It happened early in the summer of 1962. America was still reveling in post-war growth and prosperity, and we were enthralled by a charismatic young president from Massachusetts who appealed to our higher angels. Life was good.
I had just finished my freshman year at the University of North Carolina. I had snagged a great Navy ROTC scholarship that paid for all my books, fees, and tuition, plus a $50/month stipend which, combined with a few part-time jobs, covered room and board. I-95 was still in its infancy back then, and my hometown in Maine was a long haul from North Carolina. Commercial travel was of course financially out of the question, but I was blessed with plenty of shipmates and fraternity brothers that invited me to their homes for holidays, and I could always hitchhike home if I had the time. Hitchhiking in those days was still relatively safe, and, if you were in uniform, folks would pick you up right away.
So, there I was, just south of Washington on the northbound side of the Shirley highway, in uniform with my seabag slung over my shoulder and my thumb out. I had only been standing a half-hour or so when a gorgeous 1949 Hudson Super Six pulled over. The car was old and had plenty of miles on it, but the owner was clearly proud and had maintained it beautifully. He introduced himself as Sam, and I guessed he was in his late 40’s. I soon learned that he had served in the Pacific fleet during WWII and again in Korea. I was humbled – so far the extent of my military service had been going to class, learning to march, polishing my brass, and spit-shining my shoes. When I told Sam that later that summer I was going to ship out on the USS Intrepid for a 6 week Midshipmen cruise, it sounded pretty pathetic, but Sam thought that was great and he congratulated me.
Every once in a while, in the midst of regaling me with funny stories of life at sea and tales of daring-do, Sam would pause and say, “I helped build that bridge”, or, “I helped build this road”, or, “I helped build that building”, or “I helped build that tunnel”. By the time he dropped me off in northern New Jersey, I had come to the conclusion that Sam had helped to build much of America.
Although my relationship with Sam was limited to four hours or so, it left a lasting impression on me. As I matured over the years, I came to realize that Sam was a genuine American hero. John F. Kennedy, Douglas MacArthur, and even Audie Murphy had nothing on him. Sam defended America, he fought and bled for freedom, and his strong hands helped to build a helluva lot of the American skyline.
Oh, but Sam gave us so much more than those impressive structures. His spirit, his courage, his patriotism, his strength, and his skills embodied the American dream. He was the real McCoy - a true American hero. His great gifts to us live on in the wonder that is America – freedom’s best and brightest hope.
Thanks, Sam.
30 June 2010
29 June 2010
A Personal Peek at European Socialism
A few weeks ago, my wife and I were fortunate enough to visit a number of countries along the Baltic Sea. Our trip included visits to the former Communist Block nations of Latvia, Estonia, and Russia, as well as the former East Germany. We also visited The Netherlands and Sweden, both of which have strong socialist governments. We had an opportunity to speak to some local folks in each of these places, and I was struck by the disparity between their view of life and our own.
My wife and I are “war babies”. We were raised in the 40’s, 50’s, and early 60’s. We believe our American forefathers left us three of the greatest gifts in the world: freedom, capitalism, and free markets. We cherish a view of America as exceptional, a shining beacon of freedom, the last great hope of the world. We were blessed to have been born and raised in a country where equality of opportunity gave us the chance to work hard and use our God-given gifts to grow and succeed. We assume that everyone wants to reach their greatest potential, and we relish American drive, ambition, will to succeed, personal pride, and a strong work ethic.
Sadly, it seems that such traditional American values have been somewhat diluted of late. They are commonly disparaged in today’s media and press. Individual achievement and success are increasingly displaced by government programs and entitlements, equality of opportunity by equality, the melting pot by multi-culturalism. Somewhere along the line it became fashionable to empathize with the tragic childhood of bullies, bandits, and bombers rather than to confront, incarcerate, or execute them. We now try to foster self esteem by recognizing participation rather than achievement. The media and press are increasingly critical of capitalism and free markets. Our government drifts inexorably to the left. We often read and hear about the benefits and joys of “European socialism” – which brings me back to our Baltic Sea trip.
As an admittedly old-fashioned American, I was astounded by the personal views I encountered.
In Russia, a guide fondly remembered when “everyone had a job, food, clothing, and a place to live”, however humble it all may have been. To some degree, she actually missed Communism, even though it offered no hope of improvement (except through the Party apparatus), and in spite of the oppression of the Party apparachnics and the KGB.
The socialist countries that had never been communists also espoused views that were at odds with our own. Personal goals commonly centered on comfort rather than achievement. They expected government guarantees of: plentiful vacation (6 weeks) holidays and free time, permanent employment unrelated to performance, early retirement (age 60 at the latest) with comfortable pensions, short work weeks (35 hours), and full medical, dental, mental health, and addiction rehabilitation benefits. Personal goals and virtues such as individual responsibility, ambition, drive, productivity, accomplishment, achievement, advancement, recognition, and success, did not seem to be on their radar. The word entrepreneur and the dream of owning and growing your own business brought blank stares.
One guide asked me why we value capitalism so much? When I responded that capitalism and free markets are the engines of American productivity (ok, maybe a little too pedantic, but I was riled), he reminded me that China was also quite productive. I agreed of course that totalitarian regimes such as Communist China can be productive, but only on the backs of the underprivileged poor.
For the first time, I really understood that, although American economic prosperity is rooted in capitalism and free markets, it is propelled by individual freedom.
I have always felt that socialism was an economically inferior system, but I found it to be much worse than that. It robs you of the drive that distinguishes us from our primate cousins and pulled us out of the jungle and off the steppes. Socialism doesn’t just affect your wallet and your lifestyle, it stifles your heart, your spirit, and your soul. It steals your pride and your dignity. It values ordinary over excellent. Ugh.
My wife and I are “war babies”. We were raised in the 40’s, 50’s, and early 60’s. We believe our American forefathers left us three of the greatest gifts in the world: freedom, capitalism, and free markets. We cherish a view of America as exceptional, a shining beacon of freedom, the last great hope of the world. We were blessed to have been born and raised in a country where equality of opportunity gave us the chance to work hard and use our God-given gifts to grow and succeed. We assume that everyone wants to reach their greatest potential, and we relish American drive, ambition, will to succeed, personal pride, and a strong work ethic.
Sadly, it seems that such traditional American values have been somewhat diluted of late. They are commonly disparaged in today’s media and press. Individual achievement and success are increasingly displaced by government programs and entitlements, equality of opportunity by equality, the melting pot by multi-culturalism. Somewhere along the line it became fashionable to empathize with the tragic childhood of bullies, bandits, and bombers rather than to confront, incarcerate, or execute them. We now try to foster self esteem by recognizing participation rather than achievement. The media and press are increasingly critical of capitalism and free markets. Our government drifts inexorably to the left. We often read and hear about the benefits and joys of “European socialism” – which brings me back to our Baltic Sea trip.
As an admittedly old-fashioned American, I was astounded by the personal views I encountered.
In Russia, a guide fondly remembered when “everyone had a job, food, clothing, and a place to live”, however humble it all may have been. To some degree, she actually missed Communism, even though it offered no hope of improvement (except through the Party apparatus), and in spite of the oppression of the Party apparachnics and the KGB.
The socialist countries that had never been communists also espoused views that were at odds with our own. Personal goals commonly centered on comfort rather than achievement. They expected government guarantees of: plentiful vacation (6 weeks) holidays and free time, permanent employment unrelated to performance, early retirement (age 60 at the latest) with comfortable pensions, short work weeks (35 hours), and full medical, dental, mental health, and addiction rehabilitation benefits. Personal goals and virtues such as individual responsibility, ambition, drive, productivity, accomplishment, achievement, advancement, recognition, and success, did not seem to be on their radar. The word entrepreneur and the dream of owning and growing your own business brought blank stares.
One guide asked me why we value capitalism so much? When I responded that capitalism and free markets are the engines of American productivity (ok, maybe a little too pedantic, but I was riled), he reminded me that China was also quite productive. I agreed of course that totalitarian regimes such as Communist China can be productive, but only on the backs of the underprivileged poor.
For the first time, I really understood that, although American economic prosperity is rooted in capitalism and free markets, it is propelled by individual freedom.
I have always felt that socialism was an economically inferior system, but I found it to be much worse than that. It robs you of the drive that distinguishes us from our primate cousins and pulled us out of the jungle and off the steppes. Socialism doesn’t just affect your wallet and your lifestyle, it stifles your heart, your spirit, and your soul. It steals your pride and your dignity. It values ordinary over excellent. Ugh.
24 June 2010
General McChrystal's Resignation
Yesterday morning, General Stanley McChrystal, one of our nation’s best leaders, a dedicated and proven special operations soldier, tendered his resignation as commander of the Afghanistan war to President Obama. The precipitating issue was an article in Rolling Stone magazine which described and quoted the General and several members of his staff during informal, off-duty, bull sessions - gatherings of the inner circle where everyone let their hair down and relaxed.
The political, media, and academic frenzy which followed the Rolling Stone article was front-page news. Inside sources say the White house was hysterical.
All of this furor resulted from a sadly typical civilian misunderstanding of the warrior mindset. Off-duty soldiers will always grouse and bitch about their leaders, especially in a bull session. Nonetheless, the next morning, on duty, they will faithfully move heaven and earth and even sacrifice their own lives to follow lawful orders and complete their mission, EVEN IF THEY DISAGREE WITH THE MISSION ITSELF AND THOSE WHO ISSUED THE ORDERS. This notion does not compute to anyone who has not experienced the level of commitment and sense of duty that pervades today's American military.
That understood, let’s consider the present case. Many colleagues who actually know General McChrystal have commented that the General and his staff are way too bright and disciplined to have "inadvertently" spoken in front of a Rolling Stone reporter - it's Rolling Stone, for heaven's sake. I suspect the General was just sick and tired of fighting the war on three fronts: the Taliban, President Karzai, and the State Department.
American military officers, including General McChrystal, totally understand and agree with the cherished US system of civilian control over the military. But the General grew increasingly frustrated by the refusal of his civilian leadership to pay attention to their front line commanders, thus imperiling the outcome of the war. General McChrystal’s duty to his mission, and his oath to follow the lawful orders of his superiors, became increasingly in conflict. So, being the resourceful leader that he is, he found a clever and innovative way to resolve his dilemma.
Since the first Gulf War, in exchange for complete access to the military in combat, the responsible press and media have tacitly agreed not to report casual off-duty remarks or conversations. But General McChrystal invited not just any reporter, but one from Rolling Stone, an openly hostile magazine, into his inner circle. I believe the General knew full well that the Rolling Stone reporter was unlikely to honor the tacit agreement, that Rolling Stone would report everything said in those off-duty, informal conversations, that the resulting article would end the General’s career, and that the article would force a reluctant political hierarchy to face and deal with the unpleasant realities of the war. General McChrystal fell on his sword – he sacrificed his own career in order to be faithful to both his oath and his duty.
We are indeed blessed to have men of General McChrystal’s character leading our soldiers in combat. He is a man to be admired – a man of honor.
The political, media, and academic frenzy which followed the Rolling Stone article was front-page news. Inside sources say the White house was hysterical.
All of this furor resulted from a sadly typical civilian misunderstanding of the warrior mindset. Off-duty soldiers will always grouse and bitch about their leaders, especially in a bull session. Nonetheless, the next morning, on duty, they will faithfully move heaven and earth and even sacrifice their own lives to follow lawful orders and complete their mission, EVEN IF THEY DISAGREE WITH THE MISSION ITSELF AND THOSE WHO ISSUED THE ORDERS. This notion does not compute to anyone who has not experienced the level of commitment and sense of duty that pervades today's American military.
That understood, let’s consider the present case. Many colleagues who actually know General McChrystal have commented that the General and his staff are way too bright and disciplined to have "inadvertently" spoken in front of a Rolling Stone reporter - it's Rolling Stone, for heaven's sake. I suspect the General was just sick and tired of fighting the war on three fronts: the Taliban, President Karzai, and the State Department.
American military officers, including General McChrystal, totally understand and agree with the cherished US system of civilian control over the military. But the General grew increasingly frustrated by the refusal of his civilian leadership to pay attention to their front line commanders, thus imperiling the outcome of the war. General McChrystal’s duty to his mission, and his oath to follow the lawful orders of his superiors, became increasingly in conflict. So, being the resourceful leader that he is, he found a clever and innovative way to resolve his dilemma.
Since the first Gulf War, in exchange for complete access to the military in combat, the responsible press and media have tacitly agreed not to report casual off-duty remarks or conversations. But General McChrystal invited not just any reporter, but one from Rolling Stone, an openly hostile magazine, into his inner circle. I believe the General knew full well that the Rolling Stone reporter was unlikely to honor the tacit agreement, that Rolling Stone would report everything said in those off-duty, informal conversations, that the resulting article would end the General’s career, and that the article would force a reluctant political hierarchy to face and deal with the unpleasant realities of the war. General McChrystal fell on his sword – he sacrificed his own career in order to be faithful to both his oath and his duty.
We are indeed blessed to have men of General McChrystal’s character leading our soldiers in combat. He is a man to be admired – a man of honor.
23 June 2010
Pepere and the Poop
I actually wrote this about 7 years ago, but it remains one of my favorites.
The Stage: Summer, 2003
Kris is our three month old grandson, and I’m his Pepere. He thinks I’m cool and shows it by smiling brightly whenever he sees me. I think he’s way cool. I’m no contender for the Alan Alda award, and maybe I haven’t changed as many diapers as a typical teen-aged girl, but I have changed more than a few, and I’m still mostly secure in my masculinity. My wife, Ginny, on the other hand, is the Tiger Woods of messy diapers and all other grandmotherly endeavors. She’s his Memere and he is pretty sure she controls the daily sunrise – so am I.
In the realm of diapers, there are major changes and minor changes. Changing a wet diaper is minor - no big thing. Even your average bachelor uncle won’t be very challenged by a wet diaper. A poopy diaper, on the other hand, catapults the experience into an entirely different dimension. In this particular case, Kris is only three months old, so the original source of the poop is mother’s milk. The texture of the poop is that of mustard, though somewhat less appetizing. The volume of the poop defies description.
The Saga
On the day in question, Ginny and I were keeping Kris and his sister Katie. One morning I noticed that Kris’s wonderful “baby smell” had been overwhelmed and his grandmother was nowhere in sight. I’m sufficiently liberated to recognize that women are much more skilled in handling certain tasks; alas, Memere was hors de combat at this critical juncture. So, I thought, “no problem – I can do this. I’ve done it many times. Haven’t I?”
First, lay a towel down on the bedspread. (Ginny will really be proud of me for protecting the bedspread with the towel.) Now, get the kid out of this garment. What is this thing called anyway? It’s sort of like the “union suits” my dad wore all winter, minus the flap. Haven’t the people who make these things heard of Velcro? Look, Kris, I’d be squirming too if I was lying in that stuff, but you’re not being very helpful here, and I could get your foot out a lot sooner if you’d quit kicking for just one moment. OK, now that his feet are out, I can just slide the bottom part of the union suit up over the diaper and then I won’t have to get him out of the top end. Smart, Joe – you didn’t just fall off the turnip truck.
Ah ha! The diaper people have discovered Velcro. No, it’s not Velcro - it’s a kind of sticky tape. Who cares, it beats those big safety pins. So, unstick the two tapes and … whoa! That load of mustard poop must have been under pressure – two big squirts shoot out the back like lava from Vesuvius, and one scores a direct hit on a pile of clean clothes while the other overshoots the towel and smears an acre or two of bedspread. (Scratch that thought about Ginny being proud.) OK, I’ve got it – a sacrificial diaper. I’ll slip another diaper under this one, and he can lay on that while I clean him up. Hmm, looks like two or three sacrificial diapers would be safer. Just as I’m slipping in the third sacrificial, Kris enters a maneuver which is a cross between a split-S and a triple Lutz. Oh, man, there’s poop scattered from his feet to his neck. Can’t deal with that yet – besides, I can always hose him off afterward. Let’s just get this messy diaper off before any more poop gets smeared. Oh, oh, where are those wipes? I told Ginny we need to get thirty or forty boxes of those things and keep them all over the house! OK, there’s a box over on the table.
Now, I swear to God I only turned my back for two seconds to get that box, but during that time Kris managed to roll into one of the aforementioned Vesuvian squirts, grab the messy diaper (OK, I probably should have put it down further away from him), throw the messy diaper into the toy box next to the bed, and rub his face with his poop covered hand. Kris, the screaming isn’t helping, buddy. I’ve only got one nerve left, and you’re working right on the end of it. Kris! Point that thing somewhere else, man! This is a really bad time to show Pepere how far you can pee!
Quicksand – Marine Corps training - I’ve got to gain control of this battlefield! Regain fire superiority! Grab a handful of wipes and attack the poop. Wipe anything that’s yellow! (What color is that, anyway?) If it smears, wipe it!
After Action Report
Here we are in the nice big rocker. Kris is happy and cooing and looks great in his new clean union suit. Is that a little smear behind your ear, buddy. No problem. Pepere’s got a box of wipes right here next to us. Now, Kris, it’s time for your first man to man talk. You and I have got to figure out what we’re going to do about the bedroom. Demolition is the most obvious solution, but that will probably be judged impractical by higher management. OK, buddy, here comes your first lesson on interacting with the opposite sex. We’ll explain to Memere that we’re just stupid incompetent guys who can’t function without help from their beautiful, talented, graceful, and ever-so-skilled women ...
The Stage: Summer, 2003
Kris is our three month old grandson, and I’m his Pepere. He thinks I’m cool and shows it by smiling brightly whenever he sees me. I think he’s way cool. I’m no contender for the Alan Alda award, and maybe I haven’t changed as many diapers as a typical teen-aged girl, but I have changed more than a few, and I’m still mostly secure in my masculinity. My wife, Ginny, on the other hand, is the Tiger Woods of messy diapers and all other grandmotherly endeavors. She’s his Memere and he is pretty sure she controls the daily sunrise – so am I.
In the realm of diapers, there are major changes and minor changes. Changing a wet diaper is minor - no big thing. Even your average bachelor uncle won’t be very challenged by a wet diaper. A poopy diaper, on the other hand, catapults the experience into an entirely different dimension. In this particular case, Kris is only three months old, so the original source of the poop is mother’s milk. The texture of the poop is that of mustard, though somewhat less appetizing. The volume of the poop defies description.
The Saga
On the day in question, Ginny and I were keeping Kris and his sister Katie. One morning I noticed that Kris’s wonderful “baby smell” had been overwhelmed and his grandmother was nowhere in sight. I’m sufficiently liberated to recognize that women are much more skilled in handling certain tasks; alas, Memere was hors de combat at this critical juncture. So, I thought, “no problem – I can do this. I’ve done it many times. Haven’t I?”
First, lay a towel down on the bedspread. (Ginny will really be proud of me for protecting the bedspread with the towel.) Now, get the kid out of this garment. What is this thing called anyway? It’s sort of like the “union suits” my dad wore all winter, minus the flap. Haven’t the people who make these things heard of Velcro? Look, Kris, I’d be squirming too if I was lying in that stuff, but you’re not being very helpful here, and I could get your foot out a lot sooner if you’d quit kicking for just one moment. OK, now that his feet are out, I can just slide the bottom part of the union suit up over the diaper and then I won’t have to get him out of the top end. Smart, Joe – you didn’t just fall off the turnip truck.
Ah ha! The diaper people have discovered Velcro. No, it’s not Velcro - it’s a kind of sticky tape. Who cares, it beats those big safety pins. So, unstick the two tapes and … whoa! That load of mustard poop must have been under pressure – two big squirts shoot out the back like lava from Vesuvius, and one scores a direct hit on a pile of clean clothes while the other overshoots the towel and smears an acre or two of bedspread. (Scratch that thought about Ginny being proud.) OK, I’ve got it – a sacrificial diaper. I’ll slip another diaper under this one, and he can lay on that while I clean him up. Hmm, looks like two or three sacrificial diapers would be safer. Just as I’m slipping in the third sacrificial, Kris enters a maneuver which is a cross between a split-S and a triple Lutz. Oh, man, there’s poop scattered from his feet to his neck. Can’t deal with that yet – besides, I can always hose him off afterward. Let’s just get this messy diaper off before any more poop gets smeared. Oh, oh, where are those wipes? I told Ginny we need to get thirty or forty boxes of those things and keep them all over the house! OK, there’s a box over on the table.
Now, I swear to God I only turned my back for two seconds to get that box, but during that time Kris managed to roll into one of the aforementioned Vesuvian squirts, grab the messy diaper (OK, I probably should have put it down further away from him), throw the messy diaper into the toy box next to the bed, and rub his face with his poop covered hand. Kris, the screaming isn’t helping, buddy. I’ve only got one nerve left, and you’re working right on the end of it. Kris! Point that thing somewhere else, man! This is a really bad time to show Pepere how far you can pee!
Quicksand – Marine Corps training - I’ve got to gain control of this battlefield! Regain fire superiority! Grab a handful of wipes and attack the poop. Wipe anything that’s yellow! (What color is that, anyway?) If it smears, wipe it!
After Action Report
Here we are in the nice big rocker. Kris is happy and cooing and looks great in his new clean union suit. Is that a little smear behind your ear, buddy. No problem. Pepere’s got a box of wipes right here next to us. Now, Kris, it’s time for your first man to man talk. You and I have got to figure out what we’re going to do about the bedroom. Demolition is the most obvious solution, but that will probably be judged impractical by higher management. OK, buddy, here comes your first lesson on interacting with the opposite sex. We’ll explain to Memere that we’re just stupid incompetent guys who can’t function without help from their beautiful, talented, graceful, and ever-so-skilled women ...
20 June 2010
The National Debt
Ok, my liberal/progressive friends, I agree and acknowledge that President Bush was no friend of fiscal conservatism. But Bush was downright thrifty in comparison to the out of control spending of the Obama Administration. The Bush Administration’s spending was analogous to a person charging an amount equal to a year’s pay to credit cards – the interest alone is overwhelming. This type of debt is obviously irresponsible, but, with determination, hard work, and a commitment to fiscal responsibility, the person can pay off the debt over time and once again become solvent. But the Obama Administration’s non-stop printing and borrowing of money is like that same person accumulating credit card debts greater than the amount they will earn in 5 years – a staggering debt that probably cannot be satisfied in a lifetime.
That is exactly where we find ourselves today. Our national debt is approximately five times our federal income. If our national debt cannot be paid off in our lifetime, it must de-facto be paid by our children and grandchildren – an immoral, un-American, and unthinkable proposition for any responsible parent – if you care for your children, you cannot saddle them with mounds of debt.
Economists tell us that a certain amount of national debt is a good thing. I don’t really get that, but I guess I’m ok with it as long as the “certain amount” will be paid by the people who benefit from the proceeds of the debt, a condition that we have woefully failed to satisfy. Let me be very clear. Our generation has provided itself with social benefits and entitlements that we cannot afford. Our progressive government congratulates itself on its generosity, benevolence, and altruism, all of which will be paid for by the sacrifices and privation of our children and grandchildren. Our parents were the greatest generation. Our progeny will be the sacrificial generation. We are the selfish generation.
Economists also tell us that there are only a few ways to decrease national debt:
• decrease spending,
• increase tax revenue,
• increase the Gross Domestic Product (economic growth and productivity),
• inflation (the government can then pay off the debt with cheaper dollars),
• (gasp) devalue the currency, or
• (gasp, gasp) default on the debt.
Note that the last three of the six have devastating implications. We are therefore left with decreasing spending, increasing tax revenue, and increasing productivity.
During the past couple of decades, our increasing social programs (government spending) have been accompanied by increasing national productivity. The problem is that the increasing productivity was not permanent – it was based on two “booms” (the dot-com boom followed by the housing boom), both of which went “bust”. We now find ourselves with a great financial burden to pay for all our new social programs (medicare prescription drugs, no child left behind, bail-outs, government take-overs of corporations, heath care, financial sector regulation, possibly cap and trade), but a stagnant economy with little growth in productivity (GDP).
The Obama Administration promises that their spending programs (euphemistically called “investments”) will lead to increased productivity, but there is absolutely no evidence that this will work. Government spending creates government jobs which add little or nothing to national productivity. The Roosevelt administration unsuccessfully tried to spend its way out of the Great Depression for more than 7 years, but the depression continued in full force until WWII, when great sacrifice and effort by the entire American population resulted in a huge increase in productivity. It was WWII and the American work ethic that ended the depression, not government spending.
The Obama Administration also promises that increasing taxes on the rich will increase tax revenues. Once again there is no evidence that this will work. In fact, history shows exactly the opposite. You cannot create jobs and increase productivity by penalizing the very people and corporations that create jobs and wealth. Increasing taxes punishes success and thus decreases revenues. However counter-intuitive, President Kennedy was right when he said that decreasing taxes on the rich would increase tax revenues (a rising tide floats all ships).
So, how can we decrease the national debt?”
Every liberal/progressive politician will answer that government spending and stimulus programs combined with tax increases on the rich will increase the GDP. Those answers have never worked anywhere on earth, including here in the U.S. They are the same answers traditionally given by the socialist leaders of European countries that are currently failing. If you nonetheless believe that government spending and increasing taxes will work, then I pray you are correct, because that’s the way we’re headed.
If you haven’t been drinking the progressive kool-aid, what is left? Assuming that hyper-inflation, devaluation, and default are off the table, we are left with:
• Tax cuts (highly unlikely in an Obama Administration).
• True tax reform by abolishing all federal income taxes and implementing the Fair Tax (see the October 2009 essay on the Fair Tax).
• Increase the GDP by eliminating government interference with and regulatory burden on business, with a specific emphasis on small business.
• Decrease spending by decreasing the size of government – why, exactly, do we need the Departments of Education, Commerce, Agriculture, Labor, and heaven knows how many other federal monetary black holes?
I don’t have the expertise to quantify the effects of these reforms on our national debt. They may or may not be adequate. Here’s what I do know. Nothing short of enormous personal sacrifice by every American, a national commitment on the scale of WWII, will get us out of this financial quagmire.
It is my sad conclusion that America will face deprivation. We will suffer and sacrifice, either voluntarily by implementing fiscally conservative reforms, or, absent those reforms, involuntarily by the inevitability of hyper-inflation, devaluation, and/or default. The only question is who will make the sacrifices – us or our children and grandchildren?
That is exactly where we find ourselves today. Our national debt is approximately five times our federal income. If our national debt cannot be paid off in our lifetime, it must de-facto be paid by our children and grandchildren – an immoral, un-American, and unthinkable proposition for any responsible parent – if you care for your children, you cannot saddle them with mounds of debt.
Economists tell us that a certain amount of national debt is a good thing. I don’t really get that, but I guess I’m ok with it as long as the “certain amount” will be paid by the people who benefit from the proceeds of the debt, a condition that we have woefully failed to satisfy. Let me be very clear. Our generation has provided itself with social benefits and entitlements that we cannot afford. Our progressive government congratulates itself on its generosity, benevolence, and altruism, all of which will be paid for by the sacrifices and privation of our children and grandchildren. Our parents were the greatest generation. Our progeny will be the sacrificial generation. We are the selfish generation.
Economists also tell us that there are only a few ways to decrease national debt:
• decrease spending,
• increase tax revenue,
• increase the Gross Domestic Product (economic growth and productivity),
• inflation (the government can then pay off the debt with cheaper dollars),
• (gasp) devalue the currency, or
• (gasp, gasp) default on the debt.
Note that the last three of the six have devastating implications. We are therefore left with decreasing spending, increasing tax revenue, and increasing productivity.
During the past couple of decades, our increasing social programs (government spending) have been accompanied by increasing national productivity. The problem is that the increasing productivity was not permanent – it was based on two “booms” (the dot-com boom followed by the housing boom), both of which went “bust”. We now find ourselves with a great financial burden to pay for all our new social programs (medicare prescription drugs, no child left behind, bail-outs, government take-overs of corporations, heath care, financial sector regulation, possibly cap and trade), but a stagnant economy with little growth in productivity (GDP).
The Obama Administration promises that their spending programs (euphemistically called “investments”) will lead to increased productivity, but there is absolutely no evidence that this will work. Government spending creates government jobs which add little or nothing to national productivity. The Roosevelt administration unsuccessfully tried to spend its way out of the Great Depression for more than 7 years, but the depression continued in full force until WWII, when great sacrifice and effort by the entire American population resulted in a huge increase in productivity. It was WWII and the American work ethic that ended the depression, not government spending.
The Obama Administration also promises that increasing taxes on the rich will increase tax revenues. Once again there is no evidence that this will work. In fact, history shows exactly the opposite. You cannot create jobs and increase productivity by penalizing the very people and corporations that create jobs and wealth. Increasing taxes punishes success and thus decreases revenues. However counter-intuitive, President Kennedy was right when he said that decreasing taxes on the rich would increase tax revenues (a rising tide floats all ships).
So, how can we decrease the national debt?”
Every liberal/progressive politician will answer that government spending and stimulus programs combined with tax increases on the rich will increase the GDP. Those answers have never worked anywhere on earth, including here in the U.S. They are the same answers traditionally given by the socialist leaders of European countries that are currently failing. If you nonetheless believe that government spending and increasing taxes will work, then I pray you are correct, because that’s the way we’re headed.
If you haven’t been drinking the progressive kool-aid, what is left? Assuming that hyper-inflation, devaluation, and default are off the table, we are left with:
• Tax cuts (highly unlikely in an Obama Administration).
• True tax reform by abolishing all federal income taxes and implementing the Fair Tax (see the October 2009 essay on the Fair Tax).
• Increase the GDP by eliminating government interference with and regulatory burden on business, with a specific emphasis on small business.
• Decrease spending by decreasing the size of government – why, exactly, do we need the Departments of Education, Commerce, Agriculture, Labor, and heaven knows how many other federal monetary black holes?
I don’t have the expertise to quantify the effects of these reforms on our national debt. They may or may not be adequate. Here’s what I do know. Nothing short of enormous personal sacrifice by every American, a national commitment on the scale of WWII, will get us out of this financial quagmire.
It is my sad conclusion that America will face deprivation. We will suffer and sacrifice, either voluntarily by implementing fiscally conservative reforms, or, absent those reforms, involuntarily by the inevitability of hyper-inflation, devaluation, and/or default. The only question is who will make the sacrifices – us or our children and grandchildren?
17 June 2010
The Gulf Oil Spill
The media and internet are saturated with stories about the administration’s failure to respond to Louisiana’s request to build barrier islands, its failure to use available oil booms and other technology, and its refusal to accept help from other nations, including Great Britain and The Netherlands. We also read that U.S. regulatory agencies have disallowed the use of dispersants and other technologies that might have ameliorated the problems. The administration counters that their efforts have been timely and herculean. There are so many accusations and counter-charges that the situation seems hopelessly complicated.
It’s not. The answers are really quite simple, folks, even if the media and the administration fail to grasp them.
The Spill
First, no reasonable person questions that this spill is a catastrophe – not the oil industry, not the Republicans, not the Tea Party, not the Libertarians, not Sarah Palin, not even the most rabid-ass drill baby drill conservatives – no one. So, will the liberal/progressive establishment, media, and administration please stop with the innuendos about some sort of greed-driven right-wing conspiracy. In fact, the only agendas that will benefit from this spill are those of the Cap and Trade environmentalists and their eco-terrorists left wing. This spill will be their anti-oil, anti-business, anti-capitalism, anti-America, and pro-big government poster child for decades to come.
The simple truth is that BP has owned full culpability. No doubt time will shed some light on mistakes also made by Transocean, the owners of the Deepwater Horizon rig, Halliburton, their consultants, and others. The Minerals Management Service, the federal agency that approved shortcuts taken during the drilling, also dropped the ball. There will be time enough to spread recriminations, but, to their credit, BP has stepped up.
Plugging the Leak
All of the expertise to stop the leak resides in the private sector. However this leak is eventually contained, it will have been BP/Transocean/Hallibuton or other private enterprise that figures out and implements the solution. Any action taken by government agencies will be to appease political pressure and will only delay and complicate the process.
The President is right. He does not know how to stop the leak, and neither does anyone else in the government, nor should they. No one wants to stop this leak more than BP, and no one can do it better.
The Clean-Up
This is the federal government’s opportunity to shine. Sadly, their performance to date is dull at best.
President Obama talks a lot about leadership, and there is little doubt that this crisis suffers from a huge deficit of leadership. Here’s what a real Commander-in-Chief would have done. As soon as the enormous scope of the problem became apparent (roughly a week or two after the explosion), the President should have called in the Chief of Naval Operations, the senior officer in the Navy, and given him the following order: “Admiral Roughead (I kid you not, that is his name), the Gulf oil spill is a national catastrophe. The following orders are temporary and will remain in effect until the clean-up is under control. You are hereby appointed the Officer in Charge of the clean-up. All other federal and military agencies involved in the clean up, including regulatory agencies, are subordinated to you. You have the authority to suspend any regulatory or administrative rules you deem necessary. You are authorized to mobilize as much of the US Navy, Coast Guard, and any other agencies as you deem necessary. You are authorized to request and/or accept support from foreign governments or agencies that you deem useful. You are authorized to gather all oil spill booms and any other equipment or technology or expertise from any U.S. agency or corporation or individual that you deem necessary or helpful. If any shortfall in equipment, technology, or expertise is determined, you are authorized to request and/or purchase them from any government or vendor on earth. I expect these orders to supersede all other endeavors, and I expect to see major activity within days, not weeks. Do you understand those orders?”
The Admiral will stand at attention, say, “Aye, aye, sir”, do an about-face, walk out of the President’s office, and clean up the spill. By the way, as the CNO exited the office door, it wouldn’t hurt to add something like, “Admiral, I expect the Gulf of Mexico to look like D-Day”.
This should have been done two months ago, but it’s not too late. I contend that, within a week of receiving this order, the Navy will have hundreds of ships and booms and equipment and experts and whatchmacallits on site and the world will once more be astounded by American ingenuity, determination, and will to succeed.
Post Script
By the way, Mr. President, I implore you not to be tempted to micromanage this effort. I promise you the Navy will move heaven and earth and get this job done. That’s what the military does. Any involvement by bureaucrats, administration officials, or politician photo-ops will gum up the works.
As a model, think of the First Gulf War. President Bush (41) commanded General Colin Powell to kick Saddam out of Kuwait. For the next several months, we hardly saw the President, but Generals Powell and Schwartzcoff were on TV every night. Once the President gave the command, he stepped aside, as it should be. Once Iraq was out of Kuwait and sufficiently humbled, the President stepped back in, as it should be.
It’s not. The answers are really quite simple, folks, even if the media and the administration fail to grasp them.
The Spill
First, no reasonable person questions that this spill is a catastrophe – not the oil industry, not the Republicans, not the Tea Party, not the Libertarians, not Sarah Palin, not even the most rabid-ass drill baby drill conservatives – no one. So, will the liberal/progressive establishment, media, and administration please stop with the innuendos about some sort of greed-driven right-wing conspiracy. In fact, the only agendas that will benefit from this spill are those of the Cap and Trade environmentalists and their eco-terrorists left wing. This spill will be their anti-oil, anti-business, anti-capitalism, anti-America, and pro-big government poster child for decades to come.
The simple truth is that BP has owned full culpability. No doubt time will shed some light on mistakes also made by Transocean, the owners of the Deepwater Horizon rig, Halliburton, their consultants, and others. The Minerals Management Service, the federal agency that approved shortcuts taken during the drilling, also dropped the ball. There will be time enough to spread recriminations, but, to their credit, BP has stepped up.
Plugging the Leak
All of the expertise to stop the leak resides in the private sector. However this leak is eventually contained, it will have been BP/Transocean/Hallibuton or other private enterprise that figures out and implements the solution. Any action taken by government agencies will be to appease political pressure and will only delay and complicate the process.
The President is right. He does not know how to stop the leak, and neither does anyone else in the government, nor should they. No one wants to stop this leak more than BP, and no one can do it better.
The Clean-Up
This is the federal government’s opportunity to shine. Sadly, their performance to date is dull at best.
President Obama talks a lot about leadership, and there is little doubt that this crisis suffers from a huge deficit of leadership. Here’s what a real Commander-in-Chief would have done. As soon as the enormous scope of the problem became apparent (roughly a week or two after the explosion), the President should have called in the Chief of Naval Operations, the senior officer in the Navy, and given him the following order: “Admiral Roughead (I kid you not, that is his name), the Gulf oil spill is a national catastrophe. The following orders are temporary and will remain in effect until the clean-up is under control. You are hereby appointed the Officer in Charge of the clean-up. All other federal and military agencies involved in the clean up, including regulatory agencies, are subordinated to you. You have the authority to suspend any regulatory or administrative rules you deem necessary. You are authorized to mobilize as much of the US Navy, Coast Guard, and any other agencies as you deem necessary. You are authorized to request and/or accept support from foreign governments or agencies that you deem useful. You are authorized to gather all oil spill booms and any other equipment or technology or expertise from any U.S. agency or corporation or individual that you deem necessary or helpful. If any shortfall in equipment, technology, or expertise is determined, you are authorized to request and/or purchase them from any government or vendor on earth. I expect these orders to supersede all other endeavors, and I expect to see major activity within days, not weeks. Do you understand those orders?”
The Admiral will stand at attention, say, “Aye, aye, sir”, do an about-face, walk out of the President’s office, and clean up the spill. By the way, as the CNO exited the office door, it wouldn’t hurt to add something like, “Admiral, I expect the Gulf of Mexico to look like D-Day”.
This should have been done two months ago, but it’s not too late. I contend that, within a week of receiving this order, the Navy will have hundreds of ships and booms and equipment and experts and whatchmacallits on site and the world will once more be astounded by American ingenuity, determination, and will to succeed.
Post Script
By the way, Mr. President, I implore you not to be tempted to micromanage this effort. I promise you the Navy will move heaven and earth and get this job done. That’s what the military does. Any involvement by bureaucrats, administration officials, or politician photo-ops will gum up the works.
As a model, think of the First Gulf War. President Bush (41) commanded General Colin Powell to kick Saddam out of Kuwait. For the next several months, we hardly saw the President, but Generals Powell and Schwartzcoff were on TV every night. Once the President gave the command, he stepped aside, as it should be. Once Iraq was out of Kuwait and sufficiently humbled, the President stepped back in, as it should be.
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