To the group of dedicated ultra-conservatives who continually bash liberals for being "socialists" who want to "eliminate economic freedom" and who therefore support the election of Republicans to office: it is over. In recent weeks, it is has been Republicans who have been most guilty of "big government". It would be difficult for a Democrat to throw money around as carelessly as Republican-appointed officials have in recent days. They would be lambasted on talk radio and television talk shows. And, might I add as an independent, rightly so. When liberals want to spend money to bail out poor people who have made bad choices, they are accused of being socialists. When conservatives spend money and risk even more money of the American taxpayer to bail out rich people who have made bad choices, they are praised for saving American capitalism. For those who think I am guilty of hyperbole, see Donald Luskin's articles on FRE and FNM. By banning short selling (even on a temporary basis), the line has been crossed. Now the government is giving the message that it is we big bad traders who short stocks that are the problem, so now we must take away your freedom to use your capital as you like. I don't short stocks (rather buy puts) and am long a bunch of IAI, so I should be doing cartwheels counting my profits. But I am not. This is not a matter of making money. It is a matter of principle. I'd rather have paid the price of mild government regulation than endure the obstrusiveness in recent weeks.
Try the last 8 years. In recent weeks, it is has been Republicans who have been most guilty of "big government". It would be difficult for a Democrat to throw money around as carelessly as Republican-appointed officials have in recent days. They would be lambasted on talk radio and television talk shows. And, might I add as an independent, rightly so.
You've missed the point that has been made repeatedly. The Republican Party is not conservative any more, not by a long shot. Both major parties are for a lot more and bigger government. The debate we've had is over, and conservatives lost. The public has shown they want as big and powerful a government as they can get. They want Uncle Sam to do everything from wake them up in the morning and make them brush their teeth to tucking them in bed at night. Think the Iraq War was expensive? Think our debt is high now? Just wait. We'll be running yearly deficits of hundreds of thousands per citizen. People want their cookie now and they don't give a damn how much somebody has to pay later. Republicans and Democrats are all in favor of government handing. . . no. . . shoveling. . . no. . . maybe dumping . . .twice as much money out to anybody as yesterday. And double that tomorrow. The trough is huge, and there are an endless number of fat pigs with all their trotters in and sucking it down like there's no tomorrow.