I see you raked the Marines over the coals for not wanting to put boots on the ground to try and defeat ISIS.
Only Muslims can defeat ISIS. If they don't have the will, we cannot help them beyond what air power can do. American boots on the ground would attract Jihadists from all over the world looking for the opportunity to kill Americans. We could kill a lot of them, but there would be a cost, and our only reliable ally on the ground are the Kurds, who are basically an Island, so logistics are not secure.
And this doesn't even get into the policy inconsistency that you, Senator McCain, and other neoconservative hawks have: You wants to isolate Iran on the Nuclear Issue leading to a potential air strike there, but have our troops be their allies on the ground in Iraq and Syria. Do you ever have an introspective moment on what the outcome of all that might be?
Sincerely,
A Concerned Citizen
Monday, August 31, 2015
Friday, August 28, 2015
Dear GOP
On 9/11/2001, 2977 were killed and we entered the War on Terror and threw in Iraq for good measure, since we were in a war mode and someone convinced us that Sadam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.
Since 12/14/2012, 84,523 Americans have been killed by guns in the U.S. Yet, you block everything and refuse to negotiate anything.
How can 2977 Deaths generate $2.4 trillion dollars in expenditures and 84,523 deaths cannot even generate some small changes in policy?
That does not strike me as either conservative nor embracing of family values, which includes safety for the citizens of a country.
Why can't the GOP lead on this issue? The Democrats would support any progress at all. Doing nothing just isn't right.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Citizen
Since 12/14/2012, 84,523 Americans have been killed by guns in the U.S. Yet, you block everything and refuse to negotiate anything.
How can 2977 Deaths generate $2.4 trillion dollars in expenditures and 84,523 deaths cannot even generate some small changes in policy?
That does not strike me as either conservative nor embracing of family values, which includes safety for the citizens of a country.
Why can't the GOP lead on this issue? The Democrats would support any progress at all. Doing nothing just isn't right.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Citizen
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Factory Man Shows What It Takes to win in Globalization and the Cost
Factory Man by Beth Macy is well worth the read. It lays out the history of the furniture industry in America and how it has been effected by globalization.
It is focused on the Virginia part of the industry, so some parts of the industry are perhaps underserved as to how they have coped with the reality that is China.
Those who know me personally know that I am a strong believer in globalization and the need to compete in it. But this book lays out that it is expensive to compete, there are various strategies in which to compete, there are losers in the process, and China does not always compete fairly as measured by international rules for Fair Trade. I was unaware of how the latter occurred, but the book explains that exports can be at cost and the Chinese government will send a check to the company for having exports giving them a profit. And the pricing could even be below cost because the government check will provide a profit. Combine that with low Chinese wages in 2002 (they have been rising), low standards for worker safety, and low standards for environmental protection and you have a significant pricing advantage.
What I didn't understand, since my wife liked to buy expensive high end furniture that was not made in China, was how widespread Chinese furniture has made inroads into the U.S. market as younger people only care about cost and don't mind throwing the furniture away when it breaks down.
This expanding of the "I Don't Care About Quality" population has had one effect that has stunned me. While I was happy buying older wood furniture in my early working career, young folks today prefer new and cheap, and the secondary market for older wood furniture has collapsed because of the inexpensiveness of new furniture. I always thought quality furniture would maintain a certain value and I was wrong about that.
While I wrote this to hopefully promote purchases of this well written and documented book, I also want to use some facts in it to debunk any idea that trickle down economics works when globalization and technology are running amok reducing costs of manufacturing and reducing the size of the labor force required for that production. This creative destruction is both a strength of the capitalist economy but not everyone participates in it equally.
"Between 2001 and 2012, 63,300 American factories closed their doors and five million American Factory jobs went away......During that same time period, the number of people receiving food stamps tripled." I know many conservative bloggers think many of those receiving food stamps are somehow unworthy, but they are desperate people and many of them have gone on social security disability out of desperation. They were not well educated to begin with and they already live/worked in a right to work state, so you cannot blame unions.
While hopefully, some of those people retrained and redeployed themselves successfully, I have no doubt that in small town America, many are working in retail and other low wage/low benefit work. If there is any one reason for the anger in America at the politicians and the 1% who live large from the benefits of globalization (and even those of us who fell out the 1% but have wealth), I believe it is the carving up of hope for a continuation of solid middle class life in small town America. Real people, who don't have either the smarts or the desire to move to the global economy, are stuck, know they are stuck, and are unhappy about being stuck. And they know just enough to blame globalization.
Yes, the goods from China are cheap, but 5 mm people can not afford to buy them and they are angry.
And my point about tax cuts, is it hasn't generated well paying jobs for many of those 5 mm people and it didn't generate the tax revenues needed to pay for the War on Terror. If we had had a balanced budget in 2005 - 2007, we would be in a much better place today. When the economy booms, you should have a budget surplus and it is the government's responsibility to do so. That way when you are in recession, you can run a deficit with a clean conscience.
It is focused on the Virginia part of the industry, so some parts of the industry are perhaps underserved as to how they have coped with the reality that is China.
Those who know me personally know that I am a strong believer in globalization and the need to compete in it. But this book lays out that it is expensive to compete, there are various strategies in which to compete, there are losers in the process, and China does not always compete fairly as measured by international rules for Fair Trade. I was unaware of how the latter occurred, but the book explains that exports can be at cost and the Chinese government will send a check to the company for having exports giving them a profit. And the pricing could even be below cost because the government check will provide a profit. Combine that with low Chinese wages in 2002 (they have been rising), low standards for worker safety, and low standards for environmental protection and you have a significant pricing advantage.
What I didn't understand, since my wife liked to buy expensive high end furniture that was not made in China, was how widespread Chinese furniture has made inroads into the U.S. market as younger people only care about cost and don't mind throwing the furniture away when it breaks down.
This expanding of the "I Don't Care About Quality" population has had one effect that has stunned me. While I was happy buying older wood furniture in my early working career, young folks today prefer new and cheap, and the secondary market for older wood furniture has collapsed because of the inexpensiveness of new furniture. I always thought quality furniture would maintain a certain value and I was wrong about that.
While I wrote this to hopefully promote purchases of this well written and documented book, I also want to use some facts in it to debunk any idea that trickle down economics works when globalization and technology are running amok reducing costs of manufacturing and reducing the size of the labor force required for that production. This creative destruction is both a strength of the capitalist economy but not everyone participates in it equally.
"Between 2001 and 2012, 63,300 American factories closed their doors and five million American Factory jobs went away......During that same time period, the number of people receiving food stamps tripled." I know many conservative bloggers think many of those receiving food stamps are somehow unworthy, but they are desperate people and many of them have gone on social security disability out of desperation. They were not well educated to begin with and they already live/worked in a right to work state, so you cannot blame unions.
While hopefully, some of those people retrained and redeployed themselves successfully, I have no doubt that in small town America, many are working in retail and other low wage/low benefit work. If there is any one reason for the anger in America at the politicians and the 1% who live large from the benefits of globalization (and even those of us who fell out the 1% but have wealth), I believe it is the carving up of hope for a continuation of solid middle class life in small town America. Real people, who don't have either the smarts or the desire to move to the global economy, are stuck, know they are stuck, and are unhappy about being stuck. And they know just enough to blame globalization.
Yes, the goods from China are cheap, but 5 mm people can not afford to buy them and they are angry.
And my point about tax cuts, is it hasn't generated well paying jobs for many of those 5 mm people and it didn't generate the tax revenues needed to pay for the War on Terror. If we had had a balanced budget in 2005 - 2007, we would be in a much better place today. When the economy booms, you should have a budget surplus and it is the government's responsibility to do so. That way when you are in recession, you can run a deficit with a clean conscience.
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Why Jimmy Carter Will Be Remembered by History Better Than He is Today
I am glad I voted for Carter in the 1976 election and have no regrets that I voted for Ronald Reagan in the 1980 election. I don't remember the specific points that motivated those choices, but I know they reflected considered thought.
But I have been dismayed by the caricature of Carter's Presidency as a failure. He did some good things and created the framework on which much of our subsequent progress was based. And he has certainly led an honorable life for which he should be admired.
This column lays that out.
link to Column
But I have been dismayed by the caricature of Carter's Presidency as a failure. He did some good things and created the framework on which much of our subsequent progress was based. And he has certainly led an honorable life for which he should be admired.
This column lays that out.
link to Column
Monday, August 24, 2015
Friday, August 14, 2015
Why Didn't President Obama Say This
When he made the case for the Iranian Nuclear Deal?
Fareed Zakaria makes a clean coherent case for affirmation of the Deal.
FZ column on the Deal
Fareed Zakaria makes a clean coherent case for affirmation of the Deal.
FZ column on the Deal
A Republican Understands What is Needed to Combat Climate Change
Unfortunately, his name is George Bush and he abdicated on the subject when he was President.
Thanks to Michael Gerson for bringing this to my attention. He also understands it.
link to Michael Gerson column
Thanks to Michael Gerson for bringing this to my attention. He also understands it.
link to Michael Gerson column
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Thomas Friedman Channels My Thoughts
Or maybe I channel his, having been reading him for so long.
How Israel Should View the Iranian Deal Column
And Mark Cuban says something reasonable about while he wants to be a Republican, they won't let him and he doesn't want to be one (nor is he a liberal Democrat) while they are the way they are. So he says he is an independent, but I bet he votes for Hillary.
Link to Dallas Mavericks Blog on Mark Cuban
How Israel Should View the Iranian Deal Column
And Mark Cuban says something reasonable about while he wants to be a Republican, they won't let him and he doesn't want to be one (nor is he a liberal Democrat) while they are the way they are. So he says he is an independent, but I bet he votes for Hillary.
Link to Dallas Mavericks Blog on Mark Cuban
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
The Wing Nuts are in Charge
One of the few laws of science that transforms its way into behaviors and I frequently underestimate is that of reaction.
When the GOP establishment decided to pander to the Tea Party, I did not anticipate a reaction on the left. But there has been.
When Bernie Sanders draws 28,000 to a rally based upon a few tweets and Facebook postings, you know people on the left are angry at the world. I also know this because I get a daily email from a liberal blog and I see the anger there. There is little support for Hillary there and a lot of anger at the Tea Party GOP and support for radical ideas that (i) will never pass and (ii) might well be as dangerous as some of the Tea Party desires.
And of course we know from the Rick Santelli rant that started the Tea Party and many other's Tea Party rants that the Tea Party is angry at everybody who doesn't agree with them.
And with Donald Trump leading the splintered polls despite his obvious unqualifications, you know anger is driving this and generating an equal offsetting reaction on the left.
I did not anticipate that and if responsible people don't stand up and tell the Wing Nuts they are crazy, this could spin in unanticipated directions.
Thank you Eugene Robinson for this a.m.'s inspiration
When the GOP establishment decided to pander to the Tea Party, I did not anticipate a reaction on the left. But there has been.
When Bernie Sanders draws 28,000 to a rally based upon a few tweets and Facebook postings, you know people on the left are angry at the world. I also know this because I get a daily email from a liberal blog and I see the anger there. There is little support for Hillary there and a lot of anger at the Tea Party GOP and support for radical ideas that (i) will never pass and (ii) might well be as dangerous as some of the Tea Party desires.
And of course we know from the Rick Santelli rant that started the Tea Party and many other's Tea Party rants that the Tea Party is angry at everybody who doesn't agree with them.
And with Donald Trump leading the splintered polls despite his obvious unqualifications, you know anger is driving this and generating an equal offsetting reaction on the left.
I did not anticipate that and if responsible people don't stand up and tell the Wing Nuts they are crazy, this could spin in unanticipated directions.
Thank you Eugene Robinson for this a.m.'s inspiration
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Conservative Policy Stances Will Harm U.S. Prosperity
in 3 ways.
1st, a failure to fund transportation infrastructure will eventually raise the cost of transportation to levels that are uncompetitive globally harming a trend of jobs returning to the U.S. which is now happening.
2nd, a failure to even think that their is a role in policy for discouraging over consumption of food leading to obesity and diabetes, the cost of the latter will bankrupt Medicaid and possibly Medicare, and the voters will not support the government defunding either, because to do so will mean seeing obese people dying in the gutter (or some close equivalent to that). Not to mention the issue of dementia which is already bankrupting Medicaid. The cost of this with a balanced budget will raise taxes harming global competitiveness.
3rd, a failure to believe that we can do something about greenhouse gases shows an uncharacteristic lack of believe in American ingenuity when there is a monetary incentive to be have ingenuity. And what is the cost of this failure, the wipe out of billions and even trillions of dollars of value in real estate as ocean levels rise and coastal cities and beachfronts are made uninhabitable. When you wipe out so much capital, you will inevitably cause a reduction in economic activity and loss of investment value.
I am almost ready to put all my savings in cash or at least in International Investments but I guess this will take some time to crash as even the most pessimistic view of sea level rise suggests 50 years before the worst happens all the time and by then I will be 112 and living off my long term care policy if I am alive.
Thank you to the following column for this a.m.'s inspiration.
Link to Roger Cohen
1st, a failure to fund transportation infrastructure will eventually raise the cost of transportation to levels that are uncompetitive globally harming a trend of jobs returning to the U.S. which is now happening.
2nd, a failure to even think that their is a role in policy for discouraging over consumption of food leading to obesity and diabetes, the cost of the latter will bankrupt Medicaid and possibly Medicare, and the voters will not support the government defunding either, because to do so will mean seeing obese people dying in the gutter (or some close equivalent to that). Not to mention the issue of dementia which is already bankrupting Medicaid. The cost of this with a balanced budget will raise taxes harming global competitiveness.
3rd, a failure to believe that we can do something about greenhouse gases shows an uncharacteristic lack of believe in American ingenuity when there is a monetary incentive to be have ingenuity. And what is the cost of this failure, the wipe out of billions and even trillions of dollars of value in real estate as ocean levels rise and coastal cities and beachfronts are made uninhabitable. When you wipe out so much capital, you will inevitably cause a reduction in economic activity and loss of investment value.
I am almost ready to put all my savings in cash or at least in International Investments but I guess this will take some time to crash as even the most pessimistic view of sea level rise suggests 50 years before the worst happens all the time and by then I will be 112 and living off my long term care policy if I am alive.
Thank you to the following column for this a.m.'s inspiration.
Link to Roger Cohen
Thursday, August 6, 2015
I am a Conservative Liberatarian
And I watch Jon Stewart occasionally.
I believe in a balanced budget and I believe in a strong national defense. There has to be a balance.
I also believe in Keynesian Economics and Monetary Economics. There has to be a balance.
I find war something to be avoided if Diplomacy can solve the problem. I also recognize that we live in a diverse world and that world can effect us. So we have to be pragmatic.
I also believe in Individual Responsibility and Individual Freedom to do what the F*ck I want to as long as I don't disturb someone else. Which is the problem with the NRA, who I ought to agree with, but the failure of gun owners to not disturb the sanctity of other's space prevents me from doing so, and should cause the NRA to change their positions.
This philosophy also means I support the rights of individual to make decisions regarding their health and well being within reason. Some might quarrel with that but I differ as a matter of belief in individual rights.
I also think avoiding global calamity is something to work towards which is why I support efforts to control global warming and diplomacy.
I truly believe all this is consistent with a traditional conservative libertarian point of view and I vote Democratic all the time because the GOP is crazy non-libertarian wanting to dictate how individual people have to live.
I believe in a balanced budget and I believe in a strong national defense. There has to be a balance.
I also believe in Keynesian Economics and Monetary Economics. There has to be a balance.
I find war something to be avoided if Diplomacy can solve the problem. I also recognize that we live in a diverse world and that world can effect us. So we have to be pragmatic.
I also believe in Individual Responsibility and Individual Freedom to do what the F*ck I want to as long as I don't disturb someone else. Which is the problem with the NRA, who I ought to agree with, but the failure of gun owners to not disturb the sanctity of other's space prevents me from doing so, and should cause the NRA to change their positions.
This philosophy also means I support the rights of individual to make decisions regarding their health and well being within reason. Some might quarrel with that but I differ as a matter of belief in individual rights.
I also think avoiding global calamity is something to work towards which is why I support efforts to control global warming and diplomacy.
I truly believe all this is consistent with a traditional conservative libertarian point of view and I vote Democratic all the time because the GOP is crazy non-libertarian wanting to dictate how individual people have to live.
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
isn't Insurance Conservative?
Many conservatives think people should be responsible and pay for their insurance so they are protected from all types of things that people need to be protected for.
But when society needs to buy some insurance for the collective good of society, they fight it tooth and nail because it will cost society some money. I am of course referring to Global Warming, which many conservatives will acknowledge is happening, but believe it is inevitable and not necessarily caused by human activity.
I do think human activity contributes to global warming because that is the science that I have discussed many blogs ago.
But my real question for conservatives, is this. If society can come up with some market based policies that encourage less production of global warming gasses, shouldn't we do that in the hope that it will make a positive change in the shrinking of the ice cap and produce lower sea levels. I am of course referring to Cap & Trade, which was a GOP idea a long time ago.
Wouldn't a Cap & Trade policy be a sound insurance policy for the unknown consequences, but knowable risk of global warming?
That is my question for RedStateVT?
But when society needs to buy some insurance for the collective good of society, they fight it tooth and nail because it will cost society some money. I am of course referring to Global Warming, which many conservatives will acknowledge is happening, but believe it is inevitable and not necessarily caused by human activity.
I do think human activity contributes to global warming because that is the science that I have discussed many blogs ago.
But my real question for conservatives, is this. If society can come up with some market based policies that encourage less production of global warming gasses, shouldn't we do that in the hope that it will make a positive change in the shrinking of the ice cap and produce lower sea levels. I am of course referring to Cap & Trade, which was a GOP idea a long time ago.
Wouldn't a Cap & Trade policy be a sound insurance policy for the unknown consequences, but knowable risk of global warming?
That is my question for RedStateVT?
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Will This be the Spark That Get's Israel Moving on Leaving the West Bank?
I almost wrote the title "I am ashamed to be Jewish" on this, but I am still proud of my heritage, but not Israeli policies toward the West Bank.
Even Bibi Netanyahu said "We are shocked by it, we condemn it fully....we decry it as terrorism."
He was referring to the news that radical conservative Jewish settlers on the West Bank committed an act of arson burning a Palestinian family to death. They sprayed Hebrew graffiti and drew a Star of David and watched the people burn, not giving one iota of care about the suffering they directly caused. That is something to be ashamed of and it is criminal.
It only reconfirms in my mind the necessity of Israel doing on the West Bank what they did in Gaza. Uproot the settlers and return to the 1948 borders with some adjustments for reality and let the PLO govern. There are radical people on both sides and they can only be controlled by their own people. Governments have to hold each other accountable for that control.
Of course this has about as much chance of happening as the GOP agreeing their support for the NRA position on background checks and automatic weapons needs to change.
But one can always hope.
Even Bibi Netanyahu said "We are shocked by it, we condemn it fully....we decry it as terrorism."
He was referring to the news that radical conservative Jewish settlers on the West Bank committed an act of arson burning a Palestinian family to death. They sprayed Hebrew graffiti and drew a Star of David and watched the people burn, not giving one iota of care about the suffering they directly caused. That is something to be ashamed of and it is criminal.
It only reconfirms in my mind the necessity of Israel doing on the West Bank what they did in Gaza. Uproot the settlers and return to the 1948 borders with some adjustments for reality and let the PLO govern. There are radical people on both sides and they can only be controlled by their own people. Governments have to hold each other accountable for that control.
Of course this has about as much chance of happening as the GOP agreeing their support for the NRA position on background checks and automatic weapons needs to change.
But one can always hope.
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