Discussing debt at America's kitchen table
Categories: Money & work, In the news
Welcome to Red Mom Blue Mom, ParentDish's special coverage of the 2008 Presidential election. Each Tuesday through November 4, columnists Rachel Campos-Duffy (Red Mom) and Ada Calhoun (Blue Mom) will take on issues relevant to parents on both sides of the aisle. You can find past Red Mom/Blue Mom posts here.
Blue Mom: Who owns America's kitchen table?
By Ada Calhoun
When Joe Biden gave his first speech as the vice presidential nominee, he said, "Ladies and gentlemen, your kitchen table is like mine. You sit there at night . . . after you put the kids to bed and you talk . . . about how much you are worried about being able to pay the bills. Well, ladies and gentlemen, that's not a worry John McCain has to worry about. It's a pretty hard experience. He'll have to figure out which of the seven kitchen tables to sit at."Burn!
McCain's had trouble relating directly to everyday people, especially since Biden joined the Obama ticket. According to OutTheOtherEar
And don't the Republicans know it. According to a September report on Politico
Enter Sarah Palin.
Asked on Hugh Hewitt's show, "Have you and your husband, Todd, ever faced tough economic times where you had to sit around a kitchen table and make tough choices?" Palin said,"Todd and I, heck, we're going through that right now even as we speak, which may put me again kind of on the outs of those Washington elite who don't like the idea of just an everyday working class American running for such an office."
At last week's vice presidential debate, Biden and Palin worked hard to out-kitchen-table each other. In the course of the ninety-minute exchange, the phrase "kitchen table" was used five times.
The kitchen table has proved to be an especially powerful metaphor, because what we need at the moment are leaders who embody the pragmatism of a family forced into a tight spot by circumstances who together can figure out a way to get back on track.
We don't really need someone who has been broke, but a little personal fiscal suffering doesn't hurt. As Chris Rock said in a much-watched Larry King episode last week, the candidate who understands the economy best is always "the guy with one house."
Red Mom: Can't solve debt with more debt
By Rachel Campos-Duffy
"Kitchen table" issues are front and center this election. Palin's statement resonated strongly with Americans on both sides of the political aisle because she spoke to the heart of the conversations so many of us are having around our own kitchen tables after the kids have gone to bed.
Since the financial crises, my husband and I have recommitted to our budget and canceled a family trip we had planned for the fall. Both of us have October birthdays and we made a pact not to buy each other gifts and to celebrate at home this year. And for the first time ever, I may actually get my Christmas shopping done early because I'm already actively seeking out sales and determined to avoid last minute Christmas impulse purchases.
American families understand that in difficult financial times they cut back. Shouldn't the federal government employ the same kitchen table common sense principals? Unfortunately not. In fact, but for a few conservative Republicans and blue-dog Democrats, our representatives in Washington thought this was a good time to spend more of our money. That's akin to Sean and I deciding that this would be a great time to hire a designer and redecorate. The supposedly do-or-die $700 billion bailout bill included more than $100 billion in additional pork spending and special interest tax breaks. And it's worth noting that the $700 billion loan is actually money we are borrowing from China since our national debt, the cumulative amount the federal government has borrowed and not repaid, is a record $9.5 trillion.
The Democrat-controlled Congress holds the purse strings and government spending is out of control. Our politicians want us to believe that going $700 billion dollars deeper into debt is going to help what is essentially a debt problem. It's like believing you can cure Joe Six-Pack's drinking problem with a case of Sam Adams.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Karen 10-07-2008 @ 8:36AM
It doesn't matter how much money you have. You have to live within your means. More houses, bigger houses, just means more upkeep. Ask most of the lottery winners how all that money worked out for them?
Poor people and wealthy people all have to make wise decisions. Yes, wealthy people may have more resources at their disposal, but that doesn't mean there aren't choices. Again - we have such class envy in this country.
John McCain married a very wealthy woman. To suggest that means he doesn't understand economics is foolish. And while Biden may not be the richest Senator, he isn't suffering any.
I love Sarah Palin, but not because she is like me. I like her because she has the same approach to govrenment as me. It is so ridiculous to act like someone has to live through something bad to learn from it.
I always heard stupid people learn from their mistakes. Smart people learn from other people's mistakes. I expect my politicians to be smart enough to study what works (tax cuts) and not give into to the idea that people can vote themselves a paycheck because they have no personal responsibility and resent other people's success.
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the goddess anna 10-07-2008 @ 8:48AM
I have a question to ask about the banner with the two authors' pictures - I realize that the title is "Red Mom, Blue Mom," but when you put the blue field of our flag second (behind Ms. Calhoun), and the stripes behind Ms. Campos-Duffy, it makes the flag appear upside down. The only time the flag is to be shown/flown is in times of dire distress, i.e. an embassy is being overrun by hostiles. I'm not sure if this is intentional or not, and I'm surprised no one else has posted a comment about it - but as a veteran myself and the wife of an active duty Sailor, it pisses me off. There have been three entrees, and no one else has noticed - or if they have, it's been ignored. So my question is this: Will you please change your banner graphic to show either a correctly-flying flag, or insert new graphics behind the pictures?
And yes, I realize the graphic is not a flag per se, but it gives the appearance of one. Perception is reality.
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isisaquaria 10-07-2008 @ 9:35AM
Anna,
I hadn't noticed because I generally ignore these particular grp of post (partly subject matter, mostly author) But you are absolutely right...it is as offensive as seeing a business fly a frayed flag. Or, flying a flag in the rain or un-lit at night. Or, the big one-in my many travels across this great land--DO NOT FLY YOUR STATE FLAG AT THE SAME HEIGHT AS THE AMERICAN FLAG!! This is when two poles are used. The only exception is TEXAS.
Fix it or can the blog all together...either works for me.
Chere 10-07-2008 @ 9:35AM
I agree. People have to take personal responsibility. I think too much value is placed on material things. When you live outside your means, eventually you will pay the price. Our economic crisis is not only because of the lenders who gave ridiculous mortgage loans, but what about the people who accepted the loan and bought the house knowing it was more than they could afford. My heart goes out to all those that are loosing their home, I can not imagine how horrific that would be. When we decide who we are going to vote for and look at the candidates agenda and what their economic plan is we need to evaluate our own economic plan for ourselves. As a nation we need to find a solution to our economic crisis and put a bandaid over it.
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EK 10-07-2008 @ 11:55AM
Rachel, I seem to remember your videos last year showing the home remodeling you did, and all the shopping and spa treatments you promoted. You remind me of Sarah Palin in that integrity seems to be missing from what you're spouting. It's great to cancel your trip NOW, but you talk very openly about all the trips you've taken in the past. I don't think the financial crisis is based on what decisions we're making today, it's what we've done over the last years that have caused this bridge to nowhere to fail.
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Karen 10-07-2008 @ 5:15PM
What the hell kind of comment is this?
The decision to cut back now, doesn't mean that individuals made bad decisions in the past. How you relate the shape this country is in - to her personal decisions is beyond me. She didn't say she couldn't afford a trip or Christmas presents because of past spending. She said they recommitted to staying in a tighter budget so that they aren't one of the people that is in trouble down the road.
The idea of cutting back when you see an uncertain future is WISE financial planning.
I've done the same thing. I've cancelled a fall trip, cut back on some spa visits, and am putting away more money for possible rough times.
Gosh...there is such resentment in this country against people that are successful.
CLM 10-07-2008 @ 11:57AM
Please stop blaming the Democrats for this. It is silly and insults the intelligence of Republicans and Democrats alike. They have only very recently become the majority party, and that majority is neither veto- nor fillibuster-proof.
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Karen 10-07-2008 @ 5:38PM
Are you unaware of how legislation works its way through committee? Are you unaware of how Republicans caved and gave Dems committee chair positions when the senate was close. Are you unaware that these problems go bad as far as the Community Reinvestmant Act (1977 I think -- Dem controlled both houses) where Carter encouraged banks to extend loans to people that could not afford them and expanded on by Clinton who extended the program to people that should not be granted a loan under any circumstances. And then - Clinton framed the debate in terms of race since it was mostly blacks and hispanics that benefitted from sub-prime loans. Bush tried to rescind this executive order (which punished banks if they did not comply) and the Dems threatened filabuster. In fact, every single attemp to regulate Fannie and Freddie was stopped by DEMOCRATS! They were also the largest benefactors of donations. Dodd in particular (Chairman of the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee) was the largest reciever of donations and refused to let anything come out of committee.
Why do we keep blaming the Democrats for this? Because it is their fault. GOP isn't blameless and could have done more, but the DEMS did everything in their power to keep Freddie and Fannie from being touched and are OVERWHELMINGLY responsible.
SKL 10-07-2008 @ 12:05PM
The problem with all this Kitchen Table stuff is that it's pandering to people who don't understand the big picture.
Here's how I'm gonna put more meat on YOUR table, so vote for me. Pay no attention to the fact that this policy will harm our economy and make you even more desperate by the time my term is coming to a close.
I would venture a guess that most of us have struggled at one time or another. Usually in our early years. If we have a work ethic and sense of responsibility, we've chalked those years up to experience and put them behind us as we now enjoy our comfortable and debt-free existences. As far as I know, each person on both tickets has experience with having to budget and being unsure how ends will meet in the future. And none of them is hurting at the moment.
Obama's promises to cut taxes on those who hardly pay any and raise them on businesses is a recipe for job migration and loss. Then when you ask him how he's gonna get people back to work, he says he's cutting taxes! Honey, when you aren't getting a paycheck, you aren't paying Federal taxes. (Or wouldn't you know that?) You need businesses to have a few bucks in their budget so you can earn a wage and maybe, if you're lucky, pay a few bucks into the pot.
Obama is also planning to give unions so much power that they can stop a business from running on temporary replacement labor while the union is striking. You would rather go to work and feed your kids when the unions strike? Tough shit. Say goodbye to more jobs - permanently, because you can't stop businesses from opening shop in Mexico, China, etc., where the government understands that feeding one's family is a priority.
Speaking of unions, there are a lot of parallels between what they do and what the financial institutions have been up to lately. Taking the union dues of folks who have no choice but to pay them, and using them to pad the pockets of the union chiefs, and meanwhile using their power to terrorize anyone who might want a change, and by the way getting subsidies from the government to do it. Obama wants to give them even more power. Why is this not a scandal?
I don't want any of the politicians at my kitchen table. I don't want them on my street. Like most Americans, I do a lot better relying on my own pluck.
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SKL 10-07-2008 @ 12:46PM
Oh and by the way, I love the way Obama is trying to blame all this on McCain and vice versa. Both of them are in the Senate and have the same responsibilities and powers. Either they both need a kick in the pants or neither does, as far as the past few years go.
Same comment on the whole Republican vs Democrat stuff. None of them fixed / prevented the problem - otherwise why are we having this discussion? They are all just blowing hot air. If there is anything to be learned from this about the parties, it's that they both put their own partisan politicking and campaigns ahead of working together to do what's best for the country. So, what else is new?
What we need is fewer lawyers on Capitol Hill. I'm a lawyer. We're trained to approach everything in the most adversarial way. Each side comes in with an extreme position and wastes time, money, and goodwill fighting to get to a middle result. Meanwhile, the things entrusted to them deteriorate. Let's stop entrusting so much to them, and maybe even reduce the number of "lawmakers" on the hill. I can dream, can't I?
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Sabrina 10-07-2008 @ 3:12PM
SKL, I'm only writing to say that my father is in the steelworker's union, and what you say about unions is irritating to me. Right now he's been on strike for 3 solid months, and the union dues he's been paying all these years are coming back to him in the form of gift certificates to grocery stores in their local area. At least the union is there to help by giving back to him and other families where he works, otherwise my parents would be starving to death while thie big business hems and haws about tiny increases or decreases in their total profit, and not caring at all about the workers who have nothing to go on while they slowly make up their minds.
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Karen 10-07-2008 @ 5:38PM
So, your father quit working and is effectively trying to shut down the business that has employed him by using terrorist tactics and you want my to have sympathy for him? Forget it. You don't hold your employer hostage.
Unions are useless in this day and age except to increase the costs of goods and contribute to inflation. They are one of the primary reasons companies move job overseas. They served a purpose a long time ago - mostly regarding safety issues, but at this point the are useless.
You and your father aren't entitled to anything. He is worth what he is able to negotiate on his own. Union tactics are akin to terrorist acts IMO and I'm disgusted by them.
Now granted this system was in place long before your father went to work and he probably couldn't have been employed if he didn't give in and go along, but I hope this taught him a lesson. I hope that the Union has to cave and the employer wins this one.
I don't wish ill will on your family, and I hope they don't suffer because this organization convinced him it was in his best interest to refuse to do what he is paid to do, but I also hope it is a totally INEFFECTIVE strike.
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Juniper 10-07-2008 @ 9:34PM
I have been lurking here for some time but this is the first time I have felt so compelled to write, namely because of the completely off-base comments Karen has made. First off, if tax cuts work so well, why is our economy in such shambles? Oh, that's right, the tax cuts went precisely to the people who don't need them and not to the people who would use them. Face it, "trickle down" economics are never going to work, even if you keep repeating that they will until you are blue in the face. Our tax code needs to go back to the way it was in the 1950's (you know, the period of time conservatives love to say was the most ideal time ever) and be truly progressive and fair.
And, Karen, your comments on unions are ridiculous. If it weren't for unions, we would have never had a 40-hour work week, paid vacation time, safety in the workplace, the end of child labor and a host of other benefits. If you think for one second any company would have bestowed any of these benefits on any of their workers, you are sadly mistaken. And don't argue that one person alone can "negotiate" for fair pay and other benefits. I am sure huge, Fortune 500 companies are just shaking in their boots if they had to "negotiate" with you.
The only thing I can say to Karen is I really don't wish you any ill will, but I hope one day, even for a brief moment, you see the error of your ways. Sometimes the only way that can happen is through experiencing personal misfortune...and that's sad.
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Mihir 10-08-2008 @ 11:08AM
"If it weren't for unions, we would have never had a 40-hour work week, paid vacation time, safety in the workplace, the end of child labor and a host of other benefits"
and what have they done lately? karen's point was that unions had their time and place, but that time is gone.
and...for the record, i (one person) negotiate fair pay and benefits for every job i've worked. whether it's a company of 20 people or 20,000. i get paid what i'm worth. if they don't want to pay me that, i'll take my skills elsewhere. a union will negotiate for what THEY think you're worth. if you think you're worth more...sorry, tough luck. i, for one, don't want anyone voting for what my salary should or should not be.
and Sabrina, i'd be curious to know how much your father has paid in dues vs. how much of his own money the union has given back to him.
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Evelyn Guzman 10-08-2008 @ 4:41PM
Correct me if I am wrong but one of the writers seems to be against the bailout plan. Not that I blame her but the trouble is, what is the alternative? That was a funny thing Chris Rock said about the kitchen table issues, but I also remember him saying that only normal people will understand the plight of the people because he has gone through some hardship. But anyway, I love this article with reactions from both red and blue Moms. Excellent idea!
Evelyn Guzman
http://www.debtchallenges.com (If you want to visit, just click but if it doesn’t work, copy and paste it onto your browser.)
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west coast 10-16-2008 @ 12:49AM
If Obama is elected, he will be figurehead, Pelosi will enact any policy she wants--be head of the banking system--decide who gets loans, etc., do away with unions' secret ballots--there will be no checks & balances in the system. Bush is no good, McCain is no where near perfect, but do you want an unbridled, unchecked system?
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