Thinking. About Business.
Yo, Stooopid!
What it’s about, this election time around
By David E. Black
“It’s the economy, stupid.” Those famous words are credited to political pundit James Carville, who ran President Bill
Clinton’s first presidential campaign in 1992 against incumbent first-term President George H. W. Bush, and of course won.
In 1980, we saw President Ronald Reagan run against first termer Jimmy Carter in the famous “economic malaise” days
of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Could we be looking at a serious challenge to another first-term president in November?
As we inch toward the Republican nomination of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney to face off in the fall
against President Obama, there is debate whether this is “about the economy, stupid,” (1992) or “economic malaise” (1980)
or more of a combination of things.
As much as the President and other elected officials like to take credit for healthy economic times, their downside is
shouldering the blame for tough economic times. You might say that should play to the Republican’s strength this fall.
Well, remember the economy tanked in the fall of 2008 during the final year of the President George W. Bush presidency.
We are likely to hear the phrase “I inherited this mess” from places other than city hall in Harrisburg. The Obama camp
will remind us of the fall of 2008, to which the Republican will likely shoot back, “And you did what to improve it over
the past 4 years?” The point is not who is to blame, the point is getting the fiscal condition of Harrisburg and the United
States back on track.
Let’s face it, people vote their wallets. Most of this campaign will focus on economic issues, and though it has been
improving, we are still far from the days of a robust economy and low unemployment numbers. Then what about the 99
percent? I suspect we will see leaders from organized labor and the President try to make this election about paycheck
issues trying to pit struggling middle-class households against the uber-wealth in this country. We will also see if the
Republicans can stay on message or will they get sucked into protracted polarizing debates on social issues that are not
foremost in voters’ minds but make great fodder for political pundits in the 24/7 news cycle to paint Republican candidates
as out of the mainstream of voter concerns.
This brings me to the point of this prologue … to an election this November, which should be about what our federal
government can and should do and likewise should do for all of us and for our nation. It should not be about the evil things
those dirty rotten scoundrels (choose one: Democrats or Republicans) could/will do to us if they are elected. The best thing
we can do for our country’s future is to sift through the campaign noise to find the core beliefs of a candidate’s perspectives
about the role and scope of government in our lives and in our businesses. You make up your own mind based on your
own personal preferences, but do the country a favor and don’t base your vote this fall on a lowest common denominator.
Too many people find one issue, say the candidate that will never vote for a debt ceiling increase. Remember, never is a
long time, and another 9/11 could change everything in a hurry.
Democracy works best when we have a well informed, educated electorate. If you favor change, be specific; know what
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Thinking. About Business.
you would like to see change. I think our country works best when we are not too far to the right and not too far to the
left (perhaps a little right on fiscal issues). Like many in the business community, while I prefer a less intrusive federal
government, we know from experience that a balanced federal oversight from time to time is necessary (see: Lehman
Brothers).
To those running for office from President on down, we all know you have principles—at least most of you do. Those things
that have guided your life that have been honed into your personal life over years of experiences that include such things as
walking uphill to school in freezing cold blizzards with 50 mph wind gusts. We get that. But most things that come before
you will not risk your principles. They may be compromises on things that are essential to the long-term viability of our
nation. It may be attempts to correct the problems in the social security system, it may be health care reform (round 2), it
may be banking regulation, labor law, or it may be national security—short-term spending vs. long-term national security.
Remember—compromise is not a four-letter word. It is what our founding fathers, who were neither Republican nor
Democrat, built into our system of government. Principled, pragmatic leadership is not a bad thing for our country. We
are a diverse country that has always welcomed diverse perspectives, so let’s think about compromise where possible, then
vote yea or nay and move on to the next issue where possible. But all while focusing upon rebuilding our economic base
with those things government can contribute, protect, or where government is standing in the way.
As someone who has served as an elected official where we had to make decisions that were sometimes difficult and many
times unpopular, it is important not to take things too personally. To be effective, you have to be able to respectfully agree
to disagree and move on to the next issue, leaving the last issue behind. You need to learn to be both a good winner and a
good loser. Today’s political adversary could be tomorrow’s political ally—and I don’t mean in an election, I am referring
to the internal politics of making laws. Just to be clear, we all know what office politics are. I’m just referring to office
politics in the capital (Harrisburg or Washington). It’s normal!
It is conceivable that someone in the other party could actually come with an idea and that you could work with that person
to make that idea better, more efficient, or just simpler. What a novel approach to government, working across party lines
to accomplish goals that are beneficial to the American people.
While it may be about the economy, it is really about making the United States a better place. It’s about the common good,
stupid!
David E. Black ([email protected]) is president & CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & Capital Region Economic Development
Corporation.
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