[Marxism] Likely domestic policy changes under Obama

[Joaquin Bustelo]

Lüko says, "A different image, certainly yes. But if the many changes which
you have described would really be implemented -- please allow me to be
skeptical."

Actually, I think many/most of the changes would come even if McCain were
elected. 

Fiscal policy HAS to change. The details will be different under McCain, the
effect the same --much smaller deficits. 

Federal regulation of the investment banks is also pretty much a foregone
conclusion, both because of the risks to the system and what economists call
"moral hazard" now that the fed's policy is that such banks will not be
allowed to go bankrupt, putting a floor on downside risk. 

My guess would be that McCain also would want to get immigration reform done
because the economy needs the workers and the anti-immigrant jihad is
starting to interfere with an adequate supply of labor in agriculture and
will also in construction if/when this sector recovers. There is also the
long-term political calculation: about 40% of pre-school age children are
"minorities," more than half of those Latinos and a similar number children
of immigrants (not all Latinos). 

I think McCain is unlikely to cut high-tech weapon systems, but one way or
the other, the space exploration "vision" is toast. The scientific community
has now said what they should have told W. when he resurrected his dad's
Martian plan, that it won't work, except back then Bush was too strong
politically. 

Of course some sort of universal health care plan is extremely unlikely, as
is any major increase in enforcement of civil rights or voting rights laws.

What will happen on the domestic security front I'm not sure. But a lot of
the Republican base is quite unhappy with things like "Real ID." And
although a lot of the left has been denouncing police-state type measures,
the reality is that on the ground it has been more like a Keystone Kops
state.

Thus Fatherland Security Fuehrer Herr Chertoff just gave ALL the states
waivers on implementing "Real ID" until 2009 or 2010 --I forget exactly--
including those like Maine that have specifically repudiated it and said
they wouldn't go along. Chertoff said a promise by the governor (that no one
had heard of before) to ask the legislature to look at it again was enough
"progress" to justify the extension. Otherwise, under the terms of the law,
Maine (and other states) drivers licenses would no longer be accepted as the
internal passports required to board an airplane as of June 1.

And at some point the hotel, restaurant and airline companies are going to
get tired of all the bullshit and demand they be allowed to compete again
for tourist and business travel dollars on a more level playing field. Right
now, even though the U.S. and everything in it is basically 50% off for
Europeans, the number of foreign visitors is still way below 2000 levels,
and the growth of domestic business travel has also been seriously impacted.


All sorts of international business meetings and even academic conferences
have been moved to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean because getting U.S.
visas has become so expensive. Basically it costs $1000 on top of normal
fees to fast-track visa applications and that was becoming the only way to
be sure to get them from certain countries. Thus one very famous company I
know that has extensive operations and sales in Latin America has moved all
the meetings involving a lot of people from Latin America away from their
corporate headquarters in Atlanta to the Bahamas and Mexico. 

Individual Members of Congress got so fed up with their "constituent
services" staff being tied down chasing after the State Department on behalf
of colleges, universities and non profits that they just passed a law
ordering the State Department to fast track all visa applications for
artists, performers and I think academics sponsored by such groups that
hadn't been resolved in 30 days. 

Joaquín