Lots of controversy has been seen at the people Obama had at his economic meeting. Organized labor was astonished that they did not have a voice at the table. Many found it galling that there were lots of CEOs at the table.
Interesting, asking the people who caused the problem how to fix the problem. This is kind of like asking the fox how to fix the henhouse. The foxes might be willing to do it after all the chickens are dead but, only so that they kill more chickens in the future. (Lets see Sarah Palin beat home spun homliy. Sorry I digress.)
There should have been a voice at that table adovcating for the average Americans. Fair enough so my question is who would you have wanted there? Who do you think would have been an effective voice?
I'll start with a few of my picks. Go ahead and discuss them, praise them, argue them rebut them or come up with your own. Please feel free to put in your own.
As Pink would say lets get this party started:
Elizabeth Warren: I bring her up first because she might not be an obvious choice. She is a law professor at Harvard. She cowrote a book named "The Two Income Trap." Understands what people are going through. She is very articulate. Also being that she is a law professor with extensive knowledge in business law, she could sniff out a proposed loop hole a mile away.
Barbara Enrenreich: Journalist, Author. Her most famous work was "Nickle and Dimed". She spent three months slumming and very eloquently reported on the challenges faced by the working poor. I also would like to have a strong dose of Journalistic skeptism at this table.
Kevin Phillips: Author, former Nixon and Reagan white house staffer. Okay I know at first glace that many old lefties will crap their pants when I put this out there. Kevin Phillips although nominanlly a Republican is no blind ideologue. He wrote one of the most scathing indictments of not just Bush but, his whole family as well. Phillips also has an canny ability to catch on to trend before they happen. He was right dead on about the stock market crash. He caught the new alignments in politcs years ago.
Andy Stern: President of SEIU. He has spent a life time organizing the lowest rungs of the economic strata. Very able part of the union movemnt. What more needs to be said.
Jim Hightower: Populist agiatator, former Texas comissioner of agriculture, Jim has spent a lifetime in the grassroots. A rare grassroots guy with a national prespective. He has also spent a life time taking on the big guys. This would never happen but, if it did image the fits it would raise at Fox news. Hell, O'Reily's blood pressure would go so high that he would keel over dead of a heart attack. (Hey ya gotta dream.)
Bill Moyers: Journalist, former press sec to LBJ, No one can question his intelligence, or wisdom. Again journalistic skeptism with a vocalulary to rebut. Not a bad choice.
Jimmy Hoffa jr: President of Teamsters Union; Okay I know that the name itself might scare people off. We all know that his late father was greeted by a cheering mob wherever he went. I have to admit as a former member of the teamsters, I was opposed to him mostly, on these grounds. I was wrong and unfair. Jimmy has done a pretty decent job. I ended up liking him more than I thought I would. Do not forget that he was a key player and a major organizer of the WTO protests in 99.
Wiliam Grieder: journalist, author. He wrote what I consider the best book on Politcs "Who Will Tell the People?" has covered economics for many years. He knows that tricks and game better than anyone. Definately a good skeptic, no respect or would not over awed by CEOs'
Erik Estrada: Actor, 80's TV series ChiPs: Hey he needs the work. Besides who better understands unemployment issues then an actor. (Okay, I admit maybe this one is a bit silly.)
Paul Krugman: Economist Harvard, really this choice should have been pretty obvious. He has done a great job and has an impressive understanding this subject. The only reason I put him on the bottom of the of the list is that he is so obvious that no one would have read on. Final word not only should he have been at the table it would be a tragedy if he were not some where in the new administration.
Somone else/ your Choice: Blog away.