Posted by: The Elephant Owner in Economics on April 24th, 2011
Share on FacebookFor Easter, I thought I would ask, “What would Jesus do?”
This seems to be a question often asked trying to persuade the faithful one way or another.
Jesus did not preach collective salvation as our President does. Going to heaven isn’t a community event.
Jesus was not a fan of the big government that crucified him. He was a threat to their power over others.
Jesus would be against anything that diminished the Lord and replaced it with the state.
These concepts seem to be indisputable…though some will try.
Posted by: The Elephant Owner in Science and Technology on April 24th, 2011
I also put Hong Kong on this chart to give further evidence that policy matters. Argentina has pursued an Obama policy of government intervention and has declined. Hong Kong has practiced laissez-faire economics and now is one of the world’s richest jurisdictions.
This is a warning to America. There is nothing magical about the United States. If we copy Argentina (actually, a very bad combination of Argentine-style crony capitalism and Swedish-style high-tax redistribution), we will suffer similar consequences.
Posted by: The Elephant Owner in Economics on April 21st, 2011
With gold hitting a new record yesterday, this morning I decided to check the rising value of gold versus different currency. What I found is a sure sign that the feds have devalued our dollar.
The price of gold in US dollars has gone up 76% since 1/4/2009.
The gold price versus the Japanese Yen, British Pound and Euro have gone up 63%
Posted by: The Elephant Owner in Inflation on April 20th, 2011
Liberals have been trying to claim that looking at government versus private salary is comparing apples to oranges. I agree. People in the private sector are accountable and have little security. They should be getting paid higher. But let’s forget that for a second. Let’s take the liberal position that those in government are better educated and “deserve” higher salaries.
Look at this chart…but don’t look how high the plots are. Look at how steep they are.
The private line has gone flat, but the government union lines are quite steep. That is clearly unsustainable.
Posted by: The Elephant Owner in Labor and Unions on April 19th, 2011
You have to wonder if the changes to how they calculate inflation were done to hide inflation.
Posted by: The Elephant Owner in Inflation on April 19th, 2011
Read how an obscure software patent killed an innovative company
Posted by: The Elephant Owner in Free Markets on April 19th, 2011
The Mason-Dixon line has become the symbol of division between the North and South, but the true history is has nothing to do with the Civil War era split.
Mason and Dixon were British surveyors hired to settle a dispute between two powerful families: the Penns of Pennsylvania and the Calverts of Maryland. The Calverts claimed land extending north to Philadelphia, while the Penns asserted ownership south into Maryland.
Mason and Dixon were charged with marking the border at a latitude 15 miles south of Philadelphia. But what was the city’s southernmost point?
Learn the real history behind the line.
Posted by: The Elephant Owner in History on April 19th, 2011
I asked a young man in his twenties why his generation wasn’t outraged by the debt. He assured me that he was. I asked about his coworkers and he rolled his eyes and pointed to their attendance records and dismal record of accepting responsibility.
So here is where we stand as I see it. The older generation was bamboozled by politicians who made promises they couldn’t keep. They will still get lavish benefits, even though they now see the problem. Young people are too unengaged and childish. If you look at ObamaCare, the government doesn’t really consider you an adult until you are 27.
So we have seniors who demand more money than they put in and young adults who are ignorant, unemployed and unemployable. That leaves us middle-agers getting the screws from both ends.
Yea for me.
Posted by: The Elephant Owner in Debt on April 18th, 2011
The left says that over-the-top rhetoric from the right needs to be suppressed because the rhetoric might inspire crazy people to do crazy things.
Ahhhh…don’t look now, but a crazy person is on the same page as Al Gore. Should he shut up? In my wildest dreams, but I would never even ask him to.
Posted by: The Elephant Owner in Global Climate Change on April 18th, 2011
Bob Schieffer asks Paul Ryan:
Why Do These Rich People Need Another Tax Cut? They’re Already Rich…Read more
The left uses the term “investment” for government spending. Conservatives believe that 1) People who are rich have already proven they know how to invest wisely (otherwise they wouldn’t be rich) and 2) the government has proven they invest poorly (otherwise they wouldn’t be broke).
If Bob Schieffer had ever listened to a conservative, he wouldn’t ask such a dumb, juvenile question.
PLUS
Bob Schieffer has absolutely no consideration for freedom and property rights. You can say his question is taken straight from a communist slogan: From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.
Posted by: The Elephant Owner in Economics,Liberal Bias on April 18th, 2011
Listen as a Congresswoman from California mocks her new colleagues because they respect the Constitution. The same Constitution that she took an oath to defend.
Posted by: The Elephant Owner in Constitution on April 18th, 2011
I look for consistency in principals. Sometimes it’s hard to find. Sometimes the inconsistencies are obvious.
Liberal Position
Taxing cigarettes, booze and soda discourage people from using those products, but taxing the creation of wealth does not discourage creating wealth.
Libertarian Position
Taxing cigarettes, booze and soda encourages people to find black markets for the products they want. Taxing the creation of wealth will discourage people from creating wealth.
Conservative Position
Taxing cigarettes, booze and soda reduces the use of those products on the margins. Taxing the creation of wealth will reduce the creation of wealth at the margins.
My Position
My view on the effect of taxes is somewhere between libertarian and conservative. Yes, taxing discourages people, but people are clever. They find ways to avoid taxes. It’s as true for wealth creation as it is for booze and cigarettes. If a so-called sin tax is too high, people will buy booze and cigarettes in black markets. If you tax income at 90%, people just don’t stop working. They will start to trade for goods and services. Trading services without money to avoid taxes could also be considered a black market.
So taxes have no effect on some, discourage some entirely and forces others into “black markets”. This is true for consumption and production.
Posted by: The Elephant Owner in Economics on April 17th, 2011
We have had recession before and we have had debt for years, but nothing like today. Check out this chart.
The Democrats are trying to portray the Republicans (and Tea Partiers) as radical, but their spending which started after they took full control of Washington that is radical.
Let’s face it: this president is just plain bad at politics.
If Obama had George Bush’s press, his approval ratings might hit single digits.
Posted by: The Elephant Owner in Obama Administration on April 15th, 2011