Five Hundred Words

For many in America – myself included – the “fiscal cliff” is a forgone conclusion. We are going over. Exit polls in November showed a substantial number of Obama voters still blame President Bush for economic troubles and America voted for more of Obama’s medicine. The GOP was wrecked by FDR for decades, even though the Great Depression ground on despite (or because of) the New Deal. Post-cliff deprivations might be worth it to the President for a new Progressive hegemony. It’s not like any of his friends will go hungry.

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Lately, I’ve noticed some folks of a leftist persuasion making the point that President Reagan really ballooned the deficit. They even have a nifty chart showing how Democrats were minding their own business and only passed the budget that Reagan asked for.

Gather ‘round kiddies, PeePaw wants to tell you a story. You may not realize this, but once upon a time the President had to work with members of Congress to pass a budget. Why, back in your old PeePaw’s day, the President had to cut deals with congress to get his agenda funded.

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Can wrecking the economy be a successful strategy for ensuring political success?  According to scholars who describe the Curley Effect, it can (see this article on Forbes).  Named after James Michael Curley a former mayor of Boston, the label is applied to efforts to use the power of the state to create economic dependency for the purpose of retaining political power.

Constituent groups give wholehearted support to politicians who use the power to tax and regulate to give their competitors a disadvantage, or simply pay off such groups with benefits paid for by taxpayers.  Public sector unions enjoy generous wages and benefits.  Private sector unions enjoy a playing field cleared of non-union competition.  Corporations with the right connections enjoy tax abatements.

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Voters under 30 years old voted for President Obama, 60% to 36% in the 2012 election, providing a critical boost to put him over the top and serve four more years.

These voters 18-30 are facing an economy that at best could be considered in the doldrums. They are saddled with enormous involuntary debt heaped upon them by Federal spending. Every one of these voters who becomes a taxpayer somehow will owe north of $140,000. This 140K worth of liability looms before they pay for college, buy a car or own a home.

I know that these debts have consequences. I am sixteen years older than this cohort, and in my years have developed a very cynical view of the government’s competence. Other than killing people and breaking things, the Federal government is generally incapable of finding its ass with both hands. I think many of the things it attempts to do are worth doing, but by someone who will not spend $100 to deliver $4 worth of help. Continue Reading

The GOP is in a death spiral and they are taking conservative ideas along for the ride. The much-maligned Hoover was a progressive, and while his progressive policies are at the root of the Great Depression, and FDR’s progressive policies are at the root of the duration of the Great Depression, Hoover is stuck with the blame along with the GOP.

In my lifetime, only Carter got blame for the economy sucking, and Only Reagan got credit for the good times after taxes were lowered.

If Newt Gingrich had not been the speaker of the house, Bill Clinton would not have even tried to balance the budget. However, Clinton is given credit for the 90s boom, and has no blame for the slowdown he brought upon the country when he raised taxes.

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I have many grandchildren, so many in fact that in moments of confusion I refer to them by number, especially the string of boys all of whom have a name starting with the hard “c” sound.  Number six and I were enjoying “Just Grandpa And Me” dinner at Panera bread and the subject of money came up.

“Do you know how your daddy makes money?” I asked Six.

He paused, sensing a trick question. “He works” was his response.

“That’s right – your daddy works very hard.  As you grow up you work, and … Continue Reading

What would you think of me if I told you that I applied for a credit card in the name of my grandson, and secured a $140,000 limit.

Outraged?  Why?  I did good things with it!  I gave several college students a couple thousand dollars each toward their tuition.  I gave many unemployed persons several hundred dollars each.  I gave many thousands of dollars to major corporations to shore up their bottom line and keep their employees on the line.  I invested the rest in helping farmers turn crops we can eat … Continue Reading

Being a Christian is a melancholy existence.

Without going too deep into the theological details, I know that any hardship our family might endure from whatever depredations are over the horizon are borne with Christ right alongside us.  I know that whatever the pain I might suffer is bearable, because the Almighty has promised it would never be more than I can bear.

It is impossible to explain the feeling of peace one can get meditating on God’s love and provision at any time, but especially in the midst of … Continue Reading

In working through thoughts about the staggering defeat the GOP suffered in Missouri, my mind turned to Todd Akin and the gaff that stank up the whole party.  I know Akin is a good man, a sincere and pious man.  Without rehashing the details of his needless self-immolation, the fact of the matter is that while a Democrat gaffe machine like Joe Biden can say the most gawd-awful things and emerge from the fray smooth and soft as a baby’s hiney, Republicans seem to be coated with a thick layer … Continue Reading