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While I’m At It; Get Off My Lawn!
Watching the Sunday political shows this morning was infuriating. They are in “promote panic” mode. The Russia hoax failed to bring down Trump. Ukraine/impeachment failed to bring down Trump. (Seems like a million years ago now doesn’t it?) The media are hoping the COVID-19 crisis evolves into Trump’s Katrina, and they are doing everything they can to make it happen, public welfare be damned.
On a separate but related topic, what is going on with this bill making its way through Congress with the administration’s support to bail out airlines, bail out the travel industry, bail out small businesses, and bankroll paid medical leave to individuals. Didn’t we learn from the last financial disaster that major policy changes rushed through in times of crisis yield terrible long-term results?
Whatever happened to businesses setting aside resources for emergencies? Whatever happened to businesses sucking up their losses in tough times just like they suck up their profits when times are good? When did the federal government become the guarantor of private business in every crisis? When did Joe Taxpayer become an insurance company to the entire private sector? By the time they’re done, Bernie will look a fiscal conservative.
Oh, and while I’m at it, get off my lawn!
Government’s typical reaction, Democrat or Republican, is to shovel the money as fast as it can.
They created much of the Katrina condemnation of Bush–who wouldn’t push back as was his wont. Now, much of this will be Trump’s “fault.” Hopefully, there will be pushback this time.
I’m not giving the NYT any clicks, but it’s my understanding is that David “Crease in the Pants” Brooks called Trump a “sociopath” today- – an incredibly disrespectful clinical term. Brooks should be ashamed, but, of course, he won’t be.
And to shovel money at everything else that can go along for the ride.
You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it’s an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.
–Rahm Emmanuel
Well the only thing they have is other people’s money and force.
That went away with the invention of “too big to fail” . . .
“Never let a good crisis go to waste”
GLDed! Though I was surprised to find it was first attributed to Winston Churchill.
As we said in my childish years “It takes one to know one.” Lack of shame is one of the hallmarks of a sociopath.
It was, but I was looking to highlight the more cynical application of those Alinsky doctrinaire Democrats have adopted, ……. with increasing less hiding of their nefarious intents.
Aside from the chance to criticize the Trump administration, the news outlets are desperate for readers. Anything sensational drives eyeballs to their dying outlets. Without readers, their ad revenues die and so do they.
I don’t know that that it’s a good idea for most business to let their cash sit idle. A better idea is usually to buy insurance against various contingencies, or maintain a line of credit.
However, with all the bailouts since the New Deal, it might not be such a good idea to put your resources into risk mitigation, because your competitors who use all their resources to grow will eat your lunch, get big, drive out competitors (including you) and will have enough clout to get bailouts from the government in case of disaster.
Governments getting involved in bailouts do a lot to help the big get bigger (albeit in the name of helping the little guys) leaving the little guys behind to nurse their grudges and support socialism.
I watched the Shields and Brooks segment on youtube. Both are disgusting.
I’m not totally defending the impulse for the government to bail out everyone in sight. One qualification in this case seems to me to be that the government is the one pressuring the businesses to close or mandating their closure so they may bare more responsibility for their losses than just a business failing do to market pressure etc.
I think this is right on the nose.
I’ve hated the media all my life, they have been biased as long as I can remember but somehow they have managed to increase that hatred. They will destroy the whole country if it will hurt Trump . I cannot figure out what terrible thing they imagine he has done to them to warrant this madness. I hate these lousy bastids with the heat of a thousand suns.
I just love hearing about all of the possible bailouts coming down the road.
Especially since I’m not going to see one thin dime from any of them.
I admire your restraint . . .
Hear, hear.