Saturday, July 11, 2009
Obama Talking Like a Hypocrite Again
Obama made a speech in Ghana that included the following:
No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 percent off the top....The top marginal US corporate tax rate is 35%. If some foreign corrupt bureaucrat charges a US company 20% of its revenues as a bribe in exchange for not paying any additional taxes, it would be a bargain.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Democrats Plan to Nationalize More of the Economy
There is a recent report from Britain suggesting that the 120,000 Parkinson's disease sufferers in Britain are receiving appalling care from their government health care. Meanwhile, Democrats are planning to raise taxes for their own government health care plan. The Obama Administration is offering a poisoned chalice to small businesses by offering them bailout funds. Apparently, there may soon be no business that is too small to fail. All businesses will come under government supervision. Finally, California is paying out $80 million/day in welfare checks. If that payment is cut off immediately, 1/3 of the state's budget shortfall will be closed. This makes nonsense of politicians whining that the state is running out of money. The problem is with the state insisting upon spending money on the least productive segments of society.
Practical Solutions to California's Budget Problems
While California's politicians are busy debating additional regulations on the agricultural and food industries, other people are coming up with practical solutions to relieve the state's budget crisis, such as cutting off social welfare for illegal immigrants.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
More on the Continuing Decline of the US Economy
The $787 billion pork-barrel spending bill has been funding social welfare. It is not surprising that unemployment rate is continuing to skyrocket. After all, the bill is funding the parasitic segment of society. Meanwhile, Democrats are busy adding more pork-barrel spending in their government health care bill. At the same time, tax increases in California is increasing unemployment. Finally, we see the laws of economics at work when a company chose to close down a factory when its union refused to compromise on wages. I advise the company to move to China. Chinese workers will not be demanding $22/hour wages and 9 weeks of paid vacation.
9th Circus Court Panel Repudiates Freedom of Conscience
I suggest that the pharmacists in question should appeal to the Supreme Court.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The Democratic Agenda: Tax, Spend, Regulate
Democrats are considering raising $114 billion in taxes on alcohol and soda. They are also considering additional regulations in every field from farming to the energy industry. They're also interfering with the hiring policy of Boeing.
Obama's War Against Transparency
The Obama Administration issued a veto threat for the 3rd time since its inauguration in protest over Congress's effort to find out about the executive branch's internal deliberations. Meanwhile, it has emerged that the current administration's "climate czar"
...instructed auto industry execs "to put nothing in writing, ever" regarding secret negotiations she orchestrated regarding a deal to increase federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards.
China and India Decline Invitation to Commit Economic Suicide
While Democrats plan to ruin the US economy with their cap and tax plan, India and China have, quite astutely, declined to set any limits on their greenhouse gas emissions. Some say that the future belongs to China. If so, then Democrats made it possible. I'm reminded of the old saying: There is a lot of ruin in a nation. That's particular apt when it comes to the Democratic Party.
Does Obama Have a Russia Policy?
It certainly doesn't look like it. Obama veers from trying to kiss up to Moscow to gratuitously insulting them.
Israel may be Attacking Iranian Computer Systems
I think that the importance of so-called "cyberwarfare" is probably overrated. There is no sign that such efforts can stop Iran's nuclear program. At most, it can only disrupt it and slow it down slightly.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Rationing Health Care: The British Experience Coming to US Shores
If Democrats succeed in passing their government health care plan, Americans can look forward to having their health care rationed just like the British.
The High Cost of Agricultural Subsidies
Agricultural subsidies cost $25 billion/year. The International Trade Commission calculated that the benefits of removing tariffs on food imports is worth another $2 billion.
Obama is a National Security Risk
I would have preferred that terrorists were never tried in the first place. The Obama Administration's idea of keeping terrorists detained after they have been acquitted by a court of law will make a mockery of the judicial system. This is a man who seems to think that policy consists of chanting "hope" and "change" until the cows come home. Now he is beginning to realize that things are not as simple as they looked from the Senate and that his predecessor had a better grasp of things than him. Unfortunately, such realization appears to be episodic rather than systemic. Hence we see him offering to terminate missile defense to the Russians on a silver platter. Ironically, Obama may be even more fanatical about democratization than Bush, hence his idiotic statement:
The United States has not always stood as it should with some of these fledgling democracies, but over the last several years, I think both Republicans and Democrats in the United States have recognized that we always want to stand with democracy, even if the results don't always mean that the leaders of those countries are favorable towards the United States.[emphases mine]
This statement is absurd in 2 ways. First is the elevation of democratization as some sort of objective good that transcends US interests. Exactly who does Obama think elected him? Second, I can't help but notice that no such statement was made to support the Iranian opposition a few weeks ago when they protested against their rigged election.
There are signs that Obama's radicalism is beginning to turn off voters, as people begin to shift rightward in response to his policies. Unfortunately, that realization is too late. The US will suffer from Obama's legacy for a long time to come.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Democrats Clamor for a Recession
Now that the unemployment rate is higher than what Obama said it would be if his so-called economic stimulus bill was not passed, Democrats are naturally clamoring for... another stimulus bill! This is in total disregard of the looming debt crisis that threatens to bankrupt the country. Meanwhile, I am pleased to report that there seems to be a citizens' initiative to boycott Government Motors. Government Motors will probably end up being one of those Soviet-style state-owned industries which was characterized by a high degree of inefficiency, unsellable products, and perpetual government subsidies. In related news, New York state has eagerly signed on to Obama's jihad of subsidizing inefficiency by increasing welfare expenditures. Liberals have essentially declared war on the laws of economics by deliberately subsidizing the least productive segments of the economy. Finally, as California starts issuing IOUs, a number of major banks stated that they will reject them and the state's debt rating has been cut to BBB which is only 2 steps above junk status.
Obama Puts His Naivete Above National Security
President Barack Obama and Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev on Monday agreed a target of cutting vast Cold War arsenals of deployed nuclear warheads by around a third from current levels to 1,500-1,675 each.Needless to say, the Moscow Treaty was signed by Obama's predecessor. The reality is that this new treaty is a major victory for Russia. Considering that Russia can't even pay off soldiers it is discharging while it is reforming its military, it is not surprising to see that the state of Russian nuclear forces has declined so far. This treaty cannot be justified by US interests. It can only be explained by Obama's naivete.
.....
But the cuts announced on Monday only take the United States and Russia 25 operationally deployed warheads below a range of 1,700-2,200, which both sides had already committed to reach by 2012 under the 2002 Moscow Treaty.
The Green Shirts
Britain's environment police. In related news, a study has called into question the placement of US temperature monitoring stations. Only 11% met study requirements.
Thinking About Power
The Monarchist blog is a blog written by... well, monarchists. Specifically, monarchists of the British commonwealth. The contributors are mainly from Britain and Canada. It often includes thought-provoking posts, (not to mention pictures of state pageantry that only a monarchy can do properly) such as its 7-part series on the nature of states. (classic imperialist, revolutionary, socialist, progressive, populist, libertarian, and constitutionalist) Its latest contribution to the world of political theory is well worth reading:
Victorian Britain was the classic night watchman state. While [Gladstone] and [Disraeli] might have been the most powerful men of their age, their real power over the typical British subject was a lot less than a small town mayor today. As a rule sane men don't want great power over other men. Just enough power to get a specific task accomplished. When the state assumes the role of protector, educator, secular priest and dietitian, it naturally attracts men and women who enjoy wielding that sort of power over their fellow citizens. In other words crazy people.Whereas Lord Acton famously remarked that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, this contributor to the Monarchist blog seems to be suggesting something different. Acton assumes that power corrupts innocent people whereas this blogger is suggesting a kind of selection effect in which the scope of power available attracts the kind of people who want such power. Since the modern state is relatively more totalitarian than past conceptions of the State, it attracts a particular kind of politician just as cow dung attracts flies.
I have often suspected that the system of checks and balances in the US constitution, though well-intentioned and well-designed, may contain a significant flaw of its own. Since members of the 3 branches of government are well aware of their constrained powers, they may feel free to indulge in them, putting faith in a piece of paper (i.e. the constitution) and other branches of government to check their power. The result is that the power of all 3 branches expands indefinitely, crowding out private space and initiative. The constitution functions best when power is wielded by men capable of self-restraint, people who recognize the extent of their power, are humbled and even frightened by it, and therefore resolve to use it as sparingly and carefully as possible. The current state of affairs, in which the State is "protector, educator, secular priest and dietitian" is hardly what the Framers had in mind. The current level of taxation is well beyond what King George III could have dreamed was possible. One wonders how long this state of affairs can last.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Israeli Policy Toward Iran
Israel is hoping that the Obama Administration will support stronger sanctions against Iran if talks about disarming their nuclear program fail. That was never a possibility. Israel would be wise to take military measures instead.
New START?
The Obama Administration may bypass the Senate with its new arms reduction treaty. A treaty that is not ratified by the Senate carries no legal force as such. Of course, Obama can implement it as an executive agreement but those are easily reversed by another administration. Current level of US nuclear arms is low enough. Senate Republicans should reject any attempt at a further reduction. I would be in favor of simply an extension of the Moscow Treaty. The Russians are also blackmailing Obama over the proposed arms reduction treaty. It's entirely possible that Obama will cave in. In fact, his proposed budget already includes a cut in funding for missile defense. Fortunately, that can be reversed by a future administration as well.
India Plans to Liberalize Labor Market
At a time when Democrats are busy fastening more red tape on businesses, India is moving in the opposite direction.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
AU Sides with Mass Murderer Against ICC
I am pleased to report that the African Union decided to suspend cooperation with the International Criminal Court in protest over their indictment of the Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir for crimes against humanity in Darfur. After all, Africans must all stick together.
Biden Embarrassed Himself, Again
At a town hall meeting this week in Perrysburg, Ohio, on the middle class and manufacturing, the vice president told the crowd that "the Buick LeSabre is made in Ontario, Canada," and that "the UAW worker in Canada makes the same wage as the UAW worker in the U.S."Then he dismissed the governor of New Jersey.
.....
Had Biden's staff better briefed him, he might have known that the LeSabre was discontinued in 2005, that model was made in the United States, not Canada, and workers in Ontario are members of the Canadian Auto Workers which broke off from the UAW in 1985 and became an independent union.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Democratic Party: There is a Deficit?
Democratic congressman proposed to take money paid into the TARP program for social welfare. Meanwhile, the economic situation of the US continues to deteriorate:
Be sure to thank the President and Congress. This week, with news of some 467,000 jobs lost in June, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the U.S. has now lost about two million jobs since the economic stimulus package passed. Even more notable is that the average workweek has been slashed to 33 hours - the lowest number on record. When the President signed his $787 billion stimulus package into law, he confidently asserted that unemployment would not exceed eight percent. If Congress hadn't passed it, he warned, it would rise to nine percent by 2010. Well, unemployment reached 9.5 percent last month, meaning, by the President's own logic, that his stimulus package has failed.
Obama Will Keep Secret Prisons Open
It's nice to see Obama take a stand against the peace kooks of his party. However, he made the mistake of trying foreign terrorists in the US.
Britain Receiving the Kind of Diplomatic Support It can Expect from the EU
This parallels the kind of support Britain received from the EU during the hostage crisis in 2007. The difference this time is that whereas in 2007 the Bush Administration offered a show of force to try to intimidate Tehran, this time, the Obama Administration is bending over backwards for Tehran.
Russia Offers Transit Route to US
This is nothing more than their effort at acquiring more leverage over the US. It runs in parallel with their campaign to coerce central Asian states into shutting down US bases and and transit routes.
Comparison of British and US Military Efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan
Over a 2-year period, the US acquired 11,700 new MRAPs. The British number is 235. This shows that the British simply is not taking the threat of mines and IEDs seriously. If the British truly want such vehicles, I'm sure an arrangement can be made so that they can jump ahead of the queue. Such an arrangement was made when some US allies acquired C-17 cargo aircraft.
Snapshot of British Society
There have been an estimated 8,000 forced marriages in England last year. Not surprisingly, most of the women were teenage girls from Pakistan or Bangladesh. In related news, the British government decided not to release names of fugitives on the ground that it will violate their privacy.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
A North Korean 4th of July Celeration?
I think it is possible that North Korea may celebrate the US Independence Day by shooting a missile toward Hawaii on the 4th of July. The test will be part of the regime's strategy of blackmailing the Obama Administration. The missile will probably land just outside Hawaii's exclusive economic zone to avoid any possibility of military retaliation while intimidating Obama. The symbolic importance of such a test is obvious. Aside from demonstrating their improving military capabilities, Obama was born at Hawaii.
US Unemployment Rate Reaches 9.5%
This is the highest level in 26 years. Meanwhile, the government is trying to extract more tax revenue from the people and monitor their movements at the same time. While large corporations are "too big to fail," small companies fail by the tens of thousands.
More on the Evils of Government Health Care
Democrats plan to impose $1,000 fine for anyone who refuses to buy health care. Government health care in Britain has led to dirty hospitals. In France,
...there are already "medical deserts," particularly in the suburbs and countryside. In some places, patients wait more than six months to see an ophthalmologist.
In 2004, 286 of the country's top hospital doctors signed a petition bemoaning the shortage of doctors and nurses and increases in waiting lists. The petition read, "In casualty units, sick people have to wait for hours, sometimes even days, on gurneys, because there are no beds."
Yet France hasn't saved money. Despite regular cost-cutting announcements, the books haven't sustainably balanced since the system started in 1945.
