Balanced approach is best approach | Chuck Parrish

Most of us have sufficient life experience to know what makes sense. For example, we know that the president is the chief executive and yet he or she cannot do everything that he or she promises. The president depends on the cooperation of Congress to implement domestic policies. This does not always happen and, lately, rarely happens.

We understand that the nature of the economy is cyclic and subject to market demand. About 70 percent of the gross domestic product is consumer driven. A one percent decrease in GDP results in about one half percent increase in unemployment.

Manufacturers will not build new factories if existing factories can meet demand. You and I are hired only as a last resort if additional demand cannot be addressed through increased productivity and automation.

We export in order to stimulate the economy. If overseas demand falls, there is little that can be done until their economies improve.

Growth is the mantra of both parties. Growth is a long-term strategy. Bottom line: there are no quick fixes for growth and jobs. There ARE short-term counter cyclical or “shot in the arm” measures such as the 2009 ARRA stimulus. This stimulus helped to reverse an economic downward spiral and establish an upward trend. More information is available at www.cbo.gov/publication/43552

A balanced approach in most things is considered a healthy thing. The national economy is no exception. A balanced approach in addressing the issues of energy, revenues and debt just makes sense.

Both parties have a record of exaggeration and obfuscation. It is difficult to know what is right. We can do some fact checking with two outstanding on-line sources: FactCheck.org is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. The APPC was established to address public policy issues at the local, state and federal levels. PolitiFact.com is a project of the Tampa Bay Times. Reporters and editors fact-check statements by members of Congress, the White House, lobbyists and interest groups and rate them.

We should put more emphasis on a political party’s social agenda. Long term in nature, legislation around these issues affect our lives and the lives of our children.  What a party thinks about issues like reproductive choice, health care, contraception, marriage equality and immigration matters. Your own point of view on these issues may affect how you vote. Much can be learned from the party platforms found at

http://www.gop.com/2012-republican-platform_home/ and at

http://www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform

In my view, too many men spend too much time trying to social engineer our lives with respect to children, families and marriage. Enough already!

Tukwila Reporter columnist Chuck Parrish can be reached at editor@tukwilareporter.com.

Contact Tukwila Reporter Columnist Chuck Parrish at editor@kentreporter.com.

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