Posted On: Monday - September 25th 2023 4:34AM MST
In Topics: Global Climate Stupidity Pundits Global Financial Stupidity
As I wrote about in the PostScript in the last post, on Saturday, I have one serious disagreement with favorite pundit Ann Coulter on one paragraph of her writing. Is that a big deal that I disagree with her 1-2% of the time? No, but this is an argument that I've seen made before.
It goes like: You Conservatives with your anti-vax*/anti-abortion/anti-Big Government talk sound just as stupid as the ctrl-left with their Global Boiling talk. Let it go, and concentrate on the REAL issues! Oh yes, there are other real issues, some more existential. Before I excerpt Miss Coulter's example, let me ask the reader, if he hasn't already, to read her column. The 2 paragraphs around the following and the rest of it are right on. No, talking about government spending is NOT getting anyone riled up about the actions of the Bai Dien Administration. Their traitorous enablement of the border invasion IS what should be brought to light in front of everyone.
Still, here's the false analogy in question:
Government spending is Republicans’ ”climate change.” We’ve gotten frantic warnings that the world will end if we don’t cut spending for the last 50 years—exactly as long as we’ve been warned that the world will end if we don’t cut carbon emissions. Year after year, we do nothing, and yet the world doesn’t come remotely close to ending.There's a big difference, Ann. You are smart enough to know it too, but maybe you just don't follow economics and the numbers.
Global Climate Stupidity (we like the alliteration of Climate Calamity™) is based on a dream of a working mathematical model of the myriad of complex and not all well-understood and described physical processes that comprise the energy balance of the Earth's climate. I have nothing against the science, called Climatology. I've got a whole lot against the use of basic science research by innumerate journalists and politicians to claim an ability to predict details and an understanding in order to blame said rectal extraction on one factor, man-produced CO2 in the atmosphere.
The effects of Global Financial Stupidity** are based on simple arithmetic, the numbers and economic results of which are right in front of us. No modeling is required. One can study a couple of pie charts (monthly snapshot here), go shopping for groceries, building materials, you-name-it, or talk to a prepper.
"Deficits don't matter", President Reagan's advisors told him, and us, 40 years ago. I don't think those guys knew (or they weren't telling us) how much of the American economy would be given away since then, and how far the Feral Gov't and FED would go with creating US Dollars out of nothing.
I guess it sounds smart to equivocate the two, but Global Climate Stupidity is a huge Totalitarian control scheme at this point, based on bogus science, while the Global Financial Stupidity is real enough and will end in tears soon enough.
PS: If I ever met Ann Coulter and brought this stuff up, I'd recommend for her a reading of Lionel Shriver's prepper novel The Mandibles. We got carried away, so Peak Stupidity has a 6-part review: Introduction - - Part 2 - - Part 3 - - Part 4 - - Part 5 - - Conclusion. (NOTE: Part 5 is a spoiler of the story.)
* Inaccurate term here notwithstanding - I'm not against all vaccinations, and not necessarily even against old and new Kung Flu vaccinations, so long as Americans are not forced to take them - I'm just using the terminology as they use it.
** Why Global? That's how I labeled the topic key, but also: a) What happens to the American economy still affects the whole world and b) Most other countries are doing the same stupid shit.
Comments:
Moderator
Monday - September 25th 2023 5:08PM MST
PS: Thanks for the commentary and the "fun" links, Adam.
As for the link in question in Miss Coulter's column, I went to her site and "Erie County" was not a link. That means this link was VDare's call. I think I agree with the direction you say the link should go. However, that page that VDare linked us to does at least have a link within it that goes to the Federale post, as your link does.
I have not read that particular Amity Shlaes book as far as I can recall, but you've made it easy for us. Thanks! (Now, it's just a matter of time in the day ...)
SafeNow, will there be refreshments? If so, I would like something with a chocolate-coated exoskeletal something or other. Surprise me. Maybe there will be some kind of insect variety "chex" mix.
As for the link in question in Miss Coulter's column, I went to her site and "Erie County" was not a link. That means this link was VDare's call. I think I agree with the direction you say the link should go. However, that page that VDare linked us to does at least have a link within it that goes to the Federale post, as your link does.
I have not read that particular Amity Shlaes book as far as I can recall, but you've made it easy for us. Thanks! (Now, it's just a matter of time in the day ...)
SafeNow, will there be refreshments? If so, I would like something with a chocolate-coated exoskeletal something or other. Surprise me. Maybe there will be some kind of insect variety "chex" mix.
Moderator
Monday - September 25th 2023 4:57PM MST
PS: I don't know, M. How are the Swiss doing? You'd think the country that holds onto lots of the gold and other riches would be doing well. I think they screwed themselves by cow-towing to Uncle Sam regarding the anti-privacy FATCA and all that. You can't trust even the Gnomes of Zurich anymore. Damn gnomes!
"The Gnu Gnomes of Zurich":
https://www.peakstupidity.com/index.php?post=2559
"The Gnu Gnomes of Zurich":
https://www.peakstupidity.com/index.php?post=2559
Moderator
Monday - September 25th 2023 4:54PM MST
PS: Well, Alarmist, the Senate won't convict him anyway, as the D-squad is nothing if not loyal, with a 2/3 majority required, so I'd rather just see the eyes of American opened with the charges in detail on what's been going on at the border for the last 2 1/2 years. The last couple of months should really be an eye-opener.
I would be glad to see it go under "failure to uphold the laws of the US". The D's in the Senate are all, loyal, loyal men, though, I assure you.
I would be glad to see it go under "failure to uphold the laws of the US". The D's in the Senate are all, loyal, loyal men, though, I assure you.
SafeNow
Monday - September 25th 2023 1:47PM MST
PS
Joan Didion used to say that “a highly developed kind of con style” catches the national imagination; tends to be embraced by Americans. That was a long time ago, but it certainly was prescient; examples abound more strongly today than ever. (Starting with Fauci, and Trump himself*) This grudging admiration for “the con style” would make it very difficult to go after the Biden family influence-peddling business.
*And too many more to list here. I will lead a group discussion on this at the internment camp - - see y’all there, come as you are, no dress code.
Joan Didion used to say that “a highly developed kind of con style” catches the national imagination; tends to be embraced by Americans. That was a long time ago, but it certainly was prescient; examples abound more strongly today than ever. (Starting with Fauci, and Trump himself*) This grudging admiration for “the con style” would make it very difficult to go after the Biden family influence-peddling business.
*And too many more to list here. I will lead a group discussion on this at the internment camp - - see y’all there, come as you are, no dress code.
Peak Stupidity Book Club
Monday - September 25th 2023 12:13PM MST
PS: The Greedy Hand: How Taxes Drive Americans Crazy and What to Do About It by Amity Shlaes
1.9mb (.epub)
https://tinyurl.com/5958j7by
17.3mb (.pdf)
https://tinyurl.com/2zhybw36
☮
1.9mb (.epub)
https://tinyurl.com/5958j7by
17.3mb (.pdf)
https://tinyurl.com/2zhybw36
☮
Adam Smith
Monday - September 25th 2023 12:08PM MST
PS: I forgot a couple links...
https://i.ibb.co/Db7frQY/Cost-of-Illegal-Immigration.jpg
These are bit off topic, but I'll start with chapter one of The Greedy Hand By Amity Shlaes...
https://archive.ph/5OfXh
It's quite possible, even likely, that some of you have read this before, but here's an interesting little article by Beardsley Ruml titled “Taxes for Revenue are Obsolete”...
https://billmitchell.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/taxes-for-revenue-are-obsolete.pdf
And here's a little more information about the scumbag who helped market income tax withholding to the American people as “pay as you go”...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beardsley_Ruml
Cheers! ☮
https://i.ibb.co/Db7frQY/Cost-of-Illegal-Immigration.jpg
These are bit off topic, but I'll start with chapter one of The Greedy Hand By Amity Shlaes...
https://archive.ph/5OfXh
It's quite possible, even likely, that some of you have read this before, but here's an interesting little article by Beardsley Ruml titled “Taxes for Revenue are Obsolete”...
https://billmitchell.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/taxes-for-revenue-are-obsolete.pdf
And here's a little more information about the scumbag who helped market income tax withholding to the American people as “pay as you go”...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beardsley_Ruml
Cheers! ☮
Adam Smith
Monday - September 25th 2023 10:04AM MST
PS: Good afternoon, Achmed, and Friends,
Miss Coulter is probably right when she says “𝑁𝑜 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑔𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔.” (This is probably true. See my links below.) Which is most unfortunate. I hear plenty of people bitching about inflation but it seems few people understand that “government” spending is a leading cause of inflation. Seems Miss Coulter herself doesn't care about how much debt the criminals masquerading as “government” accumulate. Kinda makes sense though. She has no children or grandchildren who will be enslaved* by this “government” debt and she is wealthy enough that so called inflation probably doesn't affect her.
Side note... I think I found an error of sorts in her column. It's a misplaced link. I think it would make more sense if the Erie County link was directed here...
https://vdare.com/posts/upstate-new-york-democrats-conniving-with-illegal-alien-rapist-invasion
Don't know if this was a mistake or intentional on her part. Doesn't matter. I think the Federale link is better suited in this case. (But whatever...)
I do agree with you about her, mostly, false analogy. “Climate change” is a threat because of the harmful policies enacted in its name while “government spending” is a threat because it causes devaluation of the currency while burdening the tax cattle with ever greater obligations in service of the debt. I guess both are bad, but the “climate change” nonsense could be solved more easily as it's completely artificial. Somehow the outstanding debt (and other obligations) must be handled (or defaulted on) if this formerly great country is ever to right this ship. At some point the criminals in Washington should (must‽) have their credit cut off.
* Enslaved may be a little harsh of a term in this case but I do think it's accurate. “Economic bondage” or peonage may be more accurate terms when discussing the partnership between the so called “government” and the tax cattle.
Here's a few fun links...
https://www.apmresearchlab.org/10x-adult-literacy
https://www.wyliecomm.com/2021/11/whats-the-latest-u-s-numeracy-rate/
https://www.unz.com/akarlin/stupid-people/
Happy Monday, everyone!
☮
Miss Coulter is probably right when she says “𝑁𝑜 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑔𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔.” (This is probably true. See my links below.) Which is most unfortunate. I hear plenty of people bitching about inflation but it seems few people understand that “government” spending is a leading cause of inflation. Seems Miss Coulter herself doesn't care about how much debt the criminals masquerading as “government” accumulate. Kinda makes sense though. She has no children or grandchildren who will be enslaved* by this “government” debt and she is wealthy enough that so called inflation probably doesn't affect her.
Side note... I think I found an error of sorts in her column. It's a misplaced link. I think it would make more sense if the Erie County link was directed here...
https://vdare.com/posts/upstate-new-york-democrats-conniving-with-illegal-alien-rapist-invasion
Don't know if this was a mistake or intentional on her part. Doesn't matter. I think the Federale link is better suited in this case. (But whatever...)
I do agree with you about her, mostly, false analogy. “Climate change” is a threat because of the harmful policies enacted in its name while “government spending” is a threat because it causes devaluation of the currency while burdening the tax cattle with ever greater obligations in service of the debt. I guess both are bad, but the “climate change” nonsense could be solved more easily as it's completely artificial. Somehow the outstanding debt (and other obligations) must be handled (or defaulted on) if this formerly great country is ever to right this ship. At some point the criminals in Washington should (must‽) have their credit cut off.
* Enslaved may be a little harsh of a term in this case but I do think it's accurate. “Economic bondage” or peonage may be more accurate terms when discussing the partnership between the so called “government” and the tax cattle.
Here's a few fun links...
https://www.apmresearchlab.org/10x-adult-literacy
https://www.wyliecomm.com/2021/11/whats-the-latest-u-s-numeracy-rate/
https://www.unz.com/akarlin/stupid-people/
Happy Monday, everyone!
☮
M
Monday - September 25th 2023 9:11AM MST
PS
"b) Most other countries are doing the same stupid shit."
That's a good point. Is there a country out there that isn't deeply in debt? Apart from the ones where no one recognizes them as a country of course.
This is really people buying promises to repay later (if it's a company buying it, it's still a person who makes the decision - but it's not their money they're playing with).
So - hope springs eternal? Yes, I will get a 20% guaranteed return on this security?
"b) Most other countries are doing the same stupid shit."
That's a good point. Is there a country out there that isn't deeply in debt? Apart from the ones where no one recognizes them as a country of course.
This is really people buying promises to repay later (if it's a company buying it, it's still a person who makes the decision - but it's not their money they're playing with).
So - hope springs eternal? Yes, I will get a 20% guaranteed return on this security?
The Alarmist
Monday - September 25th 2023 8:54AM MST
PS
Treason is a tough charge to prove, and corruption is a fun charge to levy that most folks would understand (though half would refuse to accept), but failure to uphold the laws of the United States is an infinitely easy impeachable charge to levy.
Treason is a tough charge to prove, and corruption is a fun charge to levy that most folks would understand (though half would refuse to accept), but failure to uphold the laws of the United States is an infinitely easy impeachable charge to levy.
Swiss national debt (per person) is apparently about half that of the US.
So they're doing better than Americans, but I would have thought they would be more tight-fisted than that. Debt control appears to be pretty tough when it's "other people's money".