*****
"I think it's safe to say, ladies and gentlemen, that houses for people who cannot afford houses is a failed experiment."
"Central planning does not work. Central planning gave us the Soviet Union. Central planning gave us North Korea. Central planning gave us Cuba. Tell me if you want to replicate that." -- Rush Limbaugh, 9/15/08
*****
Not everyone cares for Rush, but not everything he says is off the wall, either. Most of the time, his comments about economics are very well measured and on solid ground. He makes some observations that provide a very good perspective on the current turmoil: "Capitalism is not the problem." The article by Robert Higgs that he references is "Ticking Time Bomb Explodes, Public Is Shocked." With regard to Higgs' article, I submit that what he calls "democracy in action" is more like "mob rule." America's Founders knew the danger of "mob rule," even under the guise of "democracy." This is why they jettisoned the Articles of Confederation in favor of the Constitutional Republic. Unfortunately, citizens have gotten away from the lessons provided by our Founders and by sound economics. Thus, we have this kind of a mess in which our votes will go toward the candidate we think most likely will save us from our problems instead of toward candidates that espouse economic freedom and responsibility.
Socialists/collectivists/central planners love economic crises such as this, even though it stems from their policies and not a free (ie, capitalist) market, because they can then turn around and use it to shore up their calls for more centralized control. I will be open to thinking that such a scheme is good only when someone can demonstrate with empirical data (proof) the nation or nations that have benefited politically and economically from a command system economy. (For those who are tempted to say "China," first consider this: China's economy has grown since it made very small moves toward a market economy. The more the central planning, the less favorable the economic results.)
Well, there's a lot here to digest, but this forms the crux of how much longer we will enjoy our American liberties. I have a feeling that we will see a lot more of them evaporate ere this all dies down.
"I think it's safe to say, ladies and gentlemen, that houses for people who cannot afford houses is a failed experiment."
"Central planning does not work. Central planning gave us the Soviet Union. Central planning gave us North Korea. Central planning gave us Cuba. Tell me if you want to replicate that." -- Rush Limbaugh, 9/15/08
*****
Not everyone cares for Rush, but not everything he says is off the wall, either. Most of the time, his comments about economics are very well measured and on solid ground. He makes some observations that provide a very good perspective on the current turmoil: "Capitalism is not the problem." The article by Robert Higgs that he references is "Ticking Time Bomb Explodes, Public Is Shocked." With regard to Higgs' article, I submit that what he calls "democracy in action" is more like "mob rule." America's Founders knew the danger of "mob rule," even under the guise of "democracy." This is why they jettisoned the Articles of Confederation in favor of the Constitutional Republic. Unfortunately, citizens have gotten away from the lessons provided by our Founders and by sound economics. Thus, we have this kind of a mess in which our votes will go toward the candidate we think most likely will save us from our problems instead of toward candidates that espouse economic freedom and responsibility.
Socialists/collectivists/central planners love economic crises such as this, even though it stems from their policies and not a free (ie, capitalist) market, because they can then turn around and use it to shore up their calls for more centralized control. I will be open to thinking that such a scheme is good only when someone can demonstrate with empirical data (proof) the nation or nations that have benefited politically and economically from a command system economy. (For those who are tempted to say "China," first consider this: China's economy has grown since it made very small moves toward a market economy. The more the central planning, the less favorable the economic results.)
Well, there's a lot here to digest, but this forms the crux of how much longer we will enjoy our American liberties. I have a feeling that we will see a lot more of them evaporate ere this all dies down.
2 comments:
Well said.
Sometimes the reforms are worse than the problems that foment their birth.
We are probably going to find that truth out... again.
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