Archive for April 30th, 2008
NATO is stepping up and telling Russia to cool its jets. Russia has threatened military action against Georgia for almost a week now due to tension with two breakaway provinces on the Russian-Georgian border.
I’ll say it again: Russia needs to be put back in its place. Putin is a bit too cock-sure. And the West has stood back and let this happen. You know the old saying: the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Everyone should be waking up to Thomas Friedman’s column in the New York Times today. He puts it plain and clear why McCain-Clinton’s ponzi-scheme “gas tax break” is a ruinous plan for an already nose-diving “energy policy”.
“If you are going to use tax policy to shape energy strategy then you want to raise taxes on the things you want to discourage — gasoline consumption and gas-guzzling cars — and you want to lower taxes on the things you want to encourage — new, renewable energy technologies. We are doing just the opposite.” - Thomas Friedman
Americans should be outraged by their elected officials squabbling over energy policy in Washington. Has the oil industry paid everyone off??? Otherwise Congress’ actions and inaction simply make no sense at all.
The National Review’s Deroy Murdock laid out a comprehensive plan to get the economy back on track today. Hopefully somebody in Washington is reading his column. Preferably someone at the White House, the Treasury Department and/or the Federal Reserve. But don’t hold your breath while Bush is in office.
Among other things, Murdock argues for incentives to stimulate the economy rather than hand-outs, baby-sitting and outright pandering. He is right on the money, arguing that incentives will foster invention and innovation and self-reliance rather than a knee-jerk open hand to Washington when the going gets rough.
The US is a nation built on invention, innovation and definitely self-reliance. And that is what our economy needs right now.
We do, however, need to keep a safety net for those who fall. Not a French or Dutch-style safety net, but a safety net all the same.
Realistic fears of health costs, lack of health insurance and the looming threat of losing one’s home are all things that stifle invention, innovation and self-reliance. Because these real aspects of American life are debilitating to a great many of us. When you don’t believe your government, your country, gives a damn about your life and isn’t looking out for your welfare, then you psychologically start to erode your own sense of self and ambition. And this is the prevailing mood of the country.
A safety net of universal health care is necessary. And it is a long time coming. Universal health care, working hand-in-hand with tax incentives, would foster confidence, creativity, ambition and would lead to innovation and invention. Not to mention: self-reliance.
Think about how much money we throw away on health insurance, health costs and doctor/hospital visits each year. Think about how the fear of these costs keeps us frozen in our tracks! The money we spend on health care alone could spur a new wave of innovation and invention - if only we didn’t have to worry about health costs.
One can dream …
Unfortunately, Murdock backs McCain - believing that McCain is good for his word and will veto any bill laden with pork. Plu-eeze. If McCain gets in the White House, he isn’t going to “recall” saying any such thing.
But, that is besides the point. On fixing the economy, Deroy Murdock needs to be heard.