Want to start a trade war? Bend to political pressure from unions and put a 35% duty on some small item and see what the other side does.
That's exactly what our President decided to do in a little-noticed move late last week when he put the duty on Chinese made tires in response to pressure from unions in this country.
Surprise, surprise. China is now studying two categories of American products for possible dumping duties.
This is how trade wars start. And, they don't end well.
Bad move, President Obama.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Please Read This
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203706604574370712943409146.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Friday, September 11, 2009
Joe Wilson is an A-hole . . . but he may be right
Okay, Rep Wilson is a jerk. Let's agree on that. In the U.K., parliamentarians can stand up and call out the Prime Minister during questions. They can call the P.M. all kinds of names, including a "liar". But we don't have that tradition here. Usually, the President is treated with deference by the Congress and they politely listen to what the President has to say and show some respect for the Office. Agree or disagree, we are all Americans and the President is the President of all of us. So, ding Rep Wilson for being a jerk. It will be interesting to see if he gets re-elected.
But, that's where it should stop. Let's move on. There are far more important things to do than to focus on this guy from South Carolina who blurted out something stupid (are we talking about their Governor or one of their Congressmen . . . sorry, I lost my train of thought).
Regarding the speech the other night and its implications, I have an observation.
Much has been written about the way that President Obama was walking a thin line in that speech between the liberal wing of his Party and the conservative wing of his Party (along with Independents who are concerned about mundane things like deficit spending and leaving our children with a gi-normous bill to pay for our profligate spending). It seems to me as I read this commentary, and listened to, and re-read portions of the speech, that President Obama said things that mean different things to different audiences. Maybe this is an old politicians trick, and maybe he is just damn good at this, but he said things in such a way that a wide range of the political spectrum can project their beliefs onto what he said and nod their head and say "yeah, that's more like it".
For instance, the President said that if you like your current coverage, you can keep the coverage you have today, but the legislation is just going to enhance its value by eliminating waste and inefficiency. Sounds great and who can argue with that? Only thing is, nobody who thinks about these issues seriously believes that this is anything other than fantasy or political posturing.
This was, in my view, an effort to stifle the dissent from the disgruntled masses who have currently health insurance and largely like what they have, which is a very large majority of us, by the way. By telling us what we want to hear, he's hoping that we now will go silently along with his proposals.
It is an interesting political game he is playing. I think he feels he needs something (anything at this point) to pass so he can claim victory and go home. It is not so much about fixing what's wrong, as it is about making incremental change and hoping he comes out looking good in the end.
The game is afoot.
But, that's where it should stop. Let's move on. There are far more important things to do than to focus on this guy from South Carolina who blurted out something stupid (are we talking about their Governor or one of their Congressmen . . . sorry, I lost my train of thought).
Regarding the speech the other night and its implications, I have an observation.
Much has been written about the way that President Obama was walking a thin line in that speech between the liberal wing of his Party and the conservative wing of his Party (along with Independents who are concerned about mundane things like deficit spending and leaving our children with a gi-normous bill to pay for our profligate spending). It seems to me as I read this commentary, and listened to, and re-read portions of the speech, that President Obama said things that mean different things to different audiences. Maybe this is an old politicians trick, and maybe he is just damn good at this, but he said things in such a way that a wide range of the political spectrum can project their beliefs onto what he said and nod their head and say "yeah, that's more like it".
For instance, the President said that if you like your current coverage, you can keep the coverage you have today, but the legislation is just going to enhance its value by eliminating waste and inefficiency. Sounds great and who can argue with that? Only thing is, nobody who thinks about these issues seriously believes that this is anything other than fantasy or political posturing.
This was, in my view, an effort to stifle the dissent from the disgruntled masses who have currently health insurance and largely like what they have, which is a very large majority of us, by the way. By telling us what we want to hear, he's hoping that we now will go silently along with his proposals.
It is an interesting political game he is playing. I think he feels he needs something (anything at this point) to pass so he can claim victory and go home. It is not so much about fixing what's wrong, as it is about making incremental change and hoping he comes out looking good in the end.
The game is afoot.
Friday, August 28, 2009
I Can't Believe We are Doing This
Despite the fact that I have been blogging on this subject for months (most recently July 12, if you need a refresher) . . . I still can not believe that our country is about to host a witch hunt to punish the very individuals who sacrificed so much to keep us safe. The men and women who put it on the line for us, to fight people who live in the gutters of the World, on our behalf.
We are going to look back from a safe distance at the decision-making of policymakers during the duress of post-9/11 and at the actions of those who worked several layers down under the guidance of written legal opinions and executive orders. This is totally un-American.
I simply can not believe that it has come to this.
What a huge mistake we are making right now. Where are we going to be next time we need some tough action to save American lives? Who is going to stand up next time if this is how we treat our warriors?
What are we doing?
We are going to look back from a safe distance at the decision-making of policymakers during the duress of post-9/11 and at the actions of those who worked several layers down under the guidance of written legal opinions and executive orders. This is totally un-American.
I simply can not believe that it has come to this.
What a huge mistake we are making right now. Where are we going to be next time we need some tough action to save American lives? Who is going to stand up next time if this is how we treat our warriors?
What are we doing?
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Is it true?
That President Obama called the head of the Congressional Budget Office to the White House for a meeting after the CBO came out with its study that none of the current health care legislation being considered will actually reduce what we spend on health care, as claimed by the President?
If this is true, this seems awfully close to the line of inappropriate meddling by the Executive in the business of the Legislative. The CBO was created to cut through the politics of the budgetary process so that somewhere, somehow, Congress could get honest numbers on what they are spending.
Do you think the President was just being social or calling the CBO to the carpet for coming out with numbers that contradicted his?
If this is true, this seems awfully close to the line of inappropriate meddling by the Executive in the business of the Legislative. The CBO was created to cut through the politics of the budgetary process so that somewhere, somehow, Congress could get honest numbers on what they are spending.
Do you think the President was just being social or calling the CBO to the carpet for coming out with numbers that contradicted his?
The Crusader . . .
When you think you are on a (capital C) Crusade to save America . . . the potential exists for you to miss signals that maybe, possibly, you may not be correct in your assumptions. If you feel you are "right" and doing the "right" thing, then damn the opposition and plow ahead because you are on a Crusade to save the People. To right the wrongs. To cure the ills. To create an idealic future for us all. Peace, love and understanding will prevail if you succeed.
And, those that stand in the way of your goals are obstructionists, tied to the status quo. They are evil-doers with immoral motivations. If they aren't for you, they are against you and therefore, against all that is right and just in your Crusade to create a better World. The opposition wants the Old World to continue, where injustice and cruelty rule the day. They are evil insurance companies (motivated by . . . YIPES . . . Profit.) They are caustic Republican Right-Wingers stirring up the emotions of the mob with untruths and lies. They are cynical political operatives trying to hurt the Crusader so he doesn't succeed in creating a better World.
When you are on a Crusade, it is easy to tell the good guys from the bad guys.
When you are on a Crusade, the World is a very simple place to figure out. Those who are with you are The Light and those that are opposing you are the Dark Forces who must be defeated.
Does any of this sound familiar to you? It should ring a bell of sorts.
This is an unhealthy environment to lead the Country. If you de-legitimize the opposition, you miss hearing what they have to say. And, what they have to say may actually help you because the opposition is not created out of thin air. It exists because of real concerns of real citizens. And, you are the leader of all the citizens, not just the ones who voted for you. Which means, you need to listen to them all, and hear them out. And, not pretend that what they have to say is somehow tainted by the fact that they are anti-Crusaders.
Unless . . . your Crusade is more important and you know what is "right" for the People and how to make the World better. Then, damn the opposition. Full steam ahead!!!
And, those that stand in the way of your goals are obstructionists, tied to the status quo. They are evil-doers with immoral motivations. If they aren't for you, they are against you and therefore, against all that is right and just in your Crusade to create a better World. The opposition wants the Old World to continue, where injustice and cruelty rule the day. They are evil insurance companies (motivated by . . . YIPES . . . Profit.) They are caustic Republican Right-Wingers stirring up the emotions of the mob with untruths and lies. They are cynical political operatives trying to hurt the Crusader so he doesn't succeed in creating a better World.
When you are on a Crusade, it is easy to tell the good guys from the bad guys.
When you are on a Crusade, the World is a very simple place to figure out. Those who are with you are The Light and those that are opposing you are the Dark Forces who must be defeated.
Does any of this sound familiar to you? It should ring a bell of sorts.
This is an unhealthy environment to lead the Country. If you de-legitimize the opposition, you miss hearing what they have to say. And, what they have to say may actually help you because the opposition is not created out of thin air. It exists because of real concerns of real citizens. And, you are the leader of all the citizens, not just the ones who voted for you. Which means, you need to listen to them all, and hear them out. And, not pretend that what they have to say is somehow tainted by the fact that they are anti-Crusaders.
Unless . . . your Crusade is more important and you know what is "right" for the People and how to make the World better. Then, damn the opposition. Full steam ahead!!!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Tin Ears and Arrogance
An interesting phenomena is happening now across the country. Congressmen are going home on recess and having town hall meetings, where they are soliciting comments from their constituents on the health care legislation now before Congress. These town hall meetings usually have a nice, civil tone in which the adoring public (usually mostly made up of campaign contributors and supporters of the politicians) praises the Congresspeople for their wonderful deeds, and asks for things for the local community.
These more recent meetings, however, have been filled with discontent (to say the least), rancor, disrespect for the politicians and fear. People are afraid of the change that is being talked about in Washington. They have read about it and they don't like what they are reading. And, they are letting their elected officials know they are unhappy by telling them to their face, and laughing at them while they try to sell their plans (because everyone knows they are lying about the financial impact of the legislation, and they know they will pay for these lies). And, it turns out that America's elected officials don't like getting lip from their constituents. They much prefer the praise they have been receiving at these meetings.
The reaction of (mostly) Democratic political leaders has been the dangerous part, not the public's reaction to the legislation. The politicians are quick to write off the reaction they are getting as being orchestrated somehow by the Republican "Right". This is a big mistake and illustrates how far these politicians have drifted from the electorate. And, they proceed with their legislation at their own peril.
The problem for the Dem Leadership stems from the fact that they operate in their Washington cocoon, which is so very well insulated from the viewpoints of actual citizens (see for yourself how hard it is as an actual, concerned citizen, to get an audience with an elected official - they won't see you unless your name is affixed to a five digit check to their campaign). So, when they come face to face with real people (who, nominally, are their bosses), and when those people tell them things they don't want to hear, they think to themselves "there must be an explanation for this that absolves me of any responsibility". And, then they trot out the Boogie Man Right-Wing Conspiracy.
Time for politicians to pay attention to their constituents and listen to what they have to say.
These more recent meetings, however, have been filled with discontent (to say the least), rancor, disrespect for the politicians and fear. People are afraid of the change that is being talked about in Washington. They have read about it and they don't like what they are reading. And, they are letting their elected officials know they are unhappy by telling them to their face, and laughing at them while they try to sell their plans (because everyone knows they are lying about the financial impact of the legislation, and they know they will pay for these lies). And, it turns out that America's elected officials don't like getting lip from their constituents. They much prefer the praise they have been receiving at these meetings.
The reaction of (mostly) Democratic political leaders has been the dangerous part, not the public's reaction to the legislation. The politicians are quick to write off the reaction they are getting as being orchestrated somehow by the Republican "Right". This is a big mistake and illustrates how far these politicians have drifted from the electorate. And, they proceed with their legislation at their own peril.
The problem for the Dem Leadership stems from the fact that they operate in their Washington cocoon, which is so very well insulated from the viewpoints of actual citizens (see for yourself how hard it is as an actual, concerned citizen, to get an audience with an elected official - they won't see you unless your name is affixed to a five digit check to their campaign). So, when they come face to face with real people (who, nominally, are their bosses), and when those people tell them things they don't want to hear, they think to themselves "there must be an explanation for this that absolves me of any responsibility". And, then they trot out the Boogie Man Right-Wing Conspiracy.
Time for politicians to pay attention to their constituents and listen to what they have to say.
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