Understanding Government

A brilliant open letter written by Bretigne Shaffer says this:

I’m going to make some predictions about Obama’s presidency.  Essentially, I’m going to predict that four years from now, an Obama presidency will not look very different from the George W. Bush presidency, or from what I imagine a John McCain presidency would bring.  If I’m wrong about this, then I promise that I will re-think my beliefs about our political system and about politics generally.  But if I am right, then I’m asking you to do the same.  I’m asking each of you to consider the seemingly bizarre proposition that there really is no significant difference between candidates offered up by the established party system; that Republican and Democrat are virtually indistinguishable; and that neither party has at heart the interests of you or me or “the American people.”  I’m asking you to consider the possibility that continuing to vote for these people just helps to perpetuate the very ills you seek to cure.

I like this letter so much, that I’ll even agree to it’s terms – if Obama proves to be significantly different than Bush, I will rethink my political stands.

(it’ll be worse. Sorry.)

Here’s what bothers me – if (when) Eric deCarbonnel’s and the rest of the contrarian economists are proven right, they will continue to be ignored. How bad does it really need to get before people start to believe that we are in big trouble, that Obama will not be able to save us, that the worth of our money isn’t important, and that government isn’t the answer (but freedom, the market, and personal responsibility are)?