Category Archives: Government Incompetence

So, we’re not all going to drown, or be killed by hurricanes?

Dumbasses and Authoritarians, Energy Policy, Environment, Fascism in America, Government Incompetence, Political Correctness, Politics, Theory and Ideas

This is the single best, and clearest, explanation of the Rationalist Position on global warming I’ve Ever Seen

Key line: “So, why don’t we ever talk about the suns contribution to global warming? …Well, because we can’t regulate it, tax it, or make it feel guilty for what it’s doing“.

Got it in one there friend.

There’s no profit, political gain, or power to be grabbed from acknowledging the real causes, and real effects of whatever global warming there actually is. So, the interested parties simply ignore all that, shout down anyone who disagrees with them, and go about seizing as much power as they can, in a disorderly fashion.

From “What You Oughta Know“, a website with videos explaining an assortment of general, and sometimes esoteric knowledge.

Oh and here are the links he mentioned in the video:

Pacific Research Institute:
the documentary, more information

Reid A. Bryson – scroll down for ice cap article

Solar Activity: A dominant factor in climate dynamics – scroll down read sections in blue

BBC’s The Great Global Warming Swindle

Other possible causes for global warming

Oh and just for fun, here’s the same sites take on “Liberals vs. Conservatives“… which is really a pretty solid explanation of the foundations of minarchist positions:

And a great take on the bailout:

“Because there is no disaster that immediate, decisive, wrong action cannot make worse”

Chris Byrne
I am a cynically romantic optimistic pessimist. I am neither liberal, nor conservative. I am a (somewhat disgruntled) muscular minarchist… something like a constructive anarchist.

Basically what that means, is that I believe, all things being equal, responsible adults should be able to do whatever the hell they want to do, so long as nobody’s getting hurt, who isn’t paying extra

http://anarchangel.blogspot.com

“Swing Vote” On The Economic Stimulus

Government Incompetence, Politics, Republicans

The improbable plot of Swing Vote, where a small-town man somehow becomes the deciding vote in a Presidential election — causing the candidates and media to swarm him like, well, politicians for votes — may be becoming reality. While I haven’t seen the movie, my understanding is that the character of Bud, played by Kevin Costner, realizes the gravity of the situation and reaches out to the rest of the country for help with his decision.

One thinks, though, that the real version may not be so heartfelt and reflective:

When GOP congressional aides gather Tuesday morning for a meeting of the Conservative Working Group, Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher – more commonly known as Joe the Plumber — will be their featured guest. This group is an organization of conservative Capitol Hill staffers who meet regularly to chart GOP strategy for the week.

Wurzelbacher, who became a household name during the presidential election, will be focusing his talk on the proposed stimulus package. He’s apparently not a fan of the economic rescue package, according to members of the group.

I’m as aware as anyone of the danger of letting well-meaning technocrats “run” the country. They often weight their own beliefs too heavily, and discount the criticisms of those opposed. Whether Republican or Democrat, they walk into the echo chamber and eventually start to believe their own bullshit. It’s one of the primary ways we get bad policy.

The answer, though, is not then to turn to a plumber whose chief determining characteristic — in the mold of Sarah Palin — is that he’s an “everyman” with no real expertise. If you can’t trust the experts, neither can you trust the novices. The problem of government isn’t whether it’s an expert or a novice wielding power; it’s that the power wielded is too great to be fully understood be either.

Joe the Plumber is going to be lecturing the Republicans on economic stimulus, and they think this will help get them back into power?

Hat Tip: Economist’s Free Exchange blog, and later on my co-blogger Doug’s site.

Brad Warbiany
https://thelibertypapers.org/

Let me just talk about numbers again for one second…

Corruption, Dumbasses and Authoritarians, Economics, Government Incompetence, Government Waste, Taxation

So let me ask you, what do you think would stimulate the economy more:

  1. $819 billion of taxpayer money and bad debt on our national credit cards; distributed via political favoritism, cronyism, and cherry picking of favored causes
  2. $2,676 in the pocket of every single man, woman, and child in America
  3. $7,122 for each and every household in America
  4. $11,870 for every household in America that actually pays taxes
  5. $17,804 for every household in America that pays taxes above the margin line (they pay more taxes than the government costs per household)

Obviously, all but number one are politically unlikely because they would take control away from the politicians and actually give the people some of their money back…

…And of course 4 and 5 are right out, because that would be “taking money from the poor to give to the rich” (of course it wouldn’t be, in fact all but 4 and 5 would be yet more redistribution of wealth from the middle class to the poor, or the politically favored).

Think about it though… which do you think would actually stimulate the economy the most? Which would result in the most job creation? Which would result in the most wealth creation? In fact, which would result in the most people with their lives materially improved in the long term?

Yes, that’s right, it’s options 4 and 5; because options 1, 2, and 3, are nothing more than broken windows.

Chris Byrne
I am a cynically romantic optimistic pessimist. I am neither liberal, nor conservative. I am a (somewhat disgruntled) muscular minarchist… something like a constructive anarchist.

Basically what that means, is that I believe, all things being equal, responsible adults should be able to do whatever the hell they want to do, so long as nobody’s getting hurt, who isn’t paying extra

http://anarchangel.blogspot.com

USPS Looking To Cease Saturday Mail Delivery

Economics, Government Incompetence, Government Waste, Politics, Taxation

In typical government (well, quasi-private) bureaucratic “sense”, a failing government service needs a bailout. Rather than face the music and look for ways to streamline their operation and improve efficiency, they just figure they’ll piss off voters quickly enough to get the sniveling, cowering politicians to hand over a few billion. They’re not saying that up front, of course, but believe me, that’s the goal:

The U.S. Postal Service may be forced to eliminate a day of mail service because the economic downturn has led to plummeting volume and revenue, the postmaster general said Wednesday.

Postmaster General John E. Potter, in testimony before a Senate subcommittee, warned of a possible worst-case scenario: eliminating the requirement to deliver mail six days a week to every address in America.

If the recession continues to hammer at USPS revenue, six-day delivery may not be possible, Potter said. Federal law has mandated the six-day schedule since 1983.

In fiscal 2008, total mail volume fell by more than 9 billion pieces – 4.5% -compared to the previous year, Potter said. And the agency suffered a greater-than-expected net loss of $2.8 billion last year, he added.

…

USPS is “a vital economic engine in our national economy,” Potter said, noting that USPS is the country’s second-largest employer and the mail affects both jobs and commerce.

“We could experience a net loss of $6 billion or more this fiscal year,” Potter told the subcommittee. That shortfall would exceed the Postal Service’s credit limit under current law.

“We believe that legislative relief is necessary to preserve the nation’s mail system,” Potter said.

Do you think the postal service really wants to cease Saturday delivery? I don’t. And they’re not throwing out terms like “bailout” quickly. They are asking for relaxation of the regulations meant to wean them off the federal teat; while it may or may not make sense, it’s slightly too far to call it a bailout.

But let me ask you a question… If the automakers, and the banks, and every other failing private enterprise can get bailed out, you think the USPS will give in? No, they’ll make a few noises about canceling Saturday delivery, the public outcry will begin, and Congressmen will be beating down their doors with checkbook in hand. In the meantime, if another business wants to pick up the slack, then I more than welcome it. Hopefully, this cheap courier insurance will help them get started and we will continue getting deliveries on Saturdays.

Maybe some people older than myself might remember the days where business success in this country was based upon performing at a level that exceeded that of your peers. Some unlucky souls — like me — delude ourselves into the belief that we can still succeed under those terms. Instead, we’re the asses bearing the load. Not only do we watch as our government rewards failure, we live under the knowledge that it’s our money paying for it.

Brad Warbiany
https://thelibertypapers.org/
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