I'm not concerned about Obama, who has shown himself to be far more moderate/centrist than most expected and actually well disposed toward small business, but about what comes next if economic conditions worsen significantly. There are many on the far left, again this would not describe Obama, who don't believe in a free market's power to drive innovation, that rewards can accrue simultaeously to the individual and society, people who see things as zero sum. They are in ascendency due to the current conditions and should market approaches fail, or take too long, they will find increasingly receptive ears amongst the democrativ party and the electorate in the next 20 years, especially amongst those who are teenagers now if things do not turn around in the next 5-10 years (look at Japan), as they will not have know the boom times that free markets can produce, they will only be familiar with the bust part of the cycle.
Someone pushes you on your theory of peace, love, harmony and robbing Peter to pay Paul and all you got is to call me names?
I'm not calling you names. You asked me what I believe. Based on your repeated glib statements, I believe you are a dolt and it is difficult for me to conclude otherwise. I can neither read your mind nor assume depth that is not in evidence, thereby basing my conclusion on that which you have presented to me. And if it interests you to know, it is not so much your ignorance that I find offensive as the arrogance that accompanies it.
I concur. However, the economy is too far gone in the socialistic direction now. The reality is that your draconian free market measures would result in utter chaos and potential collapse of the system from within. I am an anachrocapitalist at heart, but I understand that this is an ideal and not reality. The Objectivist ayn rand people need to understand that she taught an IDEAL not an actual reality. To push the issue, a south american country ( forget the name ) used the teaching of Milton Friedman to run the economy--it was a disaster to the best of my memory. Milton Friedman is still a hero of mine regardless. It is important to note, that individual philosophy is far different than economic reality across a nation state. One can individually hold to the ayn rand or anarchocapitalist ideal but fully understand that these ideas are strictly for the individual ( a few if that) and do not make sense across the strata. this is why the libertarian party never gets any footing. good ideas, but impossible to execute in reality. these ideas are actually rejected by the majorty of citizens and that's a fact, jack. best wishes, surf
If someone walks in and sits down next to you and states that they prefer the Austrian School of economics over free lunch Keynesian economics, they are ignorant and a dolt?
So what is the solution? Can we look to history for insight into the future? Do we abandon our encampments to shore up the walls? We appear to have slowly been corralled to this point with the chute slowly, almost imperceptibly, growing narrow. I get the feeling we have passed a balance point. What catalyst will destroy our burning bridges?
I agree, it feels like we have tipped in some way. Solution? Mises and Keynes are clear choices. It does seem like every time the government steps in to solve short term pain, an unintended consequence is set in motion. For example, most recently saving the Dow after 9/11 by dropping rates to 1% created another bubble that we are seeing play out now. Just because everyone in a democracy is clamoring for the illusion of Keynes style fixes, doesn't mean it is smart. But right now America seems headed toward French style socialism versus the ideals this country was originally founded on.
If thoughts, feelings and actions could be controlled, that would do the trick... http://www.cuttingedge.org/news/n1875.cfm Is this Obama's future plan for us?
The ideals that this country was founded on are LONG dead. (Let's leave out the slave argument for a bit.) Freedom of speech is about to be assaulted by the new "Equal Time" FCC rulings we're about to see implemented. "Unreasonable Search" is gone...try going thru a checkpoint in an airport w/out taking off your shoes and not going thru a metal detector. The Nanny State is keeping us safe from the terrorists by denying little Billy his seat on a plane cuz his name is on a list compiled by fools. We haven't carpet bombed a mountain wasteland to kill OBL cuz some 3rd world asswipes might get angry at us, iow, no one's defending the citizens of the USA. (yea I know...7 yrs and no attacks..that's cuz we've been lucky...a terrorist only has to get lucky once, we have to stay lucky 24/7) And our new President wants to redistribute the wealth. Aint' it FUN?