tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post6721880762458890647..comments2023-09-15T04:27:57.129-04:00Comments on Commentarama: Conservatives: Beware The CraziesAndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-19539413367173743682009-08-23T23:04:06.700-04:002009-08-23T23:04:06.700-04:00"My view of the Birther controversy is more c..."My view of the Birther controversy is more cynical. I'm guessing that Obama was born in Hawaii."<br /><br />LawHawkSF<br /><br />My view is more surreal. I do not believe that Barack Obama is an actual person. I beleive he is an artificial intelligence program that was created by Bill Gates for Rahm Emanueal. I believe that every appearance is really just a hologram. This is the real reason for the teleprompters. Obama cannot release a birth certificate becasue AI's don't have one. Instead he has a timestamp!<br /><br />Hey, I'm making as much sense as the birthers here!Individualisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11005025873042230314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-40546021598257923202009-08-20T18:01:57.332-04:002009-08-20T18:01:57.332-04:00Pittsburgh Enigma: I think your assessment of the...Pittsburgh Enigma: I think your assessment of the Obama birth certificate is correct. There is no constitutional provision for what to do if a President is found ineligible after the fact, but I have a slightly different view from Andrew's. Nevertheless, it would be dealt with, and I don't think Obama would be able to remain in office. But as you say, then we get Biden, and until a Vice President is put in place via existing law (the 25th Amendment), Nancy Pelosi is a heartbeat away from the White House. <br /><br />My view of the Birther controversy is more cynical. I'm guessing that Obama was born in Hawaii. He's natural born. The idea that he would get this far without someone noticing a potential hazard is very slim. So why doesn't he just release the official document? I think he's saving it for a rainy day. When the Birther controversy reaches its height, Obama releases the document, and a great many conservatives end up with a giant omelet on their faces. It also allows him to continue to ignore demands that he release his full academic and medical records, since anyone continuing to demand them will look like just another Birther.LawHawkRFDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800255923675295515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-12262594887590776542009-08-20T11:42:26.851-04:002009-08-20T11:42:26.851-04:00Andrew--thanks for pointing out that there is a lo...Andrew--thanks for pointing out that there is a lot of public information available on the Fed. As a Tea Party participant, I've seen the occasional sign saying "End the Fed" and the occasional person walking around collecting signatures for an "End the Fed" petition. I just steer clear of these people. But fortunately, most of the people at the tea parties seem to be regular citizens who are fed up with government spending.<br /><br />On the birther issue, I'm of two minds. Even if it's found that there's no legal birth certificate, what then? We get Biden? There are a lot of practical reasons not to go down this road. On the other hand, this isn't like your typical nutjob conspiracy theory. A piece of paper would quickly clear this up. Along with a lot of other information that was never reported about Obama before the election, one can't help wondering if there's something to it all. Ok, I admit I've wondered! ;-) But ever since the questioning has been labeled a movement and been given a name, it's been forever marginalized. As true as any of it might be, I think it would be wise for mainstream conservatives to avoid it. And if anything good comes of this, it might be that any future presidential candidates will be meticulously examined for eligibility.Pittsburgh Enigmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06452716444698202766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-34832216435004083442009-08-20T04:11:26.901-04:002009-08-20T04:11:26.901-04:00Thanks AndrewThanks AndrewSkinners 2 Centshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06637561284569976324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-22812217241780458822009-08-20T01:21:09.205-04:002009-08-20T01:21:09.205-04:00Skinner,
So Mike works for you!! LOL!!
The Fed ...Skinner,<br /><br />So Mike works for you!! LOL!!<br /><br />The Fed is much more open than the conspiracy theorist would have you believe. At some point I may gather some of this information just to dispel the wilder aspects of these theories.<br /><br />And don't get me wrong, I'm not thrilled with much that the Fed has done. I think they've been causing bubbles, which have intensified our current economic problems. But much for which they are blamed is simply not true.<br /><br />Let me address your points:<br /><br />The Fed has criticized Congress/Obama a lot for deficit spending and the level of our debt recently. However, they really have no power to change that because they have no power over fiscal (spending) matters. They are charged only with dealing with monetary matters -- how much money is available to the economy.<br /><br />In terms of what the banks did, it's not the Fed that generally regulates the banks. The Fed sets some requirements for the banks (such as reserve requirements) and sets the rates for inter-bank lending, but most banks are regulated at the state level or by a half dozen other agencies.<br /><br />That's part of the problem (and why your point about the complexity is correct). Our financial regulatory system was designed in the 1930s and has evolved over time to meet every new challenge that came along. Think of it like a Model T that's been retrofitted every time some new advancement in cars came along. That's why all sides (left, right, center) are proposing a total re-write of the regulations.<br /><br />One of the things everyone is trying to change is to reduce the number of agencies that oversee the banks, because this has created loopholes that have allowed banks to play off the regulatory schemes against each other, letting them take many more risks (the now famous toxic assets) than they should have.<br /><br />Off the top of my head, I know that banks are regulated by the states, as well as by the Fed (to a degree), by FDIC, OTS, and the SEC.<br /><br />The Fed wasn't responsible for investigating Madoff, that was the SEC, which is an entirely incompetent agency.<br /><br />In terms of being intertwined, I have a serious problem with the incestuous nature of much of our regulatory scheme (see my Goldman Sachs article). It is too easy for people with real conflicts to end up in positions where they get to regulate their friends and former/future employers.<br /><br />On the WWI debt, there is a lot of misunderstanding about debt. Debt doesn't give anyone power over the US. If we wanted, we could default tomorrow on all of our debt and there is nothing anyone could do about it. We can also deflate our currency and make the debt worthless. The only way debt translates into power is if you need someone to make you a loan -- once they make it, the power shifts.<br /><br />There are other factors at work too starting in the 1913 era that many people never consider. For example, people talk about the dollar losing its value because of inflation since 1913. But (1) there is no accurate measure of inflation prior, (2) our economy changed dramatically at the beginning of 1913 -- industrialization, we became a net importer, our government ran a debt, and (3) inflation is only half the picture. If wages keep up with inflation, then nothing has changed as far as the average person is concerned. A better measure of value is the exchange rate between currencies, and in that regard, we've done quite well. In 1913, the British pound was worth $4. Today it's worth $2. Other currencies have experienced similar declines against the dollar. So contrary to the assertion that our currency is worthless, it's actually doubled in real value since 1913.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-84755806604542939292009-08-20T00:10:51.832-04:002009-08-20T00:10:51.832-04:00Good try Andrew but I head up the Trilateral Commi...Good try Andrew but I head up the Trilateral Commission. ;)<br /><br />So the Federal Reserve is more open than I had previously believed. <br /><br />I still have my reservations as an admitted lover of conspiracies.<br />Feel free to squash my conspiratorial concerns.<br /><br />My first question would be about large bankers covering the US debt after WW I I believe it was. It was never really taught all that clearly in any of my history classes. Some say that was the day that banks took over the US.<br /><br />Shouldn't our national bank be a little more out spoken about how over extended it's main client is?<br />To the point of saying no, we're broke, we have no money left. Instead they seem to add fuel to the fire and allow financial practices that most banks wouldn't even consider. <br /><br />Instead the Federal Reserve is completely intertwined with the "fine print readers" over at Wall Street. I couldn't think up a better term to describe the Wall Street players that understand so well all the loop holes that they can manipulate the market. They are so arrogant about it that they brag about it knowing it's unethical and illegal. Our government does nothing to stop it. <br /><br />The Fed's couldn't investigate obvious Ponzie schemes with any success. Many people pointed out that Madoff's business was doing far to well for the realities of the free market but after multiple investigation....nothing.<br /><br />Is our financial system so confusing that the people in charge of regulating it are incapable of understanding it themselves?<br /><br />Anyone with the credit history of the US would not be able to open a piggy bank.Skinners 2 Centshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06637561284569976324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-72721630914765006582009-08-19T14:31:42.487-04:002009-08-19T14:31:42.487-04:00Sorry Mike, but I'm not sure that you aren'...Sorry Mike, but I'm not sure that you aren't really running the Trilateral Commission. . . at least that's what I heard. ;-)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-67566779350109456382009-08-19T14:08:53.313-04:002009-08-19T14:08:53.313-04:00I notice that Andrew didn't reassure me, Patti...I notice that Andrew didn't reassure <i>me,</i> Patti.<br /><br />The CFR, Trilateral Commission and Bilderbergers are only <i>distractions</i> to lead our attention away from the true power brokers.<br /><br />The Unitarians.<br /><br /><b>I am not a nut!</b>Mike Kriskeyhttp://www.threedonia.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-57831475142472408742009-08-19T12:31:20.267-04:002009-08-19T12:31:20.267-04:00Patti, LOL! It's not you!Patti, LOL! It's not you!AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-17328965121798905882009-08-19T12:28:24.683-04:002009-08-19T12:28:24.683-04:00"Yesterday, as I visited one of the websites ..."Yesterday, as I visited one of the websites that I often visit (I won’t name the site)"<br /><br />i thought: uh-oh, i've gone too far now....<br /><br />i think the circumstances are making us all a little crazy.pattihttp://www.notawonk.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-79943593289411821512009-08-19T08:59:17.593-04:002009-08-19T08:59:17.593-04:00Skinner, the Federal Reserve is not really a myste...Skinner, the Federal Reserve is not really a mystery, it's all there to be seen through the enabling legislation, the monthly Federal minutes which are released to the public, the monthly reports to Congress, the results of the auctions which are released to the public, and the audits that are done every year and are also publicly available.<br /><br />But the Fed is one of those organizations that the conspiracy theoriest have latched onto for their theories, and they do love spreading misinformation about it.<br /><br />And in terms of regulating guns, I am very pro-gun, but you have to realize that all rights in the Constitution are subject to regulation, even freedom of speech. It just depends on the level of justification needed before such regulations are allowed -- compelling state interest v. reasonable basis. To read these rights as being absolute is not simply not correct. Indeed, if you follow that argument to its logical conclusion, police officers couldn't even disarm suspects in a shootout if the government couldn't abride your right to have a gun and prisons couldn't keep prisoners from buying guns.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-91592676844531838922009-08-19T08:13:13.876-04:002009-08-19T08:13:13.876-04:00S2S: This country is indeed awakening and every ti...S2S: This country is indeed awakening and every time a Harry Reid calls the American public evil, the more aroused we become. We saw inklings of this in ’91 with the Perot protest vote and in ’94 with Newt and the “Contract with America.” I believe we are almost at the pitchforks, and torches stage, and Washington is paying attention. To keep with Andrews theme, this environment is ripe for conspiracy, and the wingnuts are going to be out in force, I have the faith in the American people to know the difference, especially conservatives who are used to thinking for themselves.<br /><br /> Being an optimist, I believe in the long run Barry will be good for this country, Washington always complains that the public does not pay enough attention, well Washington …we’re paying attention, be careful what you wish for.StanHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07395708786509590321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-90605395054207613452009-08-19T03:01:35.716-04:002009-08-19T03:01:35.716-04:00I hadn't run across the no education idea yet....I hadn't run across the no education idea yet. Perhaps it's a take off from Mark Twain's political concept of picking random names out of the phone book to be politicians. <br /><br />I must admit I love conspiracies. I've been reading about them my entire life. Although all the books were fiction, yet extremely entertaining.<br /><br />I think another driving factor is that people are finally...finally waking up to how far out of step we are with our Constitution.<br /><br />We argue about gun laws, we've heard all the commercials in both directions and with time it's numbing. We shouldn't even be having a discussion about gun anything. That's the real disturbing part.<br /><br />The mysterious 'Federal' Reserve. It's not part of our government yet steers our economy. To the benefit of banks world wide. Foreign banks know more about what the Federal Reserve does than the citizenry that's funding it. I'm not really sure how high into the billions it's reached yet but there is still a lot of missing tax payer money. Tax payers have no recourse against this. <br /><br />I think another zen moment is that average Americans are being demonized in the press and by politicians, that's incredible all by it's self. <br /><br />To make matters better for this great American Reawakening is that while they are being demonized they are standing against organizations that their tax dollars fund. There's a nice kick in the pants for ya. <br /><br />When you start hearing about releasing prisoner because we don't have money for jails. Then hear that we are sending hundreds of millions to known terrorist strong holds, it's tough not to think someone has an evil hand in this madness.<br /><br />To suddenly become aware of the sham that is the US Government is overwhelming I'd imagine. <br /><br />It's in fact just politics as usual and finally usual isn't cutting it anymore.Skinners 2 Centshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06637561284569976324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-41819814251400602862009-08-18T23:59:03.550-04:002009-08-18T23:59:03.550-04:00Individualist,
Your plan is very interesting. I ...Individualist,<br /><br />Your plan is very interesting. I agree that "fixing the border" by throwing up a wall won't work. As I understand it, about 40% of illegal immigrants simply overstay visas right now. Moreover, how do you keep people from going over, under or around a wall?<br /><br />I think the wall is simply mentioned as a way to make people think the government is doing something, without actually doing anything.<br /><br />I also think this problem can only be fixed by changing the incentive for people to come here. Under the plan you suggest, much of that incentive probably goes away because the incentive to hire illegals is dramatically reduced. Moreover, it has the benefit of letting us know who is in the country.<br /><br />I wonder if that would work?AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-15810383980386502702009-08-18T23:25:02.723-04:002009-08-18T23:25:02.723-04:00StanH
I think the problem with Conservatives on i...StanH<br /><br />I think the problem with Conservatives on illegal immigration is not their desire to control it but the methods stated. Quite Frankly I do not see any effective way to fence in the border -Sorry. In analyzing the problem I today think illegals enter the US from Mexico for three reasons<br /><br />(1) To Get Work<br />(2) To go on welfare and get Social Services<br />(3) To sell drugs<br /><br />Drug dealers will have the money and resources to evade whatever net you put in place to keep them entering. Your best bet is to catch them selling drugs.<br /><br />Welfare should be removed from non citizens, likewise the US should pressure Mexico to clean up its act and offer better services to its citizens.<br /><br />Lastly the best way to solve the work issue is to make it legal for Mexicans nationals. If a Mexican can come to the border and get a work permit that allows them to work in the US, they have to be paid minimum wage, meet union requirements and every other stricture that people hire illegals to avoid. If that Mexican Citizen can sue same as the American he or she has no more value to an employer than an American. Thus by opeing up the work you actually diminish the number of workers. This is especially better if Americans have rights to work in Mexican companies. Then perhaps the wage diferential in Mexico would change as well.<br /><br />But none of these things will ever get done in today's political environment.<br /><br />P.S. in my last job we came accross a place where fake SSN cards were sold to migrant farmers as part of an investigation. It is amazingly easy to get unfortunately.Individualisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11005025873042230314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-58025404624763143202009-08-18T23:00:53.415-04:002009-08-18T23:00:53.415-04:00Stan, very insightful, and I agree with you. :-) ...Stan, very insightful, and I agree with you. :-) I love the reference to Machiavelli!<br /><br />I'm with you on the immigration issue. That's one of those powers that be keep trying to open the door no matter what the rest of us want. And that issue will end poorly if they don't stop.<br /><br />In my experience, I've also found that Hispanics could easily become conservative voters. Let's hope we're right!AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-21133633972535074842009-08-18T22:56:16.760-04:002009-08-18T22:56:16.760-04:00Conspiracy theories spring up in the vacuum of fac...Conspiracy theories spring up in the vacuum of facts or reasonable explanation. The political class is perfectly happy having the opposition chasing conspiracies instead of paying attention to the facts on the ground, Niccolo Machiavelli would approve.<br />The one place that I get close to a conspiracy is illegal immigration, not that it is necessarily a grand cabal, but a self serving result for both sides. We have discussed this with the CFR, it’s not a theory with the CFR, but a stated goal of this organization, “no borders.” Politicians right and left are members in good standing, and I know, that in and of itself means nothing. I understand cheap labor on the Conservative side, as a businessman I’ve hired hundreds of people over the years, and I understand that liberals are looking for a new victim class or new Democrat constituency (by the way many Latinos are conservative,--this may bite them in the butt.) The Golden Rule of the internet if you can’t confirm it for yourself have doubts, with the exception of you guys, …ha.StanHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07395708786509590321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-30507793631585454452009-08-18T22:03:38.551-04:002009-08-18T22:03:38.551-04:00Writer X, that's why politicians always push b...Writer X, that's why politicians always push big changes by first describing the problem as a crisis. If you believe something is a crisis, you are much more willing to forgo being rational in favor of making the emotional decision.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-6920626915456869182009-08-18T22:01:15.451-04:002009-08-18T22:01:15.451-04:00Andrew, you know, that's a good point: despera...Andrew, you know, that's a good point: desperation can breed irrational thought.Writer Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16505411188186283813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-7731076272111849642009-08-18T22:01:14.649-04:002009-08-18T22:01:14.649-04:00JG, I forgot to mention, I think you're absolu...JG, I forgot to mention, I think you're absolutely right that the idea of us needing "one leader" is wrong. We need to be more concerned with explaining what we believe than with picking a single leader to represent us. Everyone on Capitol Hill, every governor, and every other elected Republican official should be out there constantly explaining who we are and what we believe.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-65544849568514516182009-08-18T21:58:21.556-04:002009-08-18T21:58:21.556-04:00Writer X, thanks! I hope that common sense let...Writer X, thanks! I hope that common sense let's people figure this out, it should. People aren't dumb and they generally haven't bought into these kinds of theories. But lately, people have been put into crisis mode by the administration and that makes it harder for people to respond rationally. Sadly, that's the perfect environment for people selling these kinds of theories.<br /><br />And you're right about it being both an issue for the left and right. The left has the same kinds of theories. We've just been better at dismissing ours until recently.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-49561952649966121402009-08-18T21:54:41.408-04:002009-08-18T21:54:41.408-04:00Thanks JG! I'm glad to hear it! :-)
On the ...Thanks JG! I'm glad to hear it! :-)<br /><br />On the article, yeah, it kind of took a strange turn at the end from where it started.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-10953387646202944662009-08-18T21:53:47.377-04:002009-08-18T21:53:47.377-04:00Andrew, great post. I would say that there are fri...Andrew, great post. I would say that there are fringe groups on both sides but people with common sense can weed through the false logic and false facts. At least I hope they can. Perhaps the answer is that those who've become the spokespeople need to do a better job of communicating what's real and what's conspiracy theory--or at least feel a deeper responsibility. Buyer beware, even when it comes to political affiliation.Writer Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16505411188186283813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-71235070132048705102009-08-18T21:48:44.659-04:002009-08-18T21:48:44.659-04:00Something else I thought I'd throw out there -...Something else I thought I'd throw out there - the article actually had some decent points about the healthcare bill in the first half. In fact, I almost did my reflex of hitting the "share" button, but I (thankfully) waited until I finished. Boy, am I glad! But that's the hook - they get you at the beginning with, "Well, yeah, there's all sorts of federal/state issues when it comes to federal regulation of an industry, I hadn't really thought of that in terms of this health bill...." and then they go all "If only so-and-so had been elected, we would have no Obamacare bill and no debt and no pain or suffering in the world....and here's some nutso extremist propaganda to prove it!" I hate myself for almost falling for it....<br /><br />Consider yourself syndicated. :)<br /><br />And to the other Commentarama contributors - you also get shared quite often. I really appreciate what you guys do here. It's been a great resource.JGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03116405895683599572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-63578047736404987922009-08-18T21:40:12.702-04:002009-08-18T21:40:12.702-04:00JG, sure, share away! :-)
Individualist, LOL! ...JG, sure, share away! :-)<br /><br /><br />Individualist, LOL! Nice summation. Looks like I could have said it in fewer words!AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.com