Archive for February 4th, 2010

Missionaries Impossible

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

In Haiti, Idaho’s Christian and clueless are charged with kidnapping and child smuggling…

This is what happens at the intersection of American exceptionalism (“We’re all God’s children, but our God’s better”) and American pig ignorance.

Although this appears to have been nothing but stupidity on the part of the “missionaries”, many foreign aid programs administered by religious groups place equally unsubtle pressure on recipients to consider converting to the party line.

It’s one reason among many why there are supposed to be laws in America that clearly separate church and state.

If organized and disorganized religious leaders insist on faith-based bigotry, intolerance and discrimination, then their religions shouldn’t be funded by government, either through tax subsidy or foreign aid and other programs.

These groups could easily be replaced by secular, unemployed American workers, who might welcome the opportunity for a paycheck and a chance to do something worthwhile in places like Haiti.

Gorilla says: “These missionaries were not even useful idiots, Haiti and America don’t need any more of ‘em running around loose!”

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Socialized Medicine Arrives

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Or it will by next year, as the government’s share of health care expenditures tops 50%!

So, why not proceed ahead with health care reform?

Or, even better, why not just bring the remaining 50% of health care costs into Medicare/Medicaid and cut these costs dramatically?

After all, the US spends more than anyone else on health care, but health care outcomes are certainly not as good as in socialized medicine countries like the UK, Spain, or (gasp!) Canada…

In fact, we spend nearly $3,000/year more per capita than the number two spender Switzerland, i.e. 67% more, and guess what? The Swiss live nearly 4 years longer!!!

Here’s the famous Ezra Klein graphic:

Gorilla says: “Single payer anyone?”

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This Week’s George T. Platter And Bait

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

The tidetime folklorist wonders why the future employment prospects of a do nothing Congress don’t correspond to actual unemployment in the real world.

The Platter: Get A Job by the Silhouettes (6 sihouettes for every opening)

The Bait: The Strike King Bleeding Pro-Model Crankbait (the benefits run out so you don’t have to)

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Unaddressed, Unsolved

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Unemployment!

What could be done?

A massive new stimulus that sets up a new WPA.

Spending needs to be on the order of $1-2 trillion/year for the next 3 years. There are plenty of projects that government at all levels could be hiring Americans to do.

The output gap’s over $2 trillion, and there is insufficient growth to spur new hiring.

Oh, and where’s the job growth promised by the Treasury Secretary and the Fed Chairman? They said it would be here by March!

Gorilla thinks: “Dithering during disaster is how the Dems will be deemed!”

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Cheap Dollars Also Work

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

The new export strategy from the Commerce Department:

1) Government talks up exports.

2) Government finances exports.

3) Government enforces trade agreements.

The goal? Double exports in 5 years!

The current big problem for US exports, namely the unsustainable mercantilist policy pursued by the Chinese, isn’t being addressed, except rhetorically, but necessary steps to address it may provoke trade wars, thus reducing exports.

Gorilla suggests: “A cheaper dollar will do the job much faster and that’s where we’re headed!”

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Who’s Hacking Now?

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Google, hacked in China, now in bed with the NSA!

It’s all very defensive, supposedly, apparently Google’s technology isn’t good enough to fend off attack without government help.

And of course privacy isn’t under threat, not from an agency that engaged in warrantless wiretaps of Americans for years or from a company that controls the vast majority of the information mining, search market…

Gorilla says: “In cyberspace, they also turn and cough whenever Uncle Sam wants hearts and minds to follow!”

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