http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/editorials/obamacare_latest_bribe_yAliYQ9aPnUJDQH2zlxr9N
It's becoming quite amazing the extent to which the Democrats and Obama are caving to their friends in order to pass health care legislation that the majority of Americans do not want. The latest: unions will be exempt from the so called "cadillac tax" provisions in the healthcare bill. In other words, Obama's union friends (who already have received the gift of ownership and control of GM and Chrysler--both funded by American taxpayers, mind you) will now be spared from paying their fair share of the costs for the Democrat's healthcare plan.
Buying votes for the healthcare plan is already old news. Late last year, in order to secure the vote of Senator Nelson from Nebraska, Obama and the Democrats agreed that Nebraska would not have to pay for the increase of Medicare costs it will face under the healthcare plan. The rest of the country will be forced to pick up Nebraska's tab.
During the campaign, Obama said that he would "redistribute the wealth." It looks like this is one campaign promise he is keeping.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
New Blog by D.C. Lee!
Can be found here:
http://thesheepsvote.com/
Dustin Lee has finally officially released his blog, and it should be a good one. Dustin writes from more of a libertarian perspective. Previously he was Editor-in-Chief of the Michigan Review, a Journal of Campus Affairs at the University of Michigan, and he was also a columnist for the Michigan Daily, the University student-run newspaper. He has his undergrad (2002) and law (2005) degrees from the University of Michigan, and is currently an associate with Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP in Cincinnati, OH.
You can of course follow the blog yourself, and I will periodically post blog entries from Dustin as well.
http://thesheepsvote.com/
Dustin Lee has finally officially released his blog, and it should be a good one. Dustin writes from more of a libertarian perspective. Previously he was Editor-in-Chief of the Michigan Review, a Journal of Campus Affairs at the University of Michigan, and he was also a columnist for the Michigan Daily, the University student-run newspaper. He has his undergrad (2002) and law (2005) degrees from the University of Michigan, and is currently an associate with Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP in Cincinnati, OH.
You can of course follow the blog yourself, and I will periodically post blog entries from Dustin as well.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Uncertainty Over New Taxes and New Regulations Hurts Job Growth
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Many-Reluctant-to-Hire-cnbc-2045064418.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=main&asset=&ccode=
Saturday, January 9, 2010
The Economist: Bubble warning
http://www.economist.com/opinion/displayStory.cfm?story_id=15213157&source=hptextfeature
The stock market has been labeled as a "forward indicator" of the economy. The unemployment rate has been labeled a "lagging indicator." With the run up in stock prices over the past half-year, some are claiming that the economy is responding to the stimulus and that it is a matter of time before the unemployment rate reciprocates.
This op-ed by The Economist suggests that the economic stimulus by the U.S. government is creating a false indication of a recovery. If indeed the stimulus and the easy money policy of the U.S. Federal Reserve System is inflating stock market valuations, then this suggests that there has not been real economic growth and that there will not be in the near-term future.
Furthermore, a significant retreat in stock market valuations could crush consumer confidence in the economy if 1) the U.S. government keeps pointing at the stock market as a future indicator of the economy and 2) if the American people continue to believe it. A public fooled thrice would hardly believe any actual future sign of economic growth which might, in turn, make any future recovery stillborn.
The stock market has been labeled as a "forward indicator" of the economy. The unemployment rate has been labeled a "lagging indicator." With the run up in stock prices over the past half-year, some are claiming that the economy is responding to the stimulus and that it is a matter of time before the unemployment rate reciprocates.
This op-ed by The Economist suggests that the economic stimulus by the U.S. government is creating a false indication of a recovery. If indeed the stimulus and the easy money policy of the U.S. Federal Reserve System is inflating stock market valuations, then this suggests that there has not been real economic growth and that there will not be in the near-term future.
Furthermore, a significant retreat in stock market valuations could crush consumer confidence in the economy if 1) the U.S. government keeps pointing at the stock market as a future indicator of the economy and 2) if the American people continue to believe it. A public fooled thrice would hardly believe any actual future sign of economic growth which might, in turn, make any future recovery stillborn.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Top Democrats head for the exits - Manu Raju and Josh Kraushaar - POLITICO.com
Top Democrats head for the exits - Manu Raju and Josh Kraushaar - POLITICO.com
The GOP faced a similar exodus heading from 2002 to 2006.
The GOP faced a similar exodus heading from 2002 to 2006.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Obama Readying Immigration Overhaul Despite Risks
http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/sns-dc-immig29-final,0,5744314,full.story
A few comments:
1) The last fight in 2006 may or may not have damaged Hispanic voter opinion of the GOP. Bush in 2004 did better than normal for GOP candidate, and McCain in 2008 did worse than normal. It is unclear whether McCain's 2008 results were because of the 2006 immigration reform fight or because of other factors in the eleciton.
2) Democrats will continue to try to paint the GOP as a whites-only party, and a messy fight on immigration will give them ammunition. This could make the 2008 Hispanic vote breakdown the start of a trend instead of an anomaly.
3) It is unclear whether immigration reform will be pushed if the economy continues to suffer. If unemployment remains at around 10%, ordinary voters may question in their minds the wisdom of granting amnesty to millions of undocumented workers.
A few comments:
1) The last fight in 2006 may or may not have damaged Hispanic voter opinion of the GOP. Bush in 2004 did better than normal for GOP candidate, and McCain in 2008 did worse than normal. It is unclear whether McCain's 2008 results were because of the 2006 immigration reform fight or because of other factors in the eleciton.
2) Democrats will continue to try to paint the GOP as a whites-only party, and a messy fight on immigration will give them ammunition. This could make the 2008 Hispanic vote breakdown the start of a trend instead of an anomaly.
3) It is unclear whether immigration reform will be pushed if the economy continues to suffer. If unemployment remains at around 10%, ordinary voters may question in their minds the wisdom of granting amnesty to millions of undocumented workers.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Sheila Jackson Lee to face challenger in Democratic primary
http://blogs.chron.com/txpotomac/2010/01/jackson_lee_challenged_by_jarv.html
It will be interesting to see if Jackson Lee loses her seat for her support of Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic primaries.
It will be interesting to see if Jackson Lee loses her seat for her support of Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic primaries.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Houston--Hub for Gulf Cartel crime syndicate.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6796067.html#
Ending the War on Drugs would legitimize such groups. Do we really want to see these cartels on the Fortune 500 list?
Ending the War on Drugs would legitimize such groups. Do we really want to see these cartels on the Fortune 500 list?
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Ben Nelson to Henry McMaster: 'Call off the dogs' - Alex Isenstadt - POLITICO.com
Ben Nelson to Henry McMaster: 'Call off the dogs' - Alex Isenstadt - POLITICO.com
This is rather incredible. Senator Ben Nelson sells out the rest of the country to benefit his home state, and when a group of Attorney Generals from 13 different states attempt to make Nebraska (Nelson's state) pay its fair share of the Health Care bill, Nelson has the audacity to complain!
This is rather incredible. Senator Ben Nelson sells out the rest of the country to benefit his home state, and when a group of Attorney Generals from 13 different states attempt to make Nebraska (Nelson's state) pay its fair share of the Health Care bill, Nelson has the audacity to complain!
The Problem of Chinese Mercantilism
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/01/opinion/01krugman.html
I rarely will post Krugman articles. However, he makes a good general point here. China's mercantilist policies are creating major problems for its trading partners. Nonetheless, I will disagree at the point he is hinting at--that is we should respond in kind with our own drastic protectionist policies. It is important to note that many countries "peg" their currencies to the U.S. dollar and, in so doing, artificially value their currencies (most of the Asian "tigers" have done so for decades, but we ignore it because they are our allies).
To unilaterally start using protectionist policies against China would set a bad precedent and might encourage (or create political pressure for) the use of those policies against many of our other trading partners. A better suggestion by Krugman would be concerted efforts with other similarly situated trading partners to pressure China into free-floating their currency. China is currently the world's third largest economy by nominal GDP. It should indeed start acting like it.
I rarely will post Krugman articles. However, he makes a good general point here. China's mercantilist policies are creating major problems for its trading partners. Nonetheless, I will disagree at the point he is hinting at--that is we should respond in kind with our own drastic protectionist policies. It is important to note that many countries "peg" their currencies to the U.S. dollar and, in so doing, artificially value their currencies (most of the Asian "tigers" have done so for decades, but we ignore it because they are our allies).
To unilaterally start using protectionist policies against China would set a bad precedent and might encourage (or create political pressure for) the use of those policies against many of our other trading partners. A better suggestion by Krugman would be concerted efforts with other similarly situated trading partners to pressure China into free-floating their currency. China is currently the world's third largest economy by nominal GDP. It should indeed start acting like it.
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