Do You Think Obama Can Fix the Economy?
by Marian LorraineWe’ve already switched to a pure, pre-capitalist, Polanyi-style barter economy here at The L, and frankly, we’re a lot happier. Sure, there’s not much fresh guacamole around the office right now, and some of us are running out of fungible goods, but there hasn’t been a territorial war in four days.
MUSEL
Where I hailed him: LES
Where he hails from: Sierra Leone
Years as a cabbie: 1
Previous profession: Retail clerk
Of course Obama’s going to fix the economy, because he’s going to stop the war. I don’t really know that much about politics, but everyone is saying he’s going to stop the war, and once he does that the economy will bounce back.
DENNIS
Where I hailed him: Meatpacking District
Where he hails from: Jackson Heights
Years as a cabbie: 20
Previous profession: Detective
I think Obama will surround himself with good people. He knows you’re only as good as your right-hand man. Of course, Truman said I wish I had a couple of left-handed men. Ha. In two years the economy will be better. That’s what the experts say. But they don’t know. No one does.
HUMARA
Where I hailed her: Soho
Where she hails from: Pakistan
Years as a cabbie: 2
Previous profession: Teaching assistant
I think he’s going to try really hard and I think he’s going to save the economy. Well, that’s what I really hope for, you know? People have a better attitude now that he’s been elected, they are maybe not as terrified of the future. I think they will spend more money and gradually everything will be back to where it was.
SEWA
Where I hailed him: Fort Greene
Where he hails from: India
Years as a cabbie: 15
Previous profession: Sailor
The economy is going to continue to be bad. Where is Barack Obama going to get the money to change it? He’s just a man, and he can’t do that much. Every single part of the economy is in a bad way. It is the same in India. If you don’t have money, you can’t buy anything. If people have money, they spend it. But they have nothing. If there is no work, there is no money, and if there is no money, there is no work. When the economy is down, people don’t spend twenty dollars on a cab, they spend two dollars on the subway, and then I cannot buy a new jacket. Then the man who sells jackets gets no money. Where does it end? Where is Barack Obama going to get the money to change that?
