Monthly Archives: October 2010

I wonder if This is What They Wanted?

I honestly think that most people want things to work out for the better.  That the decisions they make, the things they do, the hopes and dreams they have, will, in the end, make not only their llives better but the lives of folks around ’em too.

So, when I rage against Leftists it’s not because their heart is in the wrong place–it’s because their HEAD is in the wrong place.

For example, when a Liberal fights to establish a minimum wage, it’s because they wanna help the folks who are poor and can’t pay their bills.

When they fight for Social Security, they really REALLY wanna help provide for the elderly in their times of need.

And when they build ethanol plants they do it because they really seriously think that going green is the way to go.

But they’re wrong.

On minimum wage, on Social Security and on ethanol plants. Continue reading

If You Can’t Find a Job — You Don’t Want One

Everywhere I go I see “help wanted”.

You tell me you can’t find a job I call bullshit.

More ahem Unemployment

If you can’t find work, you ain’t lookin’!

Unemployment

Clear case of marginal value. If we were REALLY at the point where people NEEDED jobs, this sign would be down the second it was put up.

Hurricane Update: September Review

Jeepers.

We had more named storms in September than we had all year up to that point.

For those of you keeping track at home we’re at:

  • Named Storms – 14
  • Hurricanes – 7
  • Major Hurricanes – 5

The prediction for the year was most recently updated to:

  • 14 – 20 Named Storms
  • 8 – 12 Hurricanes
  • 4 – 6 Major Hurricanes

By the end of September the prediction called for:

  • 5 – 7 Named Storms
  • 3 – 4 Hurricanes
  • 2 – 3 Major Hurricanes

We are virtually at the full year’s predictions with all of October and November left.

Looks like they were right and I was wrong.

Where I’d Start Cutting Budgets

Look, I get it.  The new popularity of the conservative movement is that we have to reduce the size of the government.  We have to Spend Less, Tax Tess.  Reduce spending and reduce taxes.

I get it.  I do.

But we can NOT reduce taxes right now UNLESS we reduce spending.

Now, I AM a proponent of the idea that when taxes are raised it acts as an economic inhibitor.  That businesses will grow slower or even shrink.  That as taxes rise, the amount of money we bring in is actually less than the amount we could have brought in.

But there is a limit.

So, where would you cut?

Continue reading

Where Brad and Britt Got it Right

I beat up on the guys from time to time.  Now, in my defense, it’s easy huntin’, but still.  I take the boys to task.

However, THIS morning, they got it right.  Our topic is Health Care.  Some of the “benefits” of the new law are coming on-line and we are beginning to see the effects of that.

Some are good.

Some are bad.

Specifically bad is the fact that McDonald’s will be dropping their health insurance plan, their mini-med plan, because it doesn’t conform to the Federal mandate that plans are to pay out80%-85% of their premiums in claims.

Here is where I think the boys from Greensboro got it right:

Continue reading

Leftists: What We Are Up Against

I have always maintained that the Leftist has an unfair advantage.  THEY get to preach the populist message while we’re left holding the bag for being responsible.

It’s the same dynamic at work that caused me to LOVE spending time with grandma and grandpa.  When i was with them, I got what I wanted.  It was ice cream and chocolate milk.  It was cookies for bedtime and cake for breakfast.  We didn’t have to go to Sunday School but we got to ride in the back of the pick up.

All fun. No responsibility.

Just like Ben and his post on China, slave labor and tariffs.

Continue reading

Those Damn Banks!

We’ve heard it before.  I’m sure we’ll hear it again.

Wall Street banks and their greed caused the Great Recession.  And what’s more, it’s those same banks, sitting on our money given to them via TARP, that are KEEPING us in recession because they won’t lend money!

Greedy bastards!

But is it true?

Continue reading

The Single Best Method to Stabilize Home Prices

Here’s a note to Obama:

The single best method to stabilize home prices—-

Do nothing:

(Reuters) – Single-family home prices dipped in July, and are seen stabilizing near the lows without the homebuyer tax credit that ended in April…

This is surprising.

When left alone, people will normally buy and sell things at some market level.  When you pay people $8k to buy a house, don’t be surprised when the price of houses fluctuates between $1 and $8,000.

Econ 101.