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Obama’s New Economic Czar’s Terrorist Past

By Larry Johnson on August 30, 2011 at 12:25 PM in Current Affairs

How’s that for an alarmist heading? But it is true. Alan B. Krueger, nominated yesterday to replace Austan Goolsbee, has a terrorist past. But it was not what you may think (no, he’s not a closet muslim or financier of Al Qaeda). In April 2004 the U.S. Department of State published its annual report, Patterns of Global Terrorism. While perusing Appendix A of that report, which lists the “significant” terrorist attacks during 2003, I noticed that the incidents stopped on November 11. “Odd,” I thought.

So I called Joe Reap, the superb press guy in the Counter Terrorism shop at State and asked him about this. He replied, “oh, shit!” Turns out that a month and a half of data had been left out of the report. This was important from a policy standpoint because Secretary of State Colin Powell was making the rounds touting the success of the Bush Administration’s counter terrorism policy. He specifically cited the decline in terrorist incidents during 2003 as proof positive of the policy’s effectiveness. Whoops!

Enter Alan B. Krueger. He co-authored a May 17, 2004 op-ed in the Washington Post entitled, “Are we winning the war on terrorism?“:

Although keeping score is difficult, the State Department’s annual report on international terrorism, released last month, provides the best government data to answer this question. The short answer is “No,” but that’s not the spin the administration is putting on it. . . .

Yet, a careful review of the report and underlying data supports the opposite conclusion: The number of significant terrorist acts increased from 124 in 2001 to 169 in 2003 — 36 percent — even using the State Department’s official standards. The data that the report highlights are ill-defined and subject to manipulation — and give disproportionate weight to the least important terrorist acts. The only verifiable information in the annual reports indicates that the number of terrorist events has risen each year since 2001, and in 2003 reached its highest level in more than 20 years. . . .

So how did the report conclude that international terrorism is declining?

It accomplishes this sleight of hand by combining significant and nonsignificant acts of terrorism. Significant acts are clearly defined and each event is listed in an appendix, so readers can verify the data. By contrast, no explanation is given for how nonsignificant acts are identified or whether a consistent process is used over time — and no list is provided describing each event. The data cannot be verified.

Realizing that Alan did not understand the real reason the numbers were off I called him and was able to give him the truth. He was appreciative and, in the wake of that incident, we began to correspond on the subject of terrorist trends and statistics. I found Professor Krueger to be accessible, polite and open to discussion.

Oh yeah, almost forgot. I explained to Alan how this mistake was made and it turns out to be terribly ironic. How so? The failure to include a month and a half of data in the State Department report was the fault of the Terrorist Threat Integration Center (aka TTIC) at CIA. The woman who had handled this job resigned in November and the task was handed over to contractors (I believe it was Booz Allen). But the ultimate responsibility for the screw up was laid at the feet of the Director of TTIC. Drum roll please ….. the Director was John Brennan.

Remember John Brennan? He is currently Obama’s top terrorism guy at the White House. He’s the same dumbshit that briefed a false version of the Navy SEAL take down of Osama Bin Laden. In fact, he’s the one who exposed the SEALs.

I hope Alan Krueger remembers these events. I am sure he will see Brennan at some point, maybe in the cafeteria or perhaps while taking a leak in the Men’s room. The visage of Brennan should give Alan some hope. Brennan is a living breathing exhibit that being a complete fuck up does not disqualify you from getting better jobs in government. Kreuger, unlike Brennan, is a competent economist. His only shortcoming is he has no significant private sector experience. Anyway, good luck Alan, you’re going to need some.

Anonymous

What we can always look forward to with obamadinejad’s appointments is that the next one will be worse than the previous one, or at least just as bad!

“Say What You Will…It Feels So Good”
http://www.saywhatyouwill.proboards.com
Anonymous

I guess Krueger couldn’t be any worse than John “al quds” Brennan. Then again, this administration is so bizarre that nothing would surprise me.

Anonymous

Welcome to …….Life under the Big Top…

Ferd_Berfle

Just who is the Ring Master Leader in this administration?

Anonymous

TTIC 2003-2004, how I love it! At one point during that period of time, I was spending a week in Washington trying to see if the secret of FBI-CIA cooperation could be solved. Some interesting technology had been developed, and Agency-Bureau cooperation would make said technology a very effective anti-terrorst tool, indeed. By the end of the week, I was pretty much convinced that the traditional Agency-Bureau pissing contest would pretty much neutralize any advantage that the technology could achieve.

That Saturday, I attended the wedding of the daughter of an old Marine Corps friend. The bride was beautiful and, coincidentally, worked for a TTIC contractor (not BAH). As she and the groom came to my table for the traditional greeting, I asked her how she was doing. “Oh, same old stuff,” she replied. “The Agency’s on one side, the Bureau’s on the other, and I spend my time in the middle trying to make sense of it all.”
Wbboe

Larry: The question that matters is how does he propose to foster job creation in this country? That is alpha omega. Here is one way he might actually help–if he can get past ideology.

First, some background. After WWII the United States accounted for 80% (estim) of world GDP. This was hardly surprising since the productive capabilities of Europe and Japan lay in ruins. Thanks to the Marshall Plan, and the passage of time, our share diminished to roughly 60% (estim) and a decade ago it was down to 40%(estim) using round numbers. Today it is 25% (recent WSJ article).

I rather suspect that the most recent decline from 40% to 25% is attributable in no small part to decisions by American companies in the manufacturing and service industries to locate their operations outside the United States for cost related reasons. In some cases quality is also an issue, but the main driver is cost.

When we say cost related reasons, most people assume that means labor cost, measured in terms of wages and productivity differentials. But tax policy is an equally if not more important incentive.

To illustrate the point, a friend of mine whose name is known to you sits on the Board of a major corporation that wanted to build some plants in the United States to meet a growing world wide demand for its products. However, when his financial people put a pencil to the proposal they discovered that once those plants were built they could produce their product 30% cheaper overseas.

The why of it is important. My friend asked them whether the reason for this disparity was labor rate differentials and he was told it was not. The primary reason was tax differentials between the United States and the eastern European country they chose. He has no use for Imelt, but does say he is responding to those incentives rationally.

If the man you know could become a champion of adjusting corporate tax rates to conform to world standards, make overseas earnings subject to taxation, and provide tax incentives to corporations who repatriate American work, then perhaps we could reclaim part of that differential between 40% and 25% of world market. And that would mean more American jobs.

Wbboe

To put a finer point on this Larry, I am skeptical that government can create jobs as such. Oh, I know, they can provide public works projects, and that has some marginal value. I am not opposed to it. But if you examine the data of the Roosevelt era I suspect you would find that the benefits derived from the Civilian Conservation Corps and similar initiatives had more to do with improving infrastructure and giving people a purpose in life than growing the labor force on any kind of sustained way. And the same is true of World War II which put hundreds of thousands of young men and women to work at minimum wage, but after the war there was a downturn. Thus, the focus of policy must be in creating the conditions that allow business to grow on its own, and that means first do no harm. The Obama administration has added massive regulations to the business equation and seeks to raise taxes rather than lower them. This is not a growth scenario. It is the scenario of European Socialism as described by the President of Poland before the Hillsdale people-which I posted a few days ago. I hope you had a chance to see it.

Wbboe

Sorry Larry> I meant the President of Czechoslovakia–Vaclav Klaus. Oh . . the perils of old age.

Wbboe

Excellent point. But in order to understand it one must have some sense of what makes a business tick. Those who have never owned a business, or managed are unlikely to have a good grasp of this. And unless they do, they are susceptible to the argument of demagogues of the left from Juan Peron to Barack Obama–that capitalism is evil, and the rich are to blame. You cannot build a viable economy on that basis. If we re-elect Obama in 2012, then it is more probable than not that our share of the world economy will drop from 25% to 20% or less. In that case, there will be more government hand outs, more borrowing and higher unemployment. That is what is at stake here.

Morris1030

Juan Peron was from the extreme Right in Cuba.

Ferd_Berfle

Argentina. Think “Evita”.
Wbboe

Ferd and Morris: why do we call him right wing–other than the fact that other people call him right wing. At the time he rose to power the wealth and control of Argentina was concentrated in the hands of British ex pats and it was held mostly in land. He took that land away from then and gave it to the peasants. That sounds more left wing to me. I think what he really was was statist. In some ways, he resembles our own Barcrack Banana.

murray

Wbboe – what you have just stated is so simply clear. I’m sure you are a genius, but you’re not the first person to see it.

What we all want to know is: Who, exactly, is stymieing the process, Why, and What can we do?

We’ve narrowed it down to the media being in bed with corporations, governments and organized crime.

Now what?

Ferd_Berfle

Now what?
=======================
1) A return to educating our children so that they can think and reason on their own and not merely regurgitate a party line,
2) A return to an emphasis on responsibilities inherent with citizenship rather than rights thereto,
3) A return to the principle that everyone is given an equal chance but is not guaranteed an equal outcome
4) A return to the emphasis on values that are positive–thrift, perseverance, independence, minding one’s own side of the street, etc.,
5) Acknowledging that the government should perform only those functions required of it and that it is not a solution to those problems that are peculiar to an individual
6) Insist upon accountability of those in authority and follow through with swift punishment for those who flaunt their position for personal gain

There are so many others too numerous to mention.

Wbboe

Ferd your list is better than mine.

Ferd_Berfle

I liked yours, too. There are a lot of ideas out there that no one is picking up on. The American public is a great source for ideas–perhaps That One should actually stop talking for five minutes and listen for a change.

Ellend818

Great list, Ferd.
murray

Great list, Ferd. We’re doomed.

Wbboe

Murray– I understand the frustration. We all feel it. However, there is plenty we can do if we have the will, the organizational skills and successful people who are willing to put their reputations at risk to save the country.

1. First, we must grow up and realize that the labels we give in the political arena–democrat or republican are obsolete. They no longer describe what is going on. There are two parties alright–the establishment party and the party of the American People.

2. Second, we must recognize that big media is on the side of the Establishment–and not the American People. That being the case, people should not give them their eyeballs and should reject what they tell us unless it can be independently corroborated. This panic they did over the storm, the love they feel of Obama, and the Gestapo tactics they practice against us should be obvious.

3. Third, we must teach young people micro and macro economics–so they understand why corporations do what they do. Only then can we hope to influence their behavior in ways beneficial to the American People. If young people understand economics then they are less likely to be seduced by the demagoguery of people like Obama, who vilify corporations to the public and then take money from them under the table. must press for policies that make it profitable for them to realign themselves with the interests of the American People. They will press for policies that realign corporate interests with those of the American People.

4. Fourth, we must reinstate Glass Steeghal and thereby restore the separation between commercial banking activities and speculative activities which got us into the housing mess to begin with. It would be a good thing if we could insist upon a similar Chinese Wall between multi national corporations and the big media outlets they own and control.

5. Fifth, we must retain qualified people to tear apart the bloated graft ridden federal budget, identify the specific areas of waste fraud and duplication, and shine a light of adverse publicity on the politicians and staffers responsible for this abuse. This will have deterrent effect on future abuses, and it will generate savings before anyone touches social security and medicare.

I could go on and so could you. But for now that is enough to chew on.

Wbboe

on point 1, you can find politicians who support the American People in both parties, although the democrat party is pretty far gone now. Take a guy like my friend Mitch McConnell. He talks a conservative game on social issues, but when it comes to centering power in Washington he is all for it, and when it comes to reigning in spending–well you saw what he did in the debt ceiling negotiations—gave a blank check to spendthrift Obama. He is part of the Establishment Party, not the party of the American People. By contrast, the blue dogs who supported Hillary are/were on the side of the American People. The party of the American People and the party of the Establishment cross traditional party lines. Years ago Tom Friedman was talking about this–he called them the Wall Party and the Internationalist Party, but the divisions were about the same.

Anonymous

Thanks Wbboe. I ran out of replies on your media response. I also meant the era when television networks weren’t allowed to produce their own programming.
That was back in the good old days when children’s shows couldn’t have commercials where the animated character from the show was a spokesman for the product. And there was NO DRUG ADVERTISING ALLOWED.

Ellend818

It would be a good thing if we could insist upon a similar Chinese Wall
between multi national corporations and the big media outlets they own

and control.
_____________________________
In the 50s, 60s and 70s the government broke up media conglomerates. A lot of creative independent people had their voices heard. Unfortunately, like AT&T, the conglomerates reassembled. We need to force them to divest again.

Wbboe

Yes. Like this perhaps:
http://www.cobbles.com/simpp_archive/paramountcase_6supreme1948.htm

(Note: I see where future Supreme Court Justice Tom Clark–the guy who wrote a concurring opinion in Miranda or Escobedo and then wrote clarifications apologizing for it, the proud father of Ramsey Clark who along with Hanoi Jane never met an enemy of the United States that he did not like, the man who Harry Truman called “a nice guy but a stupid son of a bitch, the guy who appeared as a guest speaker at our law school graduation and managed to make himself unintelligible for half an hour was attorney general in this case, and to everyones’s surprise, particularly his the government won.)

It would be harder to show vertical integration with multi nationals and big media, but there is strong antecdotal evidence that the messaging is controlled–particularly at MSNBC while Imelt was in charge. Imelt was a Welch man and I would start the movie at the time Welch bought NBC, fired their newsroom and installed his own people. Shortly thereafter NBC did the rigged explosion of the GE truck and got their asses sued. That marked the beginning of two things–first corporate control of media. second the organized attempt to lie, cheat and game the system to achieve corporate objectives at the expense of honest journalism and the rest is history. If you read the Welch book Winning you get the flavor of what was going on and what we see today in big media is merely the flotsam and jetsom.

Anonymous

You’re right about the New Deal. While it created infrastructure work for some of the work force the problem was that it was only for some.

What has been shown was that Roosevelt era intervention caused the economy not to heal and recover and stymied the private sector for many years. Had it not been for the effects of World War II one can only wonder if the USA would have ever recovered or what would have happened.

Most Democrats and all Liberals are stuck in the myth created about the New Deal and Keyensian economics.

The problem today is that the Federal Government is an impenetrable institution that has become removed from society and normal life in this country. They do believe that they control everything and have the ability to affect change with the vote and a signature without a thought about the economics.

The average person who runs a business has enough decisions to make without having to be concerned about the ridiculous intricacies of a idiotic federal government regulation. They have an obligation to their investors to achieve goals and deliver an ROI. If a regulation or a tax policy is getting in the way of that then it is their obligation to remedy that – even if it means relocating the company or jobs.

If Obama wants to get re-elected he needs to make policy that will allow this economy to recover and all he has to do is repeal the massive regulations he inititiated including repealing Obamacare. It would not make him popular with the far left, but the recovery that would result would get him re-elected.

The chances of him doing that are, of course, zero.

Ferd_Berfle

I agree. The gist of my comment was that the New Deal is a historical fact and we did get a few worthwhile things from it that are still around. With the Feckless Leader in the WH, we will get nothing to show for all the money spent. That being said, I do believe there are things the government can and should do that private industry either can’t or won’t. I only need give the example of NASA, an organization that I admire for the right reasons and reject for the PC reasons. That One is an idiot to stop the Shuttle Program. It looks as though now we have no way to get to the multi-billion-dollar space station any time soon. Moreover, sticking to their primary mission, NASA is a boon to mankind; massaging the egos of Moslems isn’t.

I have my criticisms of private industry, too, that are too focused on the bottom line and not the quality of the product produced, which is also a criticism I have of government. I had the distinct pleasure of working for the Bechtel Group for over 20 years. Say what you will about the company, its employees only answer to Riley and we put out a damned fine product when bureaucrats got out of our way.

Morris1030

Shutting down NASA is an example of a failure of imagination and vision and an ignorance of the implications for science and progress.

Also shelved was the 9 billion needed for the new answer to the Hubble which would have yielded vast answers inside the Universe and discoveries for science and medicine that we haven’t dreamt of.

The team of engineers creating this telescope would have brought inspiration and confidence in America’s leadership role in Space and Discovery.

This administration has not fought for any of this and probably doesn’t even understand Nasa’s role in our lives. Or care. Our president has failed to understand and fight for one of our greatest endeavors and using the unique talent and vision of some of the best astrophysicists and engineers ever.

Ferd_Berfle

Exactly. That One doesn’t think much of NASA since science isn’t interested in furthering his cause, which is ignoring standards and catering the the least-common denominator. Excellence in not a word in his vocabulary.
Anonymous

oh i think it was a gross imagination that inspired the demise of NASA. obama hates everything we stand for and loves to diminish a great country everytime he gets the chance. i believe he is an alien in beliefs and in his physical nature as well. Texas is a red state so what better than to try and demolish the oil industry and NASA for which Houston and Florida are famous.

Soros got the rigs and the chinese got the gulf to drill in. Rest assured the next disaster will be worse because there are no controls at all now.

Ellend818

I had the distinct pleasure of working for the Bechtel Group for over
20 years. Say what you will about the company, its employees only answer
to Riley and we put out a damned fine product
_____________________________
Happy to hear this Ferd. I like stories of companies that believe in quality.

Morris1030

I agree with you but beg to differ about FDR and recovery. I was 7 yrs old when FDR became President.

My dad had lost all he had when his Bank failed. They closed the doors and said…Sorry! There was no FDIC, or not much of anything.

We lost our home, and my dad’s business which was a small but prosperous one had to close.

So we became survivors and made sacrifices and my father worked for one of his former rivals until he could start all over again.

But FDR faced poverty and homelessness on a scale that goes way beyond our current economic woes. People were on breadlines blocks long in New york City where I was born. The East River and Hudson River were covered with tar paper shacks. Women lined up in front of Woolworth stores begging for domestic day work. for $2.00 a day. And I mean 10 to 12 hour days.

And then there were the migrant workers and starving families.

This economic turn down is a different kind of disaster in terms as to how severe it has impacted so far, and it’s been inexcusable that Obama has been so utterly inept and his advisors have only been concerned about election$$$$. They also have no ideas and no strategy to jump start and make some real difference, but American Idol was only interested in his corporate friendly disaster of a Healthcare Program.

FDR faced many challenges and made mistakes, but his accomplishments stick and it was more than the War that got us into recovery.

Anonymous

Heartbreaking stories like yours were all too common. At least your father was able to find work and start over.

Back then there was no social safety net for people who lost jobs which we have now.

FDR was also dealing with a lack of historical knowledge that Obama and his predecessors have had.

FDR did not understand free market economics and because of his own buisness failure did not believe in it and felt that government had to control the economy. With that belief he prevented the free market from healing on its own and simply prolonged and deepened an already bad economy.

While some of the programs did put people to work there were other program elements that actually killed businesses with very strict wage and price controls.

But as I said, FDR did not have the benefit of historical learning that Presidents since have had.

The problem with Obama is that he and his people refuse to learn from history and are simply repeating it and worsening the economy.

Ferd_Berfle

Wbboe, while I don’t disagree with the gist of your comment, I would have to say that there are a couple of organizations that were entirely worthwhile that came out of the New Deal–TVA and the REA. Tennessee benefited enormously from both–and this wasn’t pheasant-under-glass excess but electricity with all the benefits it entailed and an end to floods that killed Tennesseans on a regular basis. I don’t mind public works so long as they perform a needed function that private industry either can’t or won’t do. Growing up in Oklahoma City, I remember the water we drank was from reservoirs created in the 30s–Lakes Overholser and Hefner. I was certainly glad to have them.

Alas, no one in this administration understands necessity from luxury, so we get bailouts of failing companies that produce shitty cars that are but a mere shadow of the ones produced previously, bailouts of banks that will only fail a few years down the road, and loan guarantees for people that shouldn’t have gotten loans in the first place..

Much of what the New Deal created is still around and I will cede begrudging credit in that instance. But for That One? Never.

Morris1030

Good Post. Even Hoover Dam was a big deal in creating jobs and hope. The TVA was a very big deal as I was very much around during the Depression and FDR was a constant in our lives.

Obama is woefully unprepared and clueless about what an effect short term injections of infrastructure projects can accomplish,

Also there are measures in getting some work started even if it offers mostly hope and confidence. And the President can do some stuff without Congress, but Obama and his hopeless team[s] have overlooked or ignored these possibilities. The wonks are all over the place.

Unquestionably the New Deal is still around to remind of us what a President can accomplish, and how Obama continues to miss opportunities.
Wbboe

No doubt about it. The public projects of that era are a testament to a great president–Roosevelt and what government can do for the people of this country. So is the national highway system that Eisenhower enacted.

My point was different. I was dealing with the issue of sustainable job growth as opposed to government projects. I think that is the business of the private sector.

On the other hand, I am not in favor of the privatization of public enterprises–I am bitterly opposed to that movement. For example, contractors in Iraq, taking over the Pennsylvania Turnpike, private prison guards, etc. I don not agree with.

To illustrate that point, a Washington DC lawyer told me he walked into the Capitol Grill restaurant, and sat down at the bar. He struck up a conversation with another patron. That patron happened to be a government contractor in Iraq. My friend asked him whether that war would ever end and he said–I hope it never does, because I am making so much money.

Wbboe

I should add that this was one of the reasons I supported Hillary–the need to enact public works projects to address our deteriorating infrastructure. But the duration of those jobs is finite, and they will not cure the problem of 20% real unemployment. To do that, we must have a viable private sector that is not so beset with Obamaregs adn Obamtaaxes that it is afraid to put capital at risk and expand their business. That is the key to sustainable job growth in my opinion.
Ellend818

On the other hand, I am not in favor of the privatization of public
enterprises–I am bitterly opposed to that movement. For example,

contractors in Iraq, taking over the Pennsylvania Turnpike, private
prison guards, etc. I don not agree with.
____________________________
Thank you Wbboe. Agreed. There also used to be concepts of essential industries that were necessary for defending the country – that’s how Eisenhower got the Federal highway system built. I don’t like private industries controlling water and am not really crazy about the electricity being controlled by private entities – I feel it is too important to the operation of the whole country.

Wbboe

Absolutely. Ultimately it can become a national security threat. For example when the Dubai company was slated to take over security at US ports and a bewildered Bush saw nothing wrong with it. If privatization is pushed to the limits of its logic China will control our essential industries because they can out bid everyone else. When I was working with a cattleman’s association we had people within our ranks who raised their cattle on public lands and they competed with others who raised cattle on land they owned and paid taxes on–or leased. That gave them a competitive advantage. Also there is a group of Republicans mostly who push the doctrine of property rights to the limits of its logic and make the facile argument that property owners are the best stewards of the range, and government has no right to regulate whatever they decide to do. In an urban setting these people are front men for real estate interests. I am as suspicious of their motives as I am suspicious of those government officials who abuse their regulatory powers.

Anonymous

If the man you know could become a champion of adjusting corporate tax
rates to conform to world standards, make overseas earnings subject to
taxation, and provide tax incentives to corporations who repatriate
American work
_________________________________________________
When socialist Canada has a lower Corporate tax rate than the US, you know we are in trouble.

Wbboe

Excellent point. But in order to understand it one must have some sense
of what makes a business tick. Those who have never owned a business,
or managed are unlikely to have a good grasp of this. And unless they
do, they are susceptible to the argument of demagogues of the left from
Juan Peron to Barack Obama–that capitalism is evil, and the rich are to
blame. You cannot build a viable economy on that basis. If we
re-elect Obama in 2012, then it is more probable than not that our share
of the world economy will drop from 25% to 20% or less. In that case,
there will be more government hand outs, more borrowing and higher
unemployment. That is what is at stake here

Anonymous

I have owned businesses most of my life. And in Canada and Europe.
It is possible to make money and live well even in countries that by US standards are Socialist.
There is no black and white.
In Canada, the government drove me crazy sometimes but it was possible to deal with them if you knew how.
Here monopolies everywhere are stifling competition and innovation. Giant companies buy smaller ones just to put their competition out of business. When they close them there go more jobs, not to mention the research and ideas that are scrapped.

Anonymous

YAY YAY YAY!!!!! Justice Department is against AT&T merger!!!!!!
At last they are doing their anti-trust function!!!!!!!

Ferd_Berfle

This is one reason why we need the Fair Tax. Of course, it will mean an end to loopholes, deductions, and all the other crap used as bribes by politicians to continue to live off the taxpayer dole.

Scottymac54

Realistically, not going to happen.

Ferd_Berfle

I see. No need to try making it happen since it won’t work and it isn’t worth it anyway. Gee, Eeyore, you may as well just find a resting place, assume a fetal position, and accept it.

I won’t.

Scottymac54

Ferd, honestly?

I have to figure out a way to express what I think about it, just because EVERY thing I post about taxes sends you into a cold fury.

Okay?

Ferd_Berfle

Christ on a crutch. You have made it a point to express yourself in such a manner that all the regulars tire of your contradictory bullshit. It isn’t just me, so take a look at your own comments before you go pointing fingers, bub.

On second thought–just stop responding to my comments and I’ll do the same for you.

Ferd_Berfle

Is it a good idea or not?
Would we be better off with it or not?
Do YOU think it is a good idea? If so, then say so. If not, then tell us why.

Your Ms. Cleo prognostications are not an answer.

Scottymac54

I decide what I respond to, or not.

I decide what threads I comment on, or not.

And when. And you have absolutely no sway in the matter.

Got me?

Now…BRIEFLY…I think there are tremendous merits to the idea of a flat or flatter tax. I have seen the concept achieve desired results myself, particularly in “Eastern Bloc” nations.

But not for here, and not for now.

Firstly, because this country requires tremendous infrastructure improvements. This nation, due to negligence and corruption, has been permitted to fall to the level of a third world nation, and it cannot be laid at the feet of the unions, the Arabs, Keynesian economics, racism, abortion, free marijuana, or any of the usual boogaboos.

I know how much getting this country back into servicable working order will cost, I know the oligarchs and giant industries cannot be counted on to pay their fair share, and I realize a flat tax scheme will not permit America to survive.

I see that the military industrial complex, while requiring massive staff reductions and spending cuts in the short term, must undergo a total transformation.
The threat of war waged on an intergalactic basis beckons, possibly even within this decade, and “moving mountains” will require astronomical (no pun intended) funding.

Poorly executed paradigms like the current unhealthy state of medical care, along with non-existant ones like true insurance oversight, political campaign reform, radical overhaul of our courts, nationalization of utilities as well of divestiture of public transportation (Amtrak), more or less rule out the idea of a flat tax AT THIS TIME. It would penalize hardworking Americans, who truly bear the burden of contributing to the nation’s benefit in the most productive manner. They are already shut out of what little remains of the
“American Dream”, while rewarding the leisure classes and the same failed economic and foreign policy disasters administered over the past forty-five years, like trickle-down economics and affirmative action.

We will need to re-industrialize. Isn’t that incredible to think about? Just the scope….

The corporations that respond to these challenges, will survive, and the ones that do not, will wither and die.

That’s it, in a nutshell. Flat tax proposals are fine and good, and if I were a proponent of it, I’d actually advocate discussing it now (and I’m sure that it is).

But it’s pointless when the nation is falling apart and there will soon be no more means of production.

hc123

There already isnt really much of a means of production. Manufacturing has been relentlessly driven out of the USA by our bizarre tax code and heavyhanded regulatory state. If it were at all practical to manufacture here people would.

The private sector will not re-industrialize the USA unless these underlying issues are addressed.

Corporations that tried to manufacture here have withered and died, or been absorbed by uncle sam.

Corporations that move manufacturing to China thrive.

Forcing businesses to manufacture here is not the private sector at all. Its a spin on that corporatism everyone loves so much, and that produces such wonderful products.

I had a Trabant once. I dont recommend them.

As far as government infrastructure projects, riiiight, thats the ticket. The ticket to nowhere.

In DC they pave the roads constantly, yet amazingly the roads still suck. Ditto for the sewer. Always digging and fixing, never working properly.

It reminds me of what the Romans said about Constantinople – the construction never ends because they dont build it right in the first place and because there is crony job security in knowing the work will never end.

I will take Ferds “starve the beast” approach over planning for “The threat of war waged on an intergalactic basis ” any day.

Krugmanomics does not work. The space aliens just never show up in time.

an observer

So, getting rid of FDR era Glass-Steagle turned out great for us didn’t it.

There are a lot of idiots in congress that need to be voted out, I agree.
But they’re our idiots, we voted them in.
We simply need to fix that.
Ferd is right, there are simply some projects too big for the private sector.

And another thing, how good is the infrastructure in Eastern Europe? You get what you pay for, or not.

Ellend818

Why can’t we reinstate it?

Anonymous

Thanks for the personal opinion Larry. I hope he does well.
Tricia

And I know so many smart people who can’t find a job. What a crazy situation.

Scottymac54

I hope there are no new stimulus-type programs to “create jobs”. These jobs always are, and always have been, a hoax.

America is about independence and entrepreneurship and there’s no reason why poor and working-class people should not be given loans and commercial real estate to open small, potentially profitable businesses and cottage industries, rather than handing the money they deserve over to the filth that run giant multinational corporations with allegiance to no one.

Ferd_Berfle

You loan them the money.

Scottymac54

I’d rather figure out a way to get you to lend them money and take credit for the brilliant idea that led to their dream becoming true.

Anonymous

Now Scotty I can’t let him do that, considering that is my money too, something to leave to our child and the grandkids. Besides you gotta be careful what money you give out, the government has been known to do magic tricks with funds.. you know take big heap dollars and turn into smallpox blankets…just sayin…
No one needs a hand out, or a cliche; everyone needs to strengthen their own backbone and do what they can to take care, and in the meantime the one thing we can do now, is demand accountability, everywhere the government spends, not wait, nor depend on a single group, party or representative. FOI requests are not that hard, and every damned department needs to be hammered with them for the budgets, spending and the tucking away of those dollars they are hoarding themselves.

Anonymous

That’s the idea behind SBA loans. I’ve known a number of people who were not exactly rich or had a rich uncle who did start small businesses with an SBA loan.

Scottymac54

Yes, and some of them are excellent investments, and very successful.

It’s an opportunity missed, although, in my neck of the woods, it appears that Koreans, Pakistanis, Chinese, etc. are the only ones who appear to remember how to run a store and make an honest living.

(I’m exaggerating, but not by much…)

I do believe the relentless affirmative action aspects of all prior efforts in this area do need to be shelved, though. It breeds resentment and sends a negative message to the children of small business owners, who will feel their options are limited, if they carry on in their family’s businesses.

gonzotx

That’s because the entire extended family run the stores and often live in them.

Docelder

The welfare system helped destroy the extended family structure in the poorest of areas… The way to get your own place is to get knocked up… then you move whichever daddy has the most pocket money into the apartment with you and he eats up the kids WIC money but gives baby mama enough pocket money to get her hair and nails done. Life in the hood… no extended family in that plan. No ambition either… make a few dollars and lose your benefits… the crumbs that fall from the government table enslaves these people to a life of mediocrity… and democrat voting… funny that.
murray

In reply to Docelder:

“Thass’ a fact, Jack!”

Anonymous

Hey, Scotty did ya hear Obama say he wants to “put more money in the pockets of the ‘middle class’?

Personally, when I hear the words “pockets” and “money” in the same sentence, I know I am gonna get picked clean.

America is about independence and entrepreneurship.

America ia about life, liberty and the pusuit of happiness. And if happiniess is a warm gun, far out man….

Scottymac54

“Hey, Scotty did ya hear Obama say he wants to “put more money in the pockets of the ‘middle class’?”

But why would you believe any of these people, after decades of evidence to the contrary?

I’d be content at this point with the idea of them at least WANTING to act in furtherance of such a goal…but they don’t.

“Personally, when I hear the words “pockets” and “money” in the same sentence, I know I am gonna get picked clean…”

I hear you, but there is an argument that would support that we’ve learned just about anything productive from our past experiences and unfair treatment, and figure out a way to demand the sort of consideration
you want to see, if only to try. ”America is about independence and entrepreneurship.”

And I really do believe this. I really believe most Americans are way smarter than the people they work for.

I also like the idea of smaller-scale economies, with more professional autonomy and accountability.

What I have a harder time with, is the fact that there are folks who need a big employer, and yearn to be a little fish in a big sea.

I just don’t think those types of postwar jobs, benefits, etc., are ever going to come back.

Geoff C. The saltine

Hey Scotty! did you hear Boo wants to put more money in my pocket, and play with my money bag. I told him you would be my stand up and stand in guy. Have fun. wink! wink!

Anonymous

Obama proposes new regulations which could cost companies billions”
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/30/obama-proposed-regulations-would-cost-1-billion/

Ferd_Berfle

I though the forked-tongued Chief Blank Rock was going to eliminate regulations. Oh, I get it–the ones he’s eliminating will be more than made up for by the he’s proposing.

an observer

The Republicans control the House, when are they going to initiate impeachment proceedings?
When will any of them, other than Ron Paul, say something about the fraud the Fed is pulling off.
When are they going to make an issue out of Obama’s continued classification of the last part of the 911 investigation?
Hell, I could just keep going.
The truth is, they’re owned by the same people that own Obama.
We never get to vote for someone worthwhile, always the lessor of two evils.

Ferd_Berfle

I know–I was trying to be witty and failed.

That One won’t be impeached because the entire system would be impeached along with him.

Anonymous

Impeaching Obama in the House would be a rather futile gesture, considering that the Democratic Senate would not vote to convict unless there was clear proof of something so bad it would outrage voters if they didn’t.

Scottymac54

It would be a very different scenario, then what happened with Bill.

I don’t think even the accompanying rhetoric would be in any way similar.

Scottymac54

That wouldn’t be a bad idea, IMHO.

How many of the same failed mechanisms and root causes that allowed the likes of Barky to be elected have changed or reformed in any way?

This is my fear…that we boot his ass out but repeat the process, just with a different prevailing ideology, and wind up with the same types of lunacies.

Scottymac54

Ron Paul is the only one who has any sort of integrity whatsover.

And that’s exactly why they will absolutely not support him.

Messing with the Fed makes the same folks angry, that it did in 1963.

Ferd_Berfle

I do believe McCotter has integrity and more intelligence in his little finger than That One does with his cadre of bobbing heads. Actually Cain does, as well. But they are just pie-in-the-sky longshots. Rather like the dingaling in the WH was in ’07.

OK, Charlie, since nothing anyone here states you agree with, since you contradict even the most experienced among us, and since you seem to know everything, please enlighten us, Swami, as to who will be the Republican nominee and who will win the WH in ’12.

I’m serious–you either put up or shut up. Your contradictory caterpillar bullshit is tiresome.

Scottymac54

I disagree with Thaddeus McCotter on virtually everything. Particularly on aspects of Middle East policy, and aspects of the ecomony where he lacks vision, and a whole host of other things where we are just opposites ideologically.

But I think he’s smart. Very smart. And that’s unusual, IMHO, for a Republican candidate. I’ve heard him speak on history and he seems extremely intelligent.

Here’s what I don’t like about McCotter. When he was offered up as a candidate, all I read was that he would be a palatable alternative, in the “rust belt”, because he happened to be Catholic.

Here we go, again! More identity politics! This annoys me, because 1) there’s an assumption that Midwesterners won’t vote for a Mormon or a “fundamentalist” evangelical, and because 2) because Midwesterners would reject Romney, Bachmann, Perry, etc. as less competent because of their religious affiliation.

Even Batchelor used the word “Catholic” as a selling point no less then four times the night McCotter declared…and he’s a regular guest on his show.

I HATE, HATE when any person is put over another because of happenstance of birth, and family tradition.

Another problem is, that, IMHO, he’ll never gain traction because he has that same laconic quality Thompson had….as if he didn’t really want it. He’s also heavy on the cynical, personality-wise, and doesn’t possess the looks and image Americans seem to need in a president.

Personally? I think quiet and thoughtful is a good thing. I don’t get why today’s presidents are such “lens lice” and prostitute themselves to the networks for every sniffle and fart.
Scottymac54

“OK, Charlie, since nothing anyone here states you agree with, since you contradict even the most experienced among us, and since you seem to know everything, please enlighten us, Swami, as to who will be the Republican nominee and who will win the WH in ’12.”
I’m changing my prediction, BTW!

Up until last week I thought Romney would get it, but I’ve been talking to a lot of older people who identify as “conservative” or Republican and their reasons for no confidence in Romney seem very genuine, well-reasoned, and also widespread, not a media-driven agenda.

I put too much emphasis initially on Republicans’ willingness to accept Romney as a more moderate option to Bachmann and Perry.

So I think Perry will get the nomination, but I don’t think he can beat Barky. Which is unpalatable, no?

Sarah could be a wild card. I have my issues with her, but she could be WILY in a debate with Barky, wily in a good way.

And, I think I’d vote for Sarah over Barky. Nothing she’s put for is unforgivable for me, I can’t say the same for Perry or Bachmann.

I think Perry is stronger then Romney now, way stronger than I anticipated or hoped for.

Morris1030

There aren’t the votes for Impeachment and the time and energy diverted by doing this will further our disastrous situation.

We need a third party.
Morris1030

There aren’t the votes for Impeachment and the time and energy diverted by doing this will further our disastrous situation.

We need a third party.

Anonymous

“It furthers one to cross the great water” (like that?)

Ferd_Berfle

“I’m an Indian alright but here in The Nations they
call us the civilized
tribes. They call us
civilized because we are easy to
sneak up on. White men have been sneaking up on us for years.
They sneaked up on us and they told us we wouldn’t be
happy. They told us we would be
happy in The Nations. So they
took away our tribal lands and
sent us here. I had a fine
woman and two sons but they all died on the Trail of Tears. I wore a frock coat to Washington before The War. We
wore them because we belonged to the five
civilized
tribes. We dressed
ourselves up like Abraham Lincoln.
We got to see the secretary of the interior. He said, “Boy, you
boys sure look civilized.”
He congratulated us and he gave us medals for looking so
civilized. We told him about
how our tribal lands had been
stolen and how our humans were dying. When we finished he shook our
hands and said “Endeavor to preserver!!”
They stood us in a line John Jumper, Chili McIntosh, Buffalo Hump, Jim
Buckmark, and me, I am Lone Waite.
The newspapers took
our picture and said, “Indians vow to
endeavor to preserver.” We thought about for a long
time, endeavor to preserver, and when we had
thought about it long enough, we
declared
war on the
Union.”

Docelder

“Endeavor to persevere” reminds me of “hope and change” for some reason. Maybe it’s because both are cheap talk coming from the chiefs and neither actually does one thing for the indians. I like the example Ferd. Hope and change is our modern “trail of tears”. So much has been lost… so many families torn apart… homes lost… careers lost… all to glorify some narcissistic fool who thinks it’s all about him… when in reality it’s maybe the last great bubble to be popped. The American middle class… the American dream… all of it reduced to a bubble… while the narcissistic fool vacations, golfs and makes our last days as the worlds power as more undignified than what would be otherwise imaginable.

Anonymous

And service members families, constantly left without an entire family, year after year after year.

murray

My favorite monologue from one of the greatest movies ever: “The Outlaw Josie Wales.”

You made my day; thanks Ferd.
Anonymous

Woot!

Ferd_Berfle

“It furthers one to cross the great water” (like that?)
==================
Perhaps–or not. See below.

Docelder

Probably just small to medium sized companies… wiping the competition for the global corporations… too big to fail and you are in… just leave your tithes with the guy who plays basketball and golf and with his party handlers. The party will make sure you don’t fail and make sure any competition does fail. It’s the Chicago way… no… it’s now the American way.

murray

I see that Kenneth Melson has been tossed under the bus…I wonder whether he will bear full blame.

Kenneth Melson is head of the Bureau of Alcohol Firearms & Explosives, and is stepping aside over the Fast & Furious scandal.
Wbboe

I think US Attorney Jones has made a mistake in accepting this job as the new Director of ATF at the request of Eric Holder and still retaining his job as US Attorney. By his lights it will be an interim position, but given the magnitude of the scandal, the way it will be milked for political purposes, and the likelihood that it will implicate his friend Holder, I think he is in a conflict of interest position and he will come under a lot of pressure to do the wrong thing. He is however a Marine and therefore there is a strong presumption that his highest duty is to serve the country. That is where it will get most sticky for him, and 90 days may seem like an eternity.
an observer

So, Larry, what’s your take on this?
Now, according to a consensus of experts, the Obama Administration is likely to go to Congress to pass an Official Secrets Act. Already, three leading Senators—McCain, Lieberman and Graham—are smarting from Wikileaks, and could be expected to front for the Obama White House in ramming through a total suppression of the First Amendment.
Anonymous

“Atlanta’s Job Fair for All”
http://www.11alive.com/rss/article/203288/3/DOWNTOWN-Thousands-pack-job-fair
Anonymous

-
UP-TO-DATE
NEWS ARTICLES
IN LAST OPEN THREAD:

http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/61256/redeemer-doubt/#disqus_thread
Wbboe

La forza del destino for Marco Rubio this development.http://www.dickmorris.com/blog/latinos-turn-on-obama-dick-morris-tv-lunch-alert/(NB the broad category Hispanics is deceptive. Cubans are different from Puerto Ricans who are different from Mexicans. Cuban was the center of the Spanish empire, the viceroy sat there, they attracted a merchant class and an administrative class similar to what the British had in India. When Castro took over we got their middle class. Mexico is fundamentally different . A member of their elite who owned a huge tract of land which he traced back to Juan Soldier of Spain 1509 told me that there are 8 million of us in Mexico–and the rest are Indios. It is a plantation system and many—not all of those look at the Cubans and the rest of us very differently, more like the blacks do. A friend of mine who is Cuban and a Princeton man told me this and illustrated the point this way. He had a business, and one day several Mexican Americans walked into his store. He began speaking to them in Spanish and they were not receptive. He told me that even though they were all Hispanics, they saw him more like a white man, and there was a distance. I offer this comparison simply to illustrate that the term Hispanic is over inclusive for purposes of political analysis.)

Wbboe

http://www.dickmorris.com/blog/latinos-turn-on-obama-dick-morris-tv-lunch-alert/
Anonymous

Thanks Wbboe. There are underlying cultural differences everywhere. My Canadian company in Toronto employed 2 guys from Paris. They told the same story. They first went ti French-speaking Montreal, but when they used their Parisian French to speak to Quebecers, they were answered coldly in English. They got on the train and continued to Toronto – the capital of English-speaking Canada.
BTW – the French they teach children in English Canada is Parisian. They regard Joual (Quebec French) as a dialect. Reminds you of the scene on Airplane, doesn’t it?

Anonymous

God help you if someone had started in with a Metis dialect..wheww

Ellend818

Nice, Katmoon. Are there Metis in the US or only in Canada? Of course, for Native Americans there are no borders.

Anonymous

ABC Affiliate Reports on Long Form Birth Certificate Anomalies: Only MSM to do it.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2771305/posts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d80xX93q47U
Dave L.

We all know by now that this assclown is not going to do anything positive. He surrounds himself with his incompetent friends who are as stupid as he is. I think the asshole actually knows the end of his reign is at hand. Just surviving the next year and a half is going to be rough on a lot of people, but once this moron is gone, things will improve, no matter who is in charge !
Anonymous

One brief discussion on Fox this morning concerned Krueger’s past written assertions that extensions of unemployment benefits are detrimental to the job market.
This administration’s public posturing against business and their pandering to unions has poisoned the well of job creation. Businesses survived the recession by running leaner, and a recent survey stated that as many as 9 percent of companies plan to drop employee health insurance prior to the implementation of Obamacare.
Consumer spending drives our economy, but each month more workers become casualties of circumstances that are skewed against them.
MG

How stupid are these people…
http://www.lohud.com/article/20110830/NEWS02/110830004/Dispute-sends-scores-police-Playland-park-report
If the damn thing is important don’t go..and stop claiming special status bc you are a muslim!!