President-elect Obama has selected Leon Panetta to be CIA director. While Mr. Panetta is a very smart man, and by all accounts a very good one, he has no experience in Intelligence. There are many cabinet posts that simply call for men or women of good caliber and leadership abilities without necessitating any specific expertise. But the Intelligence department is one that calls for a professional with knowledge of the industry.
You wouldn't select a non-doctor to be Surgeon General or a non-lawyer to be Attorney General. Likewise CIA director is not the place for a purely political appointment.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Nation's biggest Ponzi scheme ever???
By now you are certainly aware of the swindler Bernard Madoff. He has confessed to operating a multi-billion dollar Ponzi scheme. A Ponzi scheme is defined as follows:
When the organizers of the scheme use the assets of new investors to make profit payments to the old investors. The scheme typically has no other source of revenue other than from the new investors. Ponzi schemes, often called pyramid schemes, progress geometrically until they reach the point that the operators cannot find enough recruits (victims) to continue the payout.
Some in the press have described Madoff's crime as the the biggest Ponzi scheme in American history. I suggest they make themselves familiar with our Social Security system.
To be fair, there are some differences. Madoff tricked investors into voluntarily participating, and was actually using their money rather than investing it. For this he will certainly go to prison for the rest of his life.
Our government mandates that we participate, like it or not, and "invests" it into their own deficit spending. For this they are repeatedly reelected.
The differences are clear as mud.
When the organizers of the scheme use the assets of new investors to make profit payments to the old investors. The scheme typically has no other source of revenue other than from the new investors. Ponzi schemes, often called pyramid schemes, progress geometrically until they reach the point that the operators cannot find enough recruits (victims) to continue the payout.
Some in the press have described Madoff's crime as the the biggest Ponzi scheme in American history. I suggest they make themselves familiar with our Social Security system.
To be fair, there are some differences. Madoff tricked investors into voluntarily participating, and was actually using their money rather than investing it. For this he will certainly go to prison for the rest of his life.
Our government mandates that we participate, like it or not, and "invests" it into their own deficit spending. For this they are repeatedly reelected.
The differences are clear as mud.
Apocalypse Now- quick hit
Can there be any doubt that Al Franken being elected to the U.S. Senate is a sign of the Apocalypse? Thanks a lot Minnesota!
There is a silver lining. It is a testament to the American Dream that the nation's worst comedian, then the nation's worst radio personality, has the opportunity to become the nation's worst politician.
There is a silver lining. It is a testament to the American Dream that the nation's worst comedian, then the nation's worst radio personality, has the opportunity to become the nation's worst politician.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Unabashed Liberal Hypocrisy
I know, the title is redundant. Sorry.
The latest example of blatant hypocrisy from the tolerant left, who claim to be all about free speech, is their collective hissy-fit over the selection of conservative, anti-gay pastor Rick Warren to give the invocation at the Obama inauguration next month.
The united "WAAA" has been heard from GLBT groups, so-called "women's advocate groups", and even liberal clergy. In other words the usual suspects.
If you've ever heard a word from any of these folks about government sanctioned Gay Pride parades that include exhibits of nudity, promiscuity, pedophilia, etc., or naked PETA protests, or openly subversive anti-war tactics, it was only to lecture about their freedoms and their right to be heard and represented.
But things are different now. They were under the impression they had taken over by electing their guy. They believed liberalism was the new order, and that the government would ignore and/or run roughshod over conservatives and their blasted morals.
Now as Obama begins to organize his administration, the left have been astonished that Obama appears to believe that he will be president of the whole country. Including conservatives.
Despite their infuriating hypocrisy and frustrating ignorance, watching them twist in the wind this way is making for some good entertainment.
The latest example of blatant hypocrisy from the tolerant left, who claim to be all about free speech, is their collective hissy-fit over the selection of conservative, anti-gay pastor Rick Warren to give the invocation at the Obama inauguration next month.
The united "WAAA" has been heard from GLBT groups, so-called "women's advocate groups", and even liberal clergy. In other words the usual suspects.
If you've ever heard a word from any of these folks about government sanctioned Gay Pride parades that include exhibits of nudity, promiscuity, pedophilia, etc., or naked PETA protests, or openly subversive anti-war tactics, it was only to lecture about their freedoms and their right to be heard and represented.
But things are different now. They were under the impression they had taken over by electing their guy. They believed liberalism was the new order, and that the government would ignore and/or run roughshod over conservatives and their blasted morals.
Now as Obama begins to organize his administration, the left have been astonished that Obama appears to believe that he will be president of the whole country. Including conservatives.
Despite their infuriating hypocrisy and frustrating ignorance, watching them twist in the wind this way is making for some good entertainment.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Economic Natural Selection
Natural Selection is a name most often associated with laws of nature regarding animal species. It's simple: nature selects species for survival or extinction. The most common example of this can be seen during the mating seasons of wild animals. Males clash and fight, or perhaps scheme, for the privilege of mating with the females. The result is that only the strongest pass on their DNA. This helps to assure the survival of the species. (This would be considered barbaric in humans, the only species in which substandard examples are permitted to procreate. I'm sure the explanation for liberalism lies somewhere in there.)
Natural selection is also an important element in Free Market economics. Businesses and individuals that don't successfully supply a demand will not last. Businesses and industries that learn to adapt to changing times will survive. Those that can't, or won't, adapt become extinct. This is a basis for what has been the strongest, best, most industrious economy in world history.
It is a fundamental that is now being disrupted. American citizens, willing or not, have leaped into the role of propping up otherwise failing enterprises. (Led by those that maybe shouldn't have been allowed to breed. See above.)
Supporting mediocrity can only lead to more mediocrity. Allowing the government to become a fail safe will certainly inspire carelessness and will have long lasting unintended consequences.
In the immediate wake of the bail out of financial institutions, we now find ourselves propping up the Big 3 auto manufacturers and leaving their more successful competitors to fend for themselves. Still others, including the state of California, are lining up with their own hands out. Who is next? Where do we go from here? How long until voters decide to elect leaders based on their willingness to hand out the cash? Will these sorts of bailouts become the next generation of entitlements?
Our children and grandchildren deserve better.
Natural selection is also an important element in Free Market economics. Businesses and individuals that don't successfully supply a demand will not last. Businesses and industries that learn to adapt to changing times will survive. Those that can't, or won't, adapt become extinct. This is a basis for what has been the strongest, best, most industrious economy in world history.
It is a fundamental that is now being disrupted. American citizens, willing or not, have leaped into the role of propping up otherwise failing enterprises. (Led by those that maybe shouldn't have been allowed to breed. See above.)
Supporting mediocrity can only lead to more mediocrity. Allowing the government to become a fail safe will certainly inspire carelessness and will have long lasting unintended consequences.
In the immediate wake of the bail out of financial institutions, we now find ourselves propping up the Big 3 auto manufacturers and leaving their more successful competitors to fend for themselves. Still others, including the state of California, are lining up with their own hands out. Who is next? Where do we go from here? How long until voters decide to elect leaders based on their willingness to hand out the cash? Will these sorts of bailouts become the next generation of entitlements?
Our children and grandchildren deserve better.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Putting things in perspective
I'd been having a bit of a Pity Party lately. There just haven't been many things seeming to go my way. I won't drudge up the list here, but suffice to say that I had a very negative attitude and was feeling quite sorry for myself.
Then we got our annual family pictures back from the photographer. It sure helped me realize I have a lot more going for me than I thought.
From left: Katie, Lucy (1st grandbaby), Tyson, Julie, Nellie, Me, Brandi, Courtney, Haley, Kristen and Sydney. I still have problems, but life is good, isn't it. It's all a matter of perspective.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Perfect Irony
News was made last week when the governor of Washington, whose name I don't remember and couldn't be less important, allowed an atheist group to put a display next to the Nativity display at the state capitol. The display placed by the Godless heathens was not a simple image or symbol, as are the nearby Nativity scene and Menorah, but a sign with a blasphemous rant directly attacking the Savior and all religious people.
The governor, who is obviously sympathetic to the spiritually void, defended her decision based on the state's responsibility to be inclusive and not judgmental of differing beliefs.
Enter the Perfect Storm.
She has now been petitioned by a group that wants to include a Festivus display. I don't know if they're serious or not. It doesn't matter. I LOVE IT!!
Thanks to the legendary Seinfeld show Festivus is a well known bogus gag. Now this PC governor is faced with a decision clearly above her intellect. Should she allow the openly mocking farce and be shown for the mental midget she is? Or deny the petition and be shown for the pathetic hypocrite she also is?
Either way it will be entertaining.
The governor, who is obviously sympathetic to the spiritually void, defended her decision based on the state's responsibility to be inclusive and not judgmental of differing beliefs.
Enter the Perfect Storm.
She has now been petitioned by a group that wants to include a Festivus display. I don't know if they're serious or not. It doesn't matter. I LOVE IT!!
Thanks to the legendary Seinfeld show Festivus is a well known bogus gag. Now this PC governor is faced with a decision clearly above her intellect. Should she allow the openly mocking farce and be shown for the mental midget she is? Or deny the petition and be shown for the pathetic hypocrite she also is?
Either way it will be entertaining.
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