Monthly Archives: May 2010

DOES AL SHARPTON READ RANDOM THOTS?

On May 3rd we wrote

[T]here are two visions of social justice. One is of equal treatment and equal opportunity. This vision is a bedrock of American belief, the reason the United States is seen as the Land of Opportunity. The result however, is unequal outcome because people are not equal in terms of ability and application. The second vision of social justice calls for equal status, equal outcome. To achieve equal status you must take from the top and give to the bottom. This is unequal treatment. [T]his is the Marxist vision of social justice.

On May 5th Al Sharpton said

We Won’t Have True Social Justice Until Everything Is ‘Equal in Everybody’s House’

No, the Reverend did not need to read Random Thots to come up with the idea that social justice requires private property to be re-distributed until all people have been brought to equal economic status. Marx was not the first to think of it either. It is born of envy and it was envy that led Cain to kill Abel.

Bob B

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UPDATE
I am unable to embed the video of Al Sharpton’s speach. It was given in Danbury, Connecticut and may be seen on Breitbart or Naked Emperor News.

ABOUT GREECE

A high ranking official in the Greek government invited my wife and me to dine with him, a highly principled man whom I know very well. He came to greet us at a private residence on a very crowded street in central Athens. Following some pleasant conversation we emerged to find the car standing on the busy sidewalk smack in front of the door. Once we were all comfortably seated in the car, the driver charged off the sidewalk, cut off all traffic and proceeded down the other side of the street as though on the way to the proverbial fire. No one protested.

My friend sensed my astonishment. He said I have tried to get him not to drive like that, but he says he must, because I am too important. It was an unmarked car so I asked why everyone gave way without protest. The people of Athens know a government car when they see one, he replied. The restaurant was Greek casual exclusive. For an added touch the US Ambassador paid us his respects while we were there. It was in the Old city, snuggled up against the mount upon which sits the Parthenon. It was a pedestrian only zone, but no matter, when we were done the car and driver were waiting right at the front door.

We were not surprised. I thought if privilege so soon becomes expected, is it any wonder that after a few years, privilege becomes seen as a right. Add that to the list of arguments for term limits.

I found Greece to be a fun place. It is a disorganized land where no one takes the details of law very seriously. Perhaps that is why it is a fun place. A one-way street sign simply indicates which way most of the traffic will be going. A No Parking sign means you may get a ticket but it does not mean you have to pay it.

That was all before the crisis. My host of a couple years ago is now a diplomat with the European Union and a mere observer of the Grecian scene The New York Times, with all its faults, is very good at covering things like this, but to paraphrase Ronald Reagan, one should “Trust the Times, but verify, especially if you have access to inside information”. So I called and asked an open question, “What are your comments”. The essence of his response was:

Too much spending, of course.

However, it goes beyond that. It would barely qualify as hyperbole to say the government has no computers. They literally do not know how many people are on the payroll. They are ill-equipped to enforce income tax compliance because they do not know who owes what. And everyone knows they don’t know.

Typically, a very high income earner declares something, partly because he wants to support society and partly because he knows he cannot get away with declaring nothing.

Unlike the United States where much employment is with large companies, in Greece 60 percent of workers are self-employed. If you need a plumber he has a price. If you need a receipt the price is 30% more. If you want to see a doctor you must bring something known as an “envelope”. There is nothing murky about all this, it’s just how it’s done.

It looks like the New York Times got it right. My friend is not of conservative persuasion. We rarely discuss American politics, but at the conclusion of the phone call he said “I see democracy is working very well in your country, unfortunately.”

Bob B

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REALLY RANDOM

Mayor Bloomberg tells Katie Couric that the failed attempt to blow up Times Square could have been someone who did not like Obama’s health care plan. He was right of course. It could have been. It also could have been Michael Moore or some school bus driver from Denver. Why was it the Mayor’s first thought was of someone who did not like Obamacare. It sounds to me like he has been watching too much Hardball with Chris Matthews.

Speaking of Chris Matthews, the man who gets tingles up his legs for Obama, have you heard his latest? Regarding the rig accident in the Gulf of Mexico, Rush Limbaugh says it was sabotage by environmentalists but the truth is it happened because British Petroleum makes a profit. You can watch the video here.

Now that we know the problem the solution is easy, full blown Marxist socialism. No more oil companies. All drilling done by the government. Governments never generate a profit. No profit – no accidents. Simple.

Barack Obama opens the nuke conference by declassifying details of our nuclear capability. I want to play poker with this guy. He shows his hand to the other players at the outset of the game. He is a sure loser. The trouble is he’s sitting in for me at a game of life and death.

Bob B

53 HOURS AND 20 MINUTES AND SHAZZAM!!  SHAZAD IS CAUGHT!
Now that’s nice work, better than a movie. The Times Square bomber is in a taxi on the way to JFK. He’s more nervous than teenagers used to be on their first date. He knows they are on to him. (The FBI, not the teenagers). I have got to get on that plane. On the plane. In the seat, still nervous. Why aren’t they closing the door. His heart beats faster as a crew member walks up the isle towards his seat, …then passes him. Finally the door closes. A great sigh of relief as the plane begins to taxi. I made it!

Halfway to the runway the tower radios the pilot, ordering the plane back to the gate. Handcuffed. No explosion. No killing. No virgins. No freedom. No chance to try again. Just utter failure.

Kudos for our team. Good work, guys !!!

GERMANY SAVES GREECE

Euro survives, this time. Dollar strengthens, for now.

The genesis of what is now the European Union was an economic agreement between six central European nations called the European Economic Community. The primary impetus was to discourage future wars between European nations. A common currency was not part of the original plan. From that simple plan it grew to what it was six months ago then declined to what it is today.

As it grew there was hope in much of the world that the € would replace the $ as the standard for international trade. Before Greece, call it 6 months BG, this looked like an imminent possibility. Bush ran our debt sky high and Obama has set us up for eventual bankruptcy. We have become dependant upon an adversary to support our debt and they were threatening to withdraw their support. Occasionally a tourist would report a refusal to accept the greenback in their travels. Then came Greece.

It had to happen. One can spend more than ones income and get away with it for a long time, a very long time if you are a nation and can raise taxes each time the next financial crunch occurs. But if spending is not controlled, the limit of what can be extracted from the people is eventually reached and that is when the fertilizer hits the circulator.

Germany has long been the economic strength of Europe and so it will remain for the foreseeable future. Greece has been what Greece is now for many generations and so it is likely to remain for the foreseeable future. As Walter Cronkite would put it, “It is the culture, stupid!” One cannot imagine a time when Greece would need to bail out Germany. Cultures do evolve, but evolution is a very long process. Random Thots recommends The Character of Nations by Angelo Codevilla for further insights on the subject.

We are always happy to rescue a neighbor in need due to no fault of his own, We will grumble, but still rescue a neighbor whose need was a predictable consequence of irresponsible self serving behavior, ,,,once. How many times will the nations of achievers be willing to bail out the nations of perpetual under achievement is yet to be determined.

Bob B

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AMERICAN FLAGS TAKEN DOWN IN HAITI

President Obama bans display of the American flag in Haiti.

We, the people of this great nation, have reason to be proud of the manner and the extent to which the United States responds when a natural disaster strikes anywhere in the world. Soldier and civilian volunteer join the task of providing rescue, food, shelter and clothing for the victims. We act selflessly, asking nothing in return. Along with the flags of other noble nations, the American flag flies in the midst of a tragic scene to say you are not alone. We care. We are here and we are here to help.

But in Haiti, Obama will have none of it. The relief goes on, but the flag must not fly, not even over our relief headquarters. You see, to Obama that flag does not stand for a nation that is a force for good in the world. To Obama the banner we reverently call our Stars and Stripes stands for slavery, injustice and overbearing dominance in the world. To Barack Obama our flag represents the America he has come forth to change. Flying our flag at the scene of good works offends him because it conflicts with his perception of what America is and always has been. For America to claim good works, in Obama’s mind is hypocrisy.

If you consider my opinion to be extreme, consider this. A mosaic is a picture formed of bits and pieces, no one of which has significance in and of itself. However, by taking bits from here and pieces from there a clear picture begins to emerge. Here are some pieces.

Obama wept in the pew. Obama is a sincere man. Upon listening to a sermon on the subject “The white man’s greed is responsible for a world in need” Obama says he was so moved that he dedicated his life to righting injustice in this world.

Thomas Sowell, in his book A Conflict of Visions, explains there are two visions of social justice. One is of equal treatment and equal opportunity. This vision is a bedrock of American belief, the reason the United States is seen as the Land of Opportunity. The result however, is unequal outcome because people are not equal in terms of ability and application. The second vision of social justice calls for equal status, equal outcome. To achieve equal status you must take from the top and give to the bottom. This is unequal treatment. Sowell does not so state, but it is obvious this is the Marxist vision of social justice. It is also Obama’s vision.

Obama refused to wear an American flag pin during his campaign until political expediency led to pragmatism trumping principle.

Obama has made it a practice to denigrate, or at least apologize for America in speech after speech given abroad.

America’s heritage is British. Obama insulted the Queen with a gift of a tape of his own speeches and has deliberately slighted the Prime Minister more than once. The bust of Winston Churchill was banished from the White House and sent back to England prematurely. He has snubbed our best friend and staunch ally. He has flatly stated there is no special relationship between Great Britain and the United States.

Michelle, in what Barack must have seen as a political gaffe, has told us she never in her life had any pride in America, until her husband won the nomination. Michelle is also on record for telling young students that “America is a mean country”. I know, Michelle is not Barack. With no context her comments would be but stray pieces that do not fit. Place them in the mosaic or leave them out, as you wish, the picture remains the same.

Obama launched his political career with a fundraiser from the home of Weathermen bombers Bernadette Dorn and Bill Ayers who sponsored the event. Ayers is pictured standing on the American flag laid in the dirt of an alley.

There is much more, to much to list here. Pieces are everywhere: “spread the wealth”, “superpower, like it or not”, a racist Boston policeman is invited for a beer, “some form of reparations would be in order”, favoring a Marxist Chavez acolyte over the people of Honduras, abuse of power in the forced transfer of assets from bondholders to the auto workers union, America is one of the largest Muslim countries in the world.

As long as this man remains President my prayer will not be God Bless America. It will be the plea God Help America.

Bob B

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String Bean

WASHINGTON BY THE WEEK

Week ending May 1, 2010
Monday
AP declares financial reform will likely pass
AP: “Democrats believe that public pressure and the scent of a Wall Street scandal have given them the upper hand.”

Buffet lobbies to protect his 63 billion in derivatives
Warren derides derivatives here.
Warren lobbies to keep his derivatives here.

Tuesday
Sen Carl Levin (D) Michigan, exhibits diarrhea of the mouth at Goldman hearings
If you are up for a lesson in how to get the maximum impact from excrement, here’s the video.

Wed
Sovereign debt of Greece downgraded to junk status.
Spain also lowered but still a couple notches above junk, for now.

Thursday
White House does a favor for Iran, China and Russia
From the Washington Times. The Obama administration is pressing Congress to provide an exemption from Iran sanctions for companies based in “co-operating countries,” a move that likely would exempt Chinese and Russian concerns from penalties meant to discourage investment in Iran.

Friday
Administration announces moratorium on drilling
No new drilling in domestic areas will go forward until “there is an adequate review of what happened” in the Gulf oil spill.

Bob B– AddThis Button BEGIN –>

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