I don’t understand why the lesson of the recent financial meltdown is that “we must return to regulation.” The regulatory infrastructure we have today has been in place since the 1930s New Deal — and before. This infrastructure was supposed … Continue reading
Category: Politics & Government
“Patriotic Duty”–At the Point of a Gun
We’re being told by Joe Biden and Barack Obama that it’s our “patriotic duty” to pay taxes. Evaded in this statement are two things. One, how does an alleged patriotic duty to pay taxes justify a patriotic duty to pay … Continue reading
Do Nothing
In the wake of the latest financial disaster, the government plans to “step in” and get things regulated. Hello? The government already did that–way back when the Federal Reserve was created (early 20th Century) and when the New Deal was … Continue reading
Has America Changed?
The headlines blare that 9/11 was “the day America changed.” But was it? Here, seven years later, America doesn’t seem changed. It does seem poised to elect as President an undistinguished man whose only accomplishment is his alleged celebrity–and whose … Continue reading
America Is Not “Addicted” to Oil!
I am so sick of hearing people refer to America’s “oil addiction.” An “addiction” refers to the abuse of a harmful and dangerous substance. There’s nothing harmful and dangerous about oil. It’s quite literally the lifeblood of civilization. Most of … Continue reading
“Big” & “Small” Government
I keep hearing Republican politicians–most notably the presidential and vice-presidential candidates–talking about the need to “keep government small.” Excuse me? Do they think government as we know it is small? It’s HUGE. It controls most of the health care field; … Continue reading
Hurricane McCain
Hurricanes and natural disasters are things to be survived and endured. They’re not political footballs. At least, they shouldn’t be–but now they are. This is the result of a society which has–in very large numbers–succumbed to the illusion that some … Continue reading
Who’s That?
John McCain’s choice for Vice President is less fascinating than the means by which he apparently chose her–and the reasons people applaud him for it. Like Obama, she wasn’t chosen because she was perceived as the best person to become … Continue reading
Too Stupid to be President
“An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.” –Winston Churchill Obama’s proposals to sit down with overt killers and terrorists and “make peace” with them bring to mind Churchill’s wise comment. Obama is not … Continue reading
My Needs Trump Your Rights
“A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.” (Thomas Jefferson) How true. How could Thomas Jefferson see this–all those years ago–while neither of our major … Continue reading
The Last Emperor
One of the last monarchs in the declining days of the Roman empire, as the invading Turks drew closer, said the following about his youthful, would-be monarch son: “My son deems himself a great and heroic prince; but alas! our … Continue reading
Is Obama “Uppity”?
Presidential candidates often lose because, in the end–and in clear hindsight–they don’t want it badly enough. Michael Dukakis wanted to be President–only not as badly as George H.W. Bush, who won. George H.W. Bush wanted to be reelected President–only not … Continue reading