http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/obama-government-is-only-solution-to-fixing-economy-2009-01-08.html

I’m amazed at how many Obamabots that are out in the world and seem to be completely brainwashed by Obama. They don’t know why they are supporting him other than he seems like he might be a “nice black man” and it’s their turn to be president. Which, if you really dig deep into that statement should be condescending to blacks

It especially illuminates why BHO made the promises he did any ultimately why he will fail to implement them. The major problem is that people feel that government can solve these problems better than private enterprise, but fail to account that politics ultimately trumps sense when it comes to public programs. For public entities looking good trumps doing good.

We’re also seeing the result of a century of public education. I’m sure you’re familiar with the fifth grade test from 1890 floating around the World Wide Web. I’m sorry to say I can’t answer many of the questions, especially about grammar which was being phased out twenty five years ago when I was in elementary school. At least then they still taught phonics.

The main problem is that people are seen as driven by unseen and unknowable desires. While that may be true, people can learn why they do what they do and can be taught to be rational. But that would threaten those in power so I don’t see it happening.

Months ago, when all the sub-prime credit situation began falling apart, I said US economy is so huge (around 30% of worldwide GDP) and consumer strength so… well, strong, that the resulting crisis won’t change it much. It would be more like a bump on the road.

But now, I started to look at Japan & China’s investment in US treasury bonds (among a bunch of other countries), and its effects on the US economy down right to the people on the street in the form of low interest rates for, say, mortgages, and the infamous (economy wise) “universal” health care.

Your today’s article mentioning FDR made me thought about my original position on giving the US economic force the benefit of doubt… it survived Roosevelt and Carter.

I understand the last US governments have abused of printing dollars, borrowing money, and have built a enormous “client base” of voters demanding freebies;
then it is more difficult to keep the artificial buying power of American people, and I guess here lies the answer to my question for you:

- Why this time it will be worse than the two mentioned crisis from past decades?

I swing from seeing US economy going badly downhill, to seeing it getting bruised, dust itself and go back to what it was before the current crisis.

Given that I trust your judgment, I believe it will be bad and worse, thus my next question is:

- Do you think US will keep its position worldwide, regardless the troubled times?
Military, economically, and on science and technology.

All this predominance is fueled by money, either from private investment or from taxpayers thru government, but ultimately it comes from the sales of goods and services. If the consumer is hurt economically, does it mean a change in worldwide power?

Thanks.

You based all of your points on sound economics, which means that everything you stated is irrefutable. However, I thought of several obstacles that libertarians and other lovers of liberty and freedom are facing.

1.Very few individuals possess the ability to engage in a lengthy chain of reasoning. Most people hear a statement and accept it at face value—especially if they have heard it numerous times. Obama claiming he will create jobs for millions probably gives most people the warm fuzzies. Do you believe they actually stop to consider whether Obama can actually accomplish this. Do they suddenly ask themselves “How are jobs really created? Does government have the ability to create jobs?” I think not.

2.This is connected with the first point. Very few people have the ability to engage in independent thought. They parrot like repeat ideas they have heard from other people who are even less informed than they are. Is it any wonder that terrible ideas control our economic destiny. Fortunately those individuals who possess independent thought can survive and thrive whether times are good or bad. Of course the day could arrive when total government planning results in these people going into hiding by vanishing to “Galt’s Gulch” or wherever they decide to go.

Robert A. Meyer