- View our entire Business Blog archive.
Code Words and Good Questions
Code Words and Good Questions
One of the problems with trying to figure out what exactly is going on right now is decoding what it is that our leaders are saying. For example, the big issue right now is the “rescue” of the Detroit auto industry. We are being told by its supporters that it is necessary to save the millions of jobs that in some way, directly or indirectly, would be affected by a failure of the Big Three. The opponents of the effort call the rescue a “bail out” and ask why we would ever throw money into an industry that operates with a business model that cannot succeed in its present form? Good question.
The next term of confusion is that of a new “Stimulus” plan. The proponents say that we need to stimulate demand for goods and services on the part of consumers by putting government money into the hands of consumers who have been the bedrock of our economy for years and years. The opponents say that no past stimulus plan has ever worked including the last one, so why throw more good money after bad? Good question.
Let’s not forget “investment”. This is when a lot of money is going to be thrown at a problem and the proponents want you to believe that somehow this will benefit us all in the long run. If you believe this I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn, but evidently lots of folks do believe. How could they in light of the government’s totally crappy record in fixing anything? Good question.
Next on the list is “Reform”. Everyone talks about this one. The proponents of throwing money at problems always promise that major reforms will be a prerequisite of the money being forked over. The opponents always point out that for all the talk of reform in these kinds of programs, the promised changes never happen, so why believe the promises now? Good question.
Finally, inevitably, when all this money and promises are discussed, someone brings up the need to a new “Czar” to rule over the miscreants and make sure our tax dollars are put to good use. I have no idea how the idea of a czar became a good thing, but take it from me, a former Russian linguist from the NSA, czars are NEVER a good thing. Only an idiot’s misreading of history would think otherwise. Plus one might ask if there is anyone in existence smart enough to rule over the economy or government? Good question.
Now allow me to translate all these terms into the one meaningful one for all of us to digest. Whether it is a rescue, bail out, investment, stimulus, reform, or czar, all of it entails a very simple concept. Without first asking for permission the government is going to forcibly take money and power away from the productive and give it to the unproductive. I have another word for that. Rape.
Posted by Herb Kay on Thursday, November 20, 2008
Post Your Comments
If you would like to post comments to this blog entry, please login or register for free.