Thoughts on Economic Freedom

Hi guys, I'm here just coalescing some thoughts and observations. Ace had complained recently that politicians don't seem to have much of a tongue for conservative philosophy (also known as basic economic facts) anymore.

I live in Connecticut, where the Mighty Corrupt Idiot Governor Dannel P. M' Uuhhhloy is busy cooking the books and turning my beautiful state into a debtor's prison. So some things have been on my mind.

We look around us and our hearts sink at the tangle we're in. Our national debt will enslave future generations. The political, media, and corporate classes are in an intractable, incestuous conspiracy against the People. Top officers of government are selling American sovereignty and security out from underneath the citizenry, placing us all in risk. Washington D.C. is the lap of wealth and comfort, while everywhere else people are scraping by, underemployed or unemployed.

If we want to be able to explain to people why economic freedom is so great, we need to point out why the alternative is deficient. We don't have far to look. In our formerly great cities and states, we are doomed to watch again the same blight of poor governance that we had watched fail forty years ago. Why hasn't anyone learned this lesson, with the many times it has been self-taught?

These governments promise too much to too many. Many nepotic and corrupt arrangements bloom within and without the government apparatus. The politicians vow to make the rich pay for it all. Eventually as economic downturns and excessive public spending create budget shortfalls, the 'rich' must include the middle class.

The lackluster policing that frequently accompanies these regimes makes the area an unsafe place to raise children. Taxpayers can see that they will never be able to improve their lot in life or help their own kids if they are continually harassed and bled of their earnings. In most ways that count to ordinary people, money IS freedom.

So the taxpayers eventually leave for places that offer greater opportunity to control one's destiny. Where they can confidently own their own labor, live comfortably, and not be nickled-and-dimed down to their dental fillings. The municipal entities that house those new living quarters see an increase in overall prosperity and commerce, as taxpayers and workers who by definition add value to their surroundings, arrive in greater numbers.

The original localities however lose their tax base and must cut services. The end result is a condition of runaway poverty and neglect. I don't need to list the specific cities. We have all seen this movie before. Forty years ago, and today.

American economic freedom is indivisible from American freedom itself.

If your political ideology sees all of this, and your inclination is to preserve the status quo in D.C., and to make sure working people must be harnessed to the national plow and therefore cannot have economic freedom regardless of where they go inside the country, then you are anti-American and you must be defeated. Soundly. No matter what party you are a member of.

"Ours is a vision of limited government and unlimited opportunity, of growth and progress beyond what any can see today. A saying in colonial times suggested there are two ways to get to the top of an oak tree, where the view is much better. One is to climb; the other is to find an acorn and sit on it. [Laughter] Well, I didn’t come to Washington to sit on acorns. [Laughter] It’s time to roll up our sleeves and start climbing. . . ."
-Ronald Reagan

That was then, Ron. Today we need a chainsaw.

American liberals have thoroughly erased the real story about American economic freedom from common working knowledge. It was real during the Reagan years, and it was glorious. Lower taxes and regulations meant that people were more free in an absolute sense. They took chances on their own skins, they won, they lost, and overall the economy roared. I don't wonder that some have worked so hard to discredit a history that many of us so recently lived. It has to have been terribly embarrassing to be continually proved wrong for eight years.

Today's economy in comparison is a weak and pallid victim of government predation. It doesn't have to be this way.

We keep hearing about the poor, as if being successful means someone else must be poor. But the Reagan years proved that was poppycock. The best way to help the poor is to grow the economy to such grand dimensions that economic opportunity is nearly impossible to avoid. And the truly needy poor who remain will be far better off. Giving to others requires excess wealth to exist, first, after all.

Questioning our cultural attitudes about the poor and the successful is a worthwhile subject for conservatives to explore. Here's one facet: modern liberals, when challenged about their hostility toward prosperous companies and wealthy people, will says things like, "Well, OF COURSE we like it when people achieve highly, but they also need to give something back (to the poor, we assume)." But in actual practice, they do not show any pleasure when people achieve. In fact it seems to piss them off. They will often say out loud that it is unfair that others should be wealthy, while poor people yet exist. And all of their efforts at helping people to do well are only for their favored cronies and pet causes. When it comes to how they treat everyone else who is participating in the economy at large, they are always cheering for the shakedown, but never encouraging the achievement. Actions speak louder than words. And the actions of liberals trend heavily toward punishing success as if it were a sin. We could further get into how they wrongheadedly celebrate victimhood and dependency as if they were virtues, but this article is already too long.

Very simply, if we want to live in a prosperous country, we all need to think like mature adults and start using the language of success and prosperity, with no reservations. We should not be afraid to talk truthfully about how great it is to do well, how important it is to be able to withstand adversity, and to congratulate those who do well and are financially resilient. We should attempt to cultivate success and propagate the message and means of prosperity among the younger people.

What more positive and loving message for your fellow man can there be, than to be an unabashed booster for his success and independence?

What kind of curmudgeonly national mood have we fallen into, if we despise those who have overflown poverty, and threaten to drag them down to Earth, in some deformed idea of justice?

I don't want to be that kind of person. I certainly don't want to associate with that kind of person; the sort of person who is unhappy when I do well. The sort of person who is happy when my success has been thwarted. To Hell with that guy, who needs him? And why would anyone vote for him?

Friends, you are my American brethren. Because I love my country, I love you too, and want you to be as prosperous and happy as you can possibly be. In fact it is imperative to our nation's survival that you and your families flourish. Anybody who views you growing your wealth as a bad thing, or who wants to put a heavy yoke on it, needs to go eat a big ol' poop.

Posted by: Laura. at 05:29 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Yay

Posted by: Oldbuffalo at February 05, 2016 05:29 PM (/pOl7)

2 Well, that's my first first in years. It feels so....liberating. First, I'd like to thank all the little people who made this possible.....

Posted by: Oldbuffalo at February 05, 2016 05:30 PM (/pOl7)

3 LAURA!!!

Say, how come you've not been on the podcast since, like, 2014?

Come back sometime.

Posted by: Mr. Estrada at February 05, 2016 05:30 PM (BWaLn)

4 Now, back to the shadows

Posted by: Oldbuffalo at February 05, 2016 05:31 PM (/pOl7)

5 Who's the new Cob?

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at February 05, 2016 05:31 PM (/1Auz)

6 Without bucks, life sucks.

Posted by: Blanco Basura at February 05, 2016 05:33 PM (4WhSY)

7 Wow, quite a post, thanks Laura

Posted by: chemjeff at February 05, 2016 05:33 PM (lVU49)

8 What more positive and loving message for your fellow man can there be,
than to be an unabashed booster for his success and independence?

Huzzah!

Well put.

It embraces a strict conservative philosophy while skewering those who fight against it.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 05, 2016 05:34 PM (Zu3d9)

9 First, I'd like to thank all the little people who made this possible.....

See, this is economic opportunity in action. He pays midgets to scout for new posts!

Posted by: Blanco Basura at February 05, 2016 05:35 PM (4WhSY)

10 We humans are untrainable ,.
The pig returns to his mire .
Gods , copybook headings , some assembly required .

Posted by: awkward davies at February 05, 2016 05:35 PM (mP1RE)

11 I'm afraid same thing will happen in Pa., that was why the gas tax went up and with Republicans in charge, now with a Democrat governor who is looking to spend into oblivion

Posted by: Skip at February 05, 2016 05:36 PM (HWcaz)

12 LauraW , nice to hear from you , hope you and your swollen growth are well .

Posted by: awkward davies at February 05, 2016 05:37 PM (mP1RE)

13 Can we not hear it up here?

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at February 05, 2016 05:38 PM (/1Auz)

14 There is a post entitled "Bloodbathery" over at ZeroHedge with lots of scary, scary charts.

I'm going to shelter in place...

Posted by: shibumi, RIP USA at February 05, 2016 05:39 PM (osB7c)

15 I think Bill Whittle had some recent thoughts along those lines too. Very nice, Laura.

I think that's part of the appeal of...rhymes with Ump...He doesn't apologize for success and doesn't think he has to. Mittens was kind of the same way, but way to deferential and nice about it, like he was embarrassed about winding up rich. Again.

We should celebrate risk takers, the winners and the losers.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at February 05, 2016 05:39 PM (a5HYV)

16 *standing ovation*

Posted by: wiserbud at February 05, 2016 05:39 PM (AqEbb)

17 Wow, LauraW. What an excellent post.

Posted by: maddogg, now certified infrequently vile at February 05, 2016 05:39 PM (xWW96)

18
So, lauraw is in a woman's prison? Does she have to talk group showers with the other lady prisoners? Are their turnkeys watching? Does she drop the soap? Frequently??

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at February 05, 2016 05:40 PM (iQIUe)

19 All these words - what do they mean?

Posted by: Weasel at February 05, 2016 05:42 PM (e3bId)

20 Questioning our cultural attitudes about the poor and the successful is a worthwhile subject for conservatives to explore. Here's one facet: modern liberals, when challenged about their hostility toward prosperous companies and wealthy people, will says things like, "Well, OF COURSE we like it when people achieve highly, but they also need to give something back (to the poor, we assume)." But in actual practice, they do not show any pleasure when people achieve. In fact it seems to piss them off. They will often say out loud that it is unfair that others should be wealthy, while poor people yet exist.

They would rather the poor be poorer, provided the rich were less rich.

Posted by: Zombie Margaret Thatcher at February 05, 2016 05:43 PM (vBeA5)

21 So, lauraw is in a woman's prison? Does she have to talk group showers
with the other lady prisoners? Are their turnkeys watching? Does she
drop the soap? Frequently??

If there was a lauraw cam we'd already have answers to these questions.

Posted by: Blanco Basura at February 05, 2016 05:43 PM (4WhSY)

22 #WASTF

Posted by: rickb223 at February 05, 2016 05:43 PM (KUNWw)

23 Yay! LauraW!! I have missed you as much as I have missed Monty.

Posted by: L, Elle at February 05, 2016 05:44 PM (2x3L+)

24 enough about that dreary economic claptrap, lets hear how the hump is doing!

Posted by: Bob in Houston at February 05, 2016 05:44 PM (XRxxn)

25 Very well said, Laura! Would that simple, common sense like this would prevail, but the hand of man is such that the excess of politically correct do-gooderism must collapse of its own weight. No politician will be elected on the basis of fiscal frugalness nor shall any "entitlement" be surrendered toward the common good. Therefore, collapse is inevitable, yet I am comforted knowing people like you hold these principles dear in your heart. We do not gain by grumbling amidst the naysayers but by holding ourselves to a higher, lasting standard where achievement is expected, challenge is accepted and our heads are held high! (TY Irongrandpa!) Thank you for a great, great commentary, Laura!

Posted by: 7Mike at February 05, 2016 05:45 PM (pxwEr)

26 >> He pays midgets to scout for new posts!
>> Posted by: Blanco Basura at February 05, 2016

But does he pay them a living wage? Are we certain that no Ewoks were harmed during the scouting? How is their carbon footprint offset? Are the midgets sufficiently diverse, on all axes of diversity and in all modalities? How do they atone for their privilege? Do they even check it?

Posted by: Scarlet Begonias at February 05, 2016 05:45 PM (ml1PM)

27 The Humpty-Hump returns!

Great article, LauraW. Maybe Ed Driscoll over at Insty's place will link to it.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 05, 2016 05:45 PM (LUgeY)

28
There are, as I see it, 4 ways to achieve these goals.

By the soap box, the jury box, the ballot box and the cartridge box.

Pick one.

Posted by: irongrampa at February 05, 2016 05:45 PM (P/8aq)

29 8
What more positive and loving message for your fellow man can there be,

than to be an unabashed booster for his success and independence?

Huzzah!

Well put.

It embraces a strict conservative philosophy while skewering those who fight against it.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 05, 2016 05:34 PM (Zu3d9)

x2. Thanks, Laura.

Posted by: rebel flounder at February 05, 2016 05:45 PM (3dOE/)

30 I had to listen to FOX News for a bit today and was about to pull my brain out through my nose with a coat hanger.

Rubio is the center of the solar system with these people.

and fucking Kasich is Venus.

Jeb! is like the fucking Asteroid Belt or something. Worth a mention when he throws another turd at us.

Trump was, oh I don't know, Uranus. Mentioned as kind of a joke.

And Cruz was Pluto. Apparently, unworthy of mention as a candidate.

It was all Rubio worship, the Sun God and FOX his acolytes.

Ugh.

If we get, Rubio VS Hillary! - then the guys stifling Economic Freedom win.

The middle class will be dead and converted to managed tax cattle "nickel and dimed to their fillings."

Yay!

Posted by: naturalfake at February 05, 2016 05:46 PM (0cMkb)

31 Humpy.

Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Sooth! at February 05, 2016 05:46 PM (evdj2)

32 Ace had complained recently that politicians don't seem to have much of a tongue for conservative philosophy (also known as basic economic facts) anymore.

I save my tongue for the important things in life.

Posted by: Barney Frank at February 05, 2016 05:47 PM (R+30W)

33 I don't appreciate being womansplained on matters outside the kitchen, unless it regards cleaning and cleaning related activities.

Posted by: Dr Spank at February 05, 2016 05:47 PM (G8qjc)

34 Excellent post, LauraW.

As I see it, there are several reasons for our current state.

Our educational system has been turned into liberal/Democrat indoctrination. Children are being taught that their self-esteem is their most precious possession, and that their feelings must never be hurt. That seems to be all that our schools do these days.

We swim in an entertainment culture awash in liberal values. People who watch TV or go to movies pick up liberal values without even thinking about it.

A person becomes a liberal because that's what American society has become, and if there's never a need to question anything in that person's life, he remains a liberal. A fish doesn't know that he is wet, as the saying goes. Over time, those liberal values become an essential part of the person's personality, his nature, and so naturally when they are questioned the person feels he is being attacked and responds accordingly. We've all seen this when a liberal is arguing with a conservative. Eventually, the liberal starts hurling insults. Every single time.

I don't know what the solution is, but I do believe that television, with its reduction of issues to fifteen-second sound bites, is a major source of the problem. You can't educate people about economics, or history, or any other important subject fifteen seconds at a time. You can, however, hurl an insult at an opponent, deliberately misstate their position, and not allow them to respond.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at February 05, 2016 05:48 PM (B8JRQ)

35 I would like to suggest everyone read C.S. Lewis' "Screwtape Proposes a Toast". It's an afterword to the Screwtape Letters. In it, Screwtape delivers the graduation address to the young Devils who are leaving the Tempter's Training College (bear with me, this relates to what LauraW says).

One of the great vices Screwtape points the young tempters towards, and places much hope on for future operations, is Envy. He talks about how people can be conditioned to see every difference from themselves as an intentional cause to offense; to resent anyone and anything which they don't have, regardless of effort; and to tear others down instead of building themselves up.

It's Envy, with these people. All the way down. I can't be bothered to work or study for what you have, but I want it 'cause it's cool and neat, so guess what? I'm going to vote for this guy 'cause he promises to *take your cool neat stuff away and give it to me*. Or at least make you buy me one, because I'm So Fucking Special.

It's three year old logic. It's the kid shrieking in Toys R Us because Mommy won't buy him the four-foot Megatron toy he wants. Trouble is the kid now has the power of the state to compel Mommy to cough up the dough.

Posted by: Van Secundus at February 05, 2016 05:48 PM (Q8+GA)

36 Yeah, what happened to Monty?

Posted by: Dr Spank at February 05, 2016 05:48 PM (G8qjc)

37 I don't think lauraw is in a prison exactly , I mean , there are guards and all ,but they're nice ,,and there are doctors and nurses , everyone wears nice clean white clothes . It's more of a clinic , iykwim,.

Posted by: awkward davies at February 05, 2016 05:49 PM (mP1RE)

38 Since it's an economic thought:

Talked to my investment guy this week. Apparently the push for so much unskilled labor is in part because of Adam Smith having said (approximately) that I country gained wealth by having plentiful and inexpensive labor. We have plentiful (if not inexpensive) labor and it doesn't seem to be helping much.

*My* observation (guided by some comments here at the HQ) is that economic growth requires Plentiful and inexpensive *energy*.

Could it be that because Smith was writing in a pre-industrial era where *people provided the energy* that he couldn't differentiate between the two and, while not incorrect for his time, is the wrong prescription for the present? Or am I just wrong? I'd like to know the Horde's thoughts.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at February 05, 2016 05:49 PM (GDulk)

39 This is why I think Donald Trump's Hair would be better as preezy. He'd have a much greater impact on our culture and would go a long way towards reversing this leftarded sickness of criticizing the success of others while enriching themselves.

And if he picks Cruz as his running mate, all the better.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 05, 2016 05:49 PM (LUgeY)

40 There are, as I see it, 4 ways to achieve these goals.

By the soap box, the jury box, the ballot box and the cartridge box.

We have blown past the first two years ago.
The third box is suffering from a fatal head wound.
We can see the fourth one in the not so distant distance.
IMHO.

Posted by: rickb223 at February 05, 2016 05:52 PM (KUNWw)

41 >>>The issue is that the government is now engaged in an illegal conspiracy against the country. The entire government is in under the control of a gang.

^^^This^^^by Ace, is why there is no solution short of the bullet box, despite the quadrennial contrivance of democratic machinations.

Posted by: 7Mike at February 05, 2016 05:52 PM (pxwEr)

42 By the soap box, the jury box, the ballot box and the cartridge box.

Also, the pine box. Death is, afterall, the great democrat. In example, one day soon, for all his millions, Former Nazi Collaborator and Convicted Felon George Soros will lift his malignant hand from our economy, perforce.

Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Sooth! at February 05, 2016 05:52 PM (evdj2)

43
I think a lauraw-cam is an excellent idea.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at February 05, 2016 05:53 PM (iQIUe)

44 Posted by: Van Secundus at February 05, 2016 05:48 PM (Q8+GA)

"Do not covet" is the 10th commandment. I was told at one time (but don't know the accuracy) that in Jewish culture the last thing in a list wasn't an after-thought but a rounding-out of that list. I've noticed that, to those who covet, a little theft, murder, etc. start seeming like perfectly reasonable activities.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at February 05, 2016 05:54 PM (GDulk)

45 Great post, Laura!

Posted by: @votermom at February 05, 2016 05:55 PM (cbfNE)

46 LAURAWWWWW

*rolls around in a LauraW post*

Posted by: LizLem at February 05, 2016 05:55 PM (hvf9s)

47 Part of this is that we don't defend the culture that supports economic freedom. Ben Franklin's Poor Richard sayings were widely known when the country was founded. If you try and talk about being frugal, you'd be laughed at. We know which behaviors help people stay out of poverty. Do we teach those? Of course not. We encourage the opposite.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at February 05, 2016 05:57 PM (Lqy/e)

48 "Do not covet" is the 10th commandment. I was told at one time (but don't know the accuracy) that in Jewish culture the last thing in a list wasn't an after-thought but a rounding-out of that list. I've noticed that, to those who covet, a little theft, murder, etc. start seeming like perfectly reasonable activities.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette

Golf clap.

Posted by: rickb223 at February 05, 2016 05:57 PM (KUNWw)

49 Ok with that out of the way on to an actual cogent comment...

>>>In our formerly great cities and states, we are doomed to watch again the same blight of poor governance that we had watched fail forty years ago. Why hasn't anyone learned this lesson, with the many times it has been self-taught?

They haven't learned it because they keep blaming Republicans for their woes and get away with it. EVERY post I see about the Flint water crisis on social media blames repubs. Every one. And the repubs refuse to defend themselves sue to fecklesness.

They are claiming you are literally poisoning water, GOP, say something useful to refute this! Yet they don't. It is maddening.

Posted by: LizLem at February 05, 2016 05:58 PM (hvf9s)

50 Well, freedom starts with taking care of your own business and not minding others.

The Nanny state has turned into Godzilla and it looks a lot like Hillary.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at February 05, 2016 05:59 PM (ej1L0)

51 Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 05, 2016 05:49 PM (LUgeY)

Agreed.

Posted by: @votermom at February 05, 2016 05:59 PM (cbfNE)

52 If you try and talk about being frugal, you'd be laughed at. We know which behaviors help people stay out of poverty.

Do we teach those? Of course not. We encourage the opposite.

Because credit card interest pays 24%.

F'n mafia never charged 20%.

Posted by: rickb223 at February 05, 2016 05:59 PM (KUNWw)

53 It's been a tough week for me.

Thankfully, LaruraW's article has got me over the hump.

And a very very good post, it is. I've seen lesser thoughts get Instalanches. This one is deserving of that, and more.

Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at February 05, 2016 05:59 PM (McRlu)

54 I love CT, LauraW, but all my relatives there are hard core Bernie-nistas. You have my sympathies.

Posted by: LizLem at February 05, 2016 05:59 PM (hvf9s)

55 >>> Thankfully, LaruraW's article has got me over the hump.

ISWYDT

Posted by: Long time members of the Horde at February 05, 2016 06:00 PM (hvf9s)

56 >>>> Posted by: Van Secundus at February 05, 2016 05:48 PM (Q8+GA)
-----
Excellent comment. It is not just Envy that the left encourages, however. It is literally every vice, the 7 deadly sins with the exception of Gluttony. They want us to be thin and fit for for some reason.

* scratches my head *

Why is this? Why do they care if we're thin or fat?

Posted by: L, Elle at February 05, 2016 06:01 PM (2x3L+)

57 Because credit card interest pays 24%.

F'n mafia never charged 20%.

Posted by: rickb223 at February 05, 2016 05:59 PM (KUNWw)

Debt Slavery! Step right up, folks, don't wanna miss this awesome offer! Sign away your future earnings for shit you don't need in seconds! Getcher Debt Slavery, folks!

Posted by: Van Secundus at February 05, 2016 06:01 PM (Q8+GA)

58 Sorry to hear that Jim in Galveston. I hope things turn around for you.

Posted by: L, Elle at February 05, 2016 06:02 PM (2x3L+)

59 F'n mafia never charged 20%.

That's not untypical for a loan shark. It's also weekly.

Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Sooth! at February 05, 2016 06:02 PM (evdj2)

60 One glaring exception to the deteriorating cities thing:

Washington DC (and environs)

Posted by: GuardAmerican at February 05, 2016 06:02 PM (GBnWt)

61 One glaring exception to the deteriorating cities thing:

Washington DC (and environs)

Capital City doesn't have any of their children in the Games.

Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Sooth! at February 05, 2016 06:03 PM (evdj2)

62 Just to be clear (to coin a phrase), I'm not opposed to credit cards and debt on principle. I simply think people are being encouraged to use debt excessively, and inappropriately.

Posted by: Van Secundus at February 05, 2016 06:03 PM (Q8+GA)

63 One glaring exception to the deteriorating cities thing:

Washington DC (and environs)

District 1.

Posted by: rickb223 at February 05, 2016 06:04 PM (KUNWw)

64 Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at February 05, 2016 05:54 PM (GDulk)

As a general rule in Judaism, a commandment (we Jews have 613...you heathens only got 10) that concerns other people is more important than one that concerns God, so you are absolutely correct that the 10th Commandment is not an afterthought.

And..."Do not covet" is really a catch-all phrase. Do not covet another's life (murder), do not covet another's things (theft), etc.

So #10 is a biggie.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 05, 2016 06:04 PM (Zu3d9)

65 >>>Could it be that because Smith was writing in a pre-industrial era where *people provided the energy* that he couldn't differentiate between the two and, while not incorrect for his time, is the wrong prescription for the present? Or am I just wrong? I'd like to know the Horde's thoughts.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at February 05, 2016 05:49 PM (GDulk)

Excellent observation - "wrong prescription for the present" is the most accurate way to begin to understand the failure of Federal Reserve policy and FedGov policies regarding economics and job "creation". To the point of "the wrong prescription", it is a fact that so much has changed in our economy over the last 3-4 decades that today's is nothing like 40 years ago. Technology and productivity have blown apart the old, familiar paradigm so the underlying economy changed structurally but the policy prescriptions have not. I think of it as "the gov't is still using the old playbook but the sand beneath their feet has shifted and it's no longer the same game".

Posted by: 7Mike at February 05, 2016 06:04 PM (pxwEr)

66 So on a lighter note, the same subjects that we have been talking about and around all day (but set to music). Watch and discuss:-)

Fear the Boom and the Bust -- Keynes vs. Hayak: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0nERTFo-Sk

Fight of the Century -- Keynes vs. Hayak Round 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTQnarzmTOc

Posted by: redbanzai at February 05, 2016 06:04 PM (NPofj)

67 Well, hey, ubama said 200,000 new yobs were just created. What he did not say is those new yobs went to illegals, and those illegals WILL be voting come November. Yay!

Posted by: Eromero at February 05, 2016 06:05 PM (zLDYs)

68 It's Envy, with these people. All the way down. I can't be bothered to work or study for what you have, but I want it 'cause it's cool and neat, so guess what? I'm going to vote for this guy 'cause he promises to *take your cool neat stuff away and give it to me*. Or at least make you buy me one, because I'm So Fucking Special.
It's three year old logic. It's the kid shrieking in Toys R Us because Mommy won't buy him the four-foot Megatron toy he wants. Trouble is the kid now has the power of the state to compel Mommy to cough up the dough.
Posted by: Van Secundus at February 05, 2016 05:48 PM (Q8+GA)

Yup...after the bugles and flag waving and singing the "Internationale" when you boil communism down to it's core it is the sin of envy.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at February 05, 2016 06:06 PM (ej1L0)

69 As a general rule in Judaism, a commandment (we Jews have 613...you heathens only got 10)

Would have had 15 had Mel Brooks not dropped that third tablet.

Posted by: rickb223 at February 05, 2016 06:07 PM (KUNWw)

70 One of the hardest working guys I know is proud of the fact he can be bought. His wife makes her living off the tax code. Another really bright guy in technology that has helped me innumerable times, sometimes to his detriment, worships Government. I rationalize him as being raised Catholic and having a difficult mother and growing up on an Illinois farm. Also his wife makes a living in a state institution that lives on federal grants. I pray that God saves me from the foolishness of them and others. They rail against Republicans because Republicans won't work with Obama to fix Obamacare which is "full of Republican ideas". The Devil has bought their souls. I pray that Jesus buys them back for them without me being discomforted. I'm fat and lazy myself and don't want to lead a bayonet charge.

Posted by: scorecard at February 05, 2016 06:07 PM (kk/oj)

71 Who is John Galt?

Posted by: wth at February 05, 2016 06:08 PM (HgMAr)

72
WHEN we return to those values currently derided, our country IS going to again become that shining city on a hill.

The bedrock is still solid and unchanging.

That bedrock is threefold.

It consists of this.

The Declaration of Independence--the WHY.

The Bill of Rights--that which is INALIENABLE.

The Constitution--the BLUEPRINT.

Those three have allowed us to flourish
and become the most exceptional people and country on the planet.

We WILL prevail in the matter, because we are Americans, and as such are denied the option of failure.

Posted by: irongrampa at February 05, 2016 06:08 PM (P/8aq)

73 I am ready and willing to climb the tree, but I'm also unwilling to be the guy sitting on the acorn with the Gopes of the Gopey Party.

I am more convinced than ever that nothing good comes out of Washington. I am going to focus locally. Ignore as best I can the mess on the national and international scene.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 05, 2016 06:08 PM (TOk1P)

74 If we could just weed out the crooks, government would shrink to about 86 people scattered across the country.

Posted by: Man from Wazzustan at February 05, 2016 06:09 PM (FtrY1)

75 LauraW/Monty 2016 : Hump and Doom For America !

*needs work

Posted by: Mortimer at February 05, 2016 06:09 PM (ywUbU)

76 Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 05, 2016 06:04 PM (Zu3d9)

I read through Leviticus, Deuteronomy and Numbers as a teenager. "And you shall make the next ash stick four and a half cubits, and you shall likewise coat it in gold leaf, and then you shall cut another, which shall be four and a quarter cubits, and " OH MY GOD THIS IS LIKE READING AN INVOICE FOR MACHINE PARTS

Posted by: Van Secundus at February 05, 2016 06:10 PM (Q8+GA)

77 I assume this post intentionally piggy-backs on Ace's recent lament that the Rs have nothing left to offer working class whites or generally the under employed/ unskilled, apart from FICA tax cuts and EIC increases.

I think there are 3 ways that government is 90% the cause of working class malaise:

1) An education system geared toward liberal arts college prep (and training and maintaining a progressive constituency). Remove state control and education natural reverts to helping the majority.

2)All real power unions have is derived from the state: prior to 1930ish we had a free country where workers were free to strike if they wanted more than market rate for their labor and owners were free toss them out and hire workers who didn't. I think this would be relatively easy to accomplish. Don't ban unions, simply pass pro private property rights legislation upholding the right of business owners to control who has access to their plant, store etc. Making it legal to pay semi skilled labor $25/hr instead of 60 and being free from union work rules would be miraculous. The insourcing of manufacturing jobs would revolutionize our economy and working class culture.

3) Bureaucratic strangulation. EPA obviously, but the list goes on forever.

I don't know who would be a good spokes men for the above but deep down most people, especially men, would rather have the self respect derived from earning (a very good) living from semi skilled labor than working a service industry job and being propped up by EIC and food stamps.

Posted by: pashmr at February 05, 2016 06:10 PM (3aNC4)

78 Very nice, Laura.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 05, 2016 06:11 PM (/tuJf)

79 We WILL prevail in the matter, because we are Americans, and as such are denied the option of failure.

Now we just need to find and elect some Americans to national office because this current crop ain't cuttin' it.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at February 05, 2016 06:11 PM (LUgeY)

80 >>>I pray that Jesus buys them back for them without me being discomforted. I'm fat and lazy myself and don't want to lead a bayonet charge.
Posted by: scorecard at February 05, 2016 06:07 PM (kk/oj)

LOL...would that it could be so easy for us all! I'm too old and damn near decrepit for any bayonet charges myself but fear the locusts most likely will come to me. Thank God for our 2nd Amendment and many patriotic friends and neighbors who love freedom.

Posted by: 7Mike at February 05, 2016 06:11 PM (pxwEr)

81 ould it be that because Smith was writing in a
pre-industrial era where *people provided the energy* that he couldn't
differentiate between the two and, while not incorrect for his time, is
the wrong prescription for the present? Or am I just wrong? I'd like to
know the Horde's thoughts.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at February 05, 2016 05:49 PM (GDulk)

Excellent observation - "wrong prescription for the present" is the
most accurate way to begin to understand the failure of Federal Reserve
policy and FedGov policies regarding economics and job "creation". To
the point of "the wrong prescription", it is a fact that so much has
changed in our economy over the last 3-4 decades that today's is nothing
like 40 years ago. Technology and productivity have blown apart the
old, familiar paradigm so the underlying economy changed structurally
but the policy prescriptions have not. I think of it as "the gov't is
still using the old playbook but the sand beneath their feet has shifted
and it's no longer the same game".

Posted by: 7Mike at February 05, 2016 06:04 PM (pxwEr)

Mike you are correct that top down government planning is only as good if the last crisis they use as a template is the same as this crisis. And Government planning is going to be slow, inefficient and damaging even if they do luck on matching crises.

Adam Smith though is timeless and relevant because most of his discussion is about human nature and motivation... and that doesn't change.

Posted by: redbanzai at February 05, 2016 06:12 PM (NPofj)

82 >>>> Posted by: irongrampa at February 05, 2016 06:08 PM
------
I so want to believe you, irongrampa. I think we used to be a blessed country, but that went away once our government allowed women to kill their unborn babies. What we are going through now and will go through in the years ahead is an atonement for all those lives lost.

I never used to be superstitious like this or think this way, but I think it's true that we are done as a country if we don't stop this path we're on.

Posted by: L, Elle at February 05, 2016 06:14 PM (2x3L+)

83 What this country needs is a geriatric folk singing communist for president.

Posted by: wth at February 05, 2016 06:16 PM (HgMAr)

84 A fact that few people realize is that excessive government regulation costs the US economy over one trillion dollars a year in compliance costs. The Obama regime adds regulations at an unheard of pace yearly.

Posted by: Old Blue at February 05, 2016 06:17 PM (9iR5/)

85 In case you didn't know, Nood

Posted by: L, Elle at February 05, 2016 06:18 PM (2x3L+)

86 "I never used to be superstitious like this or think this way, but I think it's true that we are done as a country if we don't stop this path we're on"

This is why I like you, L'.

And the potatoes are doing shit. WTF?

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at February 05, 2016 06:20 PM (/1Auz)

87 I would say it's like the 70's all over again.

But there are 18,993,412,313,000 reasons why it is far worse.

Posted by: Mortimer at February 05, 2016 06:21 PM (ywUbU)

88 Could it be that because Smith was writing in a
pre-industrial era where *people provided the energy* that he couldn't
differentiate between the two and, while not incorrect for his time, is
the wrong prescription for the present? Or am I just wrong? I'd like to
know the Horde's thoughts.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette

Labor can confer value. Skilled labor. A skilled chef can turn humble ingredients into a masterpiece, while a slob will turn them into a worthless mess.

Labor is also an attitude. There are not any bad jobs, there are just people who do their jobs badly.

Cheap energy (electricity, heat, whatever), can allow a skilled person to create wealth and be more productive. That is the biggest difference in labor over the last century, at least. A modern steel mill doesn't have that many people working in it, because of mechanization and automation. But it leaves little room for error and mistakes.

Posted by: Bossy Conservative...now older and senile at February 05, 2016 06:21 PM (RFeQD)

89 Many people have reported on the intractibility of the delusions and paranoid hostility of the Left. The failure of their model gets explained away easily as the work of class enemies and right wing saboteurs -- you know, us, the people who get taxed to pay for it.

That rock hard, refractory certainty of theirs has to be moved somehow, or no improvement is possible.

Posted by: Semi-Literate Thug at February 05, 2016 06:22 PM (/f6Nd)

90 Very well written, Lauraw, thanks!

Posted by: Donna&&&&V (a white) (whitely brandishing ampersand privilege ) at February 05, 2016 06:24 PM (P8951)

91 LauraW. for President!!!

Posted by: Mike at February 05, 2016 06:24 PM (o38N1)

92 Posted by: scorecard at February 05, 2016 06:07 PM (kk/oj)
Posted by: 7Mike at February 05, 2016 06:11 PM (pxwEr)

Two fat and lazy guys?

SNIPER TEAM!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 05, 2016 06:31 PM (Zu3d9)

93 Rubio!

Posted by: Valiant at February 05, 2016 06:33 PM (2bqlb)

94
Pick one.
Posted by: irongrampa at February 05, 2016 05:45 PM (P/8aq)

We've been using the hell out of three of them since 1870.

So, nice post LauraW, even though you only got 36 minutes to yourself.

And what a great closing line.

Posted by: OneEyedJack at February 05, 2016 06:39 PM (kKHcp)

95 Beautifully written and rational. Things that are not valued in today's electorate.

Posted by: Levin at February 05, 2016 06:43 PM (xDQNc)

96 I have several ongoing debates with Bernie supporters on FB trying to bring them to the light. Does anybody know of some no-shit good resources regarding all the economics issues? I'm talking actual scholarly references, numbers, charts, that sort of thing.

One issue I'm in the midst of right now is minimum wage. I've dug up quite a bit of references that support my position, but not as well as I'd like. For example, some of these socialist academics will do research determining that raising the minimum wage will reduce the number of jobs in the maret, but then their conclusions end up still being positive because they actually want this. So frustrating.

On the other side of the debate I've found lots of papers they say the minimum is not effective, but I haven't found anything that shows it to be truly damaging. Does nothing like this exist? If not I can understand why, but frustrating nonetheless. Generally what I've found is that in typical academic fashion these papers are very limited with their conclusions and really just don't say much of anything at all. But the masses don't understand that and will take even the slightest of positive endorsements and run with it.

TLDR, some solid go-to references for economic issues would be nice.

Posted by: Rastus at February 05, 2016 06:45 PM (VjlMj)

97 I will write in Laura W. for President.

Posted by: Snicklefritz at February 05, 2016 06:51 PM (Moh0M)

98 Y'see?... This is why I come here.

Beautiful.

Posted by: franksalterego at February 05, 2016 06:54 PM (Fh+WR)

99 American prosperity went out the window with globalism. This is theoretical bullshit at this point.

Posted by: Chris Vaughn at February 05, 2016 08:01 PM (GEkdK)

100 Laura W. is awesome. You had me sold at "a big ol' poop".

Posted by: Corona at February 05, 2016 10:14 PM (ragzU)

101 "That rock hard, refractory certainty of theirs has to be moved somehow, or no improvement is possible."

Rotate by 90 degrees. Lower 6 feet. Repeat as necessary.

Posted by: phunctor at February 05, 2016 10:19 PM (CKGil)

102 LauraW. is the new CoryMiller the Well-Driller! BRAVISSIMOOOO!

Well, at least the Americans residing on and around the glorious Bakken Formation can still understand these ideas.

Posted by: JewishOdysseus at February 06, 2016 12:03 AM (+O9YB)

103 That's some book review, LauraW.
You might just have a few too many writing skills though.

Posted by: micky at February 06, 2016 02:28 AM (LBYzV)

104 I live in CT too. They do what they do because no one stops the. All I can do is choose between drano or scotch to pour over my ice. But there really are a lot of subterranean conservatives here who loathe Marco. They agree with everything I say..... but why do they all accidentally dial 911 as I am leaving?

Posted by: Captain Marlowe at February 06, 2016 08:24 AM (xCefv)

105 Great post. BTW - I live in CT too. Next on the Govenor's list is the take down of UCONN. Why have a great university system, I guess is his reasoning.

Posted by: Steveracer at February 06, 2016 09:04 AM (aKxNm)

106 *geezer basks in the glow of being pretend friends with Lauraw for years.

Innocent Bystanders Rule!

Posted by: Retired Geezer at February 06, 2016 01:04 PM (VSRGY)

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