Hillary Clinton Will Destroy America

A lot of ink has been spilled on how similar the Democratic candidates are. Not enough has been spilled on key differences. The differences in their fiscal worldviews in particular will be very important depending on the depth and scope of our economic problems

Clinton's is largely the same as Bill's. She's promised to balance the budget. She says she's committed to deficit reduction. She says she won't raise taxes beyond the 90s marginal rate for the richest tax bracket.

Obama's, as far as I can tell, has a progressive worldview. He's said he would not make a balanced budget a high priority. He hasn't, I think, ruled out raising taxes higher than Clinton did. But he's promised to pay for all of his biggest programs, and seemed to get defensive when Clinton accused him of the dreaded fiscal irresponsiblity during the last debate.

Edwards has said he's by far the most progressive. He's said he would increase the deficit guilt-free. He's said he wouldn't himself push for increasing taxes beyond the Clinton rate, but he wouldn't oppose it. And I don't think he's promised to pay for everything he's proposed.

Generally these worldviews aren't reflected in the candidate's policy proposals, which are largely the same, and probably for that reason the media hasn't examined them much. But they are very important.

Let's say the stimulus package doesn't work and the recession deepens. Congress will take up another package. The President will be a key negotiator, and their worldviews will probably shape what they push for.

For example, look at the modest package Clinton originally proposed. If she's in office, there'll be no Obama to pressure her to increase the price tag.

You could also look at Bush. He proposed a package larger than ALL the Democrats (though much less progressive). And guess what? He could give a shit about the deficit.

Point is, another fiscal-responsibility obsessive in the White House might not be aggressive enough when it counts. And they'll destroy America or something.