Lordy, lordy. Sounds like most of the commenters here would have preferred that Obama did nothing, in order to hasten the impending collapse, die-off and long-delayed equalization of global living standards.

What’s the big gripe? Capitalism is doing what it’s supposed to do — dictating the value of products and services and determining the best distribution of resources, while enforcing the lowest possible costs of production and distribution. The overhead and labor costs of advanced nations are too goddamn high…and nations no longer matter anyway, since our corporations (and their capital) have become untethered from the restraints of geography and patriotic allegiance. This is “Free Trade,” guys, and our temporary post-WWII domination of the world — and the world’s willingness to subsidize the American Dream — has pretty much run out.

Cutting taxes and deregulating business (the usual Conservative prescription) wouldn’t do dick to reverse the forces now at work. Obama’s policies probably won’t either…but since both roads inevitably pass through World War III before the New Global Order shakes out, I’m all for a huge spending spree — and (possibly) one last decent summer — before the crap hits the fan.

Trying to make political hay out of this is a worthless exercise. Historical forces are partnering with “The Invisible Hand” to reset the game. It doesn’t matter who’s in charge.