Thursday, June 19, 2008
Abolish the Two-Party System Part II
Just in case you thought I was some fringe nut job the cowardly Democratic controlled congress goes and destroys any credibility they may have had. This article from Wired discusses how they agreed to expand domestic spying and give telecoms immunity. Thanks once again to the do-nothing Democratic congress. Grow a spine! Both parties are ruining this great nation.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Abolish the Two-Party System
Republicans=Fascists Democrats=Communists/Socialists Both =Authoritarian
Government has become so ineffectual, corrupt, and insulated from actual America that we need to dump our current two-party system. The political spectrum is far too complex to reduce all voters into two parties as well. Its like being to root for the Yankees or Boston even if you are a Cubs fan.
The two parties have monopolized politics in America by making themselves the only game in town. The parties are an entrenched bureaucracy that keeps many candidates like Ron Paul and Ralph Nader on the sidelines. In many states, third-party candidates can't even get on the ballot. Texas, for example makes it almost impossible to get on the ballot as a third-party candidate.
Neither party is truly the party of liberty, freedom, and justice. Both parties serve collectivist and monied interests. Dems want to control your pocketbook and Republicans want to control your personal life ex. gay marriage and the war on drugs. Both parties think they can make better decisions for individuals than the individuals themselves. They would both like the government to control you, but they can't agree on exactly how that control should be carried out.
Kudos to Ron Paul for attempting to truly change government. More people need to realize that the two-party system is broken and needs to be scrapped. If we slip into another great depression it is likely that at least one of the current parties will be demoted, and lets be honest its more likely that the Dems will flounder. Hopefully people are ready for a real change before the U.S. collapses on itself.
Until then I am forced to try and decide the lesser of two evils between McSame and Obamanible snowman.
Government has become so ineffectual, corrupt, and insulated from actual America that we need to dump our current two-party system. The political spectrum is far too complex to reduce all voters into two parties as well. Its like being to root for the Yankees or Boston even if you are a Cubs fan.
The two parties have monopolized politics in America by making themselves the only game in town. The parties are an entrenched bureaucracy that keeps many candidates like Ron Paul and Ralph Nader on the sidelines. In many states, third-party candidates can't even get on the ballot. Texas, for example makes it almost impossible to get on the ballot as a third-party candidate.
Neither party is truly the party of liberty, freedom, and justice. Both parties serve collectivist and monied interests. Dems want to control your pocketbook and Republicans want to control your personal life ex. gay marriage and the war on drugs. Both parties think they can make better decisions for individuals than the individuals themselves. They would both like the government to control you, but they can't agree on exactly how that control should be carried out.
Kudos to Ron Paul for attempting to truly change government. More people need to realize that the two-party system is broken and needs to be scrapped. If we slip into another great depression it is likely that at least one of the current parties will be demoted, and lets be honest its more likely that the Dems will flounder. Hopefully people are ready for a real change before the U.S. collapses on itself.
Until then I am forced to try and decide the lesser of two evils between McSame and Obamanible snowman.
Lakers Guaranteed to Win Tonight
I'm going to go out on a limb here and guarantee that the Lakers will win tonight's game. All the recent former NBA ref drama has convinced me that my long held belief that referees decide the majority of NBA contests. The NBA knows they can make a lot more ad revenue from a game 7 than if the series were to end tonight. Any takers?
Monday, June 16, 2008
Speculating on Speculators
Everyday it seems a new scapegoat for rising gas prices gets bandied about the blogosphere. The latest being oil futures speculators, who are charged with creating artificial demand due to hedging themselves against inflation.
I have hear a number of arguments and there seems to be no clear solution. Speculators are an integral part of the trading community and do provide some necessary functions. Indeed, anyone who makes an investment is speculating whether the price of said investment will rise or fall.
However, it doesn't make sense that supply and demand alone can account for a 400% increase in gas prices since 2000-2001. While China and India's economies are booming it seems highly unlikely that prices would spike to such a degree so rapidly. One would assume that prices would certainly be on the rise, but the pace would not be so rapid as we have recently witnessed. Increases of 50-80 cents in a matter of months do not seem like they could realistically be tied to increased demand.
Ethanol has taken a lot of the blame for rising food costs, but many farmers receive subsidies to not grow. Increased demand for corn should mean that more farmers would enter the corn market to take advantage of the higher price they can get for corn thereby increasing supply and lowering the cost.
Many have argued that we should ramp up domestic production to increase supply. Not only is this a short-sighted supply side approach, but why would domestic corps. sell their oil cheaper than what they could receive on the open world market.
Its interesting that this issue has reached such a point that the Saudis are concerned enough about this situation to increase production.
I have hear a number of arguments and there seems to be no clear solution. Speculators are an integral part of the trading community and do provide some necessary functions. Indeed, anyone who makes an investment is speculating whether the price of said investment will rise or fall.
However, it doesn't make sense that supply and demand alone can account for a 400% increase in gas prices since 2000-2001. While China and India's economies are booming it seems highly unlikely that prices would spike to such a degree so rapidly. One would assume that prices would certainly be on the rise, but the pace would not be so rapid as we have recently witnessed. Increases of 50-80 cents in a matter of months do not seem like they could realistically be tied to increased demand.
Ethanol has taken a lot of the blame for rising food costs, but many farmers receive subsidies to not grow. Increased demand for corn should mean that more farmers would enter the corn market to take advantage of the higher price they can get for corn thereby increasing supply and lowering the cost.
Many have argued that we should ramp up domestic production to increase supply. Not only is this a short-sighted supply side approach, but why would domestic corps. sell their oil cheaper than what they could receive on the open world market.
Its interesting that this issue has reached such a point that the Saudis are concerned enough about this situation to increase production.
Great Depression II
Due to recent instability in the U.S. economy some are saying that we could be on the verge of slipping into the precipice of another "great depression." It does seem that the Fed has been pretty ineffectual in its attempts to manage inflation by lowering interest rates and many have said that they may actually have to raise them. The rapidly declining dollar combined with skyrocketing commodities and the housing market are going to wreak havoc on the U.S. economy for some time to come.
Is it time to start stockpiling canned goods, water, and other commodities or is this just part of the natural business cycle? I can't imagine the dollar going anywhere but down until the inauguration of the next president. Either way its quite disconcerting for someone like myself who will be attempting to enter the workforce in a year.
What would happen if we slipped into another great depression?
Is it time to start stockpiling canned goods, water, and other commodities or is this just part of the natural business cycle? I can't imagine the dollar going anywhere but down until the inauguration of the next president. Either way its quite disconcerting for someone like myself who will be attempting to enter the workforce in a year.
What would happen if we slipped into another great depression?
Monday, June 2, 2008
Primary Colors
The race for the Democratic nomination has been one of the strangest and most contentious in the history of the U.S. From all reports, it appears that it will soon be coming to a close (thank god). Kudos to Hilllary for conducting a great campaign aside from the relentless attacks of the recent months.
I find it ironic that the Obama and Clinton's narratives have nearly completely reversed since super tuesday. Clinton has taken Obama's spot as the underdog and seemingly picked up support, albeit in places such as West Virginia, Kentucky, and Puerto Rico. With all due respect to Hillary, Obama is a better candidate and will match up much better against McSame in the general election, despite the current round of polling showing Clinton fairing better against McSame.
I find it ironic that the Obama and Clinton's narratives have nearly completely reversed since super tuesday. Clinton has taken Obama's spot as the underdog and seemingly picked up support, albeit in places such as West Virginia, Kentucky, and Puerto Rico. With all due respect to Hillary, Obama is a better candidate and will match up much better against McSame in the general election, despite the current round of polling showing Clinton fairing better against McSame.
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