Are you better off now...?

The Burlington Free Press published this recent op-ed I submitted on the financial mess we're in and the Democratic leadership we'll need to clean it up:

Author's note: No, the irony of using Ronald Reagan quotes to make my point is not lost on me (we're ultimately digging out from his now-debunked "trickle-down" economic theories), but what can you say, the guy was the "great communicator"and had some terrific one-liners. And, yes, I know that 1980 was not his first presidential run (he ran in the 1976 primary against incumbent Gerald Ford), but in my hurry to get the article submitted, I overlooked that historical detail. In my defense, the editors at the Free Press didn't catch it either.

Here's the article in its entirety:

My Turn: Are you better off...?

The central issue of this election is a variation of Ronald Reagan's famous line from his first presidential run: Are you better off now than you were six, or eight years ago? Unfortunately, for the vast majority of Vermonters, the answer to that question is "no."

Republicans have shown they cannot manage taxpayer dollars. The Bush administration took the huge surpluses of the Clinton years and turned them into deficits as far as the eye can see. The worst part? The money wasn't even spent on education, health care, needed infrastructure or paying off the national debt -- things that would make our lives better. Instead, that money was wasted on a tax giveaway to the wealthiest Americans (who do not need the help), corporations already making record profits and an unnecessary war in Iraq that is costing us billions every month.

In Vermont, Jim Douglas champions his so-called "Affordability Agenda." Can you think of anything that has become more affordable over the last six years? Gas? The price of milk? Home heating oil? Housing costs? Do we have better jobs at better wages? Again, unfortunately, the answer to these questions is no. The governor's response to Vermonters economic concerns is lacking. He subscribes to the same economic principles that guide the Bush administration and the national Republican Party. Typically he hides this by saying that there is nothing he can do about the "national economy," which implies two things: 1) This is not my fault, and 2) there is nothing I can do about it. That is not good enough.

There are things the state can do to make life more affordable for most Vermonters. If the federal government will not repeal the Bush tax cuts, why not do it here at home? Give middle- and low-income Vermont taxpayers a tax cut on their state income taxes by adjusting state income taxes on the wealthiest to make up for the federal giveaway of the Bush years, or by closing the capital gains tax loophole. The state could tap the rainy day funds, (which is, after all, our money) to ensure the social safety net remains intact and to expand home heating assistance (beyond the LIHEAP funding our congressional delegation has secured), provide foreclosure protections to Vermont homeowners (as other states are doing) and supplement budgets for homeless shelters and foodbanks.

It is possible to "prime the pump" here at home to help Vermonters ride out this recession. In fact, it was not so long ago that another Vermont Republican governor, Richard Snelling, saw the wisdom of using the state budget and tax policy in a progressive way to weather the recession of the early '80s. We can do it again.

Another Reagan line used to great effect in 1980 was "a recession is when your neighbor loses his job. A depression is when you lose yours." I submit that this year, a recovery will only be possible when George Bush and Jim Douglas lose theirs. Democrats have shown they are fiscally prudent, and have better ideas for investing in Vermonters and turning our economy around. History has proven the borrow-and-spend giveaways to the wealthiest Americans and corporations do not, in fact, trickle down to the rest of us. Those priorities and incessant deregulation have brought us to the brink of economic ruin.

It took Democrats (Clinton and Dean) to turn our economy around in the '90s. We can do it again. Now is the time to plan for the recession, while implementing responsible tax and budget priorities and regulating industry. The Republicans have put us in a deep hole. Together we can work our way out of this economic mess, and Democratic leadership will help get us there. But we have to act now. There is not a moment to lose. Vote Democratic this year.