It's Not the Economy After All

These days, we're accustomed to media polls telling us that the primary focus of our lives is the economy. Day after day we are bombarded with information on job creation and the number of jobless claims to the point that we might--or I at least--might assume there is some objective thought being dedicated to understanding how the economy came to be what it is and which approaches show more promise for the future.

Judging from the same media reporting on joblessness, such an assumption would be wrong. Ten percent or so unemployment is a sobering number when put into perspective of the 20 million unable to find jobs. But turned around, that same statistic means that ninety percent do have jobs--whether they like them or not is another matter--and that ninety percent probably doesn't much care about the others. In fact, the ninety percent have proved themselves much more interested in the political/culture wars than in the economy.

Colorado Springs is a case in point. The Springs is a bastion of conservative thought. Focus on the Family is located there, along with myriad retired military whose prescriptive outlook had led to one letter to editor writer describing the residents as misers and scolds. The Springs is also home to various initiatives to cut government spending that have now constrained city government to the point where parks are now closing, street lights are being turned off, and fire and police services curtailed. Rather than being disturbed by the potential impact, wealthier Springs residents have solved the problem by adopting their local park as well as a personal, residential streetlight which they are paying for to be turned on. This, of course, means that the poorer neighborhoods will remain dark and without places for children to play.

This economic survival of the fittest is nothing new. There has always been a streak of moralistic judgment among the conservatives. In its simplest form it goes like this: there is a self-evident tautology: people must be poor because they are lazy; if they were not lazy, they would not be poor. In order to prove this point, Colorado Springs is perfectly willing to deny services to the poor, even if it means decreased fire and police protection for everyone. It would seem the residents of the Springs are willing to see their houses burn down in order to prove they are right.

Being proved right, in fact, is the prime motivation of much political discourse these days. It's much more important than the economy. Conservatives in particular--although they are not the only ones--are willing to distort and deliberately misconstrue facts that do not conform with their preconceived political positions. These positions have most likely been inculcated since childhood, and by adulthood have solidified into a stonework that is oblivious to any type of reason. Unfortunately, these cemented opinions are vulnerable to anyone wishing to manipulate them. In its worst form, people holding these opinions hear only what confirms their own ways of thinking. No growth is ever possible among these people, yet they do not see themselves as the victims of absolute thinking that they are. In fact, they see their mission as making sure they pass on their ways to their children.

Perhaps something positive may come from the experience of the Springs. Perhaps some people may even think for a moment about the lunacy of indiscriminately squeezing government spending. I for one hold out little hope. These same people are agitating to put back into power the same failed economic theories that started with Reagan and have proved again and again that they do not work. The sad thing is that the fact they didn't work is not the issue--the issue is proving who is right.