Links to YouTube interview of Milton Friedman by Phil Donahue
This is the first of five
http://youtu.be/E1lWk4TCe4U
This is a summary of a section which is called GREED - It has been used on CNBC
http://youtu.be/RWsx1X8PV_A
Friedman defends capitalism
Monday, July 25, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Facisim as a wrongly used term
Fascism is an often misused word and I would therefore avoid it's use in describing anything at all except perhaps the state of Italy during the mid 19th century.
To see how difficult it is to define or use properly see the talk page for the debate on the definition in Wikipedia. Fascism is many things but certainly not free market.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FascismI particularly like Orwell's run at defining it.
http://orwell.ru/library/articles/As_I_Please/english/efasc
One thing you can be sure of, anyone calling someone a Facist is smearing that person with an pejorative that has little basis in the actual definition. They also don't know what they are talking about.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Why the Robin Hood Tax won't work
My son wanted me to comment on the Robin Hood Tax
http://www.guardian.co.uk/
Jeffery Sachs spoke at my elder son's graduation. He is very liberal, in the new sense that he wants to tax folks and take that money and use it for what HE thinks is the better good. In other words he thinks he is a Robin Hood.
I have since read two of his other articles and he apparently toned down his comments for the audience who listened to him last May.
Second - I considered myself a liberal for my first 25 years, then an independent for 20 years until around 2004 when I started transitioning into my current state which is not happy with labels which shift and change with the times but if I had to pick a leadership at this point in time it would be conservative so I suppose I agree with that direction more than the liberal one. I understand these terms as follows.
Liberal - used to mean a person who wants free choice - now it means a person who wants to tax people and use those funds to improve other's lives - this takes the choice out of the equation for both parties as a third party is doing the taking and the making.
Conservative used to mean a person who likes things to stay the same as change might threaten their advantages. - Now it means someone who is rebelling against government trying to take over the ability for people to rise and fall on their own skills and efforts by competing in the free market economy.
Now with that background (disclosure) here is my response
For a liberal to succeed (do good works) he has to have money so the Robin Hood tax is proposed. The economists would then be hired as experts (who else?) to allocate those funds.
The tax would be low they say, but of course it won't stay low.
It eventually would act like a drag on financial transactions which would probably be negative but let's leave that aside for now.
What really bothers me is these "third parties" getting all this money and misusing it.
"This money is urgently needed to raise revenue for global and domestic public goods such as health, education and water, and to tackle the challenge of climate change."
This interferes with the free market which is the only mechanism that has proven to properly allocate resources to their highest and best use and raise people out of poverty.
There is tremendous evidence for the failure of self appointed NGO's in trying to solve these issues where they interfere with the markets and prop up regimes that should fail.
"Basically liberals want to run my life for me instead of letting me run my life myself."
See this video on a brilliant refutation to Jeffery Sachs and all of the "I know how better to use your money than you do" liberals.
http://youtu.be/RWsx1X8PV_A
the entire interview is here
http://youtu.be/E1lWk4TCe4U
As a final thought consider what it means to be Robin Hood.
He mugs a shop owner on his way to the bank and takes his money thereby making him leave the forest and set up his shop somewhere else. The forest jobs get lost and those people are out of work. Robin meanwhile gives the money to his merry men for distribution. The merry men take a cut for mead and beef of course and the give the remainder to a few related poor folks who they like. These poor folk get lazy, quit their day jobs cutting firewood and now count on Robin to keep robbing. There is simply no good outcome here. Methinks Robin Hood a common hood.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/
Jeffery Sachs spoke at my elder son's graduation. He is very liberal, in the new sense that he wants to tax folks and take that money and use it for what HE thinks is the better good. In other words he thinks he is a Robin Hood.
I have since read two of his other articles and he apparently toned down his comments for the audience who listened to him last May.
Second - I considered myself a liberal for my first 25 years, then an independent for 20 years until around 2004 when I started transitioning into my current state which is not happy with labels which shift and change with the times but if I had to pick a leadership at this point in time it would be conservative so I suppose I agree with that direction more than the liberal one. I understand these terms as follows.
Liberal - used to mean a person who wants free choice - now it means a person who wants to tax people and use those funds to improve other's lives - this takes the choice out of the equation for both parties as a third party is doing the taking and the making.
Conservative used to mean a person who likes things to stay the same as change might threaten their advantages. - Now it means someone who is rebelling against government trying to take over the ability for people to rise and fall on their own skills and efforts by competing in the free market economy.
Now with that background (disclosure) here is my response
For a liberal to succeed (do good works) he has to have money so the Robin Hood tax is proposed. The economists would then be hired as experts (who else?) to allocate those funds.
The tax would be low they say, but of course it won't stay low.
It eventually would act like a drag on financial transactions which would probably be negative but let's leave that aside for now.
What really bothers me is these "third parties" getting all this money and misusing it.
"This money is urgently needed to raise revenue for global and domestic public goods such as health, education and water, and to tackle the challenge of climate change."
This interferes with the free market which is the only mechanism that has proven to properly allocate resources to their highest and best use and raise people out of poverty.
There is tremendous evidence for the failure of self appointed NGO's in trying to solve these issues where they interfere with the markets and prop up regimes that should fail.
"Basically liberals want to run my life for me instead of letting me run my life myself."
See this video on a brilliant refutation to Jeffery Sachs and all of the "I know how better to use your money than you do" liberals.
http://youtu.be/RWsx1X8PV_A
the entire interview is here
http://youtu.be/E1lWk4TCe4U
As a final thought consider what it means to be Robin Hood.
He mugs a shop owner on his way to the bank and takes his money thereby making him leave the forest and set up his shop somewhere else. The forest jobs get lost and those people are out of work. Robin meanwhile gives the money to his merry men for distribution. The merry men take a cut for mead and beef of course and the give the remainder to a few related poor folks who they like. These poor folk get lazy, quit their day jobs cutting firewood and now count on Robin to keep robbing. There is simply no good outcome here. Methinks Robin Hood a common hood.
Monday, March 14, 2011
How to understand the current financial shape of America
Chris Martenson did a comparative fiscal outlook for the US with that of a troubled relative earning $50,000 a year. A good friend of mine sent it to me. I now share it with you. Imagine if THIS WAS YOU.
I have a relative in financial trouble. He makes $50,000 a year, but he spent $74,591 last year, and his prospects of making $50,000 this year look kind of bad. There's a good chance he will get a pay cut.
Unfortunately, he’s been overspending for quite a while and has charged $295,632 on credit cards…
So here’s the picture:
· $50,000: Income
· $74,591: Expenses
· $24,591: Deficit (difference from income and expenses)
· $295,632: Short-term revolving debt at artificially low rates
· $2,372,632: Unfunded promises
· $1,292: A Republican friend suggests I cut from my budgeted expenses
· $137: A Democrat friend suggests I cut from my budgeted expenses
So, what does the future look like for my Uncle Sam? Do you think he can keep going like this much longer? What about his family that’s counting on the promises he made to them? Do you see any possible solution other than bankruptcy?
Multiply the above numbers by 47,620,000 and you get the fiscal picture for the United States Government in 2010:
· $2.381 Trillion: Revenue
· $3.552 Trillion: Budget
· $1.171 Trillion: Deficit
· $14.078 Trillion: Debt
· $113 Trillion: Unfunded Liabilities (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid)
· $61.5 Billion: Republican proposed budget cuts
· $6.5 Billion: Democrat proposed budget cuts
http://www.chrismartenson.com/blog/how-explain-current-economic-situation-friends-and-family/54409
I have a relative in financial trouble. He makes $50,000 a year, but he spent $74,591 last year, and his prospects of making $50,000 this year look kind of bad. There's a good chance he will get a pay cut.
Unfortunately, he’s been overspending for quite a while and has charged $295,632 on credit cards…
So here’s the picture:
· $50,000: Income
· $74,591: Expenses
· $24,591: Deficit (difference from income and expenses)
· $295,632: Short-term revolving debt at artificially low rates
· $2,372,632: Unfunded promises
· $1,292: A Republican friend suggests I cut from my budgeted expenses
· $137: A Democrat friend suggests I cut from my budgeted expenses
So, what does the future look like for my Uncle Sam? Do you think he can keep going like this much longer? What about his family that’s counting on the promises he made to them? Do you see any possible solution other than bankruptcy?
Multiply the above numbers by 47,620,000 and you get the fiscal picture for the United States Government in 2010:
· $2.381 Trillion: Revenue
· $3.552 Trillion: Budget
· $1.171 Trillion: Deficit
· $14.078 Trillion: Debt
· $113 Trillion: Unfunded Liabilities (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid)
· $61.5 Billion: Republican proposed budget cuts
· $6.5 Billion: Democrat proposed budget cuts
http://www.chrismartenson.com/blog/how-explain-current-economic-situation-friends-and-family/54409
Monday, February 14, 2011
The Neo Conservative Position and the Egyptian Revolution
The reason Iran's Green demonstrations of two years ago did not succeed is because the Iranian government shot the protesters and arrested or executed the leaders. It's a certainty that Saddam would have done the same, given that he gassed entire villages. Egypt's revolution succeeded due to the restraint of the US trained Egyptian military. It will be much more bloody in Iran.
I would argue that the Egyptian Revolution is a vindication of the Neo Conservative point of view and George Bush's "Freedom Agenda". If you Google "neoconservative Egyptian" you will see related articles.
Bush wanted first of all to make sure that Iraq was not a threat to the US. Saddam Hussein had the option to leave Iraq and avoid the war. He chose war.
Once we won the war the goal was to establish Iraq as an independent democracy. That would then create a democracy in the middle of a fractious group of totalitarian regimes and would be an example to their people. Now that these countries citizens are revolting against their oppressors we may be seeing the fruits of our labors. The rehabilitation of George Bush's "Freedom Agenda" policy is well underway.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/02/AR2011020207325.html
I would argue that the Egyptian Revolution is a vindication of the Neo Conservative point of view and George Bush's "Freedom Agenda". If you Google "neoconservative Egyptian" you will see related articles.
Bush wanted first of all to make sure that Iraq was not a threat to the US. Saddam Hussein had the option to leave Iraq and avoid the war. He chose war.
Once we won the war the goal was to establish Iraq as an independent democracy. That would then create a democracy in the middle of a fractious group of totalitarian regimes and would be an example to their people. Now that these countries citizens are revolting against their oppressors we may be seeing the fruits of our labors. The rehabilitation of George Bush's "Freedom Agenda" policy is well underway.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/02/AR2011020207325.html
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!
A friend sent this along to me and I am sharing it with you
"Even though conservatives, liberals and everybody in between disagree on a number of issues, I count all of you as friends. My friend and neighbor wants to promote a "Congressional Reform Act of 2010." It would contain eight provisions, all of which would probably be strongly endorsed by those who drafted the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
I know many of you will say "this is impossible." Let me remind you, Congress has the lowest approval rating of any entity in Government. Now is the time when Americans will join together to reform Congress - the entity that represents us.
We need to get a Senator to introduce this bill in the US Senate and a Representative to introduce a similar bill in the US House. These people will become American heroes.
**********************************
Congressional Reform Act of 2010
1. Term Limits.
12 years only, one of the possible options below..
A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms
2. No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.
4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/11.
The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
"
If you agree with the above, pass it on. If not, just ignore it.
"Even though conservatives, liberals and everybody in between disagree on a number of issues, I count all of you as friends. My friend and neighbor wants to promote a "Congressional Reform Act of 2010." It would contain eight provisions, all of which would probably be strongly endorsed by those who drafted the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
I know many of you will say "this is impossible." Let me remind you, Congress has the lowest approval rating of any entity in Government. Now is the time when Americans will join together to reform Congress - the entity that represents us.
We need to get a Senator to introduce this bill in the US Senate and a Representative to introduce a similar bill in the US House. These people will become American heroes.
**********************************
Congressional Reform Act of 2010
1. Term Limits.
12 years only, one of the possible options below..
A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms
2. No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.
4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/11.
The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
"
If you agree with the above, pass it on. If not, just ignore it.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Why I also love Charles Krauthammer
This was his discussion just before Obamana gave his speech in Europe before his election.
Now that we are 18 months beyond that speech I wonder what he gained by it.
Sarkozy of France now seems the stronger leader, especially on Iran, so perhaps that was the result but for all his apologizing for America I don't think much has happened yet (expect for his Nobel Peace Prize) to have made his denigration of our nation worthwhile.
We will see.
Now that we are 18 months beyond that speech I wonder what he gained by it.
Sarkozy of France now seems the stronger leader, especially on Iran, so perhaps that was the result but for all his apologizing for America I don't think much has happened yet (expect for his Nobel Peace Prize) to have made his denigration of our nation worthwhile.
We will see.
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