In that alternate-reality United States of my dreams, the one where science and education are taken seriously, taking action to build a better future is a virtue, and people remember the value of the economics of John Maynard Keynes, the government is reacting to news of continued high unemployment and general economic malaise by putting in place programs refurbishing our crumbling infrastructure while in the process investing in the technology and physical plant that would enable us to keep the now-inevitable period of global climate change less disastrous for our civilization.
But of course, we live in this reality instead. Shoot.
WASHINGTON – Preparing for political life after a bruising election, President Barack Obama will put greater emphasis on fiscal discipline, a nod to a nation sick of spending and to a Congress poised to become more Republican, conservative and determined to stop him.
Update: Oh yeah, and there’s this: