Here* is the best column that David Brooks has ever written, indeed, the best that he may ever write for the local liberal New York paper, since his employment there is now surely numbered in days.
At the Club for Growth Winter Economic Meeting in Palm Beach last weekend, one of the other participants told Sherry and me that pilots are warned against focusing on their target so intently that they forget to fly the plane, a syndrome known as "target fixation." Today, the Democrats are fixated on semi-universal coverage for people who don't care to pursue it themselves, and are flying their majority into the ground.
Too bad for them, because their crash will very likely ensure that any bill they pass into law will be repealed three years from now.
_____
* Well, it was there, until the veil of secrecy came down! Register if you want. I don't.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
[2/24/10] Cargo Cult Economics
When South Sea islanders encountered the wealth of western societies -- even as late as World War II -- they sometimes built and worshipped facsimiles of shipping infrastructure -- airstrips, control towers, and radios-- believing that would persuade their visitors' gods to send the goods! Such cargo cult worship reflected a modest ignorance of the methods and means of production.
Robert Robb, columnist for the Arizona Republic who I have commended to you before, writes today of " The Chief Economic Worry About Democrats." He says "Democrats tend to view a certain quantity of economic output as a given. It just happens. So, the key question of political economy is how to justly distribute the benefits."
Indeed. And they won't stop their redistribution until we are all equal and much, much poorer. Their economic belief is the ultimate irrationality: the supply of goods and services is the same at any price.
They are modern day cargo cultists with no knowledge of how to provide anything for anyone, much less the everything that they promise to everyone.
Robert Robb, columnist for the Arizona Republic who I have commended to you before, writes today of " The Chief Economic Worry About Democrats." He says "Democrats tend to view a certain quantity of economic output as a given. It just happens. So, the key question of political economy is how to justly distribute the benefits."
Indeed. And they won't stop their redistribution until we are all equal and much, much poorer. Their economic belief is the ultimate irrationality: the supply of goods and services is the same at any price.
They are modern day cargo cultists with no knowledge of how to provide anything for anyone, much less the everything that they promise to everyone.
[2/24/10] Righting the Left
I've tried to explain that economic freedom helps more people out of poverty than redistribution, but I've never done it better than Paul Gessing does here. Paul is a friend who runs the Rio Grande Foundation New Mexico's libertarian think tank, Cato on the Bosque, so to speak.
I talked to Paul today at lunch, and he gave me a copy of the Alibi with his featured cover story article in it. He and his foundation will make good use of whatever contributions -- small or large -- you can spare to spread the economic truth.
By the way, the cover picture on the Alibi with Paul's article in it is a painting of Frederic Bastiat, author of the Candlemaker's Petition for protection against the Sun!
I talked to Paul today at lunch, and he gave me a copy of the Alibi with his featured cover story article in it. He and his foundation will make good use of whatever contributions -- small or large -- you can spare to spread the economic truth.
By the way, the cover picture on the Alibi with Paul's article in it is a painting of Frederic Bastiat, author of the Candlemaker's Petition for protection against the Sun!
[2/22/10] What Price Liberty?
Here is Paul Jacob, recounting the acts of a few students at Munich University in 1942 against the evil tyranny of Hitler. It as moving a piece as I've read in years. Please read it as soon as you have time. Jacob writes
Bismarck's mild-mannered socialism led to Mussolini's corporatism, thence to his fascism, and finally to Hitler's National Socialism. Where will be on that path if we don't stop the left's progressivism in the elections this fall?
As a nation, we have allied ourselves with dark forces, and now, to save what is left of our liberty, we may have to pledge some sacrifice, if not our lives, then at least some portion of our fortunes, and certainly our sacred honor.
I encourage you to get involved. At the very least, tell everyone you know that it is no less than theft for someone to vote to spend other people's money on their favorites among the deserving. Tell them that it is evil to vote to enslave fellow citizens for a few dollars for someone else, no matter how deserving they may be. Those who wish to help the deserving poor will do so and should do so voluntarily. They shouldn't send tax men out to steal for that purpose and rely on government arms to enforce their desire that we all be generous to others.
Your congressman or senator may be a Democrat. Then you must oppose him. If he was elected in 2006 or 2008 he may seem almost conservative. The only vote you need to know about to oppose him is the one he made at the start of this Congress that helped elect the Democrat House and Senate leaderships. With that vote, your Democrat member of Congress aligned himself with the worst of his party's members and adds his impetus to their progressivist agenda. Unless they are removed from power, his party won't stop until we all are equal and in poverty.
Republicans aren't saints, and the Republican Party isn't right often enough, but they are on the side of the angels whenever they oppose the progressive evil that Democrats seek to impose. If your congressman or senator is Republican, consider his record carefully, and, if you aren't happy with his votes, consider supporting his opponent in the primary if he has one. Too many Republicans still believe in working across the aisle with Democrats to bring home the pork. That pork is infected and infectious; we should all oppose it given the opportunity. Always remember that the true taxation is government spending: every dollar of spending makes some resource unavailable to the private sector. Only if we reduce spending can we reduce taxation. If your Republican Congressman is not sharply opposed to spending, explain this to him. Make sure he knows you oppose his government spending habit.
And there are opportunities. Google can help you seek out your County Republican meeting; then go. They typically happen once a month. Candidates for office start there, and so should you. Contribute something there, no matter how little, as they operate on almost nothing. Volunteer to help. I recommend you consider contributing to your state party, too, though I can not in good conscience recommend that you contribute to the national party or either of its Congressional or Senatorial campaigns. They have, over the years become devoid of all principles and will support any candidate that declares himself a Republican. For years they supported Arlen Specter, George Voinovich, and many other Republicans in name only.
If your Republican congressman or Senator is a solid economic conservative, contribute to his campaign and be an advocate for him. If he doesn't need your contribution to be reelected -- you can read the paper, the web, and the polls -- you can give to any congressional campaign in the country. You contributions can oppose Harry Reid himself by supporting his opponent, a worthwhile effort, even though Reid seems to be toast already.
You can check the Club for Growth web site now and then to find out where you can make contributions to key races. I encourage you to join the Club; it's free. They are the political tip of economic freedom's spear. Contributions can be made to their political action committee or, through the Club, directly to candidates in amounts small or large.
It's now or never. If we don't pitch in to roll back these Congressional and Senatorial Democrat majorities, we stand to lose much more than our children's inheritance. We will lose our own moral way.
- Tomorrow, February 22, at 5:00 PM, I'll close my office door and take five minutes to quietly reflect upon heroism, honor, courage and fealty to truth.
- And I'll grieve about the sometimes tragic consequences of correctly answering Patrick Henry's historic question: "Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?"
- Knowing the dearness of life and the sweetness of peace, Mr. Henry's answer was: "Forbid it, Almighty God!" He then concluded, "I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
Bismarck's mild-mannered socialism led to Mussolini's corporatism, thence to his fascism, and finally to Hitler's National Socialism. Where will be on that path if we don't stop the left's progressivism in the elections this fall?
As a nation, we have allied ourselves with dark forces, and now, to save what is left of our liberty, we may have to pledge some sacrifice, if not our lives, then at least some portion of our fortunes, and certainly our sacred honor.
I encourage you to get involved. At the very least, tell everyone you know that it is no less than theft for someone to vote to spend other people's money on their favorites among the deserving. Tell them that it is evil to vote to enslave fellow citizens for a few dollars for someone else, no matter how deserving they may be. Those who wish to help the deserving poor will do so and should do so voluntarily. They shouldn't send tax men out to steal for that purpose and rely on government arms to enforce their desire that we all be generous to others.
Your congressman or senator may be a Democrat. Then you must oppose him. If he was elected in 2006 or 2008 he may seem almost conservative. The only vote you need to know about to oppose him is the one he made at the start of this Congress that helped elect the Democrat House and Senate leaderships. With that vote, your Democrat member of Congress aligned himself with the worst of his party's members and adds his impetus to their progressivist agenda. Unless they are removed from power, his party won't stop until we all are equal and in poverty.
Republicans aren't saints, and the Republican Party isn't right often enough, but they are on the side of the angels whenever they oppose the progressive evil that Democrats seek to impose. If your congressman or senator is Republican, consider his record carefully, and, if you aren't happy with his votes, consider supporting his opponent in the primary if he has one. Too many Republicans still believe in working across the aisle with Democrats to bring home the pork. That pork is infected and infectious; we should all oppose it given the opportunity. Always remember that the true taxation is government spending: every dollar of spending makes some resource unavailable to the private sector. Only if we reduce spending can we reduce taxation. If your Republican Congressman is not sharply opposed to spending, explain this to him. Make sure he knows you oppose his government spending habit.
And there are opportunities. Google can help you seek out your County Republican meeting; then go. They typically happen once a month. Candidates for office start there, and so should you. Contribute something there, no matter how little, as they operate on almost nothing. Volunteer to help. I recommend you consider contributing to your state party, too, though I can not in good conscience recommend that you contribute to the national party or either of its Congressional or Senatorial campaigns. They have, over the years become devoid of all principles and will support any candidate that declares himself a Republican. For years they supported Arlen Specter, George Voinovich, and many other Republicans in name only.
If your Republican congressman or Senator is a solid economic conservative, contribute to his campaign and be an advocate for him. If he doesn't need your contribution to be reelected -- you can read the paper, the web, and the polls -- you can give to any congressional campaign in the country. You contributions can oppose Harry Reid himself by supporting his opponent, a worthwhile effort, even though Reid seems to be toast already.
You can check the Club for Growth web site now and then to find out where you can make contributions to key races. I encourage you to join the Club; it's free. They are the political tip of economic freedom's spear. Contributions can be made to their political action committee or, through the Club, directly to candidates in amounts small or large.
It's now or never. If we don't pitch in to roll back these Congressional and Senatorial Democrat majorities, we stand to lose much more than our children's inheritance. We will lose our own moral way.
[2/20/10] Introducing Marco Rubio
Sherry and I first heard Marco Rubio in a Club for Growth conference call on December 15th, and were completely wowed. He is running against Charlie Crist for in the Florida Republican Senatorial primary. When that call occurred, he was trailing Crist in the polls, but the Club's president Chris Chocola said, "Among people who know who he is, he leads." Today, just over two months later, most people in Florida know who Marco Rubio is, and he leads Crist in the RCP average by 9 points*.
Here is the text of his speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington this Thursday. He a young man, who speaks quickly without raising his voice. If you are so inclined, you can find video from his speech online.
We may have our Reagan.
_____
*The primary polls are long gone, but as of the date of this blog post, he leads Crist, now an independent, by 9.8% in the general election!
Here is the text of his speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington this Thursday. He a young man, who speaks quickly without raising his voice. If you are so inclined, you can find video from his speech online.
We may have our Reagan.
_____
*The primary polls are long gone, but as of the date of this blog post, he leads Crist, now an independent, by 9.8% in the general election!
[2/6/10] This Tea Party Cra...owd
On a recent Sunday, Meet the (de)Press(ed) featured this brief exchange between host David Gregory and NBC Political Director* Chuck Todd:
Whichever it was, I couldn't think anything but "Hallelujah!" I credit the Club for Growth and its standard bearers, Jeff Flake, Tom Coburn, and Jim DeMint for planting the seeds of this by repeatedly embarrassing the Spendican wing of the Republican party via their continued assault on earmarking -- both the process and the results. Nevertheless, I have to credit the Democrats for reverting to tax-and-spend-and-tax-and-spend-and-tax-and-spend form so promptly after the muddle-headed middle gave them the keys to the Treasury.
I can only hope that the present rage against the machine will continue through November 2.
- MR. GREGORY: There's also the issue of the sort of opposition that the president faces. Where is the Republican Party? We talked a little bit about that. Again, part of the conversation we've had outside the hour today in some outside interviews includes one with Dick Armey, a former congressman who's now part of FreedomWorks, who is part of this tea party movement that was influential in Massachusetts and elsewhere. Here's what he said about the center of American politics.
- (Videotape)
- FMR. REP. DICK ARMEY (R-TX): This is the broad center of American politics. Look at the polling data. Right now the tea party polls higher than the Republicans and the Democrats. And it is becoming increasingly clear to the electorate out there, and they're expressing their understanding, it is the Democrat majority in Congress and the president that's on the liberal fringe and we are on the center. There's no doubt about it.
- (End videotape)
- MR. TODD: Oh, well, I don't know if they're in the center. I mean, when we did our own polling on this, it's clear that the tea party gets a big benefit because there's one news organization that gives them a huge bump all the time. I mean, their favorable rating among Fox viewers is through the roof, and the rest of the country sort of doesn't know a lot about these folks. But the message of the tea party sort of saying "the government doesn't work, these institutions, and we've got to shrink the size of government," is tapping into what we were just discussing before...
- MR. GREGORY: Mm-hmm.
- MR. TODD: ...which is this, this--I would--not disgust, but it's sort of this distrust of all institutions that are out there, government included. But I think that--I want to go to something E.J. said about the Republican Party. I think the most striking thing about the minority party today vs.--that is that a Republican can't go home, and it's mostly because of this tea party cra...owd, cannot go home and sell a piece of pork that they got from Washington. It is now, when you bring home something, saying, "Hey, I brought federal dollars to this." You're on the defensive now.
Whichever it was, I couldn't think anything but "Hallelujah!" I credit the Club for Growth and its standard bearers, Jeff Flake, Tom Coburn, and Jim DeMint for planting the seeds of this by repeatedly embarrassing the Spendican wing of the Republican party via their continued assault on earmarking -- both the process and the results. Nevertheless, I have to credit the Democrats for reverting to tax-and-spend-and-tax-and-spend-and-tax-and-spend form so promptly after the muddle-headed middle gave them the keys to the Treasury.
I can only hope that the present rage against the machine will continue through November 2.
[1/30/10] Entirely Too Much Fun...
Here, Michael Barone analyzes the meaning of the present numbers on what is known as the "generic ballot" poll question: if the election for Congress were held today would you vote for the Democrat or the Republican?
Any more-than-casual observer of things political knows that in elections when the Republicans were even close on the generic ballot question, Democrats have done very poorly. My recollection is that it was close to even in 1994 though Republicans still trailed when they took 40 seats and the House of Representatives from the Democrats.
The RealClearPolitics average on this question is presently* Republican by 3.2%! That average is essentially a super-poll of more than 7000 voters, and as such has a margin of error of about 1%.
One is tempted to exclaim "Hallelujah!" However, except for the occasional special election -- Virginia, New Jersey, Massachusetts (Hallelujah!) -- it is early to be counting the votes. To temper your enthusiasm, I encourage you to scroll down the RealClearPolitics page and see that it wasn't long ago that the Dems had a solid advantage.
Nevertheless, I have hope that the center-right body politic of the United States is well roused against the leftist/progressive/socialist Democrats' " Boloshevik Plot," and that it will remain so through November.
And in the same entirely-too-much-fun vein, Nick Gillespie of Reason magazine says, " Obama Decries Divisive Rhetoric, Says Healing Can Happen if Opponents Stop Being Such Effing D-bags."
_____
*...or at least it was on the date of this post. You can scroll down and drag you cursor over the plot of the margin to find the date and confirm the number if you want.
Any more-than-casual observer of things political knows that in elections when the Republicans were even close on the generic ballot question, Democrats have done very poorly. My recollection is that it was close to even in 1994 though Republicans still trailed when they took 40 seats and the House of Representatives from the Democrats.
The RealClearPolitics average on this question is presently* Republican by 3.2%! That average is essentially a super-poll of more than 7000 voters, and as such has a margin of error of about 1%.
One is tempted to exclaim "Hallelujah!" However, except for the occasional special election -- Virginia, New Jersey, Massachusetts (Hallelujah!) -- it is early to be counting the votes. To temper your enthusiasm, I encourage you to scroll down the RealClearPolitics page and see that it wasn't long ago that the Dems had a solid advantage.
Nevertheless, I have hope that the center-right body politic of the United States is well roused against the leftist/progressive/socialist Democrats' " Boloshevik Plot," and that it will remain so through November.
And in the same entirely-too-much-fun vein, Nick Gillespie of Reason magazine says, " Obama Decries Divisive Rhetoric, Says Healing Can Happen if Opponents Stop Being Such Effing D-bags."
_____
*...or at least it was on the date of this post. You can scroll down and drag you cursor over the plot of the margin to find the date and confirm the number if you want.
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