Comments on: “The problem is that our leadership class no longer views Americans as adult constituents capable of making our own decisions: the [sic] view us the way parents view their preschool children.”

By: elf

elf — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:26:52 +0000

It doesn’t of course help that these “elites” are fabulously and ruinously corrupt.

Yesterday the desperate gamblers proposed selling shares of GDP called “trills” or trillonths of shares of GDP.

The first resort of a bankrupt government is inflation, the second is war.
The third resort is to begin selling off parcels of the country, which is where they are headed next.

By: vulgar moralist

vulgar moralist — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:49:52 +0000

The regulatory trend – which, let it be noted, started with the last administration’s response to Enron, 9/11, and the financial crisis – has reached the high point in my (by now longish)life. There is clearly a sense by the elites that they are the good shepherds, and that we, the ordinary citizens, are a dimwitted herd.

Since we elected these elites,I have trouble blaming anyone but us, however.

See “The regulated citizen”:

http://vulgarmorality.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/the-regulated-citizen/

By: Jim Bennett

Jim Bennett — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:23:20 +0000

Taxpayers are the livestock, welfare recipients are the pets. As livestock we are more like milk cows or wool sheep, or maybe plowhorses, than beef cattle or pigs. We are kept alive so as to produce so that they may consume. They are starting to rationalize the process, as it is becoming too expensive to allow the plowhorses to live after they can no longer pull the plows.

Welfare recipients are like pets; they are kept alive to fulfill symbolic functions and to express gratitude by purring, sitting up and begging, and filling up ACORN rallies.

By: jaed

jaed — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:38:07 +0000

Also unfortunately for Jennifer’s nascent insurance business, only certain policies are to be permitted – those approved by the “Health Choices Commissioner”, who is in charge of limiting insurance choices. Basically, last time I checked this – which was some weeks ago, so who the hell knows at this point – but back then, three “levels” of insurance were to be permitted. All three were to be comprehensive insurance plans – no catastrophic/indemnity/”true” insurance allowed – with the differences between levels being in such things as deductible, copayment amounts, and coinsurance percentages. To be eligible to be listed on the Exchange, all insurance plans would have to be one of the three permitted types.

So purchasing Jennifer’s fine insurance product would not get the feds off your back. They’ve thought of that already.

By: Marty

Marty — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 22:52:06 +0000

PCP–

OF COURSE corruption is the real goal.

How could anyone have watched this the last 6 months and not know that?

By: onparkstreet

onparkstreet — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:52:09 +0000

Robert Schwartz – thanks! I don’t know why I seem to think that html doesn’t work in the header? (Also, yeah, I agree – the sentiment is much appreciated! I also appreciate anyone so patiently batting back some of the more outlandish claims in the thread.)

PCP – “social equity legislation” – that’s a good way of putting it. Another way to say that irksome phrase, “social justice,” I suppose.

Jennifer – it is SO cool that you stopped by! Now I have to go and read all your stuff (embarrassingly, I did not know that there *was* a libertarian op-ed writer at the Guardian! Learn something new every day!)

David Foster – so, in other words, “sheep!” :)

By: david foster

david foster — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:00:01 +0000

“they view us the way parents view their preschool children”…not precisely. Most parents want to help their children develop to the point where they *can* make their own rational decisions.

These leaders really view us the way a pet owner would view a particularly un-bright pet, or (less benignly) the way a livestock farmer views his stock.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 20:00:24 +0000

Thanks for the shout-out! Incidentally, I’m one of the Guardian’s token libertarian op-ed writers; in that context, my lack of faith in our leadership class really shouldn’t surprise anyone.

By: PCP

PCP — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:08:14 +0000

It is strange that social equity legislation this profound requires such naked corruption to pass despite the Democrats’ near total control of the government and media. Unless of course corruption is the real goal.

By: Robert Schwartz

Robert Schwartz — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:52:28 +0000

Unfortunately for Jennifer it is illegal to start an insurance company in the US without first getting the permission of the state superintendent of insurance, which involves a great deal of bureaucratic rigmarole, and a cash bond of a large some of money.

But, we appreciate the thought.

By: Robert Schwartz

Robert Schwartz — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:47:27 +0000

[sic]

By: onparkstreet

onparkstreet — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 05:10:05 +0000

So, “sic” should be italicized and in brackets, right? I can’t quite figure out how to do that, so any help would be appreciated… .