You know what I'd like?

I'd like to find whoever came up with the "Wall Street vs. Main Street" comparison and crack their skull open with a shovel.

It's not so much how it's used in political speeches, where I expect generalizations and glossing-over. But when I hear it in news reports, it drives me north, wall-wise. There's something about reporters referring to "Main Street" like it's an actual place, not an analogous amalgam of a whole lot of different places. Main Street, as the reporters are referring to it, does not exist. Amboy Avenue, Woodbridge Avenue and Saxer Avenue (and yes, even, on occasion, an actual Main Street) are the real deal, where people and businesses are really struggling. But when I hear about this fictional "Main Street," it's like a kick to the face. If we can't even trust our reporters not to live in Fantasyland, how the hell can we get out of this mess?

So, sorry, unknown speechwriter. I know you were just doing your job, and you obviously did it very well. You created something that will stay in our lexicon forever. You are immortal.

Until I get to Main Street and buy myself that shovel.

Rob

Don't Blame Pelosi

Or at least, don't blame her for her speech, which had no real effect on the bailout vote. Go ahead and blame her leadership, and the Republican leadership, for not being able to drum up enough votes to pass the the thing, and leaving the country hanging by its shredded credit cards for another few days, at least. But the speech flap is just politics as usual: Pelosi pinning deregulation on Republicans (correctly, I'd say, but poorly timed), and Republican knees jerking to say "she scared us away," to cover their embarrassment at not passing the bill... until they realized how petty and venal that made them sound. Anyway, for your debunking pleasure, here's a short clip of Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) saying the whole notion is hogwash.



Rob