Happy New Year

A belated Happy New Year!

Comments

[Captain Hate]

All the tech support people back on the job?

[narciso]

'Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated'

http://troglopundit.wordpress.com/2012/01/02/sure-am-glad-i-didnt-spend-more-time-on-the-iowa-caucuses-then/

[narciso]

'Would you believe they got it wrong' inconceivable;

http://www.verumserum.com/?p=36201

[Clarice]

A new thread!!!!! Happy New Year to you and all the Maguires, Tom.

[narciso]

This is an early audition for your pieces, Clarice;

http://althouse.blogspot.com/2012/01/study-of-fish-suggests-value-of.html

[redistribution]

In this New Year, with folks who should know better still in thrall to the Occupy talking points, it's useful to remember that capitalism is the best system for redistributing wealth. See LUN.

[Thomas Collins]

Whoops! I inadvertently pasted "redistribution" into the name section. Perhaps the Almighty is sending me a signal that my life's mission is to demonstrate to my Boston area friends that if they want redistribution, they should support capitalism. . . . On second thought, I think even the Almighty has given up on the Bostonians!

[Janet]

3rd graders singing OWS songs here in Virginia. The organization & the principle have to lie & say the kids wrote it. No way.

a bit of the song -
I used to be one of the 1 percent
I worked all the time
Never saw my family
Couldn’t make life rhyme
Then the bubble burst
It really, really hurt
I lost my money
Lost my pride
Lost my home
Now I’m part of the 99

Sounds like something an 8 yr. old would write...

[narciso]

Paging Joe Biden to the red courtesy phone;

http://weaselzippers.us/2012/01/02/al-qaeda-and-afghan-taliban-hold-high-level-meeting-with-pakistani-taliban-seeking-their-help-in-fight-against-u-s-forces-in-afghanistan/#comment-446901

[pagar]

Narciso, I think Joe Biden is probably trying to work out an agreement with these guys.

http://weaselzippers.us/2012/01/02/tajikistan-man-dressed-as-santa-claus-killed-by-muslim-fanatics-for-being-an-infidel/

[Janet]

news article -
Kid Pan Alley is an organization that helps kids write and perform their own songs. Their mission is to inspire kids to be creators.

On their homepage - "Inspiring kids to be creators, not consumers"

"We’ve written over 1,800 songs with over 30,000 children and we’ve got to say kids make the greatest co-writers."
bold mine

[GMAX]

A new fresh clean piece of paper to scribble on! I have much to be thankful for, not the least of which is that 2011 is in the dustbin of history. Happy New Year to TM and to the J.O.M commenters. Lets go kick some prog @ss in 2012

[Jack is Back!]

janet,

Having a talented 8 year old I can vouch for his musical and lyrical imagination. You'd be surprised at some of his songs he makes up and sings to us. Not like what you have linked which could only have been written by a group of 8 year olds with historical reference provided by others (ie. teachers). Also, don't forget the power of TV espcially certain shows on Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and even Disney. Not that I have heard anything too political on them but from time to time they posit certain values and considerations that can influence the judgement of the young.

But if I was a parent in that school I would demand what the school thinks it is teaching and whether they believe 3rd graders are perpared to understand the distinctions of class warfare versus for example Santorum's explication of E Pluribus Unum. Which one do they believe should resonate with our young citizens in the making?

[Jane]

I predict Alan Colmes career is toast.

[Captain Hate]

Is Bill Ayers teaching those kids?

[Janet]

...well my Virginia taxes help pay for Kid Pan Alley. That is what gets me too. Our taxes fund these organizations.
Leftist organizations would shrink if they were cut off from tax money.
All these little organizations - left or right or neutral - need to be cut off from any government funds. It is not the government's business.

[narciso]

I thought everyone was happy to be on 'fun employment' that meme got played out quick

[Captain Hate]

I thought everyone was happy to be on 'fun employment' that meme got played out quick

Of all the dumbbell things the MFM has tried to do to boost the image of El JEFe, that might be the most ignorantly clueless. I hope Duke and Duke's crack opposition research team hasn't given it toga-staining status as far as Willard or not-Willard being able to employ it.

[Extraneus]

‘Occupy Wall Street’ Participation To Earn Class Credit At Columbia U.

[PD]

I wonder whether you could get class credit for protesting pro-OWS Columbia U professors.

[narciso]

And to think, they turned down the Kramerica
internship. bewildering.

[PD]

Iran warns U.S. carrier to stay out of Persian Gulf

[GMAX]

Leftist organizations would shrink if they were cut off from tax money.

Now there is a goal to strive for. Work to make it happen.

[narciso]

Oh frabjous joy;

http://hotair.com/archives/2012/01/03/politicos-great-headliner-guest-for-iowa-caucus-coverage-is/

[Janet]

More on Kid Pan Alley.

[Captain Hate]

Appel told the New York Post that while her involvement with the movement will color the way she teaches it will not prevent her from being an objective teacher.

Anybody as skeptical about this as I am? I wonder if anybody will put her to the test; not that any conservative student would waste their time and money on a frivolous course like this.

[GMAX]

The Fleet did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Salehi's comments.

Too busy laughing their @sses off! Persian pilots in MiGs and Persian cruisers are just not going to be much of a match for the US fleet, and Baghdad Bob has moving and finding new employment in Tehran does not change that...

[Captain Hate]

Damn narc; I think that one broke Poppin's "in fairness" switch.

[pagar]

William Ayers has a direct connection to what every school district/public school educator teaches to American school children.

There are 100s of articles explaining how Ayers has such influence. Here is one:

http://www.matthewktabor.com/2008/05/19/revisiting-aera-bill-ayers-the-weather-underground-and-public-education/

[narciso]

I don't know, he doesn't seem like someone that will bluff,

http://www.silobreaker.com/biography-for-ataollah-salehi-5_2259178321260576768_4

[Clarice]

narciso, that althouse blog certainly is interesting.

[Danube of Thought]

Minus 20 at Raz today.

Good, solid start for 2012.

[Jane]

Ex,

If you need to reach me about that claim email me at [email protected] and I'll send you my phone #.

[narciso]

If this was widely implemented MSDNC would be a ghost town, well more than it already is;

http://theothermccain.com/2012/01/02/you-cant-outlaw-beclownment/comment-page-1/#comment-142096

[Dave (in MA)]

pagar, over here it's the other way around.

[Danube of Thought]

Raz:

Republicans now hold a five-point advantage over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the short holiday week ending Friday, Dec. 30. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 38% would choose the Democrat instead.

[MarkO]

Jane, I didn't slog through the second thousand post thread and I thought that the Colmes foulness had likely been discussed by someone else. For years I have found it impossible to listen to him because he whines and makes no sense at all, even if he has a point that might reasonably be discussed. I've thought Fox kept him as a specimen of a crazy progressive for interested viewers.

Parents who have lost a child should have a free pass. It takes a certain venom and callousness even to mention such a tragedy, but to characterize profound grief as "playing" should be a flogging offense. At the least he should lose his job and be cast out to Olberman and his dark angels.

As for me, I will never listen to even one word he says again.

[Danube of Thought]

There is a reason no one has attacked a US carrier since WWII: Every nation in the world knows that the response to such an attack would be Carthaginian, possibly involving nuclear weapons.

There is no question that any carrier in the Persian Gulf is vulnerable to attack, and could conceivably be sunk. But Iran wants to continue as a military power, and I'm sure that even this president would destroy every last vestige of that power--bomb 'em till the rubble bounced. They know that very well; the end result would likely be a very unpleasant regime change.

Recall that for roughly a decade we had carriers operating up in the Tonkin Gulf, well within range of North Vietnamese aircraft. Not one ever ventured out to fire a shot.

[Jane]

Mark,

I feel the same way. Santorum may have forgiven him, but I haven't.

I have no plan to let it go anytime soon either.

[jimmyk]

I predict Alan Colmes career is toast.

Nah, he seems like perfect MSNBC material.

[PD]

There is no question that any carrier in the Persian Gulf is vulnerable to attack, and could conceivably be sunk. But Iran wants to continue as a military power, and I'm sure that even this president would destroy every last vestige of that power--bomb 'em till the rubble bounced.

I'd like to believe that, but I suspect that our president would find a way to blame us for it instead as a way to avoid decisive action, and because in his heart he really would think we were at fault rather than the Iranians.

[matt]

in watching The Descendants, a story of loss, it was interesting to note the complete absence of any mention of faith.

It would be curious in a normal context, but we are talking Hollywood.

A few carefully targeted cruise missiles targeted at Qom might assist in the Iranians decision making process after they initiate a confrontation. They have obviously learned nothing from Saddam Hussein's public policy initiatives.

The Qom Mullahcrocy is at the root of a lot of the problems within the Ummah today, but then we would be stepping into the Sunni - Shia civil war in a big way.

In the meantime, there's nothing to worry about at all with Egypt, Libya, Yemen or Syria.

[Dave (in MA)]

Jane, that isn't even unusual coming from that talking turd. I think they keep him on Fox just to show how reprehensible a lot of the left is.

[rse]

Have a bad cold so will not write long but there was a statement called the Talloires Declaration out of Tufts (also home to Second Nature) in about 2006. It pushed for civic engagement to be a primary focus of higher ed so that Columbia class credit is par for the course. Also consistent with what the Teachers College there is pushing and how everything fits.

I think my resistance is low by the restraint of not ripping my bil and sil's heads off as they uttered phrases about how the problem in Greece and Ireland and here are not enough gov spending. He's a finance prof and how he hates the Austrians because they are about every person must fend for themself. I said he must have only read or heard caricatures but let it go with that. SIL kept insisting health care and ed were basic human rights and should be free. Quite convinced that in Canada or Europe her rare cancer would be in remission still and as ably treated without additional copays. She is going back in her mid 50s to pursue a PhD in lit. Adding no productive value to economy, gaining no knowledge or skills anyone wishes to purchase from her in future, and thinking govt should equalize living conditions. While visiting in a place surrounded by people with a track record of building up businesses or developing a needed specialty.

It's thus not just those who pay no income taxes but those who see life as a ride in fantasy land where they came pursue their druthers while govt helps subsidize the consequences economically.

No mas. Well the adrenalin of unexpressed frustration clearly drove that much.

[MarkO]

Santorum really has no chance to win and he does not inspire confidence in me, but what seems to be the problem with individual freedom? I've kind of enjoyed it. Is that too bold?

http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/rick-santorum-v-limited-government/

[narciso]

One wonders how much is Kai Hemmings novel, and Alexander Payne's (among others) screenplay

[Clarice]

The few times I saw Colmes on Hannity it seemed to me he never listened to the other side, never did any research, but just rattled off the DNC handout as fast as possible. I'm with Jane. I think he destroyed whatever miserable career he had.

He can retry his Catskills comedy act, I suppose.

[Danube of Thought]

The guy looks like a cadaver. When he appears on Fox News Watch he just interrupts and will never yield the floor.

He's the brother-in-law of one of the Fox blonde ladies--I think it's Monica Crowley.

[narciso]

Standup comic, along with O'Donnell, Maher, Whoopi, Stewart, Colbert, who never really manage to br funny,

[NK]

TomM-- belated happy new year to you and yours.

[Danube of Thought]

Heard about this Americans Elect thing? Very sinister, and rather scary.

[Soylent Red]

Oh thank God...TM is back! The YOHM world will not come to an end on January 6! Happy New Year to you Tom and to the rest of clan Maquire.

Which one do they believe should resonate with our young citizens in the making?

This is the People's Republic of Charlottesville we're talking about here. It makes Haight-Ashbury look like a Goldwater rally. They whole-heartedly believe in turning children into good little Marxists.

I'd like to believe that, but I suspect that our president would find a way to blame us for it instead as a way to avoid decisive action, and because in his heart he really would think we were at fault rather than the Iranians.

Absolutely the wrong man at the wrong time for a hot war with Iran.

That is partly why the mullahs are yanking Uncle Sam's beard: they know they can. This is a perfect time for them to be doing that in that it will play well with the fiercely nationalist population, thereby tamping down any negative sentiment that might have people thinking about putting together a Syrian-style protest movement.

Totalitarianism 101: Find the external enemy to take the proles' minds off their subjugation.

Oddly, a swift and focused ass-kicking of the Iranian Navy (and shore defense) would work doubly to our advantage, in that it would immediately remove a threat to Persian Gulf oil transportation (reducing gas prices? maybe...), and would expose the mullahcracy to the Iranian people as the weak and dangerous fools they are, causing civil unrest.

I wouldn't hold my breath on any ass-kickings coming to pass, unless Axelrod decides Barry needs a bump in the polls. Even then, it will be a UN-NATO-lead-from-behind clusterf*ck. Still, if I were a mullah concerned with self-preservation, I'd be looking at the Rasmussen tea leaves every morning.

[Mark Folkestad]

The really shocking thing about Alan Colmes is that his wife, Monica Crowley's sister, is better looking than Monica. How that mean-spirited jerk ever attracted a babe is beyond my comprehension.

I tried several times to post on the last long thread, but the post button at the bottom never turned bold and I got nowhere. I'm crossing my fingers this gets through. Happy New Year, everyone!

[Sandy Daze]

If it took these latest Alan C comments to convince you that he is a cretin, you have not been paying attention.

I am much less sanguine that you, DoT, that the current cinc would order any sort of retaliation for an attack on a CVN.

~~

Off-topic BLEG: I want to assist a colleague (one of the real good guys, a DoN civilian) who has just been posted to Coronado. Is it DoT who lives there? Perhaps you (DoT ?) can offer advice on whom to contact or perhaps you are the man . . .
If you would please send me a note at sandydaze at gmail I will let you know the details or call you if you send a tel number . Thanks in advance.

ABO~OMG,
Sandy

[Danube of Thought]

Sandy--check your e-mail.

[narciso]

Mark,Sometimes you have clear the cache at the bottom, sometimes it's just wonderful Typepad, #$@@%^#^#&

[centralcal]

I have always thought that Alan Colmes was the model for the character Voldemort, looks wise. There is an ugliness within Alan that simply radiates without - even before he opens his mouth.

[Captain Hate]

Physician heal thyself: http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/02/opinion/frum-america-fatter/index.html

[Jane]

As it is becoming increasingly apparent that I never took American History (which in MA invalidates my HS diploma) I have another question:

Amy and I were talking about the increase in gun sales at lunch today which morphed into a conversation about what happens when a country goes down the drain. Then she asked if there ever has been a country that went down the drain and recovered. Has there?

Then we fixated on the crash of the stock market. I couldn't recall what caused that. Is that a decent example of what is happening now - assuming we default on our loans at some point?

I'm not even all that sure what I am asking but I know someone will know the answer.

[Captain Hate]

Chile

[Jane]

What caused it and how did they come back Capn?

[Tonto]

File under "Doom"? The NY Post's team of three psychics unanimously predicts an Obama reelection victory.

I have no idea what their collective track record is, but I think they're on solid ground when it comes to the Kardashian 15 minutes.

[daddy]

Happy Birthday to us,
Happy Birthday to us,
Happy Birthday dear Alaska,
Happy Birthday to us!!!

[Captain Hate]

Cause: Socialism
Solution: Market-oriented reforms

[jimmyk]

I think you could say the same about some of the eastern Euro former Soviet satellites like Czech Republic, Hungary, though maybe those don't really count because the bad stuff was forced on them.

[jimmyk]

Actually Ireland may be the best example, even though they screwed up in the 2000s. CH's cause and solution are the same. Apparently they're recovering nicely from the mortgage disaster.

[bolitha]

I keep wondering how old you are Jane? I cannot imagine anyone over 40 not knowing about the causes of the stock market crash of 29 and also that we, the US, still have a presence in Korea.

[Danube of Thought]

Jane, I think you could say that both Germany and Japan were pretty much down the drain in 1945--having been devastated in war as a result of untrammeled military aggression--and have done miraculous things since then.

The entire European continent was down the drain from roughly 500A.D. to 1500 or so. Looks like they're planning on doing it again.

[Captain Hate]

Good point on Ireland, jimmyk; it improved so much they even reversed the migration trends.

[matt]

In Chile, Pinochet employed a group of economists dubbed "the Chicago Boys" as they were mainly students of Friedman, Samuelson, et al.

They introduced a free trade policy that is the basis =for their economy today. In the early 80's Chile's economy skyrocketed after the terrible mess of 1971-1977. Allende really messed it up and the generals compounded the error for several years before realizing they needed real professionals.

It crashed again in the early 80's as excessive borrowing and sweetheart deals took their toll, but has been on an upward curve ever since, sustained mainly by very high prices for commodities such as copper and other metals. The key seems to have been the free trade agreements.

[jimmyk]

I cannot imagine anyone over 40 not knowing about the causes of the stock market crash of 29

My impression is that there's still a pretty lively debate about that.

[cathyf]

In many ways I think the crash of '87 is more interesting. Market goes down 22 standard deviations in one day, then wanders back up into positive territory and is healthy afterwards. It was like Emily Litella -- "Never mind..."

[Danube of Thought]

I very well remember the pronouncement on the cover of Time following the '87 crash: "Things Will Never Be The Same Again." Nice to recall that they've been morons for a long time.

[Jane]

Bolitha,

I am old and stupid, as you seem to have no problem pointing out. I do note that you did not answer the question. Why is that?

Oh and I have always known we have an ongoing presence in Korea. Perhaps you should re-examine your reading skills.

[Jane]

I think you could say that both Germany and Japan were pretty much down the drain in 1945--

Yes, I agree. But that was outside forces (caused by internal policies). I was looking for a country that imploded from the stupidity of government or at least something analogous to what is happening today. Early Europe is probably a better analogy.

The lunchtime question was - when it happened before what did people do? My sense is that you leave because the majority of people have their hands out and you can't rebuild when the population is looking for a handout.

[Danube of Thought]

I am proud to remind all JOMers that I have for a long time been roundly denouncing this guy Sceuer as a true nutball. Check this out:

"Michael Scheuer, the CIA’s former agent charged with tracking Osama bin Laden, endorsed Ron Paul in a Sunday column he published on his website. In the piece, Scheuer said: 'Electing anyone but Ron Paul will further increase the already strong chances of widespread Islamist-conducted violence inside the United States.' 'Michael Scheuer understands that only Dr. Paul will put our national security first and stop the foreign wars and nation building,' said Jesse Benton, national campaign chairman. 'Our campaign is very proud to have his support.'"

[Ignatz]

--I keep wondering how old you are Jane? I cannot imagine anyone over 40 not knowing about the causes of the stock market crash of 29 and also that we, the US, still have a presence in Korea.--

That seems a pretty gratuitous shot since Jane made plain she was asking how long the hot portion of the Korean war lasted not whether we still had troops there.
And as jimmyk said the causes of the 29 crash are still rather hotly debated.

[Jane]

CH's cause and solution are the same.

So we really are talking about politics from beginning to end. We need a leader that can convince the people that strength and self sufficiency is more important than hand-outs. I think the fact that Obama has split this country as far apart as possible will make that very hard to accomplish. The welfare state and the incentives to park there will not help either.

BTW the Herald finally got the black box from Tim Murray (Lt Gov) car crash. He was traveling at 108 MPH.

[Ignatz]

--I was looking for a country that imploded from the stupidity of government or at least something analogous to what is happening today.--

For every country which has made a strong comeback there are a hundred which either never do or take centuries to do so and come back in a form nothing like their previous incarnation; think Rome vs the Italian city states centuries later.

[Melinda Romanoff]

bolitha-

Was housing a factor in the crash of '29?

[Appalled]

what happens when a country goes down the drain. Then she asked if there ever has been a country that went down the drain and recovered. Has there?

It all depends what you mean by "going down the drain". Countries that have revolutions tend to be at the edge of collapse at one point, and then slowly recover. (See, for example, France.) Nations such as Brazil and Argentina have endured hyperinflation in their past, and then do recover from that. Germany, as well, came back from the 20s inflation, but not in a way anyone wanted.

[Clarice]

DoT, he is a fruitcake of the first order.

[jimmyk]

Oh no, not another fruitcake thread.

[Melinda Romanoff]

jimmy-

heh.

[NK]

JimmyK@228-- I don't think there is much debate about the '29 crash causes-- speculative bubble, too much debt on margin buying, insider trading/manipulation by Joe Kennedy and the like (made illegal by the securities act of '34). There IS a misconception that the '29 crash was the SAME as the great depression 1931-1941. Not true, not true at all. See Amity Shlaes econ history of the depression. FDR was as feckless as Obama.

[Jane]

That's right Appalled. I took German history in HS (instead of American history as I changed schools). I have this vivid memory of my teacher, a recent Radcliffe graduate, extolling us with stories of how Hitler made sense because he fixed the economy, brought down inflation etc.

Thank God Bambi is too stupid to fix the economy.

It's funny that the success of Germans in this country largely came from the fact that they were so hated after the 2nd world war that they had to work twice as hard and start their own businesses.

[Jane]

One last thing Bolitha,

I have always cherished JOM as the place where I can go ask questions about things I don't know or can't remember. My very first question was about 2+2+ (whatever) in the Libby trial. Clarice graciously answered and I never left. It was probably a very stupid question at the time.

I really hope you don't try and cower people into not asking question because they are afraid they will be called stupid. That would do a lot of damage to this place in my mind. Holier-than-thou is not how I think of JOM. Please don't start it.

[jimmyk]

I don't think there is much debate about the '29 crash causes-- speculative bubble, too much debt on margin buying, insider trading/manipulation by Joe Kennedy and the like

I think there's some debate about the role of the Fed and Treasury in all that, as well as in the depth of the crash. "Speculative bubble" is often just 20-20 hindsight without any deeper explanation. Some have argued that pending passage of Smoot-Hawley had something to do with it.

But you're right that the 1929 crash wasn't all that big a deal. It's what happened after 1931 that turned it into the Great Depression.

[Melinda Romanoff]

jimmyk-

One fun fact from 1929.

Smoot-Hawley is still in force, and enforced, today.

[NK]

JimmyK-- smoot hawley was passed by the House in 1929, but not ratified as tarriffs until 1930 -- after the crash. There was isolationist trade war rumblings in the 1920s, and the Crash impoverishing so many Americans in 1929 made the trade wars worse. The trade wars and bad Fed policy led to the great depression. The'29 Crash played a major roll because of the massive loss of paper "wealth", but the Great Depression, like today, had much to do with bad government policy after a financial shock. Read the Shlaes book.

[NK]

MelR-- thanks. More fun facts from 1929, there are still insider and crony capitalist financial manipulators who game the financial system to all of our detriment, and the fed still makes bad calls-- this time of course they are the opposite bad calls.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Just a matter of perspective and just how much lobbying leverage you can get for a buck.

[daddy]

Jane,

Probably doesn't help, but reading Chinese history is enlightening. Starting about 0 AD some Dynasty will take power, and after implementing Confucian methods and Confucian methods of testing, (in order to establish a principled intelligent bureaucracy) things generally seem to swim along decently for a 100 years or so, followed by a general loss of faith in the Imperial family and the bureaucracy for the next 100 years, due to nepotism and corruption and inflation and famine, and the rest of the usual suspects etc.

This results in a national perception that the throne no longer has "The Mandate of Heaven", else things wouldn't be so lousy and the country wouldn't be in this predicament.

Shortly thereafter, usually about the 200-250 year mark of the Dynasty, the Dynasty crumbles from an organized rebellion and popular groundswell, and then a new Dynasty emerges, which once again starts off with cleaning house by implementing Confucian methods and Confucian methods of testing, (in order to establish a principled intelligent bureaucracy)...and you know the rest.

Not a tried and true equation of course, but from my reading of history thats how I view China, and why I respect her opinion that we need to make it about 500 years as a well functioning country before they'll completely give us the respect we frequently think we deserve from them.

FWIW, I think our Founder's were brilliant, and a decent adherence to their ideas of how to run a Republic via maintaining a devotion to the least empowered Federal Government possible is the best human solution yet to achieve that 500 year benchmark.

[daddy]

Oops, left out high taxation in the list of "usual suspects" up above. My bad.

Can't ever forget the contribution of "high taxes" if you want to destroy a society.

[Old Lurker]

Do not worry, Jane. The only name caller here any of us cared about was PUK because his rapier wit and sharp remarks were more than matched by his respect for most of us and we for him. Plus he was almost always right.

As to Bolitha and others who wander in from time to time...who cares?

Your experience with Clarice on your debut was the same here for most of us.

And Happy New Year.

[Jane]

FWIW, I think our Founder's were brilliant, and a decent adherence to their ideas of how to run a Republic via maintaining a devotion to the least empowered Federal Government possible is the best human solution yet to achieve that 500 year benchmark.

I completely agree.

I guess these things come and go, but this one scares me.

[NK]

Daddy-- remember what THE Ben Franklin said to the good doctor from Maryland about the new republic"..if you can keep it." Franklin had his faults but he was a learned man about history and human nature. Our Republic is continuously tested by would be dictators and anarchists and fools alike. It has endured. for 3 years I've said at JOM that the Republic would endure Obama, but it will be a close run thing. I stand by that assessment.

[Soylent Red]

It's funny that the success of Germans in this country largely came from the fact that they were so hated after the 2nd world war that they had to work twice as hard and start their own businesses.

I'd take exception to that statement. The big influx of Germans into this country came ca 1870-1890, driven by hard working and God-fearing folks fleeing Second Reich progressivism. By the time WWII came around, most of these people (including my mother's family) were already successful and very anti-FDR.

[jimmyk]

smoot hawley was passed by the House in 1929, but not ratified as tarriffs until 1930 -- after the crash.

The argument is that people in markets were aware of legislative developments, that once it passed the house it was likely to pass the senate, etc. I don't necessarily buy the argument as a major explanation, but it could have contributed to it. Also, the markets might have been saying, "Geez, if they're going to do something this stupid, what's next?"

[jimmyk]

Can't ever forget the contribution of "high taxes" if you want to destroy a society.

Reminds me a bit of a Larry Summers quote--he's kind of the Newt of economics, says a lot of smart things and then goes and ruins it with some wacko claim: "Short of bombing, there's no better way to destroy a city's housing stock than rent control."