An Opening For Democrats: Business Policy

And Also: Joan Biskupic's Sandra Day O'Conner bio is workwomanlike, much like its subject, and supplies some interesting perspectives. For instance, her battles with Justice Brennan. I expected a bit more somehow, but overall, it is worth a look. As to NY, what in the heck is the reason for no longer taking the W-2s with the tax form, instead requiring yet another form to be filled out (plus one for interest)? Is this some sort of paperwork creation act? A push for more e-filing? Makework for CPAs? HB Sis ... your cats are fine.

NYT had a few economic policy pieces today, including the desire of businesses that the government take over some responsibility of various worker benefits, and plans by President Bush to take some further steps in his health care policy. This apparently would be to have a special interest laden measure that is carried out in a noticeably shoddy fashion, thus harming various needy groups in the process. I reference the Medicare business.

Uh huh ... this underlines the broad potential progressives have in seizing the moment and gaining the support of the business community. It might seem on first blush that said community likes the conservatives, since they bring less corporate taxes and cuts in regulations that are useful in the safety the you and me. But, such matters only are useful up to a point, especially by those that realize the diminishing returns of mismanaged fiscal policy. Furthermore, again, business has realized many things that progressives favor are in their best interest or seem to be. Consider the support by big business of affirmative action.

For the rest of us, if health care costs and so forth are a great concern, do you really want this bunch to handle them? The traditional agreement that Democrats (partly via control of at least one house of Congress) will deal with domestic matters, Republicans foreign policy (surely, this in itself is not going completely well, but one step at a time, perhaps) these days sounds more and more the best policy. Proper use of government programs and such just is not in the skill set of conservative/radical Republicans, except (in theory) when military matters are involved.

Fears of gay marriage or scorn of some dweebish looking Dems (as compared to the likes of Sen. Homophobe and Rep. Conspiracy, I assume) notwithstanding.

[Frayster "run" (an expert, who would make a good talking head) over in the Slate Moneybox Fray has ongoing economic tutorials that in part discuss this point. Our economic well being in a world economy is based on ensuring our own companies have a comparative advantage. Sound fiscal policy, including in the area of benefits such as health care, is essential here.]