Plunging Towards Gomorrah
Archive for March, 2010
Progressive Amnesia
Mar 31st
The amount of media attention about the “unhinged” tea party movement is ridiculous. At the very heart of this smear campaign is the Left’s intolerance. What else can explain their faux outrage about “alleged” incidents? Democrats act like the world began on January 20, 2009. Here’s a great video that talks about the absolute insanity of 2004. This type of stuff could be found at pretty much any “progressive” anti-war event…
The last person on the video speculates that Democrats may have to “kill people” to get what they want. Sounds like headine news to me. The Democrats are likely to get wiped out come November because labeling a group of Americans as racist nutjobs isn’t a good idea when a large number of that group are independent voters. This isn’t a new tactic by the left. This came up during the 2008 election as well. I guess the left just feels like sticking with a winning playbook.
It seems mainstream journalists were unfazed by an army of Bush is Hitler signs, but one bad apple at a GOP crowd gets front page news. I’m going to go out on a limb here, but perhaps the media attention on the tea party has something to do with media bias. From the very beginning any criticism of Obama and the Democrats has be equated with racism. It’s such a shallow argument from an ideology that takes great pride in intelligence.
The Young and the Uninformed
Mar 30th
One of the most vocal groups in favor of ObamaCare is the young voter bloc. It’s shocking because this bill hurts this group the most. Young people are already contributing to two programs that are going bankrupt and whose benefits they’ll never see. Thanks to ObamaCare young workers are forced to get health care by law or be fined, all in the name of subsidizing free health care for elderly Americans. Oh, by the way, if you’re a young person who already has health care your premium is going to go up at least 17%. Need I mention the fact that some major corporations estimate that the bill will raise their operating costs substantially? Even Steamboat Ski Resort is uneasy about the fines they’ll have to pay on behalf of its seasonal workers. I wonder who will end up paying for these extra costs? How about the uninformed youth of America!
Or, to put it in simpler terms, they’re getting f***ed by the same people who pushed the “F*** the Vote” campaign and the Democrats. Had the younger voters taken the time to learn something about risk pools, insurance, and the experience of Massachusetts and Maine using the same kind of mandates, they’d have told Rock the Vote to f*** off. They still have the opportunity to deliver that message to Democrats in November.
Shouldn’t young educated Americans know this issue better than anyone? That’s a rhetorical question because I already know the answer. Of course they don’t understand. Outside of the business college at the local university the higher education centers don’t teach things like balanced budgets. Instead, we get such practical programs as Queer Studies, Gender Studies and other pseudo-academic pursuits in the name of pursuing faux social justice instead of excellence. A recently graduated student may well understand the principles of smart growth, thinking green, and the concept of “fair share.” However, none of those things matter if everyone is going bankrupt.
The Young and the Uninformed
That’s the most puzzling thing. In 2000 the United States was headed toward bankruptcy. In 2002 we added the Department of Homeland Security. Shortly after that we added the colossal prescription drug bill. In 2009, TARP added a trillion more to our national debt. In 2010, we’re going bankrupt at an even faster pace and now Obama has passed another entitlement we can’t afford. The question I have for young voters is this: do you want to live in a banana republic in your lifetime?
Tom Harkin vs. Jason Mattera
Mar 29th
Jason Mattera is now the new hero of The Daily Plunge. Anyone who takes on the American treasure that is Senator Tom Harkin automatically receives legendary status. Mattera asked Harkin directly about the Senator’s shameless claim that health insurance risk pools are comparable to racial segregation. Harkin’s response is in the priceless video below.
Senator Harkin tries to deny he made such a statement, but the pork-loving politician from Iowa must have a short memory. I touched on this briefly yesterday, but the mainstream press should be the ones calling out politicians for making idiotic statements like the ones Harkin made about health care. Harkin’s comparison did nothing to advance the debate.
Right-Wing Reading List: The All-New Handy Dandy List of Verboten Words
Mar 28th
See what happens when you use words, particularly insensitive ones? Innocent people get hurt.
According to Democrats in the House and Senate, traditional media outlets, Chris Matthews and a host of other media watchdogs, the greatest threat to our national security is Words. Apparently, Republican leaders have been using words as a means of terror, inciting violence among the ignorant masses of the party’s electorate.
Since the passage of the health care reform bill – which will provide hassle-free and inexpensive medical care to every man, woman and child in America, Mexico and Nicaragua – there have been a rash of unsubstantiated attacks, slurs and threats made on our beloved saviors, Democratic lawmakers and the Chosen One himself, Barack Obama. Remember, the lack of any evidence is evidence that anything we believe, and therefore say, is true.
America’s elite in the media and the government have wisely decided to nip this virtual threat in the bud before it threatens to engulf the entire nation in a bloody civil war, or a hotly contested Scrabble game. So, if you’re considered right of center and oppose legislation like the health care reform bill, I’ve compiled the following All-New Handy Dandy List of Verboten Words. As you may recall, last year’s list was limited to two words: John Edwards. Since then, the political atmosphere has changed dramatically.
It is essential during out nation’s darkest hour that we refrain from using these words in speech, thought or written word since they may needlessly fan the flames of the pretend violence currently engulfing our once great nation: Aim, Ammunition, Army, Arrow, Attack, Barbed Wire, Bare, Batter, Battering Ram, Battle, Battleground, Bay of Pigs, Bear, Bomb, Bow, Brick, Budget, Campaign, Capitalism, Catapult, Chalk (a medium used to outline dead bodies), Charlie Rangel, Chop, Cigarette, Constitution, Crossfire, Crusade, Death, Debt, Deficit, Defense, Destroy, Election, Eric Massa, Explosion, Islam, First Amendment, Freedom, Gerrymander, Hanging (unless it’s attached to “Chad”), Harangue, Harass, Iran, John Edwards, Harpoon, Launch, Liberty, Maneuver, Masonry, Military, Militia, Mine, Minefield, Missile, Mohamed, Molotov Cocktail, Muslim, Muster, Mutually Assured Destruction, Nuclear (and especially Nuculer), Offense, Party (see Tea), Power, Re-arm, Re-district, Reload, Repeal (perhaps the most inciting of all these words), Republic, Rifle, Rock, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, Second Amendment, Shoot, Shotgun, Sniper, String, Submarine, Superpower, Target, Tax, Tea, Threat, Throw, Torpedo, Transparency, Verizon, Wolf, Wussie.
As we get closer to the November elections, new words are sure to be added to the list. Check back regularly here at The Daily Plunge so you don’t accidentally speak, write or think any of the forbidden words. Let’s face it, life is so much easier when we simply allow others to think and act for us. I plan to spend the extra time finally mastering Mario Kart. Imagine all the people, winning every race. I hope someday you’ll join us…
Unintelligent Debate
Mar 28th
Whatever happened to intelligent debate? There seems like there’s less and less of it these days. Debating the common man has become almost pointless. Who has time to cut through the talking points, misconceptions, myths, and partisanship anymore? We live in the information age, but too many people have crawled into their caves.
Research suggests that conservatives are more likely to read “opposing views” than their liberal counterparts. Perhaps this is the reason liberals have such a difficult time understanding the arguments of conservatives. It’s just much easier to call conservatives names. The left’s angle on the tea party movement is very clear. Brand the entire group as mindless racists even though a majority of Americans are opposed to ObamaCare. Last week when Congressman Emanuel Cleaver claimed he was spit on and called names there was no evidence to support the claim. Even though there were thousands of people around and his staff was holding up phones to record everything that was going on (a point I’ve seen no one in the press make). What does it say about a political ideology and its supporters when instead of defending ObamaCare they’d rather call their opponents racists?
Four administrators of the “I bet we can find 10,000,000 people who think Sarah Palin is an idiot” group on Facebook go to Stanford. Is this how they practice intelligent debate at that prestigious university? Why is okay to dress up as a vagina at a Palin event, but it’s radical to oppose ObamaCare? For the hipster dufus, protesting anyone who is a Republican is cool. Getting your news from The Daily Show is cool. Plus, calling the opposition stupid is encouraged. Remember the left also hated and looked down at Ronald Reagan. Certainly 1/6th of the people who voted for the most unqualified person ever to become president might think Sarah Palin is an idiot. They have to do something to “feel good” about themselves.
Four six years the United States had a very vocal anti-war movement that was full of radicals and hate speech. The examples of radical behavior were a lot clearer back then, except I never heard about it on TV. I don’t remember the Democratic leadership calling for the crowds to “tone it down.” Now one Congressman yells fire in a crowded room and I’m supposed to believe him? If we’ve learned anything during this reform process it’s that the Democrats will lie to advance their agenda.
For an idea of how shallow these people are just read this column by Courtland Miloy that was published in the Washington Post:
I know how the “tea party” people feel, the anger, venom and bile that many of them showed during the recent House vote on health-care reform. I know because I want to spit on them, take one of their “Obama Plan White Slavery” signs and knock every racist and homophobic tooth out of their Cro-Magnon heads. I am sick of these people — and those who make excuses for them and their victim-whiner mentality.
How’s that for constructive dialogue about an alleged incident? Racism is a serious issue in this nation but why aren’t people like Courtland Milloy, Emanuel Cleaver, and Randall Robinson called out for making incendiary claims that are untrue? Are wolf attack victims allowed to cry wolf because they’ve been attacked in the past? What I’d love to hear from the wise minds on the left are some logical arguments. Branding the opposition with lies is a bit totalitarian for my taste and a certain sign they’re losing the debate.
Start Preparing for Higher Taxes
Mar 26th
Right on cue, Charles Krauthammer has written an article on the Value Added Tax (VAT). Selling people an entitlement is much easier than a massive tax increase. As I’ve stated before, Europe had a lot more flexibility with their budges because the United States was providing defense during the Cold War. Things just aren’t as simple in the United States.
Obama set out to be a consequential president, one on the order of Ronald Reagan. With the VAT, Obama’s triumph will be complete. He will have succeeded in reversing Reaganism. Liberals have long complained that Reagan’s strategy was to starve the (governmental) beast in order to shrink it: First, cut taxes; then, ultimately, you have to reduce government spending.
Obama’s strategy is exactly the opposite: Expand the beast, and then feed it. Spend first — which then forces taxation. Now, with the institution of universal health care, we are becoming the full entitlement state and the beast will have to be fed. The VAT is the only money tree in creation that’s large enough.
Americans are desperately in need of honest and adult leadership. President Obama is just trying to increase the welfare state. He’s framed the entire health care debate dishonestly. ObamaCare isn’t deficit neutral and the way that the White House and the Democrats in Congress cooked the books for the CBO is just disgraceful.
I’m just not sure Americans are ready to hear the truth. We can’t afford these programs. It would be nice if we could make things better by nationalizing health care, automobile manufacturers, and student loans. The truth is we can’t have it all, but no one has the guts to tell the American people.
Where Do We Go from Here?
Mar 24th
It’s time to put ObamaCare behind me and safely on the dusty back shelf I call my cerebral cortex. There are plenty of battles ahead, but other issues loom on the horizon, like the ever-controversial kickball postseason. The Democrats are busy giving themselves high fives and Tom Harkin is promising to add the public option in next year’s budget. Even under the rosiest scenario there are going to be less Democrats in Washington this time next year.
The problem Democrats have is that they just passed a massively unpopular bill and they don’t have anything they can offer the American people that’s popular. I guess they could try to pass the climate change bill (a.k.a., cap and trade), but that’s probably hung up forever in the Senate. They could tackle the immigration issue. However, the Democrats are in favor of amnesty, which is another unpopular topic. What about the Value Added Tax (VAT)? Mmmmmmmmm. That sounds good!
One pundit who has been absolutely outstanding in his predictive powers over the past year is Charles Krauthammer. He predicted early on that ObamaCare would pass and he never wavered, even in January after Brown’s election. Krauthammer believes that a national sales tax in inevitable.
I’m not exactly sure how the President is going to make this case to the American people. Passing a Utopian entitlement is easy. Passing a massive tax increase during a severe recession won’t be very popular. What happens if the Supreme Court strikes down ObamaCare? There’s a chance the individual mandate will be declared unconstitutional. Unless there’s a massive economic boom in the next six months things are likely to get worse for Obama and the Democrats.
Mitt Romney and RomneyCare
Mar 24th
Mitt Romney would seem to be the person who will benefit the most from the political demise of Obama. There’s no other Republican that ran in 2008 that has a proven record. While Romney has a track record of success in troubling situations he’s also saddled with RomneyCare.
The issue of health care wasn’t settled when Obama signed the bill into law yesterday. This is going to be hotly contested issue for years to come. That’s why the events in Massachusetts are going to be an important factor.
Like the bill that President Obama signed on Sunday, the 2006 Massachusetts plan was sold to voters on the now-familiar promise that it would reduce costs and lower unnecessary emergency room visits. That’s not what happened.
Since the bill became law, the state’s total direct health-care spending has increased by a remarkable 52 percent. Medicaid spending has gone from less than $6 billion a year to more the $9 billion. Many consumers have seen double-digit percentage increases in their premiums.
Even more striking, the 2006 law has done little to ease the burden on emergency rooms, a central goal of all heath care reform plans. A report by the Boston Globe found that in the first two years of the program, the state’s ER costs actually rose by 17 percent. “They said that ER visits would drop by 75 percent, and it hasn’t been even close to that,” said State Treasurer Tim Cahill, who is currently running for governor as an Independent. “It hasn’t changed people’s habits. It hasn’t been successful at getting people to use less expensive alternatives.”
Nothing about the problems of RomneyCare in Massachusetts should be surprising. This is the inevitable outcome of government intervention in a complex market. Politicians always overestimate the benefits and underestimate the costs. The question going forward is, will Romney defend his record in Massachusetts or will he have another “I’ve seen the light” moment?
There’s something to be said about using the states as the testing ground for reform; however, in the case of ObamaCare there are no useful success stories that we can reference. Health care is about to become more expensive.
Rising Cost of Health Care
Mar 23rd
This video is older than I am but it’s still as relevant today as it has ever been. Sadly Milton Friedman’s logical arguments are no match for a public hungry for entitlements.
How Are We Going to Pay for All of This?
Mar 23rd
Obama signs the Health Care bill and then hands the invoice to a little child who will have to pay for it.
Greg Mankiw always offers a level headed analysis on economic issues. It’s probably a prerequisite for every non-liberal who wants to work at Harvard. It seems the supporters of ObamaCare have put aside all the negative aspects of the bill and have a adopted the lies from the White House and Congress.
The other group is kind of like The Economist. The UK-based news magazine has really lost touch with logic lately. Their argument in favor of ObamaCare is as weak as it is logical. The basic argument is that any bill is better than no bill at all. This is a news magazine that calls itself The Economist?
What’s odd is that when President Bush tried to tackle reforming Social Security no one adopted the “let’s pass something” approach. The Republicans abandoned reform because they feared political backlash. The Democrats are philosophically opposed to fixing any entitlement. It’s in the DNA of the Democratic party to expand and break as many entitlement programs as possible.
Notice that no Republican advocates a serious reform of Medicare. The Democrats are the welfare party, and the Republicans are simply the caretakers of the welfare state. While the left longingly gazes at their Obama posters the President has never said how he’s going to pay for all these goodies. That’s Greg Mankiw’s point.
The Obama administration’s political philosophy is more egalitarian and more communitarian than mine. Their spending programs require much higher taxes than we have now and, indeed, much higher taxes than they have had the temerity to propose. Here is the question I have been wondering about: How long can the President wait before he comes clean with the American people and explains how high taxes needs to rise to pay for his vision of government?
I’ll go one step further because the Republicans aren’t prepared for the serious challenges ahead. The taxes needed to pay for all these programs will have to be enormous. The GOP doesn’t have the guts to tackle the problem. Taxing the rich isn’t going to pay for it all. If people are concerned about the economy right now, just wait until the VAT tax starts.
I’m not sure Obama even cares. Perhaps he just wants to be the guy who gave the U.S. health care. Obama will let some other administration clean up the wreckage. Hey, Lyndon Johnson is still considered a great president and he only got us mired in Vietnam, started the welfare state, and gave us Medicare.
It seems liberals are determined to turn the U.S. into one big giant pyramid scheme. This might last five, fifteen, or twenty-five years, but eventually the whole house of card falls. Progressives love to tell sob stories about the disadvantaged. What about the working man whose paycheck is being siphoned away? Who is helping the forgotten man and how are we going to afford this when he’s out of job?
