This is Known as 'Bad Luck'

Now is the time at Ed Driscoll.com when we juxtapose!

Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded — here and there, now and then — are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty.

This is known as “bad luck.”

— Robert Heinlein, from a passage oft-quoted by Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit.com.

Over the last six months, we’ve had a string of bad luck. There have been some things that we could not control*. You had an Arab Spring in the Middle East that promises more democracy and more human rights for people**, but also drove up gas prices***. Tough for the economy, a lot of uncertainty.

— “Obama: ‘Bad Luck’ to Blame for Economy” — Alana Goodman at Commentary, quoting the president today.

And yes, “a lot of uncertainty” is indeed “tough for the economy.”

* Says the man who promised to slow “the rise of the oceans.”

** The Arab Spring “promises more democracy and more human rights for people?” If you say so.

*** Hey, remember when higher energy prices was a platform to campaign on?

(Concept via SDA.)

Update: John Hinderaker of Power Line on “Obama’s Run of Bad Luck.”