Friday, March 13, 2009

Take It Like a Man

We could see it during the campaign. Like so many things, it was largely ignored, but it was there for any who considered things reasonably objectively. Like a much younger individual, the young President can't take criticism. He simply can't abide being told that his ideas are less than stellar or his speech was not quite brilliant or his policy is fundamentally flawed. If someone should dare to do that, they would be discredited as racist or ignorant or potentially un-American.

But, what about the current goings on in Washington? Can any sane person look at the rush to distribute money to all of the usual suspects, even if we don't have it, won't get it and can't justify it? This is very obvious pandering. It is political patronage. It is pay-offs and plundering of our future.

Take a look at this response to some criticism. Read what was said carefully and then note the proxy's response:

Obama Likened to Mugabe?

Gov. Sanford rightly notes that simple strewing of taxpayer dollars doesn't "create" jobs. I've noted here in the past that government can't "create" a job, they can merely pay someone for something that may not need doing. That is a lot different than producing goods and services that generate wealth and economic growth.

The response, however, skips the economic truths of the debate and goes to the ad hominem of accusing a Mugabe comparison and since both parties in the comparison are Black, it must be a racist statement at its core.

The overlooked essential here is the gradually growing backlash of conservative governors across the country who are declining the porcine slop bucket for solid fiscal and governmental reasons. In addition to Sanford's decline of a big chunk of federal change, we also read this morning about Gov. Rick Perry in Texas saying "no thanks" to half a billion dollars.

Too Many Strings Attached

When you see who gets those unemployment checks you quickly realize that folks who have never received unemployment benefits before will be permanently added to the dole. Justifying unemployment for a part-time worker who is unemployed and doesn't seek full-time employment is simply foolishness. McDonald's cuts high-school afternoon burger-flippers and they get a government check while they chill out at the Mall? No thanks.

No comments: