'If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed,
if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed'
Mark Twain
Suppose you were an idiot.
And suppose you were a member of Congress....
But then I repeat myself.
-Mark Twain
I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.
-Winston Churchill
A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw
A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money.
-G Gordon Liddy
Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.
-James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)
Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.
-Douglas Casey, Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown University
Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.
-P.J. O'Rourke, Civil Libertarian
Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.
-Frederic Bastiat, French Economist (1801-1850)
Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
-Ronald Reagan (1986)
I don't make jokes I just watch the government
and report the facts.
-Will Rogers
If you think health care is expensive now,
wait until you see what it costs when it's free!
-P.J. O'Rourke
In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.
-Voltaire (1764)
Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you!
-Pericles (430 B.C.)
No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.
-Mark Twain (1866 )
Talk is cheap...except when Congress does it.
-Unknown
The government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.
-Ronald Reagan
The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.
-Winston Churchill
The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.
-Mark Twain
The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.
-Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)
There is no distinctly Native American criminal class...save Congress.
-Mark Twain
What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.
-Edward Langley, Artist (1928 - 1995)
A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have. -Thomas Jefferson
5 comments:
Hans, would you classify yourself as a libertarian? I like these quotes and agree with most if not all these.
Mike
I haven't really found my political identity yet having never voted before, but yes I do have libertarian leanings. I understand the republicans drawing most of the christian vote as they are more aligned morally with their anti abortion anti homosexual positions. Economically I lean republican also as the more business friendly party. However, Bush's 2 terms seems like he has believed heavily in the free market working during his first term until it stopped working his second term with the housing then mortgage then credit bubble popping he was all too ready to do a big bail out - a seemingly liberal move. Some smart regulation would have kept people from getting loans they can't afford and avoiding alot of the damage- regulation- another liberal tendency. Further our country's deficits have lead to the decline in the dollar and some very smart financial folks predict the long term trajectory will be down unless deficits are corrected. This has made me less enthusiastic for the republicans at least economically.
My feelings on Iraq are of course biased because the army directly suffers the consequences of foreign policy. But I see Iraq as largely responsible for the country's bad financial shape.
My other issues with Iraq is the lack of vision/strategy/guidance that has been presented to the public by the party responsible for initiating and wanting to continue indefinitely. Specifically McCain needs to define what is victory for us in Iraq? and how is he going to amend current budget practices to bring us back to surplus and sustain long term occupations with the possibility we'll be occupying more than just iraq and afghanistan.
Also, dissappointed that McCain is running on the same singularity regarding iraq as predecessor: win in iraq or surrendor to al qaeda. The american public deserves to hear more critical thinking about solving the problem of radical islam. This strategy should address all the facets, political military, economic, social that are taught in counterinsurgency. Also, I would like to hear hillary and obama's assessment of their strategy regarding this problem. Sorry so winded, interested to hear ur/ other's thoughts.
I posted a comment yesterday about this, by lost it before it got put up. I did not have the time to do it again right then, so now I will.
I love the cynicism of Will Rogers. It is hilarious. But it is not the solution to anything. We must keep trying to have a good influence on elections and elected officials or things will descend into chaos even further that they are. This very morning I have contacted my State Representative about a matter of great importance to me. There are bills pending in our Statehouse about immigration that are no small thing. My own nephew is the majority leader in the House of Representatives. I am going to try to contact him, too.
I love your comment about Iraq. I support the efforts of our forces in Iraq, but have my opinions about further needs. And it is not a new opinion. It is almost too late. Let me explain. It has to do with your comment, Hans, about the need for a larger effort in areas other than just military.
In the Book of Mormon, Alma, the Chief Judge, left his judgeship to bear down “in pure testimony” (Alma 4:-19) that he might “reclaim” his people. Later in Alma 31:5, he says that “the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had a more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else . . . .” Now if I am to liken the scriptures to myself, I think I should think on this matter. I do not think that preaching the restoration of the gospel in Iraq is the thing right now, but principles are principles. There are some good things in the Islamic religion that could be emphasized that could maybe overcome some of the bad ones that are being used to justify the evil happenings there. Even Americans can talk of them, and should be using an active system of appropriate propaganda that could reach the people. This takes more than chocolate bars from soldiers. The evil that is in Islam should also be spoken out against. That is true all over the world. Surely there is enough good in it to prepare the people for a better future. But we have to be willing to “preach” it.
It seems to me that in the time we have been there the “preaching” of building schools and power plants and other infrastructure items has been very slow in coming, and is still needed to demonstrate the power of good. Talk is cheap they say, and actions speak powerfully. The same even more dramatically is needed in Afghanistan. It is not oil that produces income there, but drugs. That is a serious problem. We seem to not be addressing it with any of the ability that we surely have to help.
I do not have the patience to write all this in a developed way right here, but it needs developing.
On another mater in your comment: You should read some of Michelle Milken off the internet. She is right on about the mortgage thing. Bail out is not the way to solve the problem, and it may be that some appropriate regulations could be made. But remember that regulations are not very libertarian, Hans. At the very minimum it seems that someone other that the general taxpayer should pay the consequence for the bad loan problem that exists.
Enough for now.
Dad Clark
Thanks for reposting...I know this isn't the most fun of topics for me either but voting prompts me to think about these things. I've noticed alot of members here (especially older ones no offense) bring a gospel perspective to US forces being here- with kind of the innuendo that this will pave the way for bringing the restored gospel to them in the future and some outright saying we are bringing the gospel of jesus christ to them. Deep down, I know it is only the gospel of J C or at least those principles of it which are also shared in Islam that can bring peace. Of course officially the army is not allowed to proselyte and those "propoganda" which is called Information Operations these days tries to be very culturally attuned and releases messages aimed at inspiring the iraqis to make a better life for themselves. Militarily there is little more that can be done as we have driven them from various places and it is like playing whack a mole. We are pretty close to having whacked all the moles, barring any new recruitment which could indeed occur the more and longer the US is seen as occupier, but that is another tangent. So once the security peace is more stable, the situation will be a third world country lacking infrasttructure, with close to half of its people unemployed, and subject to influence by extremist movements in neighboring region. Bringing to mind my original question that politicians should answer: what is victory? Is there a quality of life benchmark we're aiming for? A certain reduction in violence? or does it not even have to do with Iraq, is it possibly only a tool to keep the rest of the region in check? As for us we are solely focused on iraq and do not have any inkling of a wider role in the region even as turkey did cross border strikes a while back. I don't think anyone can answer these and it is about 5 yrs after we went in on wpns of mass destruction that were never found. A good percentage of the country doesn't understand our role here either otherwise there would be more support for the war. I think more than half are against it.
Also right now our army is "bogged down" in iraq, ie running two conflicts of this size would be impossible for any length greater than a few months I believe.
I understand alot of americans like the idea of doing good for iraqis, but with this cost of war, I dont think we are getting our money's worth. honestly Iraq could fall to chaos in one day, anytime. it is fragile just like alot of other countries in the region are fragile. So the bottom line is what are we as americans getting in return for this enormous dollar cost, and although minimal casualties compared to previous conflicts, life cost (there are lots of wounded who will be permanently disabled)? ie Is america safer because we are here? Not directly I don't think. is it possible taht years from now radical islam could be eliminated because of our efforts there? I believe the odds are slim to none. I believe such an awakening must come from inside, not a foreign occupier.
But u could argue leaving would cause chaos and humanitarian crisis. This is possible, but c'mon, there are plenty of other oppressed people whom the US ignored. We cant possibly be everywhere saving everyone.
The Mortgage bail-out...Although I would also be against bail out because the people who made foolish decisions will get help from governemnt while the hardworking schlubs who lived within their means will get the pleasure of seeing their taxes go to help the guy in the better part of town. however, because lending company's were allowed to make loans to people who cant afford them, and then to sell those loans to other investors, who repackaged them and sold them again to other investors, it created an asset bubble that when popped, left those people who would otherwise sell their house they can't afford anymore in a really bad spot, because the lending companies now demand tighter standards and there aren't many buyers now because of that. So a bad situation is amplified because the market was a little too free. i think regulation could have prevented not so smart people from hurting themselves and getting ripped off by mortage companies.
whew...Man voting is tough...I am leaning towards Obama, but I will live with the shame of voting for a democrat if i do. maybe Ron Paul, but a wasted vote.
hans
I haven't read all the above comments so I am probably repeating and saying things without knowing everything that was said but I have two thoughts for the minute.
The one is pretty opinionated and hope no one is offened but the truth is that people apply for loans for houses that they can't afford in the first place. People giving loans know it and take advantage of it and then you have a bad situation on your hands. I am very much against people thinking they should have something they can't afford. Someone who works with Mike said that he believed it a basic right that every human being own a home. That is bull. It makes me mad that people make bad decisions and then want to be bailed out by the government. Like Katrina. Why does someone who lives off the government think they should deserve to be given a new home and new clothes and food, etc., etc.? Anyway, that's a whole different story. And I know it sounds harsh but I really get bugged that all my friends around me complain that they have to do so much paper work yada yada yada just to get free food stamps...and they live much better than we do.
About voting for Obama. I think he is a great speaker but don't understand why anyone would vote for him. What has he done? What does he say he will do? His claims seem empty to me. I don't see any problem voting for Ron Paul. Yes, it might seem like a wasted vote but maybe that thinking is why he wouldn't get voted for in the first place--everyone is worried that their vote won't matter so they vote for the lesser of two evils instead of the person they feel is the best canditate. Last time Mike and I voted for a member of the consitution party. We knew he would lose but after researching everything everyone said, he seemed like the best candidate. And I'm happy we voted for him. I also feel that because I voted I have some right to "complain" about things. If I did't vote, I think I would have no rights because I didn't do anything to make it any better.
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