Krugman: White House treatment of Stiglitz reveals lack of respect for ‘progressive-economist wing.’
Krugman: White House treatment of Stiglitz reveals lack of respect for ‘progressive-economist wing.’
Newsweek’s Michael Hirsh reports that progressive economist Joseph Stiglitz, “the man who predicted the global financial meltdown,” is not getting his due respect from the Obama administration. Hirsh writes that the Nobel Prize-winning economist has “heard barely a word from the White House.” For his part, Stiglitz has been critical of the Obama administration:
Stiglitz had been hammering at Obama’s economic team for its handling of the financial crisis. He wrote that the stimulus program was too small to be effective—a criticism that has since swelled into a chorus, though Obama says he’s not adding more money. Stiglitz also had called the administration’s bailout plan a giveaway to Wall Street, an “ersatz capitalism” that would save the banks’ investors and creditors and screw the taxpayers. [...]
Despite the Obama team’s occasional efforts to reach out to him, Stiglitz remains deeply unhappy about the administration’s approach to the financial crisis. Rather than breaking up or restructuring the big banks that failed, “the Obama administration has actually expanded the notion of ‘too big to fail,’” he says.
Paul Krugman, himself a Nobel Prize-winning economist who has had his differences with the Obama administration, writes that “the real story is more about excluded points of view than excluded people.” Krugman observes “the absence of a progressive-economist wing” in White House economic discussions.
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I think it’s quite remarkable that this administrations method of dealing with the crisis is pretty much the same as the last administrations method. The Oligarchs never lose in this poisoned society. This is profoundly depressing to this lifelong Democrat
July 19th, 2009 at 12:13 pmIn America, there is a battle between those who promote selfishness and those who promote altruism. Unfortunately, because of financial giants like Goldman Sachs, the forces promoting selfishness are winning. They must not be allowed to win because if they do, the United States of America as we always thought we knew it will no longer exist.
July 19th, 2009 at 12:14 pmMy guess is that somehow he got on Rahm’s sh¡t list….like Howard Dean.
July 19th, 2009 at 12:19 pmThrough dubyas tax cuts for the wealthy over the course of eight years and now the give away to the oligarchs in my estimation they are not winning but rather have won.
July 19th, 2009 at 12:21 pmStiglitz was on Alex Jones’ radio show in Sept. ‘06 saying we’d have a global depression by ‘09. That was the only place he could get airplay. Sad.
And agree 100% with AIO: Rahm is one of those ministers to the King’s court who’d rather sink a country than have his precious order list of favorites upended.
July 19th, 2009 at 12:24 pmgood on TP for showcasing this story.
now we’ll see how well president obama pays attention…
July 19th, 2009 at 12:29 pmEmanuel has got to go.
July 19th, 2009 at 12:30 pmI have read about Stiglitz and his work for a number of years. I wish that I knew more about economics, but I am impressed with this man’s thoughts and perspectives.
I know some repiggies who have recently lost their homes to foreclosure as well as their jobs. Sadly, some of them still prattle all that “market is sacred” nonsense to me.
As is so often the case, particularly with health insurance, there is no “free” market.
July 19th, 2009 at 12:32 pmIt is simply a tightly controlled monopoly of the mutually sympathetic predators
who seek to further impoverish the average American citizen.
“…a giveaway to Wall Street, an “ersatz capitalism” that would save the banks’ investors and creditors and screw the taxpayers.”
Exactly. And where, in this giveaway package, is there any hope of us taxpayers getting any of our money back?
July 19th, 2009 at 12:36 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Right effing arm.
The banks and financial houses that are “to big to fail” need to be broken up into operating units that do NOT pose a significant risk to the overall economy if they fail.
I think the firewall between investment and commercial banking needs to be restored too, and something needs to be done to regulate the derivatives market so that it isn’t a virtual pyramid scheme. (Did Bernie Madoff have a hand in designing the credit default instruments… cheeez…)
July 19th, 2009 at 12:42 pmGood morning all, Is anyone else here have a gray background and blue lettering? Or is it just my pc.
July 19th, 2009 at 12:49 pmAck. TP has gone chocolate brown — and not in a good way!
July 19th, 2009 at 12:50 pmGood posts all,…interesting quick change at TP. Dark colored back ground make’s it harder to read the comment’s though..
On topic..Rahm is a huge problem as is Geitner….Fox’s in this hen house are almost as bad as the last…Although Biden is not a vampire like cheney, Rahm may be very much like rove, but easier on the eye’s..Beware of the pretty one’s who smile often and place the knife in your back when your not looking….Blessings
July 19th, 2009 at 12:51 pmThis page is too dark for my weak eyes. We are not all 23 year-olds.
July 19th, 2009 at 12:51 pmYes, sscncturn64, we did experience the change in background–but it looks like it’s cleared up now.
July 19th, 2009 at 12:52 pmSo much for Krugman’s good ideas, huh?
Listening to Stiglitz and Krugman may not be popular, but IMHO it would be the best way to dig us out of the hole we’re in.
July 19th, 2009 at 12:53 pmwe KNOW why…..because the progressive economists have the solution….and it doesn’t include the existence and/or raping of the American economic system by Goldman Sachs
there’s a REASON to this insanity…
WAKE UP!
July 19th, 2009 at 12:53 pmKUCINICH 2012
Mines back to normal now. That was hard on the eyes.
July 19th, 2009 at 12:54 pmVirtual Pebble,
Actually Kenneth Lay had a strong hand in the design of the Credit Default Swaps, first in California then the nation. No wonder we are where we are
July 19th, 2009 at 12:54 pmAlright, I’ll give credit to Daryll for endangering his immortal soul in order to take care of his wife. Hope she feels better, Daryll.
July 19th, 2009 at 12:55 pmWhat Goldman Sachs is doing is monopolizing the sector through their action in the Government. This is criminal.
July 19th, 2009 at 12:59 pmHi looktothe hills
July 19th, 2009 at 1:07 pmAny expectation of nude sky riding this day? Just wondering…
looktothehills says:
What Goldman Sachs is doing is monopolizing the sector through their action in the Government. This is criminal.
Its been criminal for a very long time, darryl.
Now that yours eyes are opened on Sachs, try reading “Inside The Great American Bubble Machine“, how Goldman Sachs has engineered every major market manipulation since the Great Depression.
July 19th, 2009 at 1:08 pmWhen the stim bill received no GNOP votes in the House, and only three in the Senate (the Maine gals and Specter the Defector) the Dems should have just scrapped the bill and doubled down, then immediately moved to repeal BushCo’s tax cuts on the top 1%.
All the early kumbaya bipartisan happy talk only delivered a watered down bill (which totaled less than TARP) for the remaining 99% of Americans.
The last administration brought us blood in the sand. This administration seems content with heads in the sand.
PEACE
July 19th, 2009 at 1:08 pmMy finger just went numb… I voted up Daryll at 12:59.
Hope your wife is feeling better.
PEACE
July 19th, 2009 at 1:10 pmDarryl
July 19th, 2009 at 1:12 pmAre you considering the tax whinning wing or the let me smoke pot in peace wing of the libertarian party?
Goldman Sachs? I thought it was all Madoff’s fault? /snark
July 19th, 2009 at 1:15 pmDaryll, maybe you could find it in yourself to refer to “Wife” as “my wife,” “my beautiful wife,” or even “my spouse?”
And please, don’t call her “Mom” when the baby arrives…
July 19th, 2009 at 1:15 pm#20. rocks911 says:
Virtual Pebble,
Actually Kenneth Lay had a strong hand in the design of the Credit Default Swaps, first in California then the nation. No wonder we are where we are
Ken Lay? Holy hamburger…
Well, as long as instruments like CDSs can be churned and sold onward over and over again, the same sorts of problems will arise. That’s not hedging or laying off risk – that’s just passing the hot potato along.
July 19th, 2009 at 1:15 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
One of the things that I hoped would happen is that we would have an Admiistration that would embrace the Progessive wing of the Democratic Party and look to people like Stiglitz and Krugman for ideas. But that’s not what is happening. Rather, quite the opposite.
What worries me is that Obama came into this with a specific mind set and is not willing to change it or will do so only grudingly. This kind of rigidity is dangerous and in my opinion will only cause the country more grief. There are people on the progressive side with good ideas. I wish Obama would listen to them and not dismiss them in the cavalier way that he did with Stiglitz and Krugman a few months back. I still have hope but……
July 19th, 2009 at 1:16 pmdbadass says:
Darryl
Are you considering the tax whinning wing or the let me smoke pot in peace wing of the libertarian party?
July 19th, 2009 at 1:12 pm Add Karma Vote Up | Subtract Karma Vote Down | (0) | Report Abuse
I think I will tend to myself and not belong to any sector the independent party. Also, why whine about taxes. The only way we can tackle our debt is to eventually increase taxes.
July 19th, 2009 at 1:18 pmTo comments #1 & #2, agree. I have been disappointed by the Obama administration and the democratic majority in regards to the economy and the banking/financial sectors. Why hasn’t Glass-Steagall been re-enacted and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley act repealed?
Goldman Sachs and others have our government in a death grip with their greedy tentacles. Look at the people appointed by Obama. The same players just different names, many of them former Goldman Sachs people.
This is nothing new, it’s been this way since the 30’s in one way or another, it’s this way under either party. I truly believed that President Obama would attempt to change some of this but those with the true power and wealth will never allow it to happen. Which makes our country’s future some what bleak in my opinion, especially if the republicans get back into power.
July 19th, 2009 at 1:18 pmWhats with the background change? Kinda hard to read.
July 19th, 2009 at 1:19 pmDaryll went to sleep and a pod took his place.
We told you not to sleep, Daryll!
July 19th, 2009 at 1:21 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
rocks911 says:
I think it’s quite remarkable that this administrations method of dealing with the crisis is pretty much the same as the last administrations method. The Oligarchs never lose in this poisoned society. This is profoundly depressing to this lifelong Democrat
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I have to agree. I had hoped that part of the Obama change would be to sever the greedy tentacles of those like Goldman Sachs who have a death grip around our government and DC.
We may have a kinder, gentler, more intelligent administration then the last one but we have the same players running our treasury, the FED and our economy. The names may have changed since the last administration but the players all seem to be connected in one way or another to Goldman Sachs, the FED etc, the very people who caused our financial meltdown.
What’s even more appalling is that nobody is in prison for destroying our economy. No one, other then senator Bernie Sanders has suggested repealing the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and reviving the Glass-Steagall Act.
Now the Obama administration and the democrats are pushing for a Cap & Trade bill. The Cap part of the bill may be fine but the trade part of the bill is a Wall Street wet dream which will create a massive new mega-market for these same crooks to speculate and make billions in profits and of course create the next bubble in the future.
July 19th, 2009 at 1:33 pmOops, sorry if my last comment is kind of a repeat, I didn’t think my prior comment made it through the intertubes.
July 19th, 2009 at 1:34 pmAccording to our trolls, shouldn’t we all have down votes because we’re criticizing Obama’s policies?
More to the point, my wife is constantly asking me what Obama has/is doing to help fix the economy. Here in southern ca. most everyone is hurting, stores and restaurants are still closing everywhere. No one has money to spend, and finally, even our business is in trouble.
I don’t know how to answer her. I tell her what he said would be done, what I think should be done (which happen to be the same) and then we look at what actually has been done.
They aren’t the same.
July 19th, 2009 at 1:35 pm“My finger just went numb… I voted up Daryll at 12:59.”
S-mom, obviously you aren’t the only one with numb fingers…Daryll has never gotten so many recommends in his entire TP posting career!
Jim Wolf359, the background should get back to normal shortly–it’s back to the white background for Wayne and me, anyway.
July 19th, 2009 at 1:36 pmHi Jane,
July 19th, 2009 at 1:39 pmYeah, it just switched back to normal for me. I was away watching the British Open. Watson just bogeyed the 18th! Its him and Cink in a playoff. Go Tom!!
Divided We Fall says:
It was a good comment, and worth reading twice.
July 19th, 2009 at 1:39 pmJim, we’ve got the Open on, and we’re rooting for Watson, too.
July 19th, 2009 at 1:42 pmHonestly, I felt right away that Obama’s attempt to create more jobs was a joke. These were to be jobs created by the stimulus money, “shovel ready” jobs. Well, that may be good for those who do construction work and/or operate heavy equipment but it doesn’t do much good for the out of work IT person, the unemployed assembly person or the guy who lost his warehouse job.
What happens when these construction projects are all finished? What happens when all of these green technology jobs we hear about are 5 years away from being created?
I’m sorry for being critical of President Obama but if things do not turn around I fear the republicans will gain back control of our government which I feel is something the middle class and our country will not survive from next time around.
July 19th, 2009 at 1:44 pmStiglitz should be the marquee economist of this administration not its “snubee”!
July 19th, 2009 at 1:47 pm“What happens when these construction projects are all finished? What happens when all of these green technology jobs we hear about are 5 years away from being created?”
Divided, our infrastructure is crumbling, so, while some construction projects end, more will always exist. And, if (as has been mentioned) there is a second stimulus package coming, there should be serious investment in green R&D and re-training those out-of-work IT people and assembly-line workers, etc. No, it’s not going to happen as quickly as it needs to, but I still see some hope.
July 19th, 2009 at 1:59 pmSenator Dick Durbin admitted on the Senate floor that the banks own congress of course he failed to mention others who also seem to own congress like the health care industry, the pharmaceutical companies, the corporations,etc, etc.
I am perplexed that after he said what he did there wasn’t that much uproar from the media on either side. So now it’s out there, Durbin made the obvious statement, the question is what is Durbin or any other politician going to do to change this?
Our politicians were elected to represent we the people, not the corporations and special interest groups. This could have been the chance for the democrats to really change things for the better by bringing up and working on:
1-Publicly funded campaigns and elections
2-Free and equal air time for ALL candidates
3-Closing the door on lobbyists & special interest groups
4-Possible term limits
5-Giving we the people the option of having the same government health care plan that they seem to enjoy.
It may be impossible for this to happen but at least they could have shown the public that they tried and were for implementing these changes. But of course they not only serve these special interest groups and lobbyists but they also serve their own best interests.
July 19th, 2009 at 2:00 pmThe only reason I can see why people like Stiglitz and Krugman aren’t being listening to (other than they make sense) is that the crap has gotten so deep it is over the ears of the Republicans.
July 19th, 2009 at 2:00 pmAll the President’s Men II: How Obama’s Failure to Clear the Deck of Clintonistas Killed Progressiveism. I fear this will be the historical bookcovers in 5-10 years. Some of my Clintonista friends are still sore about the interparty fight we had. They still see Bill as a victim and Hillary in 2016. They seem to subtally undermine Obama iniatives. The DLC is much more overt in its’ machinations. We need Dems to fully support and work for serious campaign finance reform or the Krugmans and Stigletzs of our vision will be marginalized forever by the moneychangers in the temple.
July 19th, 2009 at 2:06 pmWe do need to show a bit of patience too. As soon as the enormity of last fall’s collapse became apparent we knew it would take years to recover. About a third of the World’s wealth ceased to exist and then no money changed hands for months. Everyone with cash left shoved it in their mattress and it hasn’t come out yet.
The whole World is waiting for a return of that elusive “consumer confidence” and there’s really no way to predict it or force it. Plus it’s way too early to judge the actions taken thus far. Most of the money hasn’t even been specifically allocated yet. We should certainly remain concerned about where it’s all going but I think we need to reserve judgement on the program as a whole.
July 19th, 2009 at 2:20 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Dear Diary,
Daryll had the highest rated post on a TP thread today. We’ll see what tomorrow holds.
PEACE
July 19th, 2009 at 2:26 pmAnd your point is?
July 19th, 2009 at 2:26 pmspencers mom says:
Dear Diary,
Daryll had the highest rated post on a TP thread today.
Even a blind squirrel finds the occasional nut.
July 19th, 2009 at 2:30 pmSteiglitz also believed all the banks should have been nationalized. I tend to agree with him, but most Americans don’t, and aren’t ready for European style socialism. I think President Obama inherited a shit-storm and he’s doing well enough. This has been a global economic crisis, my main concern is that other countries don’t get left holding the big bag of nothing.
Last week I watched a series of lectures that took place before the crisis was announced. Plenty of economists saw this coming. Galbraith explained that the institutions FDR put in place would prevent another Great Depression. Now I feel kind of silly for being so worried about such a thing, but the recession is pretty bad—too much unemployment, prices too low…
It’s a good sign that Stiglitz and Krugman are being talked about. We were absolutely buried under supply-side, trickle-down economic theory during the Bush years—something I wish I could kill with my bare hands.
July 19th, 2009 at 2:32 pmJane E. Schneider says: Divided, our infrastructure is crumbling, so, while some construction projects end, more will always exist. And, if (as has been mentioned) there is a second stimulus package coming, there should be serious investment in green R&D and re-training those out-of-work IT people and assembly-line workers, etc. No, it’s not going to happen as quickly as it needs to, but I still see some hope.
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I understand all of that but it seems if we are going to create more new jobs or get back any old outsourced American jobs something also needs to be done with our trade agreements like NAFTA & CAFTA and on tarifs. And I don’t hear anything being said on this.
When the stimulus package included the language “American made” materials only, there was outrage not only from some of our own politicians and corporations but also from foreign governments yet China creates a similar package which included “China made” only materials and I didn’t hear one peep from the U.S. or the E.U.
If we cannot create new jobs or replace many of the jobs we’ve lost overseas we as a country will be hurting. We have become a nation whose main employment seems to be in the service industry. We no longer manufacture things here, which lead to us becoming the wealthiest nation in the world.
U.S. corporations no longer have loyalty to our country and I feel with the ever growing push of the global economy we the American worker will continue to suffer. Stimulus created jobs are fine and dandy but we also need new trade agreements that benefit the American worker and our country, not the greedy, maximum profit driven corporations.
There comes a time when everyone in America, rich and poor, business owner and worker need to ask themselves, what can I do for the good of my country? This question is never asked of us. Greed and self interest consumes us all, but at what price are we truly willing to pay for this? The fall of our economy and country??
I would love to see a CEO of a major U.S. corporation stand up and publicly say that his corporation for the good of our country and the American worker will start bringing back outsourced manufacturing jobs back to the USA. This man would truly be an American patriot….but I won’t hold my breath waiting for any such announcement.
July 19th, 2009 at 2:34 pmThere comes a time when everyone in America, rich and poor, business owner and worker need to ask themselves, what can I do for the good of my country? This question is never asked of us.
I was very young but I remember someone who asked this question. They shut him up.
That is why we have two Americas. One wallowing in greed and one suffering in silence. It is time for the silent to speak.
July 19th, 2009 at 2:38 pmGee, thanks, divided, you just crushed that bit of hope. ;)
But, yes, you’re right, so damned many things need to be changed in order for the United States to become a functioning and viable world economy again, it’s quite daunting. Unfortunately, corporations don’t ‘do’ patriotism.
July 19th, 2009 at 2:45 pmI remember once a couple of years ago I made a comment on another blog saying that Wall Street isn’t the true indicator of our economy, jobs were and I was attacked and insulted by many other commenter’s.
The fact is, we can prop up Wall Street all we want by bailing them out, it may fix the investment side of things and help those who have the extra money to dabble in the markets but if jobs aren’t being created, people aren’t working and if people aren’t working, they aren’t buying goods or investing in stocks.
Bottom line: Our government and corporations need to find a way to create new jobs in the private sector to replace the ones we’ve lost over the years.
July 19th, 2009 at 2:45 pmShit D. That may have been your finest hour. I really like the part about just raisng up some taxes and assuming responsibility. I am so down with that. I can throw down on whatever sort of taxes seem the most fair. Let’s git-r-done…
July 19th, 2009 at 2:46 pmlol! Sorry Jane, I didn’t mean to crush your hope! I still have some hope left also, not much but the sliver of hope I do have remains. I just feel sorry for the youth of our Nation.
I have a 21 year old nephew who feels his future is so bleak right now do to the job market. I feel bad for the kid. I told him maybe now would be a good time to consider going to a trade school and learning a trade. He has a slight interest in HVAC which would be a good trade as their seems to always be a need for heating and Air conditioning out there.
Of course I told him things he probably didn’t want to hear but right now he is young, he has control of his life, he can either party with his friends and continue to work at a dead end, no future job at a car wash or sacrifice his good times and work on bettering his future now when the economy is in a major down cycle. I hope for his sake he takes my advice and then follows through on his education.
July 19th, 2009 at 2:50 pmBlaming the Clintons for your guy’s screw-ups. That’s new.
July 19th, 2009 at 2:59 pmhttp://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache:0gLbutAlscAJ:trade.gov/press/press_releases/2009/export-factsheet_021109.pdf+%22U.S.+exports%22&hl=en&gl=us
We are not manufacturing as many consumer goods as we used to, and there aren’t so many good factory jobs anymore, but the U.S. is a major manufacturer. We send China most of the plastic they use to make the goods they ship to us, for instance. Medical equipment and jet engines are booming business for us also. And lots and lots of food.
July 19th, 2009 at 3:01 pmJust for the sake of tying together the subjects of increasing industrial jobs and emerging trades: I would like to see huge subsidies for solar panels and their installation and integration to the grid.
I would stop short of a mandate but it seems stupid to build a roof without them. We would get a direct boost in jobs and the more intangible indirect benefits from all the green electricity.
July 19th, 2009 at 3:01 pmYet again, people gave us warnings that things weren’t going to work out, and then bam, we’re screwed.
I don’t know which is more frustrating and infuriating:
The fact that Obama is no progressive.
or
The fact that right-wing looney tunes keep saying he’s TOO progressive (socialist).
Sorry, at this point, there is no such thing as “too progressive.”
We need a better left-wing leader for 2012. Obama has become another Jimmy Carter: somewhat well-meaning, but ultimately, a failure.
I agree with others here…
KUCINICH FOR PRESIDENT 2012!
July 19th, 2009 at 3:25 pmhttp://kucinich.us/
Obama’s failure to listen to Stiglitz and Krugman, as well as failing to hold ChimpCo. responsible for their crimes will be the death of our nation.
July 19th, 2009 at 3:38 pmDivided We Fall says:
July 19th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
If your nephew has any interest in it at all, nursing is a booming field.
July 19th, 2009 at 3:41 pmThis seems to me to be more of a debate about the future of the Democratic Party than it is about a specific policy. I understand the debate about the size of the stimulus at the time it was passed but to call it a failure at this time just plays into the Republicans hands. The only disappointment I have at this time with the stimulus has to do with the pace the money is getting pushed out the door. VP Biden should be babysitting this to get it back on track.
July 19th, 2009 at 3:46 pmDivided We Fall,
There are a few smaller companies that do. Last year after congress passed immunity for phone companies I switched from Sprint to Credo and have been really happy. 1% of every dollar you pay them goes to progressive charities, they do paperless billing and when they do mail something it’s on recycled paper with soy ink, they often lobby congress for progressive causes, pass around petitions on multiple topics and to top it all of – they actually employ Americans who talk to you for customer service. I’ve never been on hold for more than a minute when I’ve called up.
I know it sounds crazy to be excited about a cell phone provider, but I’ve been trying to get more people to use them. It’s the only way we’ll get change. We need to support those who are making it happen.
Look ‘em up: Credo Mobile
July 19th, 2009 at 4:43 pmHow could a blind squirrel not find a nut in DC?
July 19th, 2009 at 4:58 pmBecause it has nothing to do with ideology and everything to do with Wall St. profits.
Whether left or right wing economics get you there, it doesn’t matter to them.
July 19th, 2009 at 5:17 pmThe White House continued to throw money at private institutions that overleveraged themselves on the broader economy instead of breaking them up and allowing their ineffective parts to fail. AIG is the best example. We threw $180 billion towards the whole company when the healthy parts of the company, if Geithner & Co. had manned up, could have been spared the gangrenous spread of the financial products division and access to the government trough could have ended sooner.
Without true enforcement of anti-trust laws, economic booms and busts will continue to be subject to the Bush economic doctrine; that is, dependent on the decision making of a few federal reserve powerhouses in Citigroup, AIG, et al. The health of our jobs and 401 (k) balances would be at the mercy of a few JP Morgan & Bank of America jocks.
July 19th, 2009 at 5:25 pmStupid Git,
I accidentally voted down your comment. Credo Mobile runs a business better than any “pro-business” republican could. The good thing about such a well-run business is that you’re willing to pay more because you know they’ll keep those dollars at home and stay true to their word.
July 19th, 2009 at 5:31 pmHey, Zooey, and everybody—anyone looking for extra income and experience in the health care field should check out home care. Oregon was the first state to institute home care (I’m pretty sure)—it saves everyone money and allows the elderly and disabled to live in dignity in their homes.
You need to go through a apply with the appropriate agency (in Oregon it’s DSO), get a background check,attend an orientation, etc., so it can take up to six weeks to get completely in the system, but then you can post your name and preferences on a website. The state pays you, but you are essentially self-employed and hired by the clients. It’s a job that is challenging; and in need of well educated, responsible, thoughtful, and caring people who know how to negotiate and manage their time.
I’ve been doing it for ten years and have received free training in using surgical kits to dress a catheter, testing blood sugar for a diabetic, working with the blind, dressing wounds for a paraplegic, managing a person with hepatic encephalopathy (confusion to dementia to coma), after-care for a transplant recipient, after care and physical therapy for hip replacement gone awry, and more. That’s just off the top of my head.
The SEIU is our union, and since becoming unionized we have gotten pay raises, more training, vacation days, health insurance through Kaiser-Permanente, and improved relations with clients.
I make $10.21 an hour. Since I am a live-in care provider, I don’t pay rent or utilities. This has given me the opportunity to attend school, travel, and start a business of my own.
When the union started, they asked home-care workers what they wanted most. The overwhelming majority answered with “training”. Don’t let the “unskilled” labor label fool you. It’s been the most challenging and rewarding job I’ve ever had. I would love to see intelligent and well educated people flocking to home care.
July 19th, 2009 at 6:16 pmwiley says:
——————————————————————————–
Steiglitz also believed all the banks should have been nationalized. I tend to agree with him, but most Americans don’t, and aren’t ready for European style socialism. I think President Obama inherited a shit-storm and he’s doing well enough. This has been a global economic crisis, my main concern is that other countries don’t get left holding the big bag of nothing.
Last week I watched a series of lectures that took place before the crisis was announced. Plenty of economists saw this coming. Galbraith explained that the institutions FDR put in place would prevent another Great Depression. Now I feel kind of silly for being so worried about such a thing, but the recession is pretty bad—too much unemployment, prices too low…
It’s a good sign that Stiglitz and Krugman are being talked about. We were absolutely buried under supply-side, trickle-down economic theory during the Bush years—something I wish I could kill with my bare hands.
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wiley,
The whole supply side theory has worried me even in the Reagan days. I just drove through the central region of Pennsylvania and it was desolate. This used to be the haven of middle class America, the anthracite coal region. Homes falling down, plants boarded up, the whole experience was a little unnerving. This area truly got left behind.
I was following a ridge (hills of Pennsylvania) and a series of large wind mills caught my eye at the top. The backdrop of this sight was culm banks 100 years old. The sight of these impressive white structures spinning in the wind moved me. I saw a glimpse of the future.
I think Obama is really on to something.
This country still has the ingenuity and drive to achieve the changes to launch us into this century.
For me, borrow the money, do what you have to do but don’t lose your resolve or heart to accomplish the task. The future generations will remember!
July 19th, 2009 at 9:26 pmStupid Git says:
Look ‘em up: Credo Mobile
thanks for that…
my verizon contract is almost up and i’ve been wondering what i’ll do…
i’ll have to investigate the service for my area in illinois, and how well it gets me to chicago and LA – both kids have their iphones/ATT…
and i made up for mcwars – gave you a thumbs up…
July 19th, 2009 at 9:42 pmwiley says:
July 19th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Sounds great, wiley. I’m glad you’re able to do that kind of work.
My middle sister got her BSN recently, and specializes in the neo-natal ICU. She is making amazing money, and is so good at her job that she could name her price anywhere.
I don’t know how she does it, but I’m glad she does. I’d be crying every single day.
July 19th, 2009 at 9:57 pmheadline caught my eye:
Bad time to be rich? Only if you don’t like taxes
The Associated Press – Stephen Ohlemacher – ?12 hours ago?
WASHINGTON – It’s probably never a bad time to be rich. But the good times for America’s wealthy could soon be a little less so.
“a little less so”… boo hoo…
pay back’s a b!tch.
July 19th, 2009 at 10:03 pmZooey says:
[...]
My middle sister got her BSN recently, and specializes in the neo-natal ICU.
hey! my daughter just graduated nursing school with a masters
and starts this august in a NICU…
my son, her brother, spent 2 weeks in NICU, and he was relatively healthy (meconium aspiration)… those nurses are angels, that’s for sure!
i will never forget all that beeping though…
July 19th, 2009 at 10:11 pmI realized that Obama wasn’t a man of the left when I voted for him, and the only reason I voted for him was because a certain bimbo from Alaska was picked to be a heart beat away from a potential 72 year old president. Otherwise, I would not have voted.
For all of your grumbling about Obama being too far right, I counter with the fact that he is about as left as about 60% of America (I go by polls you have cited that say 19% consider themselves liberal, that infamous 21% you cite as Republican, the rest of the number as who decides the POTUS) can tolerate. The alternative to Obama is the Republicans back in power, and that is a scary prospect considering what the Republicans just did to this country.
My biggest fear is that in 2010 the evil party will gain 2-3 seats in the Senate and gain 15-20 House seats, thus with the DINOs blocking pretty much anything necessary. Thus, two years where things could get very ugly and yet nothing can be done.
On the OT, I would bring economists in from all parts of the spectrum, ignoring neither side. Even if they spewed Faux News talking points, you politely listen and hope to possibly (farfetched, I know) get a pearl or two from that ton of manure. I think ignoring progressive economists is a mistake even if you disagree with what they say.
July 20th, 2009 at 12:57 amI hear you flight—sustainable technology is here, it only needs encouragement to flourish. We could have a golden age again, we only need to keep the parasites in check. And you know when I say “parasites” i’m not talking about people receiving public assistance.
zooey, my two sisters are nurses. One is a surgical nurse, going back for an advanced degree who has pioneered a procedure for handling surgical instruments. She’s writing the manual. The other is a head nurse, at the hospital we were all born in. She’s going back to school to get a degree in hospital administration. Boy is she bossy. She probably bosses doctors around.
Nursing is a fine profession. The home care nurse that saw my transplant client and I while he was on the waiting list was/is a true ally and godsend.
Because of tics in my hands and frequent absence seizures, it’s not for me, but it is, nevertheless, a noble profession that will always be in demand and can be practiced anywhere.
July 20th, 2009 at 1:16 amI am a liberal democrat. I have a hard time reading these posts as it shows what whiners many of the democratic party are. Today Obama has completed 6 months in office and 95% of the posts in this thread are very negative. I would suggest that the whiners should grow up and show some courage as the situation in this country improves over time but for some reason many dems live to complain and whine and cry and somehow feel good about it.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:21 amWAKE UP!
KUCINICH 2012
I’M IN!!!! I’m already tired of Obama sucking up to Wall Street. No Single Payer???? No re election.
OBAMA scaners…if your reading this….YOU BETTER START WORKING FOR THE PEOPLES INTERESTS NOW!!!
WE SEE THROUGH YOUR FACADE AND YOUR WORDS!!!
July 20th, 2009 at 11:26 amNoliesplease
How long would you give Kucinich to complete his entire presidential agenda if he is elected. 3 months? Two?
I would be more optimistic about our country if our people, those not in the military, weren’t such cowards.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:39 am