Uncertainly Wrong

Republicans caused our economic uncertainty. Progressives have answers.
Mark Schmitt | September 9, 2010
American Prospect

The buzzword of this election year, at least for Republicans, is "uncertainty." House Republican Leader John Boehner uses the word at every opportunity: "Small-business operators ... are filled with massive uncertainty." "When there is that much uncertainty employers just freeze. ... They are afraid to move forward because they don't know what is coming next." The expiring Bush tax cuts, implementation of financial regulation and health reform, and the lingering possibility that Congress will pass cap-and-trade climate legislation are all blamed for this paralyzing doubt.

Unlike other Republican election-year lines, this one makes superficial sense. These are scary times for anyone thinking about investing or hiring, or anyone looking for a job and trying to decide whether to take a pay cut or change careers. Who isn't aware that the economy's next move could be up, down, or sideways?

And as a political theme, "uncertainty" is also brilliantly evasive. Republicans who are willing to advocate specific and massive spending cuts, like Rep. Paul Ryan, and those who prefer vagueness, which are all the others, seem to agree that we need more certainty. And for independent and moderate Democratic voters who were made uncomfortable by the process of passing health reform but still generally favor President Obama's policies, "uncertainty" plays on their anxieties about the odd twists and turns of Washington.

(More here.)