This New England

John McCain and Barack Obama have many policy differences, albeit in that broad area known as the American center. But they have at least one thing in common: Despite the big economic and other challenges facing America, neither one of them has spent time suggesting that Americans will have to cut back or otherwise refocus their lives in light of newly apparent realities.

Quite the contrary: The candidates have each tried to outdo the other in making candy-store promises, even as the federal government steadily increases its borrowing. It's all predictable -- and sure to increase the public's impatience and dissatisfaction after the election, when hard decisions must be made.

FIRE sale

The financial services, insurance and real estate sector (appropriately -- now -- called the FIRE sector) is now about 20 percent of U.S. gross domestic product, with manufacturing less than 13 percent. In 1950, manufacturing was 29.3 percent and financial services 10.9 percent. These data go some distance in explaining the complexity and difficulty of our recent financial "meltdown.'' The vapor of speculation is now more potent than the solidity of things.

Sleazy snowboards

Killington Resort, Pico Mountain, Stowe Mountain Resort, Smugglers' Notch and Sugarbush, all in Vermont, and six western ski resorts have banned employees from using Love and Primo snowboards with images of Playboy models and self-mutilation. Snowboarders have a rowdy, goofy, hot-dogging reputation, but this is a bit much --- at least for employees who may be giving snowboarding lessons to little kids.

Legislators for life

Of the 11 Massachusetts congressional delegation members up for re-election, only five have election foes this year -- Sen. John Kerry, Barney Frank, John Olver, John Tierney and Edward Markey. Incumbents generally have a vast advantage anyway, and in a one-party state like Massachusetts it's more so. This doesn't speak very well for the future of representative democracy, or the creation of new public-policy ideas. Will only a national catastrophe shake up things?

 Tags  FIRE sector Massachusetts congressional delegation snowboards

Comments

Saul Ricklin said:

Re candy store promises by botyhe candidates they are pie in the sky since it is congress that will be the ones to enact laws.Presidents can suggest and can veto but is congress that has the power to spend money

Link | November 3, 2008 7:09 PM
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Saul Ricklin said:

Re candy store promises by botyhe candidates they are pie in the sky since it is congress that will be the ones to enact laws.Presidents can suggest and can veto but is congress that has the power to spend money

Link | November 3, 2008 7:10 PM
Report Abuse

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