Erika Johnson at Hot Air discusses Elizabeth Warren’s speech last night:
There is so much material here, I don’t even know where to begin, so I’ll just pick out a few key lines and go from there.
“We fought to level the playing field before. About a century ago when corrosive greed threatened our economy and our way of life…” Greed. Oh, greed. You call it greed, I call it rational self-interest; but whatever you want to call it, one thing is certain: The profit motive, which all human beings share, by the way, is the driving force behind everything we have. Individuals trying to provide for themselves and for their families are what continually creates prosperity, a.k.a., economic growth, and an individual’s personal wealth is an indicator of how successful they’ve been in providing a good or service upon which other people voluntarily place a lot of value. How do corporations become corporations, Ms. Warren? I might patronize the hair salon or the car wash once a month or so, and these small businesses are important, to be sure. But “oil companies” and “investment banks” have so much money because I use their services every single day. I drive to work and accrue interest in my savings account all time time, just like most Americans do — and these are all voluntary, mutually beneficial transactions. And what’s more, these large corporations also provide huge numbers of jobs as well as government revenue. Please get off your high horse and quit acting like the life choices of the CEO of the oil company are somehow ignoble compared to those of the hair stylist.
“The Republican vision is clear — ‘I got mine. The rest of you are on your own.’ Republicans say they don’t believe in government. Sure, they do. They believe in government to help themselves and their powerful friends.” Uhm, why yes actually, I am just on my way to play poker with the corporate emperors of the universe, along with the rest of Republican party. …What the what? Who are these ‘powerful friends’ I’m supposed to have, exactly, and why am I unable to divorce my motives from their oh-so-greedy wishes? News flash: I do not have powerful friends. I vote Republican because I want to lessen the impregnable power of the federal bureaucracy and create more opportunities for myself and my fellow Americans. That is all.
“People feel like the system is rigged against them, and here is the painful part, they’re right. The system is rigged. …Wall Street CEOs, the same ones the direct our economy and destroyed millions of jobs still strut around Congress, no shame, demanding favors, and acting like we should thank them.” Blergh. This is a perfect manifestation of my precise problem with Elizabeth Warren and her “consumer financial protectin’” ilk. Yes, I grant you, the system is kind of rigged. But why are we blaming Wall Street for rent-seeking, when the metastasized federal government is what’s affording them the opportunity to rent-seek? People will always look for a way to beat out their competition, and if that includes courting favors from the government and crony capitalism, they will. This isn’t rocket science. Federal busybodies trying to incentivize the financial sector into doing things they wanted to see happen based on their political agenda was what caused the financial crisis. Everybody has an agenda — but only the government can enforce theirs through fiat without fighting the natural regulator of free-market competition. Elizabeth Warren was a big supporter of the Occupy Movement, and I made this point right when the Occupy protests first broke out — stop directing your ire at the symptoms and instead direct it at the disease.
And finally, as to the Elizabeth Warren’s claim that the Romney/Ryan ticket doesn’t care about the middle class — doesn’t anybody at that convention realize that Barack Obama’s proposal to hike taxes on America’s wealthiest earners is an absolute farce that cannot hope to pay for the level of government he wants to keep going? I feel like I’m taking crazy pills!
So much of modern leftist ideology is based upon the idea of fairness. There is nothing inherently wrong with that because fairness is a worthy ideal. The problem comes from trying to define “fair.”
Life is not fair. If it was then we would all be identical. While (ideally) we may all be equal under the law, we are not all equal. Some of use are bigger, faster, smarter and/or stronger than others. Some are better looking. A lucky few choose the right parents and are born wealthy.
Government cannot create equality. In can, however, prohibit the more egregious forms of discrimination. Government cannot guarantee equality of opportunity but it can do something about providing opportunity to everyone.
In some places your entire life is basically predetermined at birth. If you are born poor you will always be poor. Your tribe, race or caste controls the choices available to you.
Here in this country your options may be limited by who your parents are but they do not control your life. An Ivy League education was not really an option for me, but that didn’t prevent me from getting an education. I didn’t inherit anything but my genes but just because I couldn’t rise to the top doesn’t mean I couldn’t rise above my parents.
Government cannot legislate prosperity. All it can do is maintain a physical, legal and economic infrastructure that allows prosperity to take place. That includes penalizing cheaters and preventing unfair competition.
But referees are there to enforce the rules, not choose the winners.
Thomas Bergeron lives.
Huh?
The game show host?
LOL. That’s what I get for commenting before heading out the door.
I meant Harrison Bergeron
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Bergeron
Double Plus Bingo!
The only way to enforce equality is to handicap the talented.
That’s what we’re doing in our schools. Leveling the playing field by sinking it.
That was a good rebuttal in that article to what was, I hate to admit it, a speech that will resonate. Warren can make an argument that sells, I’ll give her that. I don’t buy it, but plenty will. I’m glad to see the right finally take on that argument that small government is a step in addressing corruption and crony capitalism. For thelongest time in the 90s and early 2000s they were all about reckless deregulation and giving voice to everybody’s gripe about high taxes. But there’s more to the small government argument than that, and plenty that will appeal to moderate liberal Democrats. Nothing will appeal to Obamacrats, of course, but more Obama flesh.
“Those people have more than you! Vote for me and I’ll make them share!”
“That includes penalizing cheaters and preventing unfair competition.
But referees are there to enforce the rules,”
*********
With Obama, the cheaters are his biggest donors. He and Holder run a game with no penalties. The latest was no prosecution of Goldman for mortgage/securities fraud.
Imagine if referees worked for tips.
John Corzine , anyone? You know, the Obama bundler who “lost” millions of dollars. DOJ will not pursue any charges, I hear.
Not a one of them gives a shit about misogyny. Any more than they give a shit about racism. It’s a handy and effective political bludgeon, a means to power, nothing more.
The preference cascade grows. It is given a kick by of all people Bob Woodward. The lame stream media cannot ignore it because it is “Bob Woodward!!!”. CNN has an article up after ABC broke it, and the WaPo’s Rubin has an especially mean (and truthful) recitation of the quotes. She ends with “It is not merely a portrait of a man who failed in his most critical domestic challenge; it is a portrait of someone unable to do the job. By putting meat on the bones of the Republicans’ arguments, Woodward, maybe more than Jerusalem and God, has created a whole new problem for the president’s effort to persuade voters to keep him on for four more years.” I wonder if the Obama campaign thinks it is fair that the book quotes were released on the day of his coronation?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/post/three-political-gifts-for-romney-ryan/2012/09/06/3fa41b9a-f82b-11e1-8398-0327ab83ab91_blog.html
that link is a must read 🙂
Politico:
What the hell is going on? First occasional negative stories about Obama and his rotten administration and campaign. God and Jerusalem and other absurdities, the inability to fill up a stadium, Woodward yanking the scab off with a leaked book, and now Politico stating the obvious. Is there a full moon or something?
There will be one at my house when Obama walks on stage.
LOL
i know, it’s weird. could the left wing media actually be turning on him?
If they are, it’s because they got the memo from upper mgt that they have switched horses.
Media is a propaganda machine.
That is what I suspect also. But what triggered it? The polls, more bigwigs pissed off, fundraising disadvantage? It is like a perfect storm with all the elements coming together.
what triggered it?
yes, this is what i am wondering also. i remember when the media all turned on hillary all at once. i wonder what goes into these decisions.
Naw……..:roll:
While it pisses me off to no end that pointing out Obama’s failures to do the job and/or keep his campaign promises is considered “negative campaigning” I’m very glad that at least they are pointing out the difference between the Romney “attack ads” and Obama’s. They must be breaking out the winter coats in hell.
Drew Peterson found guilty of murder.
It’s about freakin’ time.
Hooray!
Good.
“So much of modern leftist ideology is based upon the idea of fairness.”
I know! So much of it sounds like it’s coming from little kids too, “it’s not fair you won’t buy me that! It’s not fair I have to clean my room!”
I once told a kid, “what’s fair is that you have a safe home, food to eat, and a school to go to.” That’s it! You aren’t entitled to anything else. Unfair is constantly abusing your parents because you think you’re entitled to have exactly the same as everybody else. The thing is, the grass is always greener on the other side of the septic system. You don’t walk in somebody elses shoes, so you have no right to compare yourself to them.
This woman is sophomoric — she actually teaches law at Harvard & pretends to not understand Romney’s “Corporations are people” statement (which,btw OUT OF CONTEXT! OUT OF CONTEXT! OUT OF CONTEXT!) and cries about people having hearts, living & dying, blah, blah, blah in a bid to appeal to the lowest information voter imaginable (aka Obama supporters). Blergh.
you tube ad by Herman Cain about Godgate has been pulled down by the user
cancel that
you can get the ad through the drudge report and it is Alan West not herman cain, I apologize for my stupidity
Earth Wind and Fire will not perform at Democratic convention tonight due to venue change; ‘physical footprint’ too big for arena – @NBCNews
1 hour ago by editor
“There is nothing inherently wrong with that because fairness is a worthy ideal.”
I used to believe that, but I don’t anymore. Today I think there really is something inherently wrong with fairness and it’s not a worthy ideal. For one thing it forces you to compare yourself to others. You have to make sure things are fair, right? So not only do you constantly focus on what others have and you don’t, you now have to butt into other people’s business to find out what they got. Always, you’re going to feel like a second class citizen because you’ll find something they have and you don’t.
All those old fashioned ideals, integrity, justice, the golden rule, those are great values to have, but fairness, no. “Fairness” hurts people.
the daily show on democratic tolerance
http://hotair.com/archives/2012/09/06/gold-the-daily-show-on-democratic-tolerance/
this is one powerful ad
HelenK, where do you find this stuff? I always value your links. You have a good eye!
when i see things that make me think, I link them so that others may see them. now that I am retired I have more time then most
you’ve got to watch this—“Dem delegates say BAN CORPORATE PROFITS” the choom gang has taken over. Time to move to Canada….
http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2012/09/06/Dem-Delegates-Agree-Ban-Corporate-Profits
or this one: Barney Frank calls Log cabin Republicans Uncle Toms:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/barney-frank-i-now-understand-why-they-call-themselves-the-log-cabin-republicans-their-role-model-is-uncle-tom/