to comment. Just heard the listener (who earns $250,000 a year) complain about Obama’s tax plan. He wants to earn the income but not pay more taxes. Here in Canada we pay a much higher rate of taxes than you do in the U.S. but with that we receive better (free) health care and a great deal of social services. From where I stand, Americans have been living an unrealistic dream for too long, filling their lives with so much “stuff”, which they cannot afford and they want to continue this at the expense of the rest of the world. Sorry to burst your bubble but this has got to stop!

Thanks to the On Point producers and Tom Ashbrook for giving time to ordinary Americans. It would be useful to hear this on a regular basis. Academics, politicians and policy makers need to know what they are thinking and experiencing more to make more effective decisions. Shows like this keep us honest. Next time (I hope) it would be nice to have more diverse voices however — they are “ordinary” America too. In any case On Point is one of the best programs on the radio, thanks!

The guy who called up and said he makes about $250K a year is, in part lucky, to have been born here. On the other side, Jean Berg is just silly. It takes no training or experience to do her job which is why it’s only $7/hour. She should get into another field if she doesn’t like the pay and benefits.

F. Sumer,

Agree totally. The other interesting point is that that guy that makes $250,000 is misinformed. According to the Tax Policy Center, if you make between $227,000 and $603,000, your taxes will go up on average $12. Not a typo. And since he’s at the lower end of the range, he probably won’t see any increase at all.

So quit your whining.

I listened to a good majority of the program and feel the need to throw my two cents worth in. First I am smack-dab in the middle of middle class America. I work for the Department of the Navy. I have served my country and retired from the Navy after 22 years.

First, no one man, candidate or party can fix it all. We look to see who has the best potential of living up to the ideals that they put forth to the people asking for their vote. I’ve heard the callers and those picked to participate and I understand where some of them get their reasoning for the choice they have made or are leaning towards making.

The economy is the number one issue for this country as I see it. Even our foreign policy decisions are based more on economical lines than traditional ideological differences. As it stands right now, Obama is my choice. I respect John McCain for the service and sacrifices he has made in the service of our country, but I don’t think that makes him automatically an expert on the world stage of politics. I also know that he is the weaker of the two candidates on economical issues, which was by his own admission. I know he has experience in Washington but I’m not looking at that as a plus but a negative; he is part of the systemic problem that has gotten us to the point we are now in. President Bush had experience in executive branch leadership and comes from a family who has a history of government leadership and involvement, but that hasn’t worked out too well for us.

Obama has a plan that will raise taxes on those who make 250,000 or more, and while I never like the ideal of having to pay taxes, who really does, I think that those at the upper range of earnings should do more, a fairness thing so to speak. It then comes down to where does the cut-off value begin to say who should pay more or not is it 250,000, 300,000, etc. I really know that this would be debated and looked at hard before it is made to be hardened in stone, but 250,000 is a place to start.

I feel that Obama has it right and McCain wrong with the troops in Iraq. The only place we should be in over there is Afghanistan and it is time to let the people of Iraq deal with fate. This talk of victory or defeat in Iraq only means that we never learned the lessons of history and went into a country that we should not have and the Senator McCain is out of touch with those who have served over there for the 3rd or 4th times.

Finally I can not in good conscience put Governor Palin near the White House. She is in my book incompetent for the world stage; keep her in Alaska to season up a bit.

Bottom line is it really does come down to change. McCain in my mind is to rooted in what is now there which has led us to what we have right now — a mess. I think Obama will be the most likely to deliver and I think it is time for something new.

I urge you all to vote for Chuck Baldwin and send a message to the Globalist Elitists that Americans will not stand for a New World Order that takes our wealth and rights away and makes us have a chip implanted so we can be manipulated further. Video.google.com and key in “Russo New World Order” and you will understand that the housing bubble was created by the Federal Reserve and this “crisis” was planned as well. World financial leaders want more power, more money, and fewer people on earth. Stand with those who will not give up their liberties, such as the right to bear arms. We do not want the Amero. Vote out incumbents who support the NWO!

My money goes to NPR because I want to counter low-information voters and the low-information media which sustains them. I only heard parts of this segment and will have to get the podcast later.

One of the guests, a man in the $250k income range, said he “feels like he pays too much in taxes”. During the the 1990s people like him did just fine, thanks, with higher tax rates. Another, a woman running a 40-person business, said “she’s going to get her taxes increased”; a cite would have been useful.

Some well-off guests today kept talking about the lack of “personal responsibility” in the mortgage crisis, and only directing this blame at poor people. Did the 15-year mortgage professional bring up how messed up subprime lenders were, not verifying assets, getting paid based on the loans (not good loans) made, and giving away money as if they weren’t going to be responsible for collecting? Hey, if someone blew up my industry, my industry’s reputation, and much of the economy doing what they did to his, I’d tell everyone who’d listen.

Everyone has a unique perspective on this issue. For a small business owner…they are concerned with keeping their taxes manageable so they can keep all their employees. That’s important for the economy! Also, everyone should look up the difference between an S-corp and other types of businesses.

Also, personal responsibility IS important. However, there are three ways to look at this issue. 1. Some lenders were being irresponsible and were lending to anyone just to get their percentage. 2. Some borrowers truly go beyond their means and they know it. 3. Some borrowers TRUSTED their advisor and were then screwed by them.

I think we SHOULD be able to trust our lenders. That isn’t irresponsible on the borrowers part. So it’s true from all sides. Yes, take personal responsibility. Yes, check out your lender to the best you know how. Yes, lenders should act for the good of their CLIENT. Not for their own best interest.

Why did the gov’t not consider a stimulus package where every American taxpayer gets a real substantial amount of money? If you do the math, this package would come to far less than the “bailout” and still make people comfortable enough to spend some money, pay some bills and still have a lot left over. Corporate Socialism (Fascism) is the order of the day in this America. Rather unfortunate.

Because it was already done and did not work. It added to the deficit.

Corporate Socialism (Fascism)???? This is veering into the realm of the absurd.

Bottom line: as Gorden Gecko once said, greed is good, up to a point.

We need Wall Street and they need us. To blame every CEO in the world for these problems is not a very intelligent or rational way to think about this.

How about all the small local banks that are doing fine? Are they greedy corporate socialist/fascists?

We need banks and we need commerce.

1. I remember my Junior year high school U.S. History teacher telling the class we would never have trickle down economics because the Crash of 1929 and the ensuing Depression proved trickle down doesn’t work. I am appalled to still hear people still favor trickle down.

2. As for retirement funds, my parents taught me the stock market is for risk money only. Retirement funds, college funds and the like don’t qualify as risk money. Yet we still hear financial planners who should know better taut risking these funds in stocks. It’s too bad they can’t be sued for malpractice.

3. We are told the problems with national health care in other countries. And there are problems. At the same time we have the worst and most expensive health care system of any industrial country by all statistical measures.

4. The economy has been a wildly swinging pendulum. Each boom and bust is worse than the one before. With luck, we will have learned our lesson this time. If not, we may have one more boom cycle.

5. If we want to improve the economy, give the middle class a tax break. All the emphasis on markets ignores the real engine of the markets, people living their lives and taking care of their needs.

To David Geschwind

“On the other side, Jean Berg is just silly. It takes no training or experience to do her job which is why it’s only $7/hour. She should get into another field if she doesn’t like the pay and benefits.”

David, you are right only from one aspect of the issue, the real issue is not about Jean Berg, the real issue is that there are hundreds of jean bergs who CAN’T afford health insurance, and believe me if everyone had a “better job” then there won’t be any one in McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Health Care Assistant or any other ‘low paying’ job, which will also be devastating i.e. illegal immigrants et al.

In any case, we should accomodate people from “all walks” of life not just rich and influential. However its implied that, it also gives anyone the chance to defy their odds and become a front runner.

hey,i think Deb Peters made a very good point,when she said”DON’T SPEND MORE THAN YOU MAKE’so stop whinning because you chose to buy a home that you can not afford and stop blaming the goverment for your stupidty.

I have returned from living in the UK for two years, where I enjoyed socialized medicine. As much as people over here are against the word “socalism” in terms of government, there is something to be said for paying into a national health care, and not being left out in the cold in terms of medical care. It’s a huge cost that people, both who are working and paying into group coverage, and small business owners, and those without steady income, struggle with daily.

It’s not a fix for the economy, but without the worry of health care, perhaps it might free up money to create new jobs, and take one more worry off the kitchen table while we deal with how we’re going to afford food and energy in the future.

Sure, we’d all have to pay into a specific system, but, like in the UK, there can also be private insurance. If you’re not willing to go to public health centers, then there are private hospitals and doctors you can use.

In terms of the health care worker that was on the show, the lady earning $7/hr…that’s a fact of life in that job field that I know very well. It’s disgraceful, and of course, if you’re only making $7/hr, or at a retail job making under $10/hr, simple health care is simply unaffordable, and the coverage you can afford simply isn’t coverage at all ($1200 deductible? Who has that in savings if you’re just barely making over minimum wage?)

There needs to be a massive, crucial shift in this country. I only hope it happens sooner than later.