Comments on: The threat of bigness http://lbo-news.com/2009/04/20/the-threat-of-bigness/ Insta-punditry on political economy. Fri, 11 May 2012 05:39:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: ravi http://lbo-news.com/2009/04/20/the-threat-of-bigness/#comment-430 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:23:29 +0000 http://doughenwood.wordpress.com/?p=221#comment-430 I suspect the trend from 1970 to 2000 is different from the one from 2002 to 2006. The first trend is IMHO the blacklash to the successes of the idealised 60s. Giant leaps were made in civil rights and similar issues and a backlash was inevitable (especially when you add in the hatred of “hippies” shared by the right and what passes for the left). The ratcheting up of anti-government rhetoric and the demonization of the 60s, funded by the Scaifes and Olins, is reflected in the curve.

With 2001, big government was probably perceived as a comforting power that chased after the bad people that hate us for our freedoms.

The uptick 2002 on and the downward trend from 2006 when Democrats won control of both houses, may be the first instance (in the time period in this graph) when the public rejected “their” form of big government (Bush/Cheney illegal wars, wiretaps, so on) in favour of the Democratic/progressive version.

All idle speculation, of course.

]]> By: Pedro http://lbo-news.com/2009/04/20/the-threat-of-bigness/#comment-426 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:08:00 +0000 http://doughenwood.wordpress.com/?p=221#comment-426 Anecdotal evidence among elite opinion:

(then) Bill Clinton: era of big govenment over

(now) Obama: it’s not if it’s too big or small’s it’s if it works

Alan Greenspan: “i was wrong” Ya think???

]]> By: Maurice Lanselle http://lbo-news.com/2009/04/20/the-threat-of-bigness/#comment-417 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:01:09 +0000 http://doughenwood.wordpress.com/?p=221#comment-417 Antipathy for “big government” grew regularly for over twenty years. until “big government/big tax-man” was driven down by the Cheney administration, whereapon some realized that beating back big government did less than nothing good for them.

Is there some framing going on in the constitution of the poll? Does anyone fear “big religion” or “big loan-sharks” and such? Do all, or even most, consider banks, credit unions, pension funds, Western Union (and check cashing facilities) “big business”? Does anyone fear “other people with guns” ? Does anyone fear gangs?

]]> By: Tim Schreier http://lbo-news.com/2009/04/20/the-threat-of-bigness/#comment-416 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:04:24 +0000 http://doughenwood.wordpress.com/?p=221#comment-416 Doug
Very interesting piece. I think it would be a very eye opening study of what American’s “perveive they need the most”, given the conditions of today. Given the choices, I think the gap will close even further.

]]> By: Michael Dawson http://lbo-news.com/2009/04/20/the-threat-of-bigness/#comment-412 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:29:43 +0000 http://doughenwood.wordpress.com/?p=221#comment-412 Given our still unshaken media and propaganda/wealth arrangements, how could it be otherwise? Depressing, nonetheless, as were the recent findings on the crap people still believe about class mobility.

]]>