Asking the Right Questions, Part II

I started a blog post about Barry's press conference from last month, and didn't get around to finishing it. Sometimes, this is for a good reason. You can of course already predict what the president is going to say. Most of it has been refuted already here and in dozens of other blog outlets. Yes, he's very careful with his words. He wants to spread the wealth, and has to be more careful about who he tells that to. He's certainly not going to say that to a room full of reporters.

So, I thought I'd take a good look at the questions that followed the press conference speech, because I found most of them very good questions, deserving of a good answer. So I want to report to you two answers to each of the questions: One as Barry would give it, if he could be as brief as the Wizer. The other answer is what it would sound like if given by a good president. It should be easy to spot the differences:

All right. With that, let me take some questions. And I’ve got a list here;
let’s start off with Jennifer Loven, AP.
QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. President.
Your Treasury secretary and the Fed chair have been -- were on Capitol Hill
today, asking for this new authority that you want to regulate big, complex
financial institutions. But given the problems that the financial bailout
program has had so far -- banks not wanting to talk about how they’re spending
the money, the AIG bonuses that you mentioned -- why do you think the public
should sign on for another new, sweeping authority for the government to take
over companies, essentially?

Barry: Because we're the government, and we know better.
Hypothetical Good President: Good Question, Jennifer. I believe the government created this problem by guaranteeing idiotic loans through Fannie Mae and encouraging AIG to hold all the insurance paper for the scam. The least we can do as a government is clean up the mess and eliminate the people and processes in government that created it. I'm asking for the resignations of Barney Frank, Chuck Schumer, and Chris Dodd. I will take measures to ensure that all financial institutions are reprivatized, and will give the order for a thorough investigation.

QUESTION: But why should the public trust the government to handle that
authority well?

Barry: Because we are trained as government officials to establish new expensive programs that have dubious value if accomplished, and fortunately we usually don't accomplish them.
Hypothetical Good President: Jennifer, you should never trust us. All I can do as an individual is promise I will do all I can to make this happen. If I can't do it, you should replace me. You should do the same with all those who stand in the way of achieving these goals.

Okay. Chuck Todd.
QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. President. Some have compared this financial crisis to
a war, and in times of war, past presidents have called for some form of
sacrifice. Some of your programs, whether for Main Street or Wall Street, have
actually cushioned the blow for those that were irresponsible during this --
during this economic period of prosperity or supposed prosperity that you were
talking about.
Why, given this new era of responsibility that you’re asking for, why haven’t
you asked for something specific that the public should be sacrificing to
participate in this economic recovery?

Barry: To answer that question with any specificity is above my pay grade.
Hypothetical Good President: Chuck, let me tell you, I do feel bad about that. When George and Henry wrote that check to the banks and the financial areas, they thought it would fix things, and if it worked, it might have even been a fair price to pay. However, history shows that any such intervention will always have unintended consequences that impact more people adversely than are helped. Now the government felt some responsibility because they created the problem with that Fannie Mae malfeasance. Writing the check provided cover for everybody involved. It's not right, but it's an explanation. Of course it also did not work. So, now I'm here, and the bucks have to stop. Everybody has to straighten their own ship. As a government, our only legal goal is to create an environment where we can at least grow out of the hole they've dug for us.

QUESTION: But you don’t think there should be a specific call to action that you
want the American -- I mean, this is -- you’ve described this as an economic
crisis like nothing we have seen since the Great Depression.

Barry: Yes, I believe everybody must sacrifice for the greater good. Let government take over the auto industry, the banks, the financial firms, the insurance companies, and your thermostat. Then we'll see what happens.
Hypothetical Good President: My call to action is to have the country prepare for a new awakening. Another morning in America, so to speak. There will be far fewer government programs to get in the way of progress. There will be fewer government employees and others living on the backs of the taxpayers. There will be more taxes collected because of the higher productivity of the peoples of this nation, and that additional money will be used to retire the debt and strengthen our dollar. It simply means everybody goes to work, and we create the environment where that is facilitated.

To be continued