Strassel: Santorum—Moralizer in Chief? - WSJ.com
Sadly, the religious have to rely on belief - here a belief, there a belief.
Of course, to the faithful, they are addicted to belief. Their beliefs of course - not someone else's!
And this is the problem. The religious right doesn't see why others should subsume themselves under what they assume (and believe) is their god's law.
History shows how perfidious even their 'god' has been in his prescriptions and interpretations. But, simplicity rules in the world of religion.
All of the religious right's hot buttons - morality, abortion, family, gays, etc. are bathed in a history of religious politics and practical myopia.
The religious are all too often the mentally blinded leading the mentally blinded. It's very sad.
Too bad so many have to always impose 'their faith' on others!
Kim is right in highlighting an issue that the religious right are totally blind to.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Q&A: Who's at fault? SIMILARITIES WITH RELIGION AND DEMOCRAT ECONOMICS: Review & Outlook: David Cameron's Tax Puzzle - WSJ.com
Review & Outlook: David Cameron's Tax Puzzle - WSJ.com
Q:
People like Obama know the outcome of their high tax, anti-business policies. They just do not care about it.
A:
That is certainly one line of thought. However, my sister is a true Obamanite and I know even though she's an attorney, she doesn't make the connection between her own coupon clipping and mastering of the art of airline miles with the economic outcome of socialist thinking.
They are two separate worlds. It's rather like most religion. 'Logic' isn't there so you substitute 'faith'.
When the outcome isn't what your 'faith' would foretell, well, if not God at fault, then it must be the lesser evils like bankers, entrepreneurs, business people, etc. - and, of course, the Chinese, etc.
Q:
People like Obama know the outcome of their high tax, anti-business policies. They just do not care about it.
A:
That is certainly one line of thought. However, my sister is a true Obamanite and I know even though she's an attorney, she doesn't make the connection between her own coupon clipping and mastering of the art of airline miles with the economic outcome of socialist thinking.
They are two separate worlds. It's rather like most religion. 'Logic' isn't there so you substitute 'faith'.
When the outcome isn't what your 'faith' would foretell, well, if not God at fault, then it must be the lesser evils like bankers, entrepreneurs, business people, etc. - and, of course, the Chinese, etc.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Liberals and alchemy: Review & Outlook: David Cameron's Tax Puzzle - WSJ.com
Review & Outlook: David Cameron's Tax Puzzle - WSJ.com
Its sort of the difference between tax and income scientists and alchemists.
Socio-economic alchemists like Obama believe in certain policies and hope they will result in the desired outcome. In that view, higher taxes and more regulations don't affect economic behavior, growth, jobs, etc. - because they just 'shouldn't'.
Reality strikes but alchemists sound so good to socialists and populists.
Its sort of the difference between tax and income scientists and alchemists.
Socio-economic alchemists like Obama believe in certain policies and hope they will result in the desired outcome. In that view, higher taxes and more regulations don't affect economic behavior, growth, jobs, etc. - because they just 'shouldn't'.
Reality strikes but alchemists sound so good to socialists and populists.
Friday, February 17, 2012
WHERE ARE GROWTH INCENTIVES? A Questionable Axiom of Greek Austerity - Real Time Brussels - WSJ
A Questionable Axiom of Greek Austerity - Real Time Brussels - WSJ
Clearly omitted from the slant of this article is the issue of taxes and the share of GDP continuing to be spent by government.
Certainly in Portugal, taxes are way up.
If one assumed the same level of consumer income, then the 3% increase in the VAT rate has to have a direct effect in reducing proportionately the amount of money earned by retailers. Thus stores close and people get laid off.
In Greece, the news reports huge number of government employees and an enormous share of GDP controlled by government.
If government figures are correct, they are still to do any real downsizing of public employees. Thus, the unemployment has hit the private sector even harder.
And, since regulations holding back business start-ups in Greece haven't been relaxed (per very recent reports), then again, it is the mindset of government and unions, which in a very self-serving way continues to hurt the broader economy. Has this mindset changed? Apparently not!
Thus, like a family living on credit cards to spend beyond their income, should the broader European economy in any reasonable way continue to expand the credit limits?
Clearly omitted from the slant of this article is the issue of taxes and the share of GDP continuing to be spent by government.
Certainly in Portugal, taxes are way up.
If one assumed the same level of consumer income, then the 3% increase in the VAT rate has to have a direct effect in reducing proportionately the amount of money earned by retailers. Thus stores close and people get laid off.
In Greece, the news reports huge number of government employees and an enormous share of GDP controlled by government.
If government figures are correct, they are still to do any real downsizing of public employees. Thus, the unemployment has hit the private sector even harder.
And, since regulations holding back business start-ups in Greece haven't been relaxed (per very recent reports), then again, it is the mindset of government and unions, which in a very self-serving way continues to hurt the broader economy. Has this mindset changed? Apparently not!
Thus, like a family living on credit cards to spend beyond their income, should the broader European economy in any reasonable way continue to expand the credit limits?
Friday, February 10, 2012
Un-examined consequences: Foreclosure Settlement Falls Short, Still Worth the Wait: View - Bloomberg
Foreclosure Settlement Falls Short, Still Worth the Wait: View - Bloomberg
In the above-noted article, Bloomberg asks "...whether prosecutors got a good deal rests on the answers to three questions: Does it hold the miscreants accountable? Does it make victims whole? And does it prevent similar misconduct in the future?"
Aren't we missing a major question here - i.e. "Is this a net-positive game of 'gotcha' for society and the economy as a whole?".
In this regard, the other miscreants (Fannie, Freddie, the rating agencies, Congress, regulators, the average mortgage borrower, etc.) are being exculpated and the incentive to be an even more conservative lender in an economy where the government is printing money would all seem to be issues which should be put before readers.
Bloomberg is clearly not alone in staying with the tried and true news line that appeals to populist sentiment - but, one can hope for other questions to be raised.
In the above-noted article, Bloomberg asks "...whether prosecutors got a good deal rests on the answers to three questions: Does it hold the miscreants accountable? Does it make victims whole? And does it prevent similar misconduct in the future?"
Aren't we missing a major question here - i.e. "Is this a net-positive game of 'gotcha' for society and the economy as a whole?".
In this regard, the other miscreants (Fannie, Freddie, the rating agencies, Congress, regulators, the average mortgage borrower, etc.) are being exculpated and the incentive to be an even more conservative lender in an economy where the government is printing money would all seem to be issues which should be put before readers.
Bloomberg is clearly not alone in staying with the tried and true news line that appeals to populist sentiment - but, one can hope for other questions to be raised.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
FREE LUNCH GOVERNMENT CHARADES: U.S., Banks Agree on $26 Billion Foreclosure Pact - WSJ.com
U.S., Banks Agree on $26 Billion Foreclosure Pact - WSJ.com
Of course its easy to run and hide from the liberal government's attempt to expand home ownership by legislating reduced standards; plus, of course, no interest in limiting Fannie and Freddie.
Then of course, the average member of the public acted like a lemming in paying more and more for houses without commensurate increases in income or limits on supply.
Oh yes, then the regulators (S&P, etc.) who by law and regulation had ultra power to rate financial instruments, they jumped on the same looser standards with no change in AAA rating.
To now blame the most private sector part of the economy in order to exculpate the critical role F & F played and the Congress (think Frank and Dodd) is going to backfire and once again hurt the average middle class person to be considered for credit.
Whenever the blame is shifted unfairly (i.e. the banks) to serve political ends (cover the liberals' a... for their policies) and now to try and support housing without increasing the Federal deficit, etc.
--- sorry to see you've bought into all these free lunch charades.
Of course its easy to run and hide from the liberal government's attempt to expand home ownership by legislating reduced standards; plus, of course, no interest in limiting Fannie and Freddie.
Then of course, the average member of the public acted like a lemming in paying more and more for houses without commensurate increases in income or limits on supply.
Oh yes, then the regulators (S&P, etc.) who by law and regulation had ultra power to rate financial instruments, they jumped on the same looser standards with no change in AAA rating.
To now blame the most private sector part of the economy in order to exculpate the critical role F & F played and the Congress (think Frank and Dodd) is going to backfire and once again hurt the average middle class person to be considered for credit.
Whenever the blame is shifted unfairly (i.e. the banks) to serve political ends (cover the liberals' a... for their policies) and now to try and support housing without increasing the Federal deficit, etc.
--- sorry to see you've bought into all these free lunch charades.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
HOME LOANS gone bad
For every bad loan there was a borrower who chose to ignore the realities of housing prices rising faster than incomes (with no limits on new supply).
People who bought those over-priced homes chose to look-the-other-way in terms of taking on mortgage debt that was later packaged, sold and you are complaining about.
It's all to easy to blame the other guy. Americans should be looking in the mirror.
Too many Americans now believe Obama that the rich will pay for entitlements; that debt doesn't matter; and that jobs can be created in a regulated high-tax paradise.
(Read the article on the technologies of the future: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203471004577140413041646048.html?mod=djemTMB_h)
People who bought those over-priced homes chose to look-the-other-way in terms of taking on mortgage debt that was later packaged, sold and you are complaining about.
It's all to easy to blame the other guy. Americans should be looking in the mirror.
Too many Americans now believe Obama that the rich will pay for entitlements; that debt doesn't matter; and that jobs can be created in a regulated high-tax paradise.
(Read the article on the technologies of the future: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203471004577140413041646048.html?mod=djemTMB_h)
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