Myth Makers

Mythology isn't a thing of the past where gods and goddesses were used to explain the mysterious workings of the universe. The difference between then and now is that, while mythologists of old sought to explain the natural order of things, today’s myth makers invent stories to support shaky premises and tortured agendas. And they repeat their tales so frequently they are often mistaken for truth.

Republicans,for instance, just love the Acorn myth - - that the recovery package contains millions of dollars for the organization. And you know, they add, Acorn is being investigated in dozens of states for improperly registering thousands of new voters. But in fact, Acorn is not named in the recovery package. Moreover it seems Acorn was badly served by workers who created phony registrations just to collect a paycheck. In any case, did people actually run into registrants Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck at the polls?

It is further claimed that, because Acorn threatened to sue banks for refusing sub-prime loans to unqualified and presumably lower-income buyers - - people of color perchance - - the bad loans that resulted were the root cause of our current financial nightmare. Contrary to popular myth-making, however, mortgage defaults didn’t occur primarily at the lowest levels but across a broad spectrum of the market where rates ballooned beyond what many owners could afford to pay, especially if they faced job losses or illness.

Adding to the disarray, voracious middle-men phonied up loan documents, took their commissions and were gone. And banks, in unholy alliances with brokerages, sold under-valued mortgage derivatives as Triple-A instruments to investors who probably should have known better. The notion that Acorn was the prime mover in the sub-prime debacle is one of the more absurd myths making the rounds.

In general terms, to explain their disapproval of the administration’s stimulus and recovery plan, Republican leaders in Congress and their buddies in talk radio’s echo chamber work feverishly to embellish the myth of their fiscal responsibility by questioning what they describe as dubious projects. Is expanding broadband service really as stimulative as “shovel ready” projects they ask? In fact substantial funding for highway and bridge repairs is provided in the bill, but shovels and machines and workers will also be required to develop broadband facilities and to expand the electric grid.

With respect to proposals for a computerized internet file system of a patient’s medical history, claims from the fringe are that this is an intrusion into the lives of ordinary citizens.What is meant to be a guide for possible treatment is described in semi-hysterical terms as a government intervention that will lead to “national rationing” and take medical decisions out of the hands of doctors. Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota is one proponent of this myth. She also suggests that Republicans may not be tough enough in making their case because they are such “nice guys”. How either contention gains traction is almost as astonishing as the fact that people like Bachmann get elected.

Another myth-making favorite is that Obama has failed to participate in a good-faith bi-partisan effort; the assumption being that dialogue is the first step in making a deal no matter what the terms. Basically for Republicans, bi-partisanship seems to mean ‘let’s pretend we won.' Party leaders talk mostly about lower taxes, fiscal restraint and smaller government. They don’t seem to subscribe to the Obama principle that what’s important isn’t big government or small government but good government.

After eight years of Republican indifference to the nation’s crumbling infrastructure and economy, claims of the party’s financial integrity and moral authority ring a bit hollow. In their relentless pursuit of tax cuts rather than job creation and support for innovative manufacturing opportunities, the party is in a holding pattern of tired, shop-worn policies that fail to stir a worried nation in search of inspired leadership. In the opinion of most economists, spending is a greater stimulus than tax cuts. Besides tax cuts for the jobless are counterintuitive and add exponentially to the national debt.

The truth seems to be that the motivating force behind the Republican insurgency isn't so much ideological as it is a lust to regain power at whatever cost. Recently Newt Gingrich passed the mantle of leadership to Senator Eric Cantor saying he represented the core of “GOP resistance”. That pretty much tells the story; none of that bi-partisan, loyal opposition nonsense for these folks - - just unbridled hostility and defiance.