Opportunism during crisis

There's a lot of talk out of Davos about protectionism.

The WaPo has a piece about how "gaps" in trade treaties are showing the first signs of trade war, and there's a Reuters about how many at Davos are talking about fast tracking Doha, but I would offer this idea.

Yes, significant trade wars would be bad, but, to me, it feels like these folks are using this time of crisis as a medium to push ideas they wanted anyway.

There's a long history of ideological opportunism during crises. The results can be good (Social Security), and they can be bad (executive power claims after 9/11,) but it does always need to be conscious.

As President Obama and Congress barrel toward the latest emergency program to resuscitate the American economy, one question is looming over their search for a cure: Can the government fashion a fast and efficient economic stimulus while also seizing the moment to remake America?

For now, Mr. Obama and his aides are insisting they can accomplish both goals, following their mantra of using the urgency of the economic crisis to accomplish larger — and long-delayed — reforms that never garnered sufficient votes in ordinary times.

Just putting it out there.