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American Liberalism: The Infantile Disorder

rcwhalen's picture




 

 

“The approach of a great storm was sensed everywhere. All classes were in a state of ferment and preparation. Abroad, the press of the political exiles discussed the theoretical aspects of all the fundamental problems of the revolution. Representatives of the three main classes, of the three principal political trends -- the liberal-bourgeois, the petty-bourgeois-democratic (concealed behind "social-democratic" and "social-revolutionary" labels), and the proletarian-revolutionary -- anticipated and prepared the impending open class struggle by waging a most bitter struggle on issues of programme and tactics. All the issues on which the masses waged an armed struggle in 1905-07 and 1917-20 can (and should) be studied, in their embryonic form, in the press of the period. Among these three main trends there were, of course, a host of intermediate, transitional or half-hearted forms. It would be more correct to say that those political and ideological trends which were genuinely of a class nature crystallised in the struggle of press organs, parties, factions and groups; the classes were forging the requisite political and ideological weapons for the impending battles.”

 

The years of preparation for revolution (1903-05) 

Left-Wing Communism: an Infantile

Disorder

V.I. Lenin

April-May, 1920

 

Grand Lake Stream, ME:  Had good fishing yesterday even as temperatures rose steadily as the group converged on Leens Lodge for evening activities.  Dinner last night featured a brief presentation by ME Governor Paul LePage and also a discussion of Weimar Germany by Madeline Schnapp of Trim Tabs.  The two discussions were good complements for the larger evening discussion.  But sad to say for Persian Economists, there were no Power Point presentations.

 

Governor LePage started his discussion with a very frank appraisal of the state’s fiscal situation, namely that the Democrats spent and stole the state broke.  Voters in ME recently gave control over the governor’s office and both houses of the state legislature to the Republican Party.   Suffice to say that the main theme of Governor LePage’s comments to the audience at Leens Lodge, which included a number of advisers who own the state’s debt, is that the State of Maine is going to pay its bills and keep its promises.

 

One interesting part of the Governor’s remarks involved how ME is clearing up the many years of arrears of Medicare payments to hospitals around the state.  He noted thatthe Democrats in the legislature wanted to “negotiate” a settlement for the arrears of 50 cents on the dollar with the state’s hospitals, which would doom many of them to failure.  The consistent objective of American liberals is to destroy the free enterprise system and make the US a monolithic socialist state a la France.  That battle is underway in ME right now.  

 

Contrary to the Fabian scenario, Governor LePage has insisted on paying the hospitals in full.  “Then we can spend money on other things,” he told the audience.  But more to the point, LePage’s promise to pay the hospitals will thwart Democratic designs to decimate private health care institutions and drive more and more Mainiacs into the arms of the state.  But don’t look for Governor Le Page or anyone in the northern part of ME to go along quietly. 

 

The evening discussion was set up by Madeline Schnapp, who provided a brief but entirely chilling review of the financial stairway to hell of hyper-inflation in Weimar Germany.  In an extraordinary and succinct discussion, Madeline talked about the timing and duration of the appearance of different denominations of paper money used in the Weimar period.  Suffice to say that as the paper lost value, the printing became less and less attractive.  

 

From the start of WWI in 1914 through until 1923, the cost of a loaf of bread went from 0.10 Deutsche marks to 1 trillion marks in December 1923.  The hyperinflation in Weimar Germany, Schnapp noted, wiped out all of the accumulated wealth and savings of the German middle class and left most of the population in poverty.  Attendees at the dinner received examples of Weimar money and a brief presentation showing the rate of inflation during the Weimar inflation.

 

The juxtaposition of Paul LePage and his battle against the downstate, apartment dwelling socialists over spending and debt, and then Schnapp’s reminder about the death of money in Weimar Germany is a powerful pairing.  At the start of 1924, let us recall, Germany wiped out all existing financial assets and introduced a new currency back with real estate and other tangible assets.  When Paul Krugman and his ilk talk about the need for more deficit spending, more fiscal stimuli, they are taking you down the road to Weimar America.  There is nothing at the end of Paul Krugman’s road to borrow and spend save national destruction and personal disaster.  

 

On Monday this scribe will be taking the Bat mobile to Chautauqua, NY, to give a talk on Tuesday evening regarding the morality of regulation in America -- or perhaps the lack thereof.  In an age when the entire framework of left wing liberalism, “the infantile disorder” to paraphrase V.I. Lenin, lies in tatters, maybe it is time to ask why we all don’t do the right thing.  Or if the future of economics is merely a free-for-all for an existing pie of resources, perhaps we should just dispense with the civilities?  

 

Whether you are a Krugmanite progressive-socialist or a classical liberal lost in the 21st Century, in both cases we rely upon a consensus called the rule of law.  But is that assumption still valid?  Many conservatives believe that the left has lost its collective mind and embraced hyperinflation a la Weimar Germany, not to help people in any meaningful way but to simply preserve Democratic political power.  

 

If the political tsunami underway in Maine is any indicator, the November 2012 election will be fascinating and unpredictable.  But while there may be conservative uprisings at the local level, in Washington at the Fed a decidedly orthodox form of state socialism continues to reign supreme.  

 

“If you consider that John Law’s main intellectual error was thinking that shares of stock were just as good as money,” AIER scholar Walker Todd noted recently.  “Ben Bernanke’s error is thinking that derivatives and math models are as good as a scarce commodity in restraining the quantity and promoting the value of money.” 

 

But the beliefs of mere Fed economists are a sublime concern compared to the naked inflationism of Paul Krugman and his fellow travelers in American liberalism.  The battle now is between people like ME Governor Le Page, who want to restore fiscal sanity to American life, and those who merely wish to destroy the private economy and monetary system.  By ensuring that as many people as possible are dependent upon government for their livelihoods, liberals in states like ME are treading the path blazed a century ago.  by V.I. Lenin.  What a shame most of them do not appreciate this irony of repeating the same mistakes over and over again.    

 

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Sun, 08/05/2012 - 12:10 | 2679473 Lednbrass
Lednbrass's picture

He never said anything of the sort, the fact that you relied on all kinds of made up nonsense as the basis for your response says little for your sanity.

How many pills does it take for you to get through a day without a meltdown?

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 13:05 | 2679574 falak pema
falak pema's picture

read between the lines, don't look at the big print; its called knowing the fluff from the substance. He is ranting about "underachieving" "Black" people. Says it all... do you need a blowtorch to see the tree from the forest?

Denying that racism is a ground swell in current society is like denying that transnational corporations create more distortions in society than bringing benefits to it. Facts are what tell what the fundamental issues are and ranting in DENIAL about social strata divisions based on race as being non existent is refusing to face reality.  

It all depends what value systems we consider as a priority; if its a level playing field in a nation state that dictates a perception of priorities then its different from those  who feel that powerful individuals should be allowed to do whatever they like to protect their own interests.

This article is slanted and this post which I commented just increases the tilt. 

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 00:35 | 2679026 CrockettAlmanac.com
CrockettAlmanac.com's picture

But the Democratic Party does insult blacks by insisting that they can't compete with white folks. It's not racist to see that blacks have natural abilities that would allow them to compete on par with anyone else if the so called do-gooders would stop trying to keep them distracted and discouraged.

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 09:18 | 2679253 GMadScientist
GMadScientist's picture

Actually, yeah, assuming all "blacks" are, by virtue of this status, possessed of "natural abilities", is the very definition of racism.

Either that, or my assumption that you being white implies you probably fuck your sister isn't "racist" either.

I think the vast differential in pay for the exact same jobs and being the prime target of your less scrupulous portions of the FIRE sector had a larger effect than pop-psych 101 platitudes you were spoon-fed by an Oxycontin Pig.

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 11:39 | 2679392 CrockettAlmanac.com
CrockettAlmanac.com's picture

Right. Understanding that blacks are naturally as capable as anyone else is a racist philosophy. You got me. Why not head over to Kos and brag about how you put this old redneck in his place for spouting that neo-Confederate equality crap.

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 21:10 | 2678801 spooz
spooz's picture

no thanks hitler

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 17:45 | 2678555 headless blogger
headless blogger's picture

I might have got this from ZH, not sure but its good and about the progressive complicity in all the destruction we see."The Financial Bearings of "Manufactured Dissent":

http://memorygap.org/2012/08/03/the-financial-bearings-of-manufactured-dissent/

 

Unmanned Systems Caucus:

http://unmannedsystemscaucus.mckeon.house.gov/

The two Administrators of the Drone Caucus for the Rulers are McKeon and Cuellar. It is these two Administrator's jobs to talk American people into accepting the Drones...it says this on their taxpayer funded website.

More a squashing any notion that right does less spending than the left or vice versa:

NASA just assigned 1.6 Billion to 3 private companies to build Commercial Space Flight station, etc. Please don't think YOU will get to fly to the moon, this will only be for the ultra rich and their 15 year old lovers. You will get the honor of paying for it, though.

 

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 17:10 | 2678533 Joy on Maui
Joy on Maui's picture

I used to admire CW for his technical, big-picture expertise insights/ comments.  I am so deeply disappointed after reading this, would not have believed him to be capable of this kind of drivel.  What is your agenda, Chris?

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 11:32 | 2679399 blunderdog
blunderdog's picture

Don't go reading too much into it.  He's a truly dyed-in-the-wool Republican, that's all.  It's just like preferring the Giants over the Jets, or whatever.  He's a spectacular bank analyst.

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 00:26 | 2679017 madridisburning
madridisburning's picture

His agenda is to make friends among the mentally unhinged.

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 21:22 | 2678823 spooz
spooz's picture

I've enjoyed reading Institutional Risk Analytics for its analysis of the financial sector.  Didn't realize Whalen was such an elitist tool until I read his ZH contributions. 

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 17:10 | 2678531 headless blogger
headless blogger's picture

The dems did it; the repugs did it!! This illusionary division has been a great distraction for the masses and a great tool for control and power for the ruling classes.

While the partisan fighting rages on, the Rulers are openly upping the ante and speed in developing and creating their next Authoritarian System, this time for the American people. A recent NY Times article reported on Drone "operators", the guys that cowardly sit in a secluded computer terminal watching in predator fashion their next victim (thousands of miles away) that they zap dead with a click of the mouse: "A Day Job Waiting for a Kill Shot a World Away".

This article let the cat out of the bag, albeit inadvertently. The drone operators said they watch their victims for sometimes weeks before killing them. They can see right inside their houses, viewing the most intimate moments a person has. They said openly that they "watch them go to bed at night", and "watch them get up in the morning", and see everthing they do. They said (how kind of them?) they wait for the man's wife and children to go to town or somewhere before they kill him.

A federal court ruled that Drones can be used in the surveillance and assistance to catch "criminals" in North Dakota (related to this farmer that the authorities used a drone on). Within a few years they will have 30,000 drones over America, watching you....AND DON'T THINK FOR MOMENT they are not seeing inside your house. They will be watching it all.

The NSA employes almost One Million people, currently....but that will increase when their Utah plant opens in 2013. That is only ONE "intelligence" spy agency of 16 in the U.S. (These minions in the several millions is why America is going to become the most extreme form of Authoritarianism the world has ever seen....because they are (smartly) going to make sure that a large layer of people will benefit...even though they are not the Rulers...but will remain above the serfs.

But YOU won't be one of the "lucky" ones selected by the Rulers to administer their System. And Americans are doing nothing about this, if they were they would have already.

Even ORWELL'S world was better than what is planned for here, because even Winston had a small enclave he could retreat to where he was not watched.

Elite Administrators like Cheney openly stated the world would be in chaos for decades....They have obviously planned well. Another Neo-con back then said THEY WOULD BE MAKING THE POLICY (MEANING THE RULING ELITES FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE ISLE), while the rest of us were reduced to only commentary.....

Does it really matter which party stole more money?

 

 

 

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 16:41 | 2678483 MeelionDollerBogus
MeelionDollerBogus's picture

OMG Whalen.

Just ONE word different. Is it that hard to read up on the comment-memes and title it "Citizenism" ... IS IT?

Please, more LuLz.

Yes, we are (most of us) very economically aware on ZH.

But we're getting bored waiting for the Apocalyse.

LuLz += 1

 

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 16:19 | 2678448 Miles Kendig
Miles Kendig's picture

Tragic that Governor LePage supports the proposition that those who engage in large scale financial crime are not only exempt from the rule of law, but help with its crafting (Back to Bernankistan).

Nice attempt at finding a solution.  Try again Chris, unless your hint at abandoning federalism and the rule of law for naked aggression is more than a hint.

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 16:03 | 2678424 ebworthen
ebworthen's picture

 

 

Mission: 

  1. Create ideologies called "liberal" and "conservative".  Get a majority of the population to "belong" to one or the other.  Give them elections and "representatives" to make them believe they have won a victory, or that they need to support "their" side so that things can be "set aright" at the next election.
  2. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, have said politicians "meet in the middle" to make "bi-partisan progress".  Make certain that the legislation is 2,000+ pages to ensure legal battles and the formation of more government agencies to administer legislation.  "Liberals" promise social programs that never live up to the amount of money they suck out of everyone.  "Conservatives" promise tax and spending reform but vote for bailouts and pursue overseas conflicts to keep the military industrial complex humming.
  3. Get the Supine Court to pass laws making corporations individuals, no limit or transparency on campaign contributions from them, and give said corporations - in collusion with municipal governments - the right to confiscate private property simply to increase tax revenues.
  4. Perpetuate the debate and belief that either side will change things (versus maintaining the Kleptoligarchy).  Have vigorous debates, vociferous speeches, talk shows and news programs, all railing that if only we choose this side or that things will change for the better.
  5. Use the established collusion of the Oligarchs and Kleptocrats to:  rob the individual blind, indebt their children, promote dependence or greed, all the while enriching the bankers, politicians, and their cronies.

So far in U.S.S.A. 2012 it is "mission accomplished".

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 14:42 | 2678305 hockeypuck777
hockeypuck777's picture
  • I must have lost my invitation to join this group of pompous rich men fishing.  Was the wine acceptable?
  • Yes, be sure to pay the bondholders; the commercial debtors get to cram down principal while the homeowner soldiers on, feeding the MBS machine.  We don't need "guns."  Just stop writing checks.
  • Reading about Weimar period; inflation.  Very scary indeed.  Just a regular guy, but the other day, I actually went to Travelex and bought 800 CHF.  Is that not nuts?
  • Left v Right all BS.  Boring. We know what we need to do.  Raise taxes. Cut entitlements. Limit social Security and Medicare and Medicaid. Cut defense spending. But "we" lack the will.  All of us.  
  • Most of the young people these days in USA walk down the street with their heads down looking at a little black device.  What's in there that is so compelling?
  • Most of "us" have decided on the election.  A tiny sliver of undecideds.  But I fear it does not matter who wins! Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber!  Perhaps I will vote for the Bond Market.
  • I wish all commentators had learned to spell.  It really damages one's credibility to muff simple contractions.  Many many countries educate their children "gooder" than America!  Wake up!
Sat, 08/04/2012 - 15:10 | 2678349 Vet4RonPaul
Vet4RonPaul's picture

hockey; 

a) Just because they are richer than you doesn't make them pompous any more than it makes you lazy.

b) We don't need to raise taxes as you say but we do need to cut spending (also as you point out).

c) Don't dis the young people; they've been screwed far more than people over 25.

d) Don't sweat spelling; look for content and substance and let the little stuff go.

Finally, and unfortantely, the Dems will win and continue to win because they are the most Socialist party (slightly more Socialist than GOP) and the majority of Americans now depend on the local, state, regional and federal governements to sustain their standard of living.  This is mostly retirees, teachers, police, government contractors (eg. Defense) and government employees that need their tax-payer funded fix on a weekly basis.

Those for real liberty and willing to accept its risks are few and far between and we can not overcome the majority of socialists until their system runs out of other people's money and implodes either by hyperinflation, deflation or a combination of both.  In the meantime, stack physical.

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 15:49 | 2680008 hockeypuck777
hockeypuck777's picture

Fair enough.  Both the Dems and the Reps are socialists in that they both take from the people and give to the state.  Then the state allocates it back in accordance with the wishes of Congress the membership of which is beholden to interest groups of all stripes ... unions, companies, defense contractors, teachers you name it everyone has a lobby.  Prisons full of dopeheads; no room for executives who steal for greed.  Sickening.  Will the masses rise up?  I doubt it ... too busy with TV. 

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 15:30 | 2678372 AldousHuxley
AldousHuxley's picture

conservatives and liberals died in 1980s.

 

what we have now is neo-conservatives and neo-liberals

 

neocons want empire building wars to steal foreign resources to get wealthier instead of developing human potential of the citizens

 

neo-liberals want liberal economic policies (deregulation) for wall st. debt indenture and then bailouts instead of developing human potential of the citizens.

 

that's why people have congress now. true conservatives are moving to libertarian party and true democrats are turning to progressives.

 

system wants change. people want change. but change in power structure often doesn't happen without bloodshed.

 

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 20:51 | 2678780 boiltherich
boiltherich's picture

First post I have read in this thread I can agree with AH.

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 15:32 | 2678367 spooz
spooz's picture

Huge tax breaks allowed the elites to funnel wealth up to the 1% over the past 30 years.  We now need to tax wealth to put our country back on a sustainable track instead of allowing it to be run by economic royalists who seek to turn our middle class into a peasant class.

Let me know what is socialist about the Democratic party.  All I see is crony capitalism and cutting of social programs.  You Mises goons are providing cover for the elites agenda.  

Here is a chart that shows the result of those low, low taxes the elites have been paying for years and years:

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2012/08/americas-billionaires/

 

 

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 16:17 | 2678443 sessinpo
sessinpo's picture

If you need to told what is socialist regarding BOTH main parties, it is a fruitless effort to educate you. By the way, the disparaty between the top and the bottom was greater in 1929 then now.

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 16:55 | 2678486 spooz
spooz's picture

I think I know crony capitalism when I see it. If you think the Affordable Care Act is about socialism, you have a lot to learn.

You would have to go back to the great depression to find inequality like we have today.  And the elites piles are still growing as markets are propped up to keep portfolios intact.  I believe this chart proves your statement about 1929 being more unequal is false. And that is only looking at income.  But to see the REAL inequality, one has to look at wealth.  You know, those trillions the elites managed to stash offshore after they looted our economy with low taxes on extreme earnings.

http://www.thenation.com/image/extreme-inequality-chart#

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 11:30 | 2679390 blunderdog
blunderdog's picture

I think Medicare and Social Security are socialist, no matter how you slice it or where you want to draw lines.  They're also the two biggest outlays in the Federal budget.  (The military costs more overall, but it's a million different items from a million different departments budgets, so...)

Since there's not a politician anywhere who'll even *acknowledge* this, you can make a safe bet we won't be changing anything about those programs.

You're absolutely right about the ACA, tho.  That's a straight-up fascist play--a law requiring subjects to pay private for-profit companies for a service they may or may not want.  There's no socialism there at all.

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 15:50 | 2678410 Sean7k
Sean7k's picture

One, what has Mises to do with your argument? 

Two, why should wealth be seized? Should we seize your wealth as well? Let's just make everyone poor. Do you really think that the people with the ability to generate wealth are going to stay in America when countries all over the world will welcome them with open arms? You may not like it, but capitalists create jobs that are paid from profit, government creates jobs paid from taxes- big difference.

Three, Last time I checked, the democratic party passed obamacare. Is this not a state mandated health program? Is this not the definition of socialist? 

Why not eliminate all personal taxes? That way those crony capitalists can no longer game the fascist government for all that tax money? Better yet, if you like taxes- use a head tax. Everyone pays a single tax of the same amount. That really limits taxation and thus, governmental tyranny.

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 17:08 | 2678504 spooz
spooz's picture

Sorry, maybe I assume too much.  Whenever I see the "NO NEW TAXES" message, without any indication on WHO should be getting tax breaks, I assume we're talking Mises.  Kind of lazy, I suppose.  

Wealth should be seized because modern day robber barrons, with weapons of mass financial destruction, have looted our economy through the banks.  The activities they engaged in to accumulate their wealth added nothing productive to our economy and ended up leaving municipalities and pension funds with muppet investments.  

Grouping all corporations together in the "capitalist" boat ignores the multinationals who seek to turn our labor force into worker units with no rights, while corporate interests call all the shots through their lobbying efforts.  

Are you serious? Obamacare as a SOCIALIST program?  Handouts to insurance, Big Pharma and corporate health care cronies does not qualify as socialist agenda.  Look at Canada if you want to know what socialized medicine looks like.  Canadians would NEVER trade their system for ours.

Eliminating taxes, after the elites have managed to hoard so much of the wealth, is like continuing to play Monopoly after the opponent owns all the property.  I'm much more concerned with concentration of wealth and income than taxes.

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 21:43 | 2678860 Sean7k
Sean7k's picture

So, apple or google haven't created jobs? Those oil companies and energy firms, no jobs? Media conglomerates, no jobs? Did you think to question those pension investments or creating pensions where the prople have input? America has the largest single nation economy in the world, who do you think built it? Government? There have always been "robber barons" , but when you allow them to control the government, the answer isn't more government.

Turn our labor into worker units? You mean like those socialists clamor for with their ridiculous labor theory of value? You could use some Mises. When you empower the government, you enpower the wealthy who can afford to capture it. 

All socialist programs give handouts to corporations and banks. Why? Because government can't afford to do otherwise- THEY WOULD RECEIVE NO FUNDING. What do you think the trade-off is for higher taxes on the wealthy? The military- industrial complex and government debt where they can recoup their contributions.

When you eliminate taxes, you minimize government and give power back to the people. 

Why don't you educate yourself on history and economics and come back when you are not mesmerized by propaganda.

 

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 01:33 | 2679029 spooz
spooz's picture

Apple employs 60,000, mostly in its retail operations. Google employs 18,500.  Big deal.  GM was employing 600,000 US workers in the 1970s.  

Oil and gas has led the way in shifting workers from being w-2 employees with benefits to 1099 workers.

 Media conglomerates have too much concentration of ownership giving them too much power creating propaganda; they are pretty much ignoring the LIBOR scandal. And they are not creating new jobs.

The answer to robber barrons is tough regulation, not deregulation.  Teddy Roosevelt started the "Bull Moose" Progressive party to take them on back in his time, stating that "to destroy this invisible Government, to dissolve the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics is the first task of the statemanship of the day".  Our system is incapable of producing such leadership today.

Globalization strips workers of any bargaining power, and Mises, in preaching free markets (free to exploit workers in the interest of bottom lines on a global scale), contributes to the destruction of our middle class.

The only "people" that will get power from eliminating taxes are the elites that already have it. Personally, I'd like to see a wealth tax to make up for the low taxes the elites have been paying for decades. It would only be a start in reversing the growing inequality in our country.

Here is a piece Ritholtz did on how much corporations are paying in taxes.  Small businesses, the real job creators, can't buy these kinds of tax breaks:

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2012/08/10-most-profitable-companies-9-taxes/

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 07:33 | 2679189 Sean7k
Sean7k's picture

So, those big companies do employ people? And GM, did unions have something to do with making them unable to compete? What is the problem with a 1099 worker? I have always preferred that status- regular workers get robbed by taxes.

Teddy Roosevelt was a pawn of the Morgan's and ran only to keep Bryant out and their candidate Wilson in. This is the problem with people that don't read history. They attribute greatness to whimpering sycophants.

Free market capitalism did more to raise the standard of living for the most people than any other system employed in history, but you don't read history. Globalization is not the problem. Being able to demand value for what you contribute is. You want a guaranteed standard of living, you're lazy and criminal- just like the ones you want to tax. There is no guaranteed standard of living, you only get that by creating debt and when that debt gets too large, your standard is taken away.

If you want to create wealth, you must produce goods and services that people are willing to pay for. If you can't do that (worker), then you depend on someone else to do it for you(capitalist) and hopefully get some benefit (wages). Every other system either leaves you poorer through mismanagement (totalitarianism) or through debt slavery (socialism/fascism). 

You want to seize what you have not earned. That just makes you a thug. You want the government to do it for you. That just makes you a coward. 

If Ritholtz had a brain, he would understand that corporate taxes are passed on in the form of prices. We pay for it because we allow the present tax structure. It is taxes that allow governments to disperse funds to crony capitalists. It is taxes that allow the US to be an imperialist nation of war that kills our sons and daughters so favored corporations can steal resources and demand foreign market share.

Your call for taxes on the rich is the call of the easily led and easily fooled. Lacking the initiative to work or educate yourself, you are merely their lackeys- sowing the dissention to impedes the unity people need to see government and the Elites that run it for what it is.

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 07:48 | 2679196 i-dog
i-dog's picture

+1 (you're far more polite than I'd have been to that dumb fuck!).

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 08:03 | 2679203 Sean7k
Sean7k's picture

Good to hear from you i-dog. 

He is civil, but I think just a true believer. I was there once. I get that.

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 15:38 | 2678390 AldousHuxley
AldousHuxley's picture

you work hard and pay: college debt (tax on your brain), social security, medicare, fed income tax, state income tax

Romney works hard and pay: 0% tax as he got paid directly in his IRA account.

 

now Romney is a man born on 3rd base and he is now going to convince many working republicans to vote for him so he can pass some law getting rid of tax liability on IRA withdrawls so that he can take millions out of his IRA truely tax free. He doesn't care for anythign else.

 

 

 

 

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 16:23 | 2678454 sessinpo
sessinpo's picture

"Romney works hard and pay: 0% tax as he got paid directly in his IRA account."

I see, so no one, including you, can take advantage of a IRA account? Well, that really is unfair (sarc).And it is simply amazing how a few liberals on ZH seem to have this tax information that the democrat party have been demanding Romney release for months now. I will give you the same advice. If you have that information, sell it now to the highest bidder because after November, your goldmine of information will be worthless. Of course, I know, you must be Harry Reid's version of deep throat. LOL

 

 

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 00:33 | 2679025 madridisburning
madridisburning's picture

Yeah, but unlike Romney, my IRA isn't up over $200mm. Strange, when the maximum contribution pre-tax is only now $6K. Oh, that right, he must have  contributed after-tax money, too. Hmm. I wonder why. Was he expecting a particularly large appreciation? He must be really savvy. Strange, though, that such a savvy guy can sound like such an idiot.

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 17:10 | 2678530 spooz
spooz's picture

Romney and his ilk have gamed the system for years with low taxes and offshore accounts.  Both sides of the aisle play the game.

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 15:02 | 2678337 honestann
honestann's picture

No, not "all" of us.  I do not want ANY so-called "service" provided by predators DBA government.  Not one.  Zip, zero, nada, none.  I do not want to "limit SS" or "cut back defence".  I want government... ALL government... recognized for what it is --- namely "predators DBA government".  Then I want it shut down.  ALL of it.  And while I am certainly in the minority in this opinion, I am just as certainly not the only one with this attitude.

Actually, this is not an "attitude" at all.  It is simply sanity.  So-called "government" is pure fiction - it does not exist.  Humans simply need to recognize reality, because running the entire planet based upon blatant overt delusion and psychotic fantasy cannot be effective.  And sure enough, just look around --- the consequences SUCK.

I wish people would stop focusing on pure fiction and fantasy, and focus on reality.  Just say no to predators.  Problems solved.  But humans would rather spiral down the tubes of reality than reject their beloved delusional insanities.  Well, good riddens then.

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 14:32 | 2678289 spooz
spooz's picture

Typical tripe I'm coming to expect out of Whalen.  Amidst all his hysteria over hyperinflation (the Bernank is giving it his best, but it ain't working) he throws in a little "rule of law" for flavor.  I have no idea whether he thinks deregulation and  a free for all are a good outcome or not. What I do know is that the elites plan on having the "pie" of resources all to themselves, while the rest of us wait for the crumbs to trickle down.  Rule of law can be bought.

All the discussion of who to throw under the bus with cuts to health care would be moot if we had universal health care.  We spend more than any other developed country to cover less people.  We currently have three different systems in the US: market based private insurance, single payer (Medicare) and the socialist VA system.  Instead of comparing these and figuring out what is and is not working, Obama handed over the system to private markets through the Affordable Care Act. We ended up with the worst of the three, where profits take precedence over people. 

 

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 13:43 | 2678204 honestann
honestann's picture

Oh, most of those slimeballs following the lead of Lenin know exactly what they're doing.  They are self-conscious predators who fully intend to destroy every last scrap of honesty, ethics, honorability, productivity and individualism --- as part of their plan to grasp the reigns of raw power over everyone.

Let me make clear exactly what every authoritarian of every shape, form and label knows as clearly as can be --- and virtually no honest, ethical, productive individual has ever noticed.

Destruction is inherently, metaphysically, fundamentally more potent and powerful than production.

I mean this in the fully physical scientific sense [as well as various metaphorical senses].

For example, just consider how much time, effort, skill, money and resources are requred to build a comfortable quality home.  Okay, are you holding that in your mind?  Now answer this.  How much time, effort, skill, money and resources are required to destroy that home?  That's correct.  A kid with zero experience, an IQ of 50, one dollar worth of gasoline (optional) and some free matches can destroy that home in minutes.

THAT is the metaphysical nature of reality.

The destroyers know this.  Most of them understand this clearly and explicitly.  Even destroyers with IQ below 50 understand this implicitly... and take advantage of it.

This is why mere threats convince billions of people to hand over large portions of their earnings and wealth to pure predators every year ("taxes" AKA "protection money").  This is why mere worries about fines and penalties convince billions of people to act like sheep and do whatever the predators tell them.  Hell, many sheeple even start to turn in their friends and neighbors to the predators to maybe, hopefully gain favor from the predators.

The fundamental story of mankind is, and always has been "predator versus producer".

That's correct.  Forget every version of history you've ever heard.  They are all irrelevant babble and side issues, and largely intentional deception and rooms full of smoke and mirrors.

The fundamental story of mankind is "predator versus producer".

Before man learned to grow his own food, man was a predator.  And there is (and was) no negative connotation at that time, because indeed, "nobody knew any better".  That may be distasteful to some, but that's just the facts.

However, then humans learned to "produce" the goods they needed to survive, and the goods they wanted to prosper and actually begin to enjoy life.  The first major, widespread form of production was growing food.  Once humans understood what was happening, they started producing all sorts of goods... and goodies.

This led to a huge population explosion.  Soon the human population of earth was 100 times greater than the natural processes of the earth environment could support.  Only human production could support the human population of earth, and clearly the quality of human life was as massively improved by productive activity as the quantity of human life.

However, a certain percentage of human beings refused to adopt the modus operandi adopted by "producers".  When the predatory humans continued to act as predators, and simply GRABBED what they wanted from the producers... the producers invented "ethics".

Now "ethics" was not at all arbitrary, but it certainly was invented to serve a very real practical need of the producers.  If predators could simply steal whatever they wanted from producers, clearly there was no point in producing.  The time and effort required to grab stuff off the fruit and veggie plants late at night was infintesimal compared to the time and effort required to grow those goods and goodies.

And without producers, 99% of the world population had to die, because only productive activity could support the new expanded population.  Today, more than 99.9% must die to return to predatory existence.

This is precisely what the predators have in mind.

They simply don't care how many must die.  What passes as their "religion" and "philosophy" and "modus operandi" is simply "get away with whatever you can".  PERIOD.

Today, predators control all governments on planet earth.

And what did human expect would happen if they created "institutions" that had unlimited power to control and destroy every individual?  Did they not expect the most predatory of predators to do anything and everything necessary to gain control of those fictitious "institutions"?

They should have.  I realized this when I was 5 or 6 years old, and asked about it.

So there you have it --- the fundamental story of mankind.  And guess who "won"?  Actually, I must say "dominated", not "won", because "dominated" is the only measure of anything the predators care about or pay attention to.

Today, the world is utterly, totally, absolutely and completely dominated by predators.  And they are driving forward at sickening pace towards the one and only possible consequence --- the destruction of the vast majority of human beings on planet earth.

And who will survive?  Do you even need to ask that question?  The predators are in complete control of: all police forces, all militaries, the vast majority of weapons and military equipment.  And guess who is in control of all the luxurious underground "continuity of government" digs?  That's right --- the predators.

How did so few gain so much power?

That's what I explained at the start.  The power of destruction.  The power of mere threats of destruction.  They have understood this phenomenon clearly as can be for thousands of years.  Virtually everyone else pays no attention to anything but irrelevant sports and dancing with morons... like a bunch of insane crazed chimps, bouncing off the walls.  The rest of mankind refused to stand up to the predators.  It would have been easy.  As a sick joke more than anything, the predators even became the controlling executives of the largest "predators DBA corporations" on earth too --- and pretended to be in the business of "production".  Actually, they are only in the business of bribing "predators DBA congressmen/senators/presidents/judges" to do their bidding.

So, what is the conclusion?  That should be obvious.

Human beings are finished.

Even today it would be trivial to eliminate the predators.  It could all happen in a day if only 5% to 10% of human beings said BS and caged the predators.  But that won't happen.  Those who understand the issue actually PRETEND to believe they can "REASON WITH PREDATORS".

Do any human beings today even comprehend the absurdity of such a proposition?

Answer:  Yes.  But almost all of them are predators!  And yes they do understand how laughable that is.

But I figure the number of producers who understand this clearly... could probably be counted on the appendages on two hands and two feet.

Human beings are finished.

They are finished because their brains are utterly and completely detached from reality.  They have no freaking idea how laughably stupid and insane they appear to the predators, who must roll around on the floor laughing when they hold meetings.

The predators know clearly what's going on.  They understand the world is utterly and totally controlled by:

predators DBA government
predators DBA central banks
predators DBA large corporations

The predators are 100% clearly and fully aware that government is a fiction, that government does not exist, that "government" and "central bank" and "corporation" and "CEO" and "president" and all such terms are pure, unadulterated FICTION.

Let me put this another way.  No matter how much you might respect some of the ideas promoted by Jefferson and his buddies some 240 years ago, you must consider the following question and come to the obvious conclusion.

When a bunch of dudes sit down at a table, and make up a name, and make up a bunch of "rules", and sign their names on a piece of paper --- that in no legitimate way can obligate anyone but the signators.  And it sure as hell cannot obligate non-signators 240 years later!  I mean, anyone who would believe anything as flaming wacko as that is so stark raving lunatic, that no words exist to describe that level of wacko.  Anyone who buys into anything even remotely like this must deal with the fact that millions of other morons signed millions of other documents over the centuries before and after that, and clearly none of these individuals has anything to do with us what-so-freaking-ever.

By mere symmetry, no human can gain authority over any other human without fully voluntary understanding and agreement.  No further consideration is required.  ALL humans came to exist in the same way --- they were born.  Therefore, no human can have any possible legitimate basis to have priority over any other human being.  Can't happen... there is simply no real mechanism to achieve any such thing.  Which has left EVERY predator who claims authority with only one answer --- THREATS.

Oh, sure.  The predators will try bogus nonsense and lame Jedi-mind-tricks to pick off the most braindamanged morons first.  But after that, after simply claiming that Thomas Jefferson and his buddies had the power to enslave us all, and somehow transferred their powers to the current crop of predators --- they have one and only one answer.  Guns held by thugs the predators paid money stolen from you!

I wish that everyone --- even if only for a few minutes --- could stand back and stare at the astronomical degree and scope of blatant stupidity and absurdity exhibited by modern human beings.  And I mean almost ALL human beings, including those who loudly call themselves "liberty advocates" in various ways.  It is simply sickening.

Human beings are finished.

Congratulations for simply giving away everything for no reason whatsoever.  Morons.

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 09:04 | 2679235 i-dog
i-dog's picture

 

"[Humans] have no freaking idea how laughably stupid and insane they appear to the predators, who must roll around on the floor laughing when they hold meetings."

LOL! ... well said!

There are times, particularly when I read some of the comments [and articles] here on ZH, when I'm sorely tempted to rock up to the nearest NWO recruiting station and sign up ... just so that I can laugh along with them! It seems such a shame that they should have all the fun while the sheep just aimlessly stagger around in a daze, from one feeding station to the next, picking up bling along the way....

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 13:33 | 2679649 honestann
honestann's picture

Thanks.  And I agree.  I'm quite certain many of them do roll on the floor laughing at the monumental stupidity of humans too.  They've got to wonder why zero people appear to understand that not only "money", but literally everything "official" is pure fiat, fake, fraud, fiction, fantasy.  Clearly they stand back and watch in awe as an entire planet of supposedly intelligent apes take actions 24/7 to seek fictions, avoid fictions, comply with fictions, and be utterly dominated by fictions.  And let's be totally clear, these fictions flat out do not exist.  Like "SantaClaus" or "EasterBunny" or any number of other fictions, humans have a "mental unit" in their head with a "name" like "SantaClaus" or "EasterBunny" attached, and that "mental unit" does exist.  However, the "SantaClaus" mental unit has no referent, which is what makes that mental unit a "fiction".

I don't know how to say it more clearly.  When a bunch of apes sit around a table, make up some verbal noises and written squiggles on a piece of paper to supposedly "create" a "corporation" or "government", nothing POPs into existence.  What does happen is, a new configuration does occur in their brains, which is the mental unit.  But nothing in the external world POPs into existence.  Which is why fundamental law for hundreds of years has acknowledged the fictional status of all organizations by calling them "fictitious entities".  This makes me speculate that people hundreds of years ago weren't nearly as fully detached from reality as modern humans, even given some pretty wacko fictions those old timers were controlled by.  But most of humanity was a farmer or otherwise busy most of each day working directly with physical reality, to produce real, physical goods and goodies.  So I can only speculate this acted as a sort of "check" on the brains of many old timers from becoming as utterly, totally, overtly and laughably misled and scammed by fictions.

Whether a human is a predator or producer, if they clearly understand the nature of reality and fiction, the current state of affairs of mankind is simply stunning.  In a way, it is laughable, except it is very difficult for anyone who is a producer to laugh, because the scope and degree of the carnage is so horrific... and showing no signs of reversal.  Even those who hate the predators in limited ways (libertarians, some teapartiers, etc) are almost entirely controlled by fictions.  And as far as I can tell, virtually every "liberty-advocate", of every single variant, believes they can overcome the predators by some form of "persuasion"... or "playing by the rules" - that were created-by the predators precisely to assure there is "no way out" for anyone who follows those rules, or gives them any lip service.

Though I suspect it will be an absolute waste of my time, for decades I've been planning to write a non-fiction book with the title: FICTION.  In a way, the title is a sick joke.  Unfortunately, I suspect the book would be a sick joke too, because virtually nobody would "get it".  From my perspective, it appears that humans are simply incapable of distinguishing the nature of reality and fiction.  Of course, I know that's not literally true, because the topic really is extremely simple.

However, I have also learned how amazingly effective the process of "habituation" is for human beings, including "habituation of mental processes".  So probably the only humans who could possibly understand a book about "reality vs fiction" would be 3 to 6 year olds.  That's when I figured out this topic... in a very preliminary way of course... when I was 4 years old.  But that was the "grain of understanding" that led me to always watch out for "fiction" versus "reality", and keep valid a very clear "reality status" on every "mental unit" I ever formed.  Even so, given the endless corruptions pushed by other humans, plus too many foolish attempts to communicate with other humans, it is a chore to "keep up with the program" of simple honesty with self.

I am always so pleased when I see or hear humans distinguish reality from fiction.  Unfortunately, it is so rare, and almost always limited to such a tiny niche aspect of existence.  Sadly, even I sometimes catch myself discussing topics that depend upon accepting various forms of "fiction-insanity", and I always try to watch out for this "most primary of all intellectual mistakes".  Which it is.  Nothing is, or can be, as fundamentally insane as the inability or failure to distinguish "existent" from "non-existent".  Yet the entire human race spends most of its time, effort, money, intellect and resources to persue, avoid or manipulate the endless forms of fiction created by predators to mislead and control.

Life on earth at this point in history is utterly surreal.  A sane alien who happened by this planet would probably just open its mouth (if it had one) and stare in disbelief at the behavior of the clothed apes on planet earth --- if that alien could even figure out what was happening, which I rather doubt it could without extensive study.

At least a few humans understand the cliche, "get real"... to some degree.  Does that mean there is hope for humans?  I don't think so.  Humans are too far gone, and too many of them stand ready, willing and able to defend the predators, and destroy anyone who dare claim or attempt to practice anything sane... on more than a tiny scale.  Which probably means the dozen or three sane humans on planet earth probably all live in different spots in different extreme boonies, and hopefully survive without too much interaction with the other crazed apes that populate earth.  I am surprised that no efforts to "find each other" appear to exist, though I have seen enough apparent attempts at this blow up or spiral down the tubes that probably we've all decided solo is our only chance.  Very sad.

What a waste of a perfectly good universe.

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 14:11 | 2678263 Gringo Viejo
Gringo Viejo's picture

I've never questioned the liberal/progressive intellect. Equally, I've never met one with an emotional maturity level that had advanced beyond their early 20s. Today, America in a very real sense, is hostage to her children.

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 14:00 | 2678250 Sean7k
Sean7k's picture

Nice rant. A little wordy, but I love your enthusiasm. 

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 15:31 | 2678369 honestann
honestann's picture

Thanks.  And you're sooo right about "wordy".  Unfortunately, I haven't done a very good job making my "stream of consciousness" writing as concise as articles I edit 137 times before release.

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 15:52 | 2678412 Sean7k
Sean7k's picture

Stops being fun when you have to work at it. :)

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 16:26 | 2678460 sessinpo
sessinpo's picture

And that is why I demand she be on top.

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 14:28 | 2678286 brettd
brettd's picture

You may be surprised...Especially in America, west of the Mississippi.

Some of those "producers" may decide to defend what they have produced...

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 08:20 | 2679210 northerngirl
northerngirl's picture

LOL!  American's West or East of the Mississippi won't do a thing.  Many won't even take the time to vote.

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 13:31 | 2678200 batterycharged
batterycharged's picture

Biggest pile of horse shit.

Really, Democrats embrace inflation?

And which Fedmeister was a Democrat? Mr McGoo, the Laissez Fairre "let wall street do what the fuck it wants while we bring interest rates to zero?"

And which Democratic party president destroyed Clinton's surpluses? 

This author belongs on talk radio with Glenn Beck. No mention of Woodrow Wilson? SHOCKED!

This country wins when we get past this us vs. them bullshit with the political parties that suck off the same lobbies.

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 13:43 | 2678226 Lednbrass
Lednbrass's picture

Clinton NEVER had a surplus.

Here are the Treasury reports, please point out which fiscal year began with a lower debt than the previous one. The fiscal year ends at the end of September evey year-

http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/mspd/mspd.htm

If you cannot do it (and you can't, because it factually and mathematically did not occur) only two choices remain- you don't know what you are talking about or you are lying on purpose.

Your entire statement is based on some accounting trickery in the last few weeks that he was in the WH from 12/14/2000- 12/29/2000. It was nothing but a weak and very transparent ploy to make the specious claim you are making now. Use the debt to the penny feature, enter the dates, and see for yourself. It is nothing but very temporary smoke and mirrors to fool the slow witted.

Sat, 08/04/2012 - 15:34 | 2678383 batterycharged
batterycharged's picture
1977 $53.7 Billion Deficit $203.41 Billion Deficit D D D

1978 $59.2 Billion Deficit $208.45 Billion Deficit D D D

1979 $40.7 Billion Deficit $128.39 Billion Deficit D D D

1980 $73.8 Billion Deficit $205.57 Billion Deficit D D D

1981 $79 Billion Deficit $199.49 Billion Deficit R R D

1982 $128 Billion Deficit $304.04 Billion Deficit R R D

1983 $207.8 Billion Deficit $478.8 Billion Deficit R R D

1984 $185.4 Billion Deficit $409.27 Billion Deficit R R D

1985 $212.3 Billion Deficit $452.67 Billion Deficit R R D

1986 $221.2 Billion Deficit $462.76 Billion Deficit R R D

1987 $149.7 Billion Deficit $302.42 Billion Deficit R D D

1988 $155.2 Billion Deficit $300.78 Billion Deficit R D D

1989 $152.5 Billion Deficit $281.89 Billion Deficit R D D

1990 $221.2 Billion Deficit $388.07 Billion Deficit R D D

1991 $269.3 Billion Deficit $453.37 Billion Deficit R D D

1992 $290.4 Billion Deficit $474.51 Billion Deficit R D D

1993 $255.1 Billion Deficit $404.92 Billion Deficit D D D

1994 $203.2 Billion Deficit $314.55 Billion Deficit D D D

1995 $164 Billion Deficit $246.62 Billion Deficit D R R

1996 $107.5 Billion Deficit $157.16 Billion Deficit D R R

1997 $22 Billion Deficit $31.43 Billion Deficit D R R

1998 $69.2 Billion Surplus $97.33 Billion Surplus D R R

1999 $125.6 Billion Surplus $172.76 Billion Surplus D R R

2000 $236.4 Billion Surplus $314.78 Billion Surplus D R R

2001 $127.3 Billion Surplus $164.9 Billion Surplus R D R

2002 $157.8 Billion Deficit $201.02 Billion Deficit R D R

2003 $374 Billion Deficit $466.33 Billion Deficit R R R

2004 $413 Billion Deficit $501.21 Billion Deficit R R R

2005 $319 Billion Deficit $374.41 Billion Deficit R R R

2006 $248 Billion Deficit $282.14 Billion Deficit R R R

2007 $162 Billion Deficit $179.2 Billion Deficit R D D

2008 $455 Billion Deficit $484.56 Billion Deficit R D D

2009 $1416 Billion Deficit $1512.82 Billion Deficit D D D

2010 $1294 Billion Deficit $1360.67 Billion Deficit D D D

2011 $1299 Billion Deficit $1324.16 Billion Deficit D D R

2012 $1330 Billion Deficit $1330 Billion Deficit D D R
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