Gorilla says: “A world class collection of the greedy and the stupid who live in fear”.
Davos In Brief
January 25th, 2012Blogging Blues
January 23rd, 2012Gorilla loves to write, loves his blog, but also gets weary going over the same old issues that never get resolved.
For example, who cares who wins the Know Nothing party nomination? Absent a total economic breakdown in the next 6 months, President Obama should cruise to reelection.
Who cares about the US budget deficit? Actually, no one in power cares, but they’re stuck in a doom loop narrative of their own creation.
Cruise ships? Can’t be bothered.
Various Middle Eastern civil wars and other conflicts? Honestly, it’s great to see a somewhat fitful march towards democracy, but there’s no US national security interest involved in the region that doesn’t begin and end with oil.
So, Gorilla’s not been as frequently topical thus far in 2012.
Gorilla says: “Hoping the world obliges with more interesting news this Chinese New Year!”
The March Of Folly
January 23rd, 2012Straight down the rabbit hole goes Euroland!
The problem isn’t actually Greek debt, it’s the huge competitive imbalances between Germany/Northern Euroland and everyone else.
Until the Germans are willing to both consume far more and finance Southern Euroland debt through the ECB as lender of last resort, Euroland will continue to stagnate.
The further insistence on austerity, at a time when much more stimulus is needed, insures that we’ll be back revisiting the same dilemma in 3 months and in 3 years.
Gorilla says: “Organized default has nothing on disorganized Deutschland!”
Shorter Final South Carolina Debate
January 20th, 2012The most ridiculous Know Nothing candidate wins in every ridiculous Know Nothing state.
Shorter SOPA/PIPA
January 18th, 2012SOPA rifics, PIPA asswipes, doesn’t matter, so what’s the difference?
Jobs Panel: Anything But Jobs
January 17th, 2012Sure, it can’t be done, because of (take your pick) political gridlock, deficits, pointless wars, etc…
But it would be nice just once to have yet another joke commission on jobs say: “Hey, we need to hire more people! If the private sector can’t or won’t hire enough people, the government can!”
Gorilla says: “What’s depressing about this depression is the total lack of enthusiasm for doing anything to address actual problems!”
When The Same Idiots Stay In Charge
January 13th, 2012Housing bubbles are missed, the Eurozone faces contagion, and nothing at all is being done about unemployment.
Not that this is anything new, but what’s frustrating is that no one is being held accountable for anything.
The superior officers of urinating marines, Fed governors, Wall Street financiers: you name ‘em and they’re getting a free pass.
Gorilla says: “When there’s no punishment for being craven, craven becomes the new normal!”
Early Issues Of 2012
January 9th, 2012The crystal ball is always hazy when Gorilla has a look, but here are some important issues that will have more than a little impact in 2012:
Euroland Meltdown: They may be able to muddle through for another year, but the fundamental imbalances between Germany and the rest of Euroland remain unaddressed, while borrowing costs for all continue to rise. Greece will exit the Euro, with the Portuguese, Irish, and Spanish not far behind. All bets are on if both Sarkozy and Merkel lose their elections.
Arab Springing: The real question is whether or not the nascent Arab Spring movements will come to countries where the West has real (read: oil) interests: Bahrain and the other Gulf States plus Saudi Arabia. So far, these nondemocratic countries have been able to buy off their populations, but the combination of aging leadership and vast youth unemployment could well become toxic.
Environmental Change: A major catalyst on the downside for the global economy. It’s tempting to put global warming in the same non-issue category as unemployment, since very little of substance is being done by anyone to address the problem. On the other hand, more violent weather is, like protofascist movements in Euroland, not something that can be ignored without cost.
The Winding Down Of Pointless Wars: It’s clear that there’ll be both negotiations and a swift exit from Afghanistan, on or before 2014. It’s also clear that the US military isn’t ready to overthrow any more tiresome regimes anytime soon. The international community’s policy is evolving from “protecting civilians” to “stand by and deal with whoever’s left”; civil wars will continue but the appetite for involvement in them will decrease.
Wild Cards: The failing states of Pakistan and Mexico. What happens there will intrude, possibly in a more direct and violent way, on the West’s hit, hope, and ignore strategy.
Gorilla says: “Two words that may sum up 2012: Northwest Passage!”
Early Non-Issues of 2012
January 8th, 2012Gorilla returns to the blog with a few insights from the outer limits on issues that won’t matter at all in 2012:
The Know Nothing Party’s Presidential and Vice Presidential Nominees: Whoever they are, they will lose the general election.
The US defense budget: Could easily be cut by 30-50%, but it’s a middle class jobs program, so it will remain, like ag subsidies, a symbol of what politicians will never touch in any serious way.
The Arab League: No, they won’t solve Syria, or any other Middle Eastern problem, because they never have.
Middle East peace: See The Arab League.
North Korea: Another dictator, another year of irrelevance.
Iranian noisemaking: They’re more concerned with consolidating their influence in Baghdad and Kabul. Cutting off the country’s main source of revenue is not on the agenda of the craziest of mullahs.
Unemployment: the great non-issue of 2008-12 continues to be ignored.
Russia: The KGB will continue running the place until Russians decide to be more like Syrians, and Russians won’t.
Gorilla says: “Pick your own issue, pretend it’s important, do nothing to address it, and you’ll be a viable non-issue expert in no time!”
Shorter Breast Implant Recall
December 22nd, 2011Some mugs got juggs with bugs.
