Mike : I could not possibly have said it better. It is damn rare when I agree with something close to 100% but this is an example of exactly that. The only demurer is that in the past which party was more open to a wide range of views was the Democrats. Not any more, of course. About the Republicans, well, from my vantage there is no way I can join the GOP. All I have to do is think of George W Bush or his daddy, or Bob Dole, or such things as the now fizzled boom in support for a political illiterate like Herman Cain, and that's all I need to consider. New book alert : Throw Them All Out , by an author named Schweizer. Basically the Congress is "Insider Trading, Inc" Just about everyone is in on the take. And, O yeah, BHO also plays this game, big time, with purchases of "hot tip" stocks. IPOs, that elected officials know all about. Why ? Well, so that pvt companies can have their pet legislation passed, or can get legislation they dislike defeated. Just about the whole Congress and the White House are in on this scam. The government pretty much consists of criminals. How will the media play this ? Gee, that is so-o-o-o-o difficult to guess. Again, thanks for the terrific essay. Billy ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- 11/21/2011 7:28:35 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [email protected] writes:
I'm just a centrist, as unwelcome in the liberal camp as the conservative camp. I was a Democrat once, but became a Republican because, even though Republicans tend to be critical of "RINOs", it's nothing compared to Democrats who find out that one of their own doesn't support inequality before the law, partial birth abortions, large amorpheous programs that don't actually solve problems, and "free spirits". Furthermore, there's a history of the Republican party serving as a platform for different political movements (progressives, libertarians, evangelicals, neocons, etc.), while the Dems have a history of serving as a tent for their special interests. Anyway... Before I start: I'm not going to be the guy who's going to support the existing system. I've found, though, that most administrative actions proceed from some problem (either real or theoretical), and these actions should be evaluated based on, a) whether they solved the problem, b) the cost of solving the problem compared to other possible solutions, and c) the externalities they create. My criticism is not to the existence of regulation, but an unwillingness to look at other potential solutions before adding the onerous paperwork. As for the issues you've raised, here's what I've found: Mankiw, and other emininent economists, support pigouvian taxes to eliminate damaging behavior. In the case of cigarette taxes, I think a drop to $0 revenue (thus, an elimination of smoking) is more the government's final goal than any sharp increase in government revenue from smokers. Some states, like Pennsylvania, have decentralized and privatized their DMV offices. Might work better, might be worse... I don't have any experience with it. I can only really support any privatization, decentralization, or deregulation, though, when we can empirically show that the result is better. Is the service in PA somehow speedier? Are the lines shorter? The skyrocketing of insulin costs appears to be due to regulatory inaction to allow for generic entry, brought about due to heavy lobbying by the pharmaceutical industry, rather than actual regulation. Basically, the government is propping up a monopoly or duopoly. No defense of the EPA from me. I have no defense of Obama. He lost me when he derailed NASA and his cabal stripped down the NSF. It's readily apparent that the President prefers political points today to preparing the country for the future. Of everyone in the field, I think only Huntsman or Romney could get the train back on the tracks. -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org
