The Piper Must Be Paid
I think the natural tendency of the US economy to rebound from recession, coupled with the enormous inflationary forces of borrowing another $2 trillion, will result in some sort of a brief economic recovery. But almost immediately we will be hit with a number of consequences that are now rarely voiced. Likewise the new ‘reset’ button foreign policy has a similar tab to come due. What to watch for the next year:
Energy. As the global recovery begins, oil prices will again climb, maybe even skyrocket. Will Obama continue his neglect of nuclear power, clean coal, and natural gas and oil exploration, or will he revert to his campaign expediency, and suddenly call for all such sources to be tapped? Wind and solar sound fine in campaign mode, and during a recession, but should gas hit nearly $5 a gallon again, talk of “green power” most certainly will not be enough. Sadly, this is precisely the time when government should be giving incentives to develop domestic energy of every sort, from nuclear to natural gas.
Taxes. Talking about new taxes in 2009 and paying them in 2010/11 are two quite different things.
Not long ago I tried to explain to an Obama supporter that he belonged to the targeted 5%, who, as an elite taxpayer, had “made out like a bandit under Bush”, was obligated to “spread the wealth around” a bit, and should prove his patriotism by paying more. But it was a hopeless task: most well-off Obama supporters simply do not believe that their marginal tax rates are going up, that they may have to pay a health care surcharge, that the income caps of the FICA payroll tax will come off, subjecting much of their income to steep social security taxes, and that their state income tax in California is now over 10%.
In other words, a number of professionals in my state do not yet grasp that their own icon has them in the cross-hairs, and that within 2 years they will be paying perhaps 65% of their gross income to government—AND—receive no particular thanks by the rest of the population for their contribution, see no reduction in the federal deficit for the new bite out of their income, and probably be in line for future tax increases given their “wealthy” status.
So it will be quite interesting to see how the Obama elites react when they soon discover that they will have about 30-40% of their income to operate on. It is easy to talk about “higher taxes”, but so far all this is mere table chat. Wait until the real bite shows up in smaller monthly checks or larger quarterly estimates.
Interest. Interest rates to curb inflation will have to go up. But the problem is that we are going to be financing a new $2 trillion per annum deficit, on top of an expanding $11 trillion debt. It is relatively easy to do that now in times of crisis and recession by paying the Chinese or Japanese or U.S. bond holders here in the states a mere 1-2% on their treasury holdings, but what happens in recovery when we have to pay 4-5% or even 7-8% on treasury-issued debt to attract buyers?
In other words, in the good times to come we will see enormous strains on the annual budget to pay out the sort of interest needed to attract new borrowers. My larger point is that the current mega-borrowing is scarcely sustainable in a period of low energy and low interest rates, but will become intolerable when prices and interest rates skyrocket. Stocks will plummet once capital diverts to T-bill and passbook holdings that pay well over 5%. Tragically, as we come out of the recession, this was the time to be prudent, balance the budget, and pay down debt at low interest before it climbs, rather than to borrow for cap-and-trade, new education entitlements, and nationalized health care.
Race. Some of us—who read literally and carefully Dreams from My Father, and its quite disturbing declarations about race—were worried about Obama’s racial obsessions. Rev. Wright and Father Pfleger only accentuated that concern. Add in the Pennsylvania slurs, Michelle’s various rantings, “typical white person”, Eric Holder’s “cowards”, and the latest “stupidly”, and I think we see that one cannot so easily be deprogrammed from 20 years of Trinity indoctrination. The point is, however, that ever so slowly the public is starting to become wary (note the reaction in the polls to Gates-gate), that their post-racial President is, in fact, rather angry and, more importantly, for most of his life has benefited by aligning himself with those forces of racial anger.
Barack and Michelle Obama said more than enough during the presidential campaign to alert American voters concerning their peculiar ideas on race. My mind was completely blown when she said her husband could be murdered because of the color of his skin simply by going to the gas station. Statistically, the chances of this occurring are probably something like one in fifty million! If anything, it is vastly more likely Barack might get slain by another man of color for his money. Over 306,000 Afro-American have been murdered since 1973. The odds are that white criminals are responsible for less than one half of one percent of these awful totals.
On race . . .
Before he’s in full possession of the facts, we see Obama calling a white policeman stupid for doing his duty in managing a disruptive, tumultuous black man, but not too long ago, we have Obama’s Justice Department dismissing charges brought against some armed Black Panthers for voter intimidation, AFTER the Panthers had lost in court by default: http://tinyurl.com/mxlu2a
The only silver lining on the cloud is the fact that the energy prices may rise so high that the true effects of environmental extremism will become visible to enough of the public to put a stop to a lot of this nonsense.
Unfortunately, even if that happens, it will take years of pain before energy production can be increased enough to bring energy costs within reason.
It’s starting to look like there’s a generational wave effect with environmentalism and energy, as those who didn’t experience the energy crises of the 70′s are now in favor (without realizing it) of recreating it again now.
I read that oil future traders are the culprits of rising oil prices. Traders like that have given huge amounts of money to Obama. I wonder if he’s in on it. Bad-mouthing Wall Street or not, I wonder if he’s part of the ruse.
How can Obama not have internalized anti-Americanism. There’s no question about the media and his die hard supporters.
It will be a terrible thing if those that would buy our debt think the same way about spending as most of us here do.
It sounds like there’s a perfect storm brewing for despotism. Despotism is a cyclical phenomenon. We’ve had a great ride for 60 years. Maybe we should be thankful for that as we face the deluge.
Thanks for another great article Doc.
I kinda like the idea of Limousine Liberals getting their just deserts when Obama socks it to ‘em with an obscene tax rate. If anybody should be punished for bringing Obama into power it should be them.
I agree with you. No matter how much the media covers for Obama and no matter how much the elites sing his praises, he’s still up against the immutable laws of the universe. His economic policies will bring us financial ruin and his foreign policies will bring us disaster.
It’s really unfortunate that we don’t have an opposition party in America. I see very little criticism coming from the Republicans. The only eloquent and passionate voices of dissent come from the blogosphere and the tea parties.
More specifically, the government, at best, is a zero-sum game. The private sector can be a negative, zero, or positive sum game, depending on government’s relationship to it.
Leftists get this completely backward. Government “creating” jobs is absurd on its face. “Green jobs” are going to cost the economy several real jobs for every “green” one.
There actually is a such thing as a productivity increase, but it’s not the same thing as a free lunch. And government has never been able to be on the productive side of that.
Blither away, trolls…
Is this a joke? Victor Davis Hanson, who pushed the trillion-dollar disaster called Iraq, scolding Obama for deficit spending? This takes shamelessness to a new, almost awe-inspiring level.
Obama’s “elites” don’t believe that their tax rates will go up for the simple reason that they bought into his BS and are still being spoonfed from the MSM. Those of us paying attention are noticing the current shell game happening and I, for one, am tired of sounding the alarm. Let the liberals wake up in 2 years with a huge tax bill. Serves ‘em right.
With a super-majority, Obama has no one to blame but himself. I plan on enjoying watching him ride his chariot all the way to his place in history right next to the illustrious Jimmy Carter.
It is great to have the noted economist VDH enlighten us. He should stick to what he knows.
“You know, Paul, Reagan proved deficits don’t matter.”
- Vice President Dick Cheney
there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch !
If you come to rely on government(where government pays for some of your stuff through things called programs which are financed, at least theoretically, through taxes collected from you), then you’ve sold your soul to the devil of bloviated dependence and paralyzing mediocrity…
…creating a form of dependency that appears to be the absolute bedrock intent of the current establishment.
A very costly exchange !
I find it so ironic that in these economic times, government is increasingly mumbling about the necessity of taxing you even more to pay for its most egregiously bloviated program yet.
Beam me up, Scottie !
Add in the Pennsylvania slurs, Michelle’s various rantings, ‘typical white person’, Eric Holder’s “cowards”, and the latest “stupidly”, and I think we see that one cannot so easily be deprogrammed from 20 years of Trinity indoctrination.
Not to mention pre-Trinity, Obama’s first substitute father figure in Hawaii, Frank Marshall.
JWright was his second significant substitute FF.
This is pretty comical really. I’ve said the same thing forever about BHO’s grand schemes of hope and change. To my friends who wanted him in office I would often ask “who do you think he is changing the world for? You? Not a chance!” Health care is billed as only affecting the richest American’s but that will change as the burden slides further and further down the wealth chain. Soon the middle class will bear the brunt.
Let’s hope the August break will really take the wind out of this bills already sagging sails.
“You know, Paul, Reagan proved deficits don’t matter.”
- Vice President Dick Cheney
One does not have to be an economic genius to know that a person or a country can not spend their way out of debt. That is easily obvious when the spending goes into liabilities (entitlements) and not assets (infrastructure). “Cash for clunkers” becomes a historically significant watch phrase as “shovel ready projects.”
Fiat money issues gives the controling issues of American debt to the Chinese. They are bound by their debt holdings to support more debt, but only so far. The debt issue along with dollar value looks like a poorly stacked house of cards (bonds). American employment is off the table for a long time.
Economics lesson from an ivory-tower Left-coast elitist who has never run a successful business or met a payroll in his life?
It is to laugh.
I’m going to charge up all of my credit cards, for surely this will get our household out of this financial crisis we are in.
All hail Visa, Mastercard and…
CHINA!!!!!!!
Whoop! Whoop!
It seems this federal government doesn’t even believe you’re capable of losing weight without some government program…
It’s why we’re going to require health insurance plans to cover preventative services like the kind of counseling and care that can help people lose weight or keep the weight off in the first place.
Secretary (of health, education & welfare) Kathleen Sebelius Addresses CDC Weight of the Nation Conference, July 28, 2009 (Would someone tell the preachy Kathleen that preventive is the better and real word, not preventative?)
A conference on the weight of the nation ? The underlying assumption seems to be that, given that the population is largely composed of fools, you can’t even lose weight without a government program telling you how.
The CDC is busily spending its budget on weight reduction conferences, mapping “obesity by state” and the like, that is, when it’s not frightening you (into submission) ginning up fears about the coming swine flu débacle. Get your own personal HAZMAT suit !
And don’t forget, in the previous swine flu epidemic in the 1970′s, the vaccine itself turned out to be extremely hazardous to some who received it.
..this is nuts..
See Shef Rogers’ post. When all logic fails, when imutable loaws of economics See Shef Rogers’ post. When all logic fails, when immutable laws of economics are breached, when analyzing a problem objectively fails you can always fall back to Bush Derangement Syndrome. The left has no effective answers to any problems so their defense is to try and paint you as a hypocrite. It’s HS Debate 101 and works for John Stewart and Nina Totenberg but sounds weak coming from you run of the mill lefties. I have heard this meme pop up lately out in the left wing blogosphere to cover their butt boys blithering incompetence, Iraq hobbled our economy. But it’s actually quite pathetic. What was once an effective rallying cry for the far left is tired excuse making now. It’s the verbal equivalent of sticking you fingers in your earwax and saying na-na-na I can’t hear you.
HEALTHCARE-EUTHANASIA BILL
This is much more than a health bill, it is a massive attack on our freedom. It is the CONQUEST of Americans by the U.S. Government. A Coup Where Government Would Even Have Access to Americans’ Bank Accounts.
WORLDNETDAILY.COM
July 31, 2009
Obamacare called
‘euthanasia bill’
Critic: ‘Reflects regime worse
than China’s one-child policy’
July 31, 2009
By Bob Unruh
The Democrats’ proposed national health insurance plan would dictate medications, treatments and mental health services; determine coverages individuals are allowed to have.
In the Liberty Counsel analysis, Staver notes that under Section 163, the government would be allowed to have real-time access to individuals’ finances, including direct access to bank accounts for electronic funds transfers.
Under Section 1308, the analysis finds, the government will dictate marriage and family therapy as well as mental health services, including the definitions of those treatments.
It also, according to Staver, “covers abortions, transsexual surgeries, encourages counseling as to how many children you should have, whether you should increase the interval between children.”
And as people age or get sicker, it includes mandatory “consultations” offering suggestions on how to end life sooner, he said.
“In the name of population control, Holdren has advocated both forced abortion and compulsory sterilization through government-administered tainting of the water supply. In a book he co-authored, entitled ‘Ecoscience: Population, Resources, Environment,’ Holdren calls for a ‘Planetary Regime’ to enforce mandatory abortions and limit the use of natural resources,” he wrote.
“Those 65 and older will be required to undergo mandatory ‘end of life’ counseling to determine if they are worthy to continue to not only live, but take much needed resources from those who are younger and more worthy to receive them. Counselors will be trained to discuss how to end life sooner, how to decline nutrition and hydration, how to go into hospice, etc.,” she said.
“This will not be done without coercion. For those who have amassed assets enough to take care of themselves in their old age will have these assets confiscated in the name of fiscal responsibility, because by this time, every citizen will be entered into a national database under the guise of improved efficiency. This database will be run by a type of ‘star chamber,’ appointed by the president, that will determine whether or not you deserve the much needed operation your personal doctor thinks you need,” she said.
…regulate whether seniors can have wheelchairs, penalize hospitals or doctors whose patients require “readmission,” prevent the expansion of hospitals…
Under Section 440, Liberty Counsel said, the government “will design and implement Home Visitation Program for families with young kids and families that expect children.” And Section 194 provides for a program that has the government “coming into your house and teaching/telling you how to parent,” LC said.
“One of the most shocking things is page 425, where the Congress would make it mandatory absolutely that every five years people in Medicare have a required counseling session,” she said. “They will tell [them] how to end their life sooner.”
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=105525
Obama’s Civilian National Security Force
Obama promised change. The End of America as we know it:
Obama: “We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we’ve set. We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwaAVJITx1Y
PRAVDA: America’s Descent into Marxism – Brief Video
http://www.solutionsfromscience.com/
U.S. and the Nations BETRAY ANTI-COMMUNIST Honduras & Jewish Israel
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
US turns up pressure on Honduras coup government
By MARK STEVENSON (AP) – July 20, 2009
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called interim President Roberto Micheletti to say there would be serious consequences if his government ignores international mediation for Zelaya’s return.
Honduran business leaders, meanwhile, say U.S. Ambassador Hugo Llorens has called them into meetings to warn that Honduras — impoverished and highly dependent on exports to the United States — could face tough sanctions if the interim government continues to refuse Arias’ compromise proposal for Zelaya to return as head of a coalition government.
The European Union added to the pressure on Monday by announcing it was suspending $93.1 million (65.5 million euros) in aid to Honduras.
The United Nations and Organization of American States have called for the return of Zelaya, who was arrested and hustled out of the country by the army on June 28.
But Micheletti vowed not to stand down — and implied that the United States is betraying one of its staunchest allies. Honduras allowed its territory to be used as a staging area for U.S.-backed Contra rebels in Nicaragua during the 1980s, and more recently it sent troops to Iraq.
One learns in life that people who seem to be friends are not really friends.
Zelaya has aligned himself with leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Adolfo Facusse, the head of Honduras’ National Association of Industries, was defiant:
“We prefer sanctions to Zelaya’s return,” which he said would bring the “loss of liberty, dictatorship, communism.”
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jAkMGKIUDg_ngUiZboxQbYj5_DPwD99ICUP80
Honduras PUNISHED for Being ANTI-COMMUNIST. Israel PUNISHED for Being JEWISH
It is ominous that the U.S. and the nations, condemn and punish the freedom-loving people of Honduras for refusing to accept communism. Honduras, NEVER give up the fight for freedom!
Is this hostile act against tiny, courageous Honduras a prelude of what is planned for America and the nations? Is it planned that America and the nations will become communist?
GLOBAL JIHAD’S BIGGEST VICTORY – US/EU teamed up with Islamic nations – demand vulnerable little Israel surrender half her Holy Land to Muslims bent on Jewish genocide-70% of PA Muslims support savage suicide bombings of Jewish innocents.
The Free World is in a fight for her survival! Israel, stand strong! NEVER give up the fight for freedom! NEVER surrender to the global jihad onslaught! Not one inch of Land to barbaric, implacable enemies!
NEVER agree to vicious and evil ethnic Jew cleansing!
Dr. Hanson:
I look forward to your comments particularly those which touch upon Ancient History. I grew up in the “depression years” when no one (not anyone I knew anway) had any money. Through my mother’s insistence my schooling emphasized Latin, Greek, ancient and medieval history. My military service was in WWII. Your commentaries bring back many memories, softened by the passage of time. Please continue.
ALL INCOME LEVELS WILL HAVE THEIR TAXES RAISED AT THE END OF 2010.
When the 2003 tax cuts expire at the end of 2010 the entire federal income tax rates go back up to the higher income tax rates of the year 2000. Low income, middle income, and high income are all going to get hit hard with higher income tax rates.
This whole thing about guessing if Obama will raise taxes on the middle class is moot! At the end of 2010 EVERYBODY with a paycheck is going to get hit with higher taxes.
“Pops” is right. We already that about seven Republicans will vote for Sotomayor, just so they or their wives will not be excluded from the inner social circles.
Stantaafal is right about Sebelius. She has got her nose in the air so high we can see her tonsils.
Blarty: So we should instead take our economics lesson from Geithner who didn’t even PAY his own taxes or better yet our current hot-mess President who just tripled the national debt and is now wanting to add on free health care to that total?
Yeppers, our current administration is FILLED to the brim with economic geniuses!
My neighbor is a gay couple, here by Santa Monica. They WANT their taxes to increase. Both are highly paid professionals. One of them lectured me on how California is in the bad shape it’s in because its taxes are too LOW. Well, at least he’s willing to practice what he preaches.
Graham and nony –
Reagan and Cheney were wrong.
(I believe I’ve heard that before…)
lainvestorgirl – please tell your neighbors that there is no law that restricts what they pay in taxes. They are more than welcome add 10%, 25% or double the amount of tax they pay on income or sales taxes. Also, there is no law that requires them to take any deductions on their tax returns….
Victor I believe you are wrong about “… should gas hit nearly $5 a gallon again, talk of “green power” most certainly will not be enough.” Alternative sources of energy become more economical when the standard sources become prohibitively expensive.
As for England’s retreat from Greece in 1941 to Crete it was a disaster. If the mighty Churchill hadn’t, for political reasons, sent most of her desert army from North Africa to Greece she would have driven the Italians out of Libya and saved herself much treasure and blood. I know Germany lost the cream of her parachute forces taking Crete, it still doesn’t equal the amount of equipment, men and ships she lost trying to save it.
Sometimes we are a penny wise and a pound foolish.
28
Or, we should take our economics lessons from a President who fouled up the only job he ever had, leading the Annenberg Challenge and wasting $100 million bucks without any results.
Or who doesn’t know what a “price to earnings” ratio is. “Duh, I’m the President and I watch da profits to earnings ratio all the time. Duh.”
28. AThinkingPerson:
Blarty: So we should instead take our economics lesson from Geithner who didn’t even PAY his own taxes or better yet our current hot-mess President who just tripled the national debt and is now wanting to add on free health care to that total?
Of course not. You should take your economics lessons from a classics professor.
8. Shef Rogers – 300,000 people were found in mass graves. There may be more. We who supported the Iraq war have no regrets that such evil has been extirpated.
10. Anonymous – It’s one thing to be wise. It’s quite another to have one’s wisdom recognized.
It is amazing that liberals don’t believe in any natural rules to economics. That is because they have no idea what human nature really is. They seem to think that certain people will work harder and harder for less and less money in their pockets. They will deny it but don’t believe what they say, believe what you see in their actions.
So some reason they believe that government can make things happen with no repercussions to the real world. No repercussions to our economy, no repercussions to our safety as a nation. No repercussions to our health care system. Government can fix anything by fiat. It is blatantly false on the face of it but they are unable to see it. Or worse, they refuse to see it.
My neighbor is a gay couple, here by Santa Monica. They WANT their taxes to increase. Both are highly paid professionals. One of them lectured me on how California is in the bad shape it’s in because its taxes are too LOW. Well, at least he’s willing to practice what he preaches.
Your neighbor is rather foolish, not quite understanding that the politicians California has right now would spend the state into backruptcy at any tax rate, but at least he’s honest enough to say he, himself, is not paying enough. It’s the people who think someone else isn’t paying their fair share that are the real problems. If the only votes Obama got were from people who were voting to raise their own taxes, McCain would be president today. Unfortunately, we allow people to vote to raise other people’s taxes, so we’re stuck with Obama.
The Great Depression started with the Stock Market Crash of 1929.
Irrational exuberance for corporate America over-inflated the value of corporate America and created a bubble that burst.
The middle-class suffered for a decade as the economy foundered, aided and abetted by a socialist form of government of FDR.
The Great Oppression started with the 2008 Fannie Mae crash.
Irrational exuberance for Federal Government during the 1990′s and 2000′s over-inflated the value and capability of government.
The middle-class will suffer for a decade as the economy founders, aided and abetted by a socialist form government of BHO.
2009, the beginning of the Great Oppression.
Anonymous #10 and 11: Yawn.
Shef: Yawn.
Blarty: Yawn.
#4 Ron Kean: “Bad-mouthing Wall Street or not, I wonder if he’s part of the ruse.” Are you kidding? His entire cabinet and houseful of czars are Wall Street ass monkeys. Of course he’s in on it. The bad mouthing is play acting. He isn’t very good at it either – somehow that snarky little smirk of his always shows through.
Pops: If the “limousine liberals” are anything like Geithner, et al, they will just ignore paying their taxes and go on their merry way – until they are selected to serve on a liberal committee or whatever. Then they’ll be subjected to the proverbial “vet-lite” of the elite, pay their fine, and receive the appointment amid fanfare and applaud from the crusty upper crusties.
VDH: The entries of your Mediterranean journeys makes for much envy from this commenter. Everything else is spot on, per usual. Thank you.
Here’s a nice example of Arlen Specter and Kathleen Sebelius (I think that’s who is speaking with him) explaining why we need governmental inteference …. er …… I mean control .. oops .. I mean health care. Take special note of the boos they generate.
Beware, Doc–The lib/dem trolls are starting to notice you. They haven’t quite figured out how to handle a moderate/right intellectual, but you’ll soon be palinized. You’ll know you’re scoring when they start commenting on your hair-do and your wardrobe!
Obama is sacrificing Israel on the alter of his ideology and his diplomatic ambitions. Undoubtedly if Israel choses to strike Iran’s known nuclear facilities, Obama will cut Israel loose. I used to worry about that, but I’ve come to realize that it couldn’t really worsen US-Israeli relations, given their current low point. Israel would be free to tell Obama and company to take a hike and stay out of her internal affairs. And yes, it might make things very difficult in Iraq and Afghanistan, but maybe then Obama would wake up and realize he’s supposed to be fighting wars.
Dr. Hanson, you see things so clearly, I don’t know how you maintain your sense of optimism.
This cuts to the heart of the dishonesty in The ONE’s© idiotic pledge that he won’t raise taxes on the middle class. The SOB is charging our Master Card and telling us it’s a free lunch! We’re going to be over $2,000,000,000,000 deeper in debt this year alone! And most of that money is going towards nothing other than buying votes and paying off the rat-bastards who got this moron elected.
36. Michael:
It is amazing that liberals don’t believe in any natural rules to economics.
Not true! Economics is my second favorite pseudoscience, after astrology.
lainvestorgirl – please tell your neighbors that there is no law that restricts what they pay in taxes. They are more than welcome add 10%, 25% or double the amount of tax they pay on income or sales taxes. Also, there is no law that requires them to take any deductions on their tax returns….
Reminds me of Warren Buffet complaining that his own taxes were (proportionately) lower than those of his secretary, something like that.
Whenever I heard him give that spiel, I thought, hey Warren, write a check !
Didn’t her state, California, just go up to something like 10% on personal income & some of the highest sales taxes in the nation ?
I’d guess that her neighbors, however, as is true for the the Leftist mindset in general, consider that it’s no fun unless the obligation to pay higher taxes is imposed on everyone, across the board.
Recently, I read (recalling vaguely)that a fund of taxes specifically designated for roads & bridges (highway infrastructure upkeep) has been raided and used for other purposes, bike paths, whatever. Just like the social security fund, when it was solvent, was raided for other purposes while Congresscritters dropped in IOU’s.
How many pounds of flesh do invgirl’s neighbors want to extract from the population, to pay for all the freebies for illegals, education, healthcare etc. and the monstrous (literally) California bureaucracy ?
Why is nothing mentioned about The FairTax Act (HR 25, S 296) in any article that’s wondering how to fix the economy? The fairtax can do so much toward fixing our current economic situation but yet there is no mainstream attention.
10. Anonymous:
“He should stick to what he knows.”
Yes, of course, a trained classicist/military historian, now public commentator, should never veer outside his area of expertise. And the rest of us poor dumb rubes should stick to what we know and never question our betters in government when they seek to enlighten us regarding any and all policy issues. This is the libtard version of democracy in a nutshell: Herd the sheep together, select a neutered male and distinguish him with a bell, watch as all the little sheeps follow the sound of the bell where ever it goes. Never mind the man tugging on the bellwether’s nose ring. And yet, it’s the Liberals who think we are benighted fools. Go figure.
BTW, based on your statement, why should anyone listen to Al Gore talk about a science related issue. Or, actually any issue for that matter. Maybe he should stick to what he knows, which is next to nothing.
10. Anonymous:
“He should stick to what he knows.”
Yes, of course, a trained classicist/military historian, now public commentator, should never veer outside his area of expertise. And the rest of us poor dumb rubes should stick to what we know and never question our betters in government when they seek to enlighten us regarding any and all policy issues. This is the libtard version of democracy in a nutshell: Herd the sheep together, select a neutered male and distinguish him with a bell, watch as all the little sheeps follow the sound of the bell where ever it goes. Never mind the man tugging on the bellwether’s nose ring. And yet, it’s the Liberals who think we are benighted fools. Go figure.
BTW, based on your statement, why should anyone listen to Al Gore talk about a science related issue. Or, actually any issue for that matter. Maybe he should stick to what he knows, which is next to nothing.
Gotta love the left-wingers. Now they’re using Dick Cheney as the voice of reason. Of course, it’s hearsay, completely undocumented, from a man who was fired … by Cheney. But what does that matter, right?
And I love how the lefties constantly move the goalposts. An economist running the IPCC? No problem! An economist criticizing AGW groupthink?!? He’s not even a “climate scientist”!! Paul Krugman (a … nobody) and Sibelius (a … ‘master of public education’) voicing support for the President’s desire to take over 1/5th of our economy? Sure, why not! A military historian and political professor pointing out the problems? No way!
The best remedy for lefties is to give them a taste of power. They always screw things up so bad that it takes years before they can finagle their way back.
16. Blarty Blarckleblart:
“Economics lesson from an ivory-tower Leftist elitist who has never run a successful business or met a payroll in his life?”
There, I corrected that for you (I assume you’re referring to BHO, right?).
“It is to laugh.”
Indeed it is.
BTW, is Blarty the anglicised spelling for Blarney or Baloney?
Since when did the study of history, starting with the classics, render one uniformed? Has does an understanding of societies past make one ignorant of the sources of man’s errors, of the loss of freedom that ensues from the concentration of centralized power, of the inevitable corruption the circumvention of the limits on power brings forth?
How does knowledge of the historical record make one unaware of the enduring character of human nature, the constant operation of natural laws?
The ancients, closest to their own history, had reverence for it. The generations farthest from them, living today, who have the most history before them to learn from, have been the most recalcitrant to appreciate the experience of their ancestors, near and distant.
Our current authoritarian dirigists expect government to exert sufficient control to modify behavior, to somehow perfect our flaws. They have faith in coercive laws that punish and reward our choices in how we spend our own money, our decisions on the model of car we purchase, and soon, how we live and die. They make it our duty to deprive ourselves of our personal responsibility to hold us responsible for those who seek to have none of their own.
Their disdain for our Western heritage impels their own decline. The strength of our common history will clear the way for rest of us from their fall.
Liberal opponents quickly claim that President Bush spent us into the poor house during his two terms. Bush spent at a rate that offends me on certain programs. His war spending will proove to be a much better investment than appears at present to many Americans.
President Obama is spending money with the aid of a Congress dominated by liberals that increases the share of GDP consumed by the government. In every instance where government has over consumed the subject nation’s private sector pays a steep price and it’s population becomes more impoverished. In the old eastern block government ate up between 50-70% of GDP. Under Bush government consumed around 20%. Clinton operated in this neighborhood. President Obama will move consumption by government over 30% in the next year. This means less money will be available for private investment and consumption. It also means that the government will rake in less tax revenue.
The government can not create wealth. It can, however, create poverty. It can drive out capital and investment.It can create unfavorable conditions for the creation of wealth by consuming too much of the countries GDP. It can make a bigger hole in the bucket than the economy can refill. That’s happening now. There will be some recovery, there will be inflation, there will be alot more economic pain and there will be more poverty than there has been in many years in our country. That poverty will be exclusively created by President Obama and the liberal Congress. They can’t grasp simple economics.
This Congress and President are causing government to consume so much of GDP that greater poverty and economic distress is inevitable. These folks don’t know a thing about creating wealth. They don’t know how to create tax revenue. Their good at one economic concept, consumption. Production is beyond their collective ken. Production to liberals is an evil, as are producers. Just look at their policies; explains exactly their attitude towards production.Get ready for a lot more pain, folks.
TO SHEF ROGERS #8: No, Shef, VDH is not joking. And your “refutation” was wildly off. Iraq war cost(s) about $100B/year. Obama/Pelosi/Reid are deficit spending in one year almost $2T. And next year too. Shef, try to get some semblance of numbers.
Oh, and federal income taxes are about $1T to $1.5T per year……..so they are deficit spending a boatload of extra $ that will have to be paid in the future……..and guess what? Our economy won’t be able to afford it!! Job creation by Obama is incredibly negative! He only knows how to create government jobs, and kill private sector jobs. That’s Obama’s achilles heal, his idiocy too!
As always, a great post. Thanks.
I would just add that as a result of our non energy genrating policies, high debt that will suck liquidity out of the private/productive market + the uncertainty generated by demonizing some companies and industries while employing crony capitalism to promote others – we (the administration & Congress) ensure low growth, high inflation and a weak dollar. Not only will your increasing cost of capital come to pass but offshore markets will be much more attractive areas to invest in – further limiting potential growth in the USA as investment money goes elsewhere.
It is said that in a democracy you get the government you deserve….but barring a tsunami in the 2010 mid terms…….well, if the votes are for suicide….
VDH:
“…the public is getting tired of this; each new incident is beginning to chip away at his messianic race-healing status…”
I think the public is also getting tired of our “post-racial president” using his supposed racial fides to distract us from issues that affect all Americans. That might not be apparent at his next prime time news conference — assuming the networks carry it. More of us may be watching and listening than during Gatesgate. If Obama’s going to act this brazenly stupid on national TV, he’ll have an audience all right. You wonder how many people watch NASCAR races just to see the crashes. How many more will watch our media-messiah crucify himself with his own words, and eventually crash and burn his presidential legacy over race?
Did you happen to see H&HS secretary Sebelius and the feckless, and clueless Arlen Specter at the townhall meeting in PA? They were literally shocked at the reaction of real people to their scheme. They are so out of touch with reality it is breath taking.
There is a common thread to the videos of Rep Bishop, Carnahan, Sebelius, etc. The people attending the townhalls know MORE about the legislation being discussed than the Representatives and
Senators do.Think about that for a while.
Too many Anonymous posters. #57 is mine and it was not intended to be Anonymous. I think there is a problem with this PJM site.
We got our Irish citizenship a couple of years ago, and now we’re going to move over to Paris. Might as well enjoy what’s left of civilization while it’s still there. Only goal now is to try and invest enough in Ireland to get our kids citizenship as well. Good luck to the rest of you.
Too many Anonymous posters. #57 is mine and it was not intended to be Anonymous. I think there is a problem with this PJM site.
The comment form used to remember my name and email, then a couple of days ago it started coming up blank every time. Seems you have to reeenter your information for each comment now. Maybe not true for everybody’s system but true for mine.
I’m going to remember all these comments the next time Krugman writes about global warming and everybody says “what does he know, he’s an economist!”
I wish the media had tried to do a tiny bit of digging into Michelle Obama’s past.
My wife works at the University of Chicago Hospital, where MO had her wildly-overpaid EVP job. She is widely considered an absolute bitch from hell there. It would have been trivial for some reporter to have publicized that.
Probably many similar stories from her law firm and Princeton days.
Essential vdh
Now! Gross tax revenues for the federal government are down more than they were during the 1930′s. That’s a fact put out by the CBO. Corporate tax revenues are down more than 57% current year running.
BHO and the rest of the indoctrinated and subverted idiots will do what? Print more money? They also control the money printing presses in addition to the MSM cult followers and their presses.
Does anyone know what Hyper inflation looks like. The US is in a free fall and will hit bottom what it looks like the other 3rd world banana republics.
Is it possible to have a revolution and overthrow of a government that is the high water mark in human history due to stupidity and ignorance? The answer appears to be yes. The US seems to be in that situation now.
We have evolved so well that the gene pool is not cleaned up as it needs to be and to many idiots have been carried on PC and AA for so long they are now running the show. The nuts are in charge due to PC and AA suicide. It is like being run over by a truck because you were daydreaming crossing the road.
#59: TLM: PJ is no longer keeping our screen names memorized AND on a recent article of Ron Radosh’s it was displaying the name and email in the comment form of the last person who commented. In other words, I’d make a comment, hit “submit” and then the refresh button, and BAM! Rather than my remembered name and email in the comment form, it it would the person who commented ahead of me. I sent a letter to their tech. department. I suggest you do the same.
58. Samizdat: “Did you happen to see H&HS secretary Sebelius and the feckless, and clueless Arlen Specter at the townhall meeting in PA? They were literally shocked at the reaction of real people to their scheme. They are so out of touch with reality it is breath taking.”
“There is a common thread to the videos of Rep Bishop, Carnahan, Sebelius, etc. The people attending the townhalls know MORE about the legislation being discussed than the Representatives and
Senators do.Think about that for a while.”
Yeah, I saw a bunch of ignorant hooligans being tooled by the GOP and the health care lobby to disrupt a peaceful discussion between elected representatives and their constituents.
But you’re right; there is a common thread:
The lobbyist-run groups Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks, which orchestrated the anti-Obama teabagger parties earlier this year, are now pursuing an aggressive strategy to create an image of mass public opposition to health care and clean energy reform. A leaked memo from Bob MacGuffie, a volunteer with the FreedomWorks website Tea Party Patriots, details how members should be infiltrating town halls and harassing Democratic members of Congress:
– Artificially Inflate Your Numbers: “Spread out in the hall and try to be in the front half. The objective is to put the Rep on the defensive with your questions and follow-up. The Rep should be made to feel that a majority, and if not, a significant portion of at least the audience, opposes the socialist agenda of Washington.”
– Be Disruptive Early And Often: “You need to rock-the-boat early in the Rep’s presentation, Watch for an opportunity to yell out and challenge the Rep’s statements early.”
– Try To “Rattle Him,” Not Have An Intelligent Debate: “The goal is to rattle him, get him off his prepared script and agenda. If he says something outrageous, stand up and shout out and sit right back down. Look for these opportunities before he even takes questions.”
This is very small and very stupid group of bitter people, mobilized by health care lobbyists, using brownshirt tactics in order to shout down and intimidate people they disagree with. But they’ll have about as much impact as the teabaggers had – not much at all. Think about that for a while.
#66. Anonymous:
**Substituted words** to indicate the extent of projection:
This is very small and very stupid group of bitter people, mobilized by **ACORN and SEIU**, using brownshirt tactics in order to shout down and intimidate people they disagree with. But they’ll have about as much impact as the **anti-War protesters** had – they’ll change public opinion. Think about that for a while.
Hey, where do you think they learned these tactics?!
Only difference is, we are on the side of Liberty, not Government Oppression!
Anonymous 66 — how about some links? Evidence? Your pissy attitude precludes anyone from taking you at your word.
“This is very small and very stupid group of bitter people”
Gee, project much? Your descriptions would be more apt for the paid thugs used by ACORN and the like.
66. Anonymous
Anybody can organize anything and all should. Our President ran on being an organizer. Our constitution allows Communitsts, facists, and everybody inbetween to organize.
But it’s all about who shows up, what they have to say, and commitment. We don’t care if it’s Bush or Obama…we want a halt to crazy spending now. We want a halt in the growth of give-a-ways. We don’t want the government dictating.
Blarty:
If you were able and inclined to read, you would find that VDH owns and runs a vinyard. Sounds like a business to me. Here – I saved you the effort – http://www.victorhanson.com/Author/index.html
And what is the basis for your erudition, please?
If you were able and inclined to read, you would find that VDH owns and runs a vinyard.
I might even spell it correctly.
Say, how’s old VDH’s vineyard doing? Real successful, or just a little vanity project?