Entertainingly Incoherent
When in doubt, obfuscate. When in further doubt, mumble. If that doesn't work, consult a liberal. We recently had the sterling example of Nancy Pelosi, who explained that an extension of unemployment benefits would create 600,000 jobs? How, you ask?
“The unemployment insurance extension is not only good for individuals. It has a macroeconomic impact. As macroeconomic advisers have stated, it would make a difference of 600,000 jobs to our economy.”
But how, you ask again?
“Again, this is important because this is about the safety net not just for these individuals, but for our economic system that, in times of unemployment, we have a safety net and that is important.”
Got it? Well, now that we have that cleared up, let us turn our attention to Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who announced a few days ago on Ed Schultz's radio program that Richard Nixon had been impeached. Displaying a knowledge of history not seen since a student wrote on an essay exam that, "In the middle ages, everyone was middle aged," Rep. Lee said:
As I have scanned the annals of history, during the tenure of many presidents, obviously the recent presidents of JFK and Lyndon Baines Johnson, of Richard Nixon who was impeached, and subsequently Ford and Carter. I cannot find in the statement of a message of a minority leader, majority leader, or speaker, whose message has been defeat the commander-in-chief.
A tad inaccurate? Yes. But that was a fount of coherence and profundity compared with Lee's next statement, to wit:
This is the most unusual historical period in our lifetimes. I frankly believe that it will be tainted, it will be known as the three ring circus, and it will be a shameful period. Because most times, no matter whether we are a divided government, which I’m arguing for vigorous take-back of the House by Democrats and the win of the president, because we have proven, in the 21st century by those who are elected by the Republicans, you can’t have an effective democratic divided government under the likes of this thinking.
Then there was the student who wrote that Socrates died from an overdose of wedlock. No matter. Liberalism's best is on parade, and it is rollicking fun to be entertained by them. It's only when they are in power that they become an existential problem for the country, one which we have the opportunity to remedy soon.
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Comments :
Oct '10
Re: Entertainingly Incoherent
To a certain extent, Nancy Pelosi is right. Automatic stabilizers--specifically, the form of unemployment insurance we have, which is short-term and, if left to itself, doesn't create structural unemployment--are very helpful things to have. What Pelosi is trying to do is tie this to what is fundamentally a discretionary action: extend unemployment insurance.
Mar '11
Re: Entertainingly Incoherent
And let's not forget that it was the very same Ms. Lee who asked NASA technicians if they could take the Pathfinder rover over to where Neil Armstrong had planted the U.S. flag on the planet Mars.
May '10
Re: Entertainingly Incoherent
I think what the former Speaker was trying to point out is that the unemployment payments get circulated in a community and keep other people working... Grocery store clerks, truck drivers, etc. Those people still gotta buy food.
Re: Entertainingly Incoherent
I'm pretty sure that's the case too. If only someone could point out to her that the community wouldn't need the unemployment payments if the government would get it's boot off the throat of the private sector thereby allowing them to flood the community not with government largesse, but with real wealth creation.
Edited on Feb 10 at 8:56pmOct '10
Re: Entertainingly Incoherent
That's true, to a certain extent, though it's a complicated issue; whether or not there's a net gain depends on the demand for private investment, the fiscal deficit and its effect on the dollar, whether unemployment insurance "saved during good times," etc.
This business of extending UI without limit (while probably necessary in the first few years of the recession) does risk crowding out private investment, overvaluing the dollar, increasing structural unemployment, and all the other risks of deficit-financed artificial demand.
May '10
Re: Entertainingly Incoherent
As a freelancer in the TV business I am self-employed. If the phone stops ringing I am not eligible for unemployment. And I am not even considered part of the labor force.
Mar '11
Re: Entertainingly Incoherent
Sheila Jackson Lee was on the Ed Schultz program? This is disturbing all by itself.
Does stoopid have a critical mass?
Jan '11
Re: Entertainingly Incoherent
While gamely trying, Pelosi can't top: we've got to pass it to find out what's in it.
Edited on Feb 10 at 9:47pmRe: Entertainingly Incoherent
Dave, thanks for the laugh at the end of a long day. Now the trick will be for me to climb into bed and fall asleep before I reflect upon the incoherent substance of the statements and descend into despair.
Feb '12
Re: Entertainingly Incoherent
A simple mumble probably would've been vastly more coherent than the words the Honorable Ms. Lee tried to put together.
Edited on Feb 10 at 11:10pmFeb '12
Re: Entertainingly Incoherent
Nancy doesn't even believe what she's saying. You know how I can tell? She's checking to see if her nose is growing.
Feb '12
Re: Entertainingly Incoherent
I think what the former Speaker was trying to say was that it's important because we have a safety net that is important because if the safety nets are unemployed then the importance of having a safety net will be . . . um, important(?)
Edited on Feb 10 at 11:21pmFeb '10
Re: Entertainingly Incoherent
Dave Carter
The question is, a difference in which direction? Unemployment "insurance," particularly extended unemployment insurance, depresses jobs because:
I can see the stabilizing effect, in the short term, during normal short recessions. Basically, it could conceivably make the downturn less drastic by slowing down the recovery. But in a deep, long recession, it does more harm than good.
Oct '10
Re: Entertainingly Incoherent
I was once attending a reception in the Sam Rayburn building when SJ Lee crashed it, wandering in and, having no idea what it was about, walked over to me and asked the questions. I politely explained the purpose of the event, and within seconds, and I do mean less than a minute, she had already collared a TV reporter and cameraman and began an impromptu interview, explaining the event for the public.
It was an amazing performance, and, of course, she got the explanation all wrong.
Aug '11
Re: Entertainingly Incoherent
Although I enjoy these "idiots on parade" and hope they keep talking endlessly, it is irritating that they are so full of themselves. They believe they are all that prevents the idiots running the military from putting too many soldiers on Guam and tipping the island over! Uggh.....
So Dave, are you making the Athens get together?
Oct '10
Re: Entertainingly Incoherent
That's not quite fair. Left to itself, I think our system of UI works quite well, and is much closer to "insurance" than in many other developed countries. Like you said, it's when politicians mess with it and extended it without end that it becomes damaging.
I also disagree that UI is more damaging in deep recessions. That depends how far into the recovery politicians extend it.
Busy System Admin
The question is, a difference in which direction? Unemployment "insurance," particularly extended unemployment insurance, depresses jobs because:
I can see the stabilizing effect, in the short term, during normal short recessions. Basically, it could conceivably make the downturn less drastic by slowing down the recovery.
Mar '11
Re: Entertainingly Incoherent
It is rather sobering to know that several of our elected officials would be unable to complete High School successfully if they were required to undergo it a second time.
Edited on Feb 11 at 11:02amJan '11
Re: Entertainingly Incoherent
It's simply an extrapolation of the Pelosi "We have to pass it so we can know what's in it" admonition. In this particular case, we have to believe it before we can understand it. QED. Understanding Pelosi is simple, really, once you get the hang of it.
Re: Entertainingly Incoherent
Like eating ice cream too fast and getting a brain freeze.
Feb '12
Re: Entertainingly Incoherent
Yeah, every once in a while I have to go and buy a Hustler magazine so I can remember why I don't allow porn in my house.