Even The Conservatives Agree!

Another voice has been added to the chorus about income inequality. That voice comes from none other than Ben Bernanke, Bush's choice just a year ago to head the Federal Reserve, replacing the retiring Alan Greenspan. Like Greenspan, Bernanke has now commented on the growing income disparity in this country, and it should be noted that neither of these guys is a "raving liberal." So, with these two men making such statements, and President Bush giving his two cents on the subject to Wall Street the other day, I hope we have some momentum to take the ball and run with it. The question in my mind is, just to keep the football analogy, "Will someone take the ball down field for a touchdown?" I'm under no illusions that this problem can be fixed quickly, but we need to put some points on the board.

Since the time of the Great Depression, the public has generally seen Democrats as being more on the side of working people and the poor. With that in mind, I'd have to say that the ball is in their court (Okay, that's not sticking with football, but hey, it's basketball season!). The Dems control both houses of Congress, and with such power, they need to keep moving a pro-middle class/working class agenda. The minimum wage is a start. No, it won't solve everything, but it IS a start, and it sends a signal, and it puts a floor under wages. Many moderate Republicans favor the increase, too, and unless I've misunderstood something, the President has indicated that he WILL sign a bill along the lines passed recently by the Senate. The Senate version showed strong bi-partisan support and compromise, something missing so often in Washington. Now, let's hope the pols can work together on many other such beneficial legislation in the very near future.