tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746692.post7131924698782335015..comments2024-03-19T11:28:58.168-04:00Comments on History Unfolding: A new era beginsDavid Kaiserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05020082243968071584noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746692.post-71700304029024424912010-12-15T12:41:29.410-05:002010-12-15T12:41:29.410-05:00Adam Smith published a lesser known book titled Th...Adam Smith published a lesser known book titled The theory of Moral Sentiments. He told us that at some point we must realize that getting more and more is not in society's best interest. At the same time giving 'handouts' to those people who are able-bodied and able-minded may not be successful move either (Gerald Chertavian founder of Year Up) It may be a stretch but its almost like our major political entities are in a nash equilibrium. Perhaps a little 'unpolitical' bipartisanship is in order. We need responsible politicians as you have so eloquently stated.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05395959811900008385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746692.post-69537937240960765912010-12-13T19:43:36.098-05:002010-12-13T19:43:36.098-05:00To tlsparkman:
Yes, I consider that nothing po...To tlsparkman:<br /><br /> Yes, I consider that nothing positive. It's an irresponsible fantasy, utterly incapable of achievement. Modern societies need large and effective governments. It's sad we're going to undergo so much pain and suffering to find out why yet again.<br /><br /> DKDavid Kaiserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05020082243968071584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746692.post-35446379024185301432010-12-13T15:36:56.960-05:002010-12-13T15:36:56.960-05:00"But it (Tea Party) has nothing positive to o..."But it (Tea Party) has nothing positive to offer in the sphere of government."<br /><br />I find this a very interesting statement, when the very point of the Tea Party is a demand that government be limited to/returned to constitutional authority, and be ultimately accountable to the people and not any particular political party. Do you consider this "nothing positive"?tlsparkmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746692.post-2383957772344332542010-12-10T17:01:47.807-05:002010-12-10T17:01:47.807-05:00"Senate leaders Mitch McConnell and Jim DeMin..."Senate leaders Mitch McConnell and Jim DeMint have made it clear from early 2009 that their priority was Obama's defeat in 2012. To make it happen they practiced maximum obstructionism for two years, fought effective measures to deal with the recession, and rode economic distress to success in the recent elections. They have emphasized the deficit among all our ills..."<br /><br />Sounds familiar...it sounds to me like the Dem's agenda concerning Pres. Bush's post 9/11 approval ratings.<br /><br />As for the Bush Tax cuts being to blame...ummm...better to blame that then all the historic bailouts, highly questionable distribution of the bailouts and fears of future huge taxes along with huge taxes I guess, and far better then asking the Govt to show at least a little common sense and restraint in spending the tax payer dollars. Of course they should have all the enormous benefits for the rest of their lives.<br /><br />Not trying to say the Republicans have all the answers and they have their own agendas, but the Dems are not doing anything other then self serving agendas as well.<br /><br />What was it Wallace once said, there is not a plugged nickel's worth of difference between the two parties.Tom Olsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746692.post-52044324916241616852010-12-08T08:55:42.009-05:002010-12-08T08:55:42.009-05:00I'm new to the blog, so please excuse me for n...I'm new to the blog, so please excuse me for not being familiar with your views. I do agree with them, and am here because of your fine book on 'The Road to Dallas'. Do not assume that I am a nutter, though I will glady admit to your eventual right to do so!<br /><br />Surely things go back some time? <br /><br />I think that we must acknowledge the palace of delusion and narcissism that we have been living in before we can escape the consequences of wallowing there.<br /><br />The west must now compete for resources with a self-sustaining non-western world. Asian demand seems strong within a long bubble which is yet to pop, with an Africa and South America which is no longer debt dependent.<br /><br />We did that once before. Western savings and innovation swerved during the late sixties and early seventies, leading to the stagflation which threatened to continue indefinitely. <br /><br />The addition of women to the workplace and credit ultimately based on derivatives disguised the fact, and postponed the crisis--even giving it the appearance of a boom. A self-righteous moral economy of personal libertarianism and high octane economic individualism which only really benefitted big companies was attached to it by the children of those who had effected civil rights change.<br /><br />Meantime, governments were hawked to the charms of bondholders and the Bretton Woods system replaced with the global market--which appeared to benefit us and gave people the temporary reality of equity in a bank-owned house and cheap food based on oil and economies of scale. Communications technology, instead of being the nexus of participatory democracy as the 1968 generation had hoped, actually became the mechanism of participatory stupefaction. <br /><br />Successive governments benefitted from this, and hid from their responsibility; indeed they embraced a lack of it when they refused to face the debt issue, except for a brief period in the nineties. That brief moment did not last. A stolen election and two unwinnable wars set everything back on track.<br /><br />At all of these moments, with a very few exceptions, the vast bulk of the Republican party and a large group of the leaders of the Democrat party aided and abetted the socialicide, the loss of values, profits, savings and commitment which went with the idea of no-limits narcissism.<br /><br />So how on earth can the lineal descendants of these people do anything other than accelerate the dive?<br /><br />With increasing pace, I think, we are heading for a crash into a world which will force the west to abandon its delusions. I wonder if it can or should be stopped. I certainly do not expect anyone in the political-media class, which is what you seem to really be talking about, to sober up for long enough to even see how to do so.Martin Meenaghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06092121503713511010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746692.post-13689002979421905832010-12-06T17:01:33.901-05:002010-12-06T17:01:33.901-05:00nice Article Mate ...
See you Later Againnice Article Mate ...<br /><br />See you Later AgainBudi Murjiyantohttp://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=5&sqi=2&ved=0CCwQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tutorialandnews.com%2F&rct=j&q=Tutorial+and+news+youtube&ei=t1z9TP2NBIPtrAeipeyACA&usg=AFQjCNHolTAeTN_iVj7zQQdwz1Y25SBJKg&cad=rjanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746692.post-67627341049837139612010-12-05T00:42:04.256-05:002010-12-05T00:42:04.256-05:00I too thought it was interesting commentary, altho...I too thought it was interesting commentary, although I didn't expect some of the angles.<br /><br />"Arizona legislature stripped certain transplants from Medicaid coverage, and now a laid-off 32-year old truck driver with four children named Francisco Felix has been denied a liver transplant he needs to survive because he does not have a $200,000 deposit."<br /><br />This statement is tragic on many fronts. Certainly from the point of Francisco, for he now knows that his days are numbered. Perhaps Francisco should have purchased life insurance if he couldn't afford health insurance. My grandfather didn't have insurance and neither did his father.<br /><br />Perhaps that is uncivilized? Well, I think that civilization based on theft isn't very civilized.<br /><br />Theft? Yes, either from other citizens, or more accurately, from future generations. The "greatest generation" did a lot for this country -- but it also leveraged our future and our children's future for their own well being.<br /><br />Programs such as social security have been stretched so much that you wouldn't recognize them as "safety nets" anymore. Socialized medicine affords everyone the right to make someone else pay the bill - what an advancement.<br /><br />Social security is now considered a retirement program. It is a terrible waste and a poor investment -- unless you are the proverbial grasshopper who lived every day as if it were his last and now believes it is unfair to suffer when so many have so much around him.<br /><br />Those who believe in entitlement are basically covetous people. They see what others have and rationalize why it is OK to take it for themselves. Redistribution isn't charity because it isn't given of the heart - it is stolen by the point of the sword.<br /><br />I don't think there is any law against running an insurance agency as a non-profit, so why don't socially minded people do so? Why do they immediately demand that others fund the goals they deem worthwhile?<br /><br />Why doesn't government pass legislation that would allow doctors to practice with protection against lawsuits - so long as the patient signed a waiver? Doctors could then charge a reasonable fee for their poor clients - they would not have to pay outrageous insurance premiums - and lawyers couldn't sue. <br /><br />This idea wouldn't be prudent for a neurologist, but a family practitioner could support his/her family while mercifully serving the poor.<br /><br />I'm younger than you professor, but I grew up believing that corporations were loyal to their workers as well. They had a civic mindedness that certainly affected their bottom line. They didn't necessarily seek to maximize profits, but be profitable and a visible leader in the community.<br /><br />Yes, things are changing - and they're not changing for the better. No matter which way you look at it.<br /><br />I think we could all use a good story about what made this country great. It never gets old. Play on minstrel man, play us one of the old melodies of freedom and hardship that is never far behind. For hardship is the other side of the coin of a free society.tortoisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02146420165826450931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746692.post-66452297260570779742010-12-04T20:29:58.371-05:002010-12-04T20:29:58.371-05:00Dr. Kaiser -- I've always been very sceptical ...Dr. Kaiser -- I've always been very sceptical of the "Great Turning" historical cycles that you believe in. It's your observations that keep me coming back here.<br /><br />However, Bruce Wilder's excellent "Coming Perfect Storm" blog has a very interesting post about a 72 year political cycle. What's most intriguing about Wilder's hunch (at least, in an American context) is how it's rooted in **institutional** intervals, namely, four year election cycles.<br /><br />Anyway, you can find it at:<br /><br />http://comingperfectstorm.blogspot.com/2010/12/political-cycle.html#more<br /><br />I think you'll enjoy it.<br />-- sgloverAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746692.post-74308348343839315872010-12-04T18:42:58.328-05:002010-12-04T18:42:58.328-05:00Many thanks professor, for this excellent comment...Many thanks professor, for this excellent commentary. Preaching, at least, to this portion of the choir, perhaps.<br /><br />This part has been going on for a long time now; great that you point it out here: <br /><br />"Corporate profits have been going up, but what the story does not explicitly say is that corporate profits now tend to correlate negatively, not positively, without growth--instead of pushing companies to hire more workers, they reflect shedding workers." And offshored labor, and capital, etc.<br /><br />All the best<br />GMBozonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18078858723231122013noreply@blogger.com