Politics: Boudreaux on politicians

Cafe Hayek is a blog that I visit often. Several economists post there, among them is Donald Boudreaux. Here is part of what he had to say today.

I can no more imagine myself behaving as a successful politician behaves -- kissing babies in public; telling strangers that I feel their pain; assuring strangers that I'm to be trusted to spend their money more wisely than then will spend it -- than I can imagine myself being a mosquito or a venus fly trap. It is simply inconceivable that any decent human being would behave in ways that the typical politician behaves.

And yet, so many people -- so many decent people -- believe in (or at least crave, child-like) secular salvation through secular saviors. It's no surprise, then, that persons unashamed to act deceitfully and disingenuously crawl out from under their rocks to pose as saviors.

We need to expect more out of our politicians. More morals, more honesty, more consistancy. Comments, suggestions, and questions can be directed to test.veeschay@gmail.com

Government: My View of How the Law Should Look at Marriage

Here is a further explanation of why government shouldn't even touch marriage.

Marriage as an institution could be looked at in this way: Instead of a "secular right," it should be a religious rite. (Please note the difference in spelling.) This would remove it from any legal standing, and it would no longer be a concern of government. There would be no privileges bestowed for marriage, except within religious organizations, which individuals are free to join, or not. Nobody's civil rights would be infringed upon as no rights would be granted by the government ... it just would not be any of the governments business. As long as the government controls the institution of marriage then different groups, with different agendas, will continually fight to write the rules. It will be a never-ending battle.

I want to be clear that this is my view. If there is any flaw in it, then it comes from my own muddle-headed thinking. Comments, suggestions, and questions can be directed to test.veeschay@gmail.com

Religion: The View of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on same-sex marriage

It can be found here.

For a long time my thought has been, "Why is government even licensing marriage? Why do we need official permission to perform a religious ceremony?" While the Church of Jesus Christ, of which I am a member, is taking a different approach, I see many positive aspects to what they are doing. Here are some points in the video.

• Approach the issue in a sensitive manner, "our approach must always be with respect for others, and their positions and opinions."
• Even if we disagree we still must follow the Savior, whose "central message ... is to love all our brothers and sisters."
• "We can vigorously promote our beliefs and practices, we can do so with great conviction, and also with great love." (emphasis added)
• Again, he emphasizes "the need for love, compassion, and humility as we move forward in this important cause. This is especially true for families in the wards you attend who face special challenges as a result of this issue." (emphasis added)

Comments, suggestions, and questions can be directed to test.veeschay@gmail.com

Economy: These kids understand free trade!

History: It's Been Tried Before

Here's a few words from an old book titled Fiat Money Inflation In France. It's on France's financial troubles around the time of the French Revolution. The author is Andrew Dickson White, and you can find a PDF copy here, or just google it, there are several resources that have it. Anyway, it mirrors our time; here's a quote from the beginning:

Early in the year 1789 the French nation found itself in deep financial embarrassment: there was a heavy debt and a serious deficit.

The vast reforms of that period ... were a temporary evil financially. There was a general want of confidence in business circles; capital had shown its proverbial timidity by retiring out of sight as far as possible; throughout the land was stagnation.

Statesmanlike measures, careful watching and wise management would, doubtless, have ere long led to a return of confidence, a reappearance of money and a resumption of business; but these involved patience and self-denial, and, thus far in human history, these are the rarest products of political wisdom. Few nations have ever been able to exercise these virtues ...

There was a general search for some short road to prosperity: ere long the idea was set afloat that the great want of the country was more of the circulation medium ...

France at that time was not using fiat money. For us here in the U.S. we are already using "inconvertible paper money made legal tender by a government decree." But the idea is still very similar to what happened in France; those in the government wanted an injection of money to stimulate the economy, not "patience and self-denial." Or, in other words, Congress wants to continue to spend, spend, spend, and have the taxpayers pay the bill.

I will write more about White's book in later posts, along with some thoughts on inflation. Comments, suggestions, and questions can be directed to test.veeschay@gmail.com

Economy: What the Bailout Looks Like to the Bankers

Here's a cartoon from David Horsey. Comments, suggestions, and questions can be directed to test.veeschay@gmail.com

Politics: Kling on "Other People's Money"

Arnold Kling is saying exactly what doesn't need to be heard ... but thankfully he is saying it. Here's a quote from the end of his comments:

Reading the news stories about how Secretary Paulson plans to implement the bailout, it seems as though the same people will be in charge of the money. Print some new business cards, change the logo on the front from "Goldman Sachs" to "U.S. Treasury," and everything else continues as it was. It's just that it becomes a lot more difficult for ordinary people to opt out of using the elite's money management services.

Here's the rest.

This is why I didn't want the Bailout. As Lord Acton said:

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

While money isn't completely synonymous with power, the power to plunder the taxpayer in behalf of the banks and investment houses is a very corrupting influence. What the government can and cannot do needs to be brought under strict limits again.

Comments, suggestions, and questions can be directed to test.veeschay@gmail.com

Humor: Something We Can Really Believe In!

I found this over at woot shirt. Funny thing is that I'd rather vote for this ticket.

Comments, suggestions, and questions can be directed to test.veeschay@gmail.com

Politics: Burned by the Republicans

In Utah, where I live, we are known as a "the reddest red state." We certainly get passed over during campaign time because it is always assumed that we're in-the-bag for the Republicans. With our two Senators (both Republican), and three Representatives (two Republican, one Democrat), three-out-of-five of our Congressmen voted for the Bailout bill. The Democrat is one of the "no" votes. That leaves three of four Republicans who don't know how to protect the taxpayers from an overreaching federal government. Is it time to look for a third party?

Comments, suggestions, and questions can be directed to test.veeschay@gmail.com

Economy: Frozen Credit Markets?

Don Boudreaux writes at Cafe Hayek about the "frozen credit markets" which sent his eleven-year-old son a credit card offer (here). He writes:

Thomas is eleven. And while his credit is pretty good with his mother and me, I'm very impressed that he's managed to establish his credit creds so firmly with a company that, if there's truth in today's told tale, has scant amounts money to lend.

In looking over this offer of credit to my pre-pubescent son, I see that Thomas Macaulay Boudreaux's qualifications for this generous offer seem to be the fact that he has a mailing address and a frequent-flyer number with a major airline.

All those scary stories from the Congressmen and Congresswomen should be told around the campfire, not in the legislature while they're grabbing at taxpayer money.

Comments, suggestions, and questions can be directed to test.veeschay@gmail.com

Politics: The rush to pass the President's Bailout by those who not long ago were ready to Impeach him

Here's a question: Why is it that so many commentators and opponents of the President, the ones who have accused the him of lying about Iraq, saying he duped us into an unnecessary war, suddenly believe him about the need for $700 billion or the economy comes to a standstill? Not only do they believe him, they are willing to swiftly pass his legislation (only attaching their pet interests to the bill), handing him our money, and the power to distribute it (through his Secretary) as he sees fit to, and have the audacity to tell us we need to trust them. No, I don't trust them at all!

I have had to trust the President over the war in Iraq because he is privy to information that I'm not. But economic principles are not hidden, they are not secret. The moment anybody tells me that trusting them is necessary, and at the same time asking me to open my wallet wider so they can pick from it, the self-defense mechanisms kick in. The politicians have used nothing but scare-tactics, telling the public that the economy will grind to a halt if this legislation doesn't pass. What is more likely is that if there was more time to examine this Americans would mount to great of an opposition to this foolish legislation.

Comments, suggestions, and questions can be directed to test.veeschay@gmail.com

Gratitude

A great amount of gratitude is due to the President and his staff over this economic bailout plan submitted to Congress. Gratitude is also due to Congress for following the President's lead and considering the bailout. (As of this writing the Senate has passed the bill, it will, apparently, go to the House this Friday.) This recognition is not because I agree with the bailout; the bailout was a rotten idea from the start. No, I do not want the bailout. The thanks are due for pulling me out of my inertia. I will no longer sit around watching the news, watching Congress plunder the taxpayers, watching them employ scare tactics to justify a bad solution to a mess they are responsible for in the first place.

What will I do? Right now my plans are to continue studying, begin writing (ergo this blog), and use whatever influence I can build to make sure Congress never tries anything this absurd and asinine again.

When I first heard of the President's $700 billion request I was dumbstruck. Something so audacious and bold almost needs to be applauded. It is tantamount to an economic coup d'etat. It's a mugging on a grand scale. Even Hollywood probably hadn't imagined something as fearless as this.

So, again, thank you Mr. President. Thank you Congress.

As to this blog I will try to use it intelligently. There no plans to rant and rave, although that may happen occasionally. My hope is to find principles that are worthy of notice, and ideas that encourage thought, and then display them in such a manner that will entice readers to adopt them as their own. Subjects will be anything that interests me, but will mostly focus on politics, economics, history, and occasionally religion. Comments, suggestions, and questions can be directed to test.veeschay@gmail.com