Today, Richard Roger Cohen writes a truly incoherent column warning the president not to turn this country into France and to guard "America's spirit." Why are we turning into France, you ask? Well, there are three reasons. First, the budget is very large, which is bad because ... well, Cohen doesn't make economic arguments in the column. It's all very touchy-feely. Next is his concern that Obama hasn't said government is the problem and expects it accomplish goals. Cohen doesn't mention any of these crazy ideas, but they include improving the public education system (quel horror!), solving the collective action problem of global warming and fixing the health care system that is bankrupting the country. Not, you know, nationalizing major industry or instituting a 35-hour work week. Finally, Obama may be "punishing capital" by increasing tax rates ... to their Clinton-era levels (in some cases not even that high!) which as we all know resulted in the flight of capital form the United States during the Great Recession of the late nineties. Or a budget surplus, I've heard it both ways. No mention of Obama's tax cuts for working people, perhaps because they can't flee the country? They lack 'American spirit'? Cohen approves of the general direction of Obama's plan, and doesn't mention any specific parts to which he is opposed. He does critique the government's approach to the financial sector and AIG -- which thus far has a lot to criticize -- but he doesn't offer any suggestions for what ought to be done, except to rule out temporary nationalization as being too French. This is really just an exercise in Ben Nelson style moderation: the liberal president is taking some action, but to remain in the center Cohen must warn him not to become too European, despite lacking evidence that this is happening or even objecting to what the president does. If there's a chance to refer to his time living in France, so much the better.
-- Tim Fernholz
