Phil Gramm (McCain's Economic Guru): We are a Nation of Whiners

By Robert Paul Reyes

"You've heard of mental depression; this is a mental recession. We have sort of become a nation of whiners. You just hear this constant whining, complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America in decline."

Phil Gramm, Sen. John McCain's chief economic adviser

McCain has acknowledged on more than one occasion that the economy is not his strong suit, he relies heavily on economic advisers. It's not unfair to hold McCain responsible for the "let them eat cake" attitude of his surrogate.

"'I strongly disagree' with Phil Gramm's remarks, McCain told reporters in Belleville, Mich. 'Phil Gramm does not speak for me. I speak for me.'"

Quotation from AOL News

It's not enough for McCain to repudiate Gramm's remarks, he must break all ties with the former senator. Perhaps McCain should hire a blue-collar worker to take his place, I'm sure he would let the presumptive Republican presidential nominee know what a terrible shape the economy is in.

Gramm is a multimillionaire and vice-chairman of the USB Investment bank, how dare someone in his privileged position label Americans as "whiners."

Americans, by and large, are not whiners, but we have every reason in the world to complain about the Bush domestic policies that have wreaked havoc with the economy.

When I go to the gas station and pay over $4 a gallon, that outrageous price is not a figment of my imagination and I have a right to complain. When a small bag of groceries sets me back almost $50, that's not a mental inflation, that's a very real inflation that is taking a huge bit out of my wallet. When an elderly person has to decide to buy food or prescription drugs, that's not a mental recession, that's a very real economic crisis that is particularly hard on senior citizens living on a fixed income. Multitudes of Americans have seen their American Dream confiscated by banks, that's not a mental recession, that's an economy in turmoil.

Americans have been patient beyond belief with the incompetence of the Bush administration. I'm surprised we haven't seen mass demonstrations against Bush's failed economic policies.

Americans aren't whiners, but we shouldn't accept anything less than a decent chance of realizing the American dream. I hope that the electorate will remember Gramm's words when they vote in the general election.

Robert Paul Reyes is a NewsBlaze writer on Politics, Pop Culture and Pointless Pontificating. Contact him by writing to NewsBlaze.