Yelling, "Fire!"
For all the hyperbole, where is the wildfire causing all the hysteria? Oh, sure, we have problems -- big problems. But the continued source is those government agents over there, huddled in the tall grass, nervously fanning glowing embers in an attempt to ignite a wad of bills.
For months, Obama and crew -- right and left -- have implied that the fire is just over the time horizon. But with each delay in DC, the horizon extends just a few more days, with the fires of doom still nowhere to be seen.
Look, if I see smoke billowing in the distance, I'm on the move. And this is where a real danger differs from an opportunistic one. Obama and crew really don't fear some impending doom, they are not in panic mode. No, they simply see this downturn as an opportunity to wrest more power from an ailing Liberty. To do this, Obama and crew must convince us that there is a fire out there, that it's wild and out of control, and that they are the firemen -- Trust us. And they must do so before we catch on to their ruse -- so, maybe there is a panic of sorts.
In our current situation, without the blanket of green fiber acting as the never-ending fuel source, the financial flames would have burned hot and fast, with new growth already appearing over the darkened ground. But the continued supply of dollars will create a huge wildfire on the other side of the horizon, a fire that will finally catch a wind and ravage the US as no fire before.
Note: If they can delay legislation for just a few more weeks, can't we just say the danger of fire has passed? Nothing to see here folks.
Comments (3)
Flash
Good post, here in the UK, Ed Balls MP has predicted that the recession will be the 'worst for 100 years' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7880189.stm
Wouldn't it be fortunate for the unpopular Labour government if somehow they were able to show good economic stewardship by turning the situation around before the election next year? All they need is the ability to splash the cash as they see fit, would the Conservatives dare to oppose spending if Balls could convince the nation that the recession is as bad as he claims.
Published: February 10, 2009 6:37 AM
Anonymouse
When the first big bank bailout was proposed, the phones in Washington D.C. were ringing off the hooks. 80% of the citizens were angrily opposed to handing out federal subsidies of failed businesspeople. There was no doubt about where the nation stood, and Americans were as solidly against the government actions as at any time in the history of the nation.
But the politicians simply waited a week and ignored the will of the people they were sworn to serve. Now we see more and more spending in pursuit of the path that rank and file Americans do not support. All that has changed is that the tiger had to show its stripes. The People know the score, but I think they also realize there is nothing they can do in the political arena.
I believe that the mentality of the population is gradually changing from working for a better future to taking anything you grab from the wreckage. When there is a widespread belief that those in power do not play by the rules, then more and more people choose to go out of bounds. That leads directly to social collapse.
Zimbabwe is a great example. Their economy is not simply plagued with hyperinflation. There is widespread civil disorder--beginning with the government thugs and their cronies taking whatever they want down to every man for himself scrabbling to survive. Economic collapse could happen in a vacuum, but nature hates a vacuum. When there is a widespread belief that the rules do not matter, then societies collapse.
And when societies collapse, the typical two roads are immediate authoritarianism or civil disorder followed by authoritarianism. Already we see people lining up behind self-styled strong leadership. Strong and armed, as in strong-armed leadership.
Hayek's Road to Serfdom is becoming more and more relevant daily. It's the 1930's redux, but this time the change agents are resurgent with bigger and better plans and the benefit of myopic hindsight. They admit their implementation was flawed before, but this time they are pouring everything they have into their bottomless bucket to prove they are right once and for all.
Like the barbarians who overran Rome, they will scorch the earth and sweep all civilization before them. And centuries hence, they will be as well thought of as the Vandals whose claim to fame is being an epithet for wanton destruction. Like Rome, our civilization suffers from its own problems and faces its own fate, but we as individuals can still enjoy the fruits of prosperity by obeying the timeless principles that will bring relatively greater good.
Published: February 10, 2009 12:23 PM
Bill Ross
Crying wolf does indeed achieve results. Whether this fire is indeed the "big one", the inevitable consequence of past folly or just another milestone on the "road to serfdom" remains to be seen.
It is really irrelevant. What must be understood and countered is the "problem, reaction, solution" algorithm which, if not this time or next will surely do us in and place us back as serfs in the feudalistic society our masters appear to be working towards with them as master and us, ignorant serfs:
http://www.nazisociopaths.org/modules/article/view.article.php/36
Published: February 10, 2009 2:04 PM