Re: A really great essay by Keith Cowing

"Jorge R. Frank" wrote:

> Chris Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]:
>
> > "Jorge R. Frank" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
> >
> > [...]
> >
> >>> Gee, I liked the economy under Clinton far better than Reagan and
> >>> both Bushes.
> >>
> >> It's far from clear how much credit Clinton deserves for the 90's
> >> economic boom. It was mostly driven by the dot.coms, which Clinton
> >> had little to do with other than having the good sense to stay out of
> >> the way. Clinton's main contribution to the boom was freer trade
> >> (NAFTA, GATT), but you wouldn't know it by listening to the current
> >> Democratic candidates, who are practically climbing over each other
> >> to distance themselves from it.
> >
> > Interesting debating tactic.
>
> Is it all about debating tactics?
>
> >  Man says "Clinton good."  You say, "No,
> > he was smart and all he did was promote free trade and make economy go
> > boom."
>
> No, it went more like: "Clinton's economic policies had little to do with
> the economic boom during his terms, and to the small extent that they did,
> his followers have since repudiated those policies."
>
> --
> JRF

I believe that the really important thing that led to economic advances in
the Clinton era was "gridlock".  After the Republicans took over the House
Clinton couldn't get any programs of his started and the Republicans were
not able to over-ride Clinton vetoes.

Mike Walsh