The Obama Slide

I hope that in his next column, David Brooks will tell us how to deal with the paradox expressed in the penultimate sentence of his column (The Obama Slide, New York Times, September 1, 2009: A25). Mr. Brooks states, "... he needs to align his proposals to the values of the political center: fiscal responsibility, individual choice and decentralized authority."

The last eight years are a memorial to the benefits of individual choice accomplished through massive deregulation or failed regulation. During that time, we did not see much in the way of fiscal responsibility. Governments, corporations (especially banks and near banks), and individuals all engaged in massive deficit spending or irresponsible risk taking.

What policies does Mr. Brooks advocate that would allow freedom but curb those excesses that have brought the economy down?

Sent to the New York Times