Was Ayn Rand right? - by Adam

On my way into work in the morning, I'll typically listen to Mike & Mike, maybe Bob & Tom, and some times, Free Beer & Hot Wings... that's a lot of ampersands!

Anyway, I was driving in the other morning, and I turned on AM 1230. I think the show was the Bill Press show. He was talking mainly to union workers from Detroit about the possibility of the 'Big 3' failing. Honestly, I was just amazed by what I heard. (and this isn't specific to him. I've been hearing this on TV news as well)

The talk is all about how we can make it work, and how we can make it so people don't lose their jobs. I keep hearing this 'too big to fail' talk, and it doesn't make any sense to me. Let's apply some logic to this situation, shall we?

Q: Why do people clamor for the government to bail out these big three car companies?
A: Because if the government did not, these companies would file bankruptcy, break up the powerful unions, and move down south where they can get labor for half the cost. Basically, people don't want to concede that they do not deserve a premium anymore. The fact is, GM sold more cars last year than Toyota. The difference is, Toyota made a great profit, and GM went in the red. If one has employees that cost 10-15 bucks and hour and the other has employees that cost 30-50 bucks an hour, who do you think will come out on top? It's unrealistic to think we can compete that way.

Q: Will the bailout solve the problem?
A: No way, not a chance, not in a million years! It's ridiculous to think that these companies, who will continue to do the same thing will get a different result. Again, companies that can get cheaper American labor will win out. That's the free market. It used to be that the 'Big Three' made an awesome product and had a stranglehold on the American market. Now, they make a sub-par product and are losing their monopoly. Should we as Americans take a lesser product and spend more money for it? I won't, I'll tell you that. (though Saturns are pretty good, and they're made in Tennessee, not D-town)

Q: So what about these workers?
A: People have this idea that all of a sudden there will be a lot of work gone in the US. Understand that 'Japanese' cars are not made in Japan and shipped here. There are plants here, and generally, 'Japanese' cars are made more by Americans than so-called American cars! People aren't going to stop buying cars, so there will be a great demand in the market, and either a new or reformed American car company will rise from the ashes to claim some of the market, or foreign companies will come in and add more factories here.

The point is, it doesn't make sense to delay the death of these companies, because it's going to happen. That's just the way it is. It has been coming for a while.

Ayn Rand wrote about the government stepping in and 'bailing out' companies who failed. The excuse they'd use for it was 'well, we can't let them go hungry' or 'they tried hard and made a good effort'. The fact is, if you are not providing a good enough product and/or service to stay in business, then you do not deserve to stay in business, and you certainly should not be bankrolled by the all-too-fleeced dream-chasing American people. Boo-yah.

Rebuilding the GOP, by Adam

Rebuilding the GOP is quite simple in my estimation. I think the Republicans should hold up the Constitution, say

'We will only do what this says, and nothing further, and we will begin holding people accountable who knowingly violate this document, no matter what party they belong.'

With that in mind, here are the 10 main points I would push as head of the GOP.

1.) No foreign entanglements, no war without declaration by the Senate, and no bases in other countries. (this alone would solve many of the money woes and foreign policy issues)

2.) No US power can be given to outside or International body. (there is talk of a more central banking system and an international currency... guh)

3.) I think the Balanced Budget act ought to be very high on the new GOP's list of important moves.

4.) The federal government should have no part in: education, marriage (and when I say marriage, i mean that the federal government has no business recognizing and defining marriage. It ought to uphold contracts as part of its duty, but marriage is a religious recognition, not a governmental one), energy, subsidies...etc. I also think we ought to push for the removal of many departments such as 'homeland security'.

5.) No Patriot Act. (Though on could make the argument that this could still be applied to non-citizens, and I think that's fair.)

6.) No entitlements for non-citizens. None. (You want to stop illegal immigration? Here you go.)

7.) Either abolish the Federal Reserve (which would be my choice) or have lots of oversight over the group.

8.) Make property taxes illegal. This form of taxation is flawed because of the assumption that the Government, whether state or federal, owns the land and we simply lease it from them. The fact is, WE are landowners, and we let the gov't have some if we deem it necessary.

9.) I think the GOP should be the party of ideas, so it ought to push for more open election rules and debates and be willing to allow 3rd parties in. This would hold the 2 major parties accountable and represent the people better. (It's all about representation, isn't it?)

10.) I think we need to define what life is and when it begins. I think it's a shame that roughly 50 million children have been aborted under the pretense that they are 'not quite human' or 'potential life'. Read your history people. We used the same argument to excuse slavery. A man of a different color was three-fifths of person, legally. It's a shame. Semantics about what a fetus is doesn't take away the fact that this creature has brain functions, nerves, digits, a heartbeat...

That being said, I think the GOP needs to do a much better job with adoption rights. It ought to be easy, cheap, and the rights should be totally given to the adoptive parents. (barring bizarre circumstances) Also, we need to help promote good orphanages, help social workers (and stop criticizing them as they have a thankless and very difficult job), and start promoting better solutions for abortion. This is a two-part problem, and the GOP politicos haven't been the lifers they claim. Remember, to take an individual's life is the greatest infringement on liberty. If we can't recognize that, then we don't deserve liberty.

That's my solution... that and making Dr. Paul the House minority leader. Ha ha.

Paul/Nannini '12!!!

An article I liked - by Adam

This is a really awesome perspective on the recent election.... sort of elitist, but interesting:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/04/an-american-dilemma/

On This Election Day ~ by Phil Lowe

I remember well the day that Clinton won out against Bush Senior. There were many people then, as now, who thought the world would end. Apparently they had forgotten Carter. The world kept on turning after he was elected. Sure we saw unprecedented inflation, and soaring unemployment, but we were still around to elect Reagan four years later.



Is Obama worse than Clinton? In talk, no. They both stand for much the same policy. I think what has me worried this time around is the leadership in the House and Senate. If Obama doesn't push his leftist agenda, and I have no idea why he wouldn't, he would have congressional leadership pushing it for him. Through the lens of my fear, I can see the end of our representative republic.



Most likely, four years from now, we'll have another election season much like this one. Obama may have instituted Hillarycare. He may have replaced some recosntructionst judges with some more reconstructionist judges. He most surely will have raised taxes on anyone who pays them now. But I think we will come through ready for another Reagan. Is he or she out there now? Are they electable?



I'd love to see Ron Paul, but I think a large group of his supporters have damaged his image. I don't think Palin is the answer, but I'll listen to more of her policies, minus the McCain influence. The other conservative names we know have liabilities, or no personality. Where is the engaging speaker, who can take a winning argument, and present it to the American people?



McCain may pull out a last minute rally, but I don't think so. It should be closer than the polls are showing, but there are too many states he needs that are battle ground states. Would things be better under McCain than Clinton? I don't think we'd see 40% capital gains tax. I don't think we'd see a government run health care system, though something with some federal oversight is a given. Green taxes would be the norm. But I don't think he'd raise any other taxes. We'd see some better judges appointed, or at least an attempt.



Overall, I'm already looking to 2012, and fixing the problems left by either candidate.