Archive for category Economy
Medicare For All – The Health Care Silver Bullet?
Posted by Max Barron in Economy on September 16, 2009
George McGovern wrote a piece for the Washington Post throwing his support behind a more simplified version of universal health care. A for of public option that has become more and more prevalent amongst the left – as they have discovered that the only way that they are passing HR3200 is by cheating the system. That solution is the universalizing of Medicare. While this idea is far more simplistic than the Rube Goldberg like HR3200 it poses just as many problems – namely the implausibility of it actually working. Read the rest of this entry »
Chief Lib Propogandist Hates Reaganomics: UR Responds
Posted by Max Barron in Economy, Uncanned Response on August 24, 2009
Nothing makes a liberal true believer’s hackles rise faster than the mention of Reaganomics… and nothing makes them cringe more than the harsh – and inconvenient (to them) – reality of its success. In fact, the truth of Reaganomics success is so loathsome, so despised and so horrific to liberals that they refuse to acknowledge it – for if they did it would be the end of New Deal-onomics. Liberals maintain that Reaganomics was a complete failure – mostly through the use of typical class warfare. The Chief Liberal Propagandist, Paul Krugman of the Ministry of Liberal Propaganda – a.k.a. the NY Times, is no exception. In fact he is the rule, you know the one about “tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually believe it.” Read the rest of this entry »
Cap And Traitors
Posted by Max Barron in Economy, Politics on June 28, 2009
If you watch the media coverage as I have for the last several days it is as if the vote on Waxman – Markey Cap and Trade bill never happened. Not one word has been uttered about the impending destabilization and ultimate destruction of the U.S. economy. Not a word. The media is too busy covering Michael Jackson’s death. However, if you turn to the new media, word about the House vote is all over the place. For those not yet aware, the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act (HR 2454) – a.k.a. Cap and Trade – passed the house vote 219-212. Read the rest of this entry »
Shocker! State Revenues Down!
Posted by Max Barron in Economy, Rants on June 26, 2009
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal showed that state revenues have plummeted in the first quarter of 2009. This should come as absolutely no surprise. Nor should the reactions from state legislatures and governors – which will likely be emergency services and education cuts. Because, by law – thank goodness – states are required to balance their budgets unlike the federal government that tends to borrow us into oblivion. Read the rest of this entry »
A Regulator A Day Keeps The Boogie Man At Bay
Posted by Max Barron in Economy, Politics on June 17, 2009
It has been said a dozen times that this administration would be the most regulatory and economically destructive since Carter, and by now people should realize that that is no exaggeration. From the first peek of the 2009 and 2010 budgets we were able to see the immediate and dramatic increase in funding to regulatory agencies for adding new regulations, monitors and enforcers. That not being enough for the Obama administration, he’s adding yet another regulatory agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA).
A centerpiece of the Obama administration’s effort to overhaul supervision of financial markets will be a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency that “will be charged with protecting consumers in credit, savings and payment markets,” according to an administration document describing the proposed agency.
The agency would have the power to “reform” the country’s mortgage rules, among other things.
It is unclear what the Obama administration intends this agency to protect investors and consumers from, other than themselves. The SEC already exists to protect the market whole from fraud and abuse. It seems like not only overkill but moreover a power grab to create yet another financial regulatory body… Especially given the suspicious reasoning of “protecting” consumers.
The consumer protection agency would have the power to “regulate all providers” of consumer credit products and services, including the power to examine firms, enforce rules, and levy fines.
Having the power to “regulate all providers” reeks of power grabbing. Which, as has been presciently stated a dozen times, is the primary mission of the current administration. Naysayers, still in denial, have thus far refused to see the writing on the wall. However, as the administration gains more and more power over the financial cogs in the economic engine, it is only a matter of time before they realize that when the executive controls all of the cogs, they control the engine… and thus the vehicle itself.
What other cause could there possibly be for the takeover in the auto industry, the levying of state economies through the stimulus package, the bank takeovers, granting more power to the Federal Reserve, regulating pay for financial firms, adding more regulation for credit card companies, and now adding in a new regulator – a kind of SEC for consumer credit – with a wide scope of power?
The agency would be able to “ban unfair terms and practices or place tailored restrictions on product terms and provider practices, if the benefits outweigh the costs,”
For example, the agency would be allowed to enforce fair lending laws and the Community Reinvestment Act, which bank regulators previously were charged with doing. The agency would also “ensure that compensation practices do not create conflicts of interest between intermediaries and consumers.”
Any guesses as to who determines what practices and terms are unfair? The Executive branch… Not Congress. From the same man who decried the supposed expansion of executive power under the Bush administration. Ironically, as the president decried it – and continues to do so – he has expanded the executive reach, scope and power in a manner unprecedented to date.
The difference here, is that Obama does it in the interest of “protecting” the people and creating “fairness” from what he sees as unfair. This brings us back to the CRA – which the CFPA will be enforcing. This is the same CRA that precipitated and directly contributed to the housing bubble and subsequent market meltdown. Like many other liberal policies, tried and failed, will be tried and tried again – with deeper investment each time.
There is also the tell-tale line “ensure that compensation practices do not create conflicts of interest between intermediaries and consumers.” In keeping with the president’s agenda and mantra for “fair” compensation and the government regulation of it.
President Obama has time and again repeated that he neither wants himself nor the government taking over markets, businesses, and the economy, citing that he already has enough on his “plate.” Yet as each new day dawns he finds more and more ways to do just that. The mentality seems to be a spin of an older adage: A regulator a day, keeps the boogie men at bay.