Thursday, November 04, 2004

Really Bad Ideas That the Media Loves and Democrats Must Resist

1) "privatizing" Social Security. I don't worry so much about benefits being cut. The upshot of a growing population of old people is that it's a growing populating of old people who vote. But, this will just be the Treasury Looting Act of 2005. Firms will get their fees, funds will be looted, then they'll be bailed out, rinse, repeat...

2) "Medical Savings Accounts." Insurance is about reducing risk and uncertainty. Forcing people to cover their medical costs by hording a big pile of cash they can't spend until they get sick is a just a weird idea. And, it might have the added advantage of destroying the private health insurance market entirely.

3) Tort reform. The "Moron-American Act of 2005." You get what you wish for, I guess.

4) Bankruptcy reform. Oh Lord help us.

5) Enviornment. Well, everything.

6) Tax cuts. Oh, just let them have their goddamn tax cuts. The bond market'll snap like a twig at some point.