Our Babbling Brooks [NYT] Guides Us through the Mazes of the Perplexed

Abstract: David Brooks writes for the New York Times, as such, and gives us insights into regions of thought and inquiry that we probably never imagined and had no special reason to do so, anyway. Most literary efforts in his immediate surrounds are solidly based upon propaganda of the ultra-Marxist sort moderated, in part, by certain progressive elements. This particular episode had some interesting points that may give any reader some cause for reexamination of what is generally believed in our political arena. Mr Brooks has opened a nasty can of poison here by stressing that the Democrats give details of their future plans in taxes and spending. This is never permitted as such details always undermine the synthetic credibly of the rabid left. The Dems will resist and stick to their race cards and Social Security threats.

David Brooks[1][2] lives in a  world where the word  tautological must be expanded in scope and depth to accommodate most of the hackneyed scribbles and coached mental gyrations of the near-financially bankrupt New York Times—aka the Walter Duranty Papers.[3]  This place is some form of political pressure cooker where as the sun rises revised and stale Marxian ideas and phrases spring forth from the Times and its e-mail machines to all parts of the leftist political world. There, the loyal workers receive their morning manna. The dedicated and True Believers are thus refreshed with fresh slogans and political ammunition. You can see this by watching the morally bankrupt news media pass around the exact same phrases. Stoogery in action.

Today, we wonder about some things:

“Let’s say you’re generally a moderate voter. You look at the Romney-Ryan ticket and see that they are much more conservative than you. They don’t believe in tax increases ever. You think tax increases have to be a part of a budget deal. They want to slash social spending to the bone. You think that would be harsh on the vulnerable and bad for social cohesion. [All emphasis is mine except as noted]

 [Note the bias here in red]

You look at the Obama-Biden ticket. You like them personally. But you’re not sure what they want to achieve over the next four years. The country needs big changes, and they don’t seem to be offering many. Where’s the leadership?

[Note more bias here in red]

In this disaffected frame of mind, you ask yourself: What really matters in this election? Well, the big issue is national decline. How can we ensure that the U.S. is as dynamic in the 21st century as it was in the 20th?”[4]--Guide for the Perplexed By DAVID BROOKS Published: August 20, 2012

A Comment:

Well, this follows appropriately with the rigid propagandistic mode of the NYT as the opening blather defines, starkly,  and distinctly apart the two adversaries with stinging bias buttressing up one side. The counter offer is based on us ‘liking’ Obama and Joe Biden, a strange request. The big issue is probably correct as defined as national decline.

The problem is delineated for us immediately:

“The biggest threat to national dynamism is spending money on the wrong things. If you go back and look at the federal budgets during the mid-20th century, you see that they spent money on the future — on programs like NASA, infrastructure projects, child welfare, research and technology. Today, we spend most of our money on the present — on tax loopholes and health care for people over 65.”--Guide for the Perplexed By DAVID BROOKS Published: August 20, 2012

This comment is so distant from pure or even impure reason it is difficult to attack it without an axe. Much of our spending was devoted to fighting the Cold War in those days and struggling with the WW2 debt and Marshall Plan and less for those persons who the NYT respect more than the average American citizen.  [Hint: spend more on welfare or ‘ejukashon.’[5]  The Federal budget more than doubled from 1950 to 1959 [$42.6 bln to $92.1 bln.][6] In 1950 military spending was 35% of spending and was 75% during the Korean mess.  Entitlements were only 30%. So, some of David’s prattle makes a bit of sense. We could go on and on but stop here to mention that entitlements are more than half our spending now. Social Security [in 2011] spending was $725 billion and Medicare and Medicaid were $835 billion for 43% of the total budget including the $1.2 trillion dollar deficit. SS will be broke in less than a dozen years.

So, where is David heading?

“A study by Jessica Perez and others at the group Third Way lays out the basic facts. In 1962, 14 cents of every federal dollar not going to interest payments were spent on entitlement programs. Today, 47 percent of every dollar is spent on entitlements. By 2030, 61 cents of every noninterest dollar will be spent on entitlements.

Entitlement spending is crowding out spending on investments in our children and on infrastructure. This spending is threatening national bankruptcy. It’s increasing so quickly that there is no tax increase imaginable that could conceivably cover it. And, these days, the real entitlement problem is Medicare.”--Guide for the Perplexed By DAVID BROOKS Published: August 20, 2012

 We all know this. We need to probe for a solution here:

“So when you think about the election this way, the crucial question is: Which candidate can slow the explosion of entitlement spending so we can devote more resources toward our future?

Looking at the candidates through this prism, you see that President Obama deserves some credit for taking on entitlement spending. He had the courage to chop roughly $700 billion out of Medicare reimbursements. He had the courage to put some Medicare eligibility reforms on the table in his negotiations with Republicans. He created that (highly circumscribed) board of technocrats who might wring some efficiencies out of the system.”--Guide for the Perplexed By DAVID BROOKS Published: August 20, 2012

The soft Mantle of the Stooge[7] must now be worn by David as this $700 bln was cut out of existing spending to pay for Obama care and that board of technocrats is what Sarah Palin called the Death Squad! The cuts affect providers and force seniors into the dreaded Medicare Advantage plans[8] The CBO sent a letter to House Speaker Boehner on this matter.[9] This letter holds the details although they are complicated projections.

 Okay David, what do we do??

“You’re still deeply uncomfortable with many other Romney-Ryan proposals. But first things first. The priority in this election is to get a leader who can get Medicare costs under control. Then we can argue about everything else. Right now, Romney’s more likely to do this.

All of which causes you to look over to the Democrats and wonder: Why don’t they have an alternative? Silently, a voice in your head is pleading with them: Put up or shut up.

If Democrats can’t come up with an alternative on this most crucial issue, how can they promise to lead a dynamic growing nation?”--Guide for the Perplexed By DAVID BROOKS Published: August 20, 2012

Well, I guess we ask them to give out public details on their plan to prevent us from going broke. I do not think they will. All they want is more taxes from the ‘rich’ that will give us only $5-7 bln  each year against a $1300 bln spending deficit that is driving us broke.

See, I thought there was something interesting in this article. Our Babbler has stated a case for the opposition, perhaps unknowingly, as the discussion of the ‘details’ is always what Democrats fear most when they must provide them.  The corollary to this is political suicide as they have no plan except to bawl and spend and raise taxes.

David Brooks must have unconsciously opened a can of poison for the Democrats.  I am mildly perplexed by that action. I might have missed something.

Comments: ryckki@gmail.com

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[1] The Babbling Brooks of the NYT Babbles about the Suicide March of Liberalism

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2009/07/22/the_babbling_brooks_of_the_nyt_babbles_about_the_suicide_march_of_liberalism.thtml

[2] The Babbling Brooks of the NYT Babbles about Decision Making [?!] and Perception?

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2008/10/28/the_babbling_brooks_of_the_nyt_babbles_about_decision_making_[!]_and_perception.thtml

The Babbling Brooks of the NYT Babbles about Nihilism with Innovative Socialist and Nihilist Overtones.  Raise Taxes!

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2008/10/01/the_babbling_brooks_of_the_nyt_babbles_about_nihilism_with_innovative_socialist_and_nihilist_overtones__raise_taxes!.thtml

The Babbling Brooks of the NYT Babbles about Obama and his Failure to Have a Clear Lead Over McCain.

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2008/08/05/the_babbling_brooks_of_the_nyt_babbles_about_obama_and_his_failure_to_have_a_clear_lead_over_mccain.thtml

The Babbling Brooks of the NYT Babbles about Education.

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2008/07/29/the_babbling_brooks_of_the_nyt_babbles_about_education.thtml

The Babbling Brooks of the NYT Babbles about Debt and Blame but Offers No Solution.

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2008/07/22/the_babbling_brooks_of_the_nyt_babbles_about_debt_and_blame_but_offers_no_solution.thtml

The Babbling Brooks of the NYT Babbles about Lincoln, Mercury Pills and The Grip of Emotions. [?!]

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2008/06/06/the_babbling_brooks_of_the_nyt_babbles_about_lincoln,_mercury_pills_and_the_grip_of_emotions_[!].thtml

From the Babbling Brooks: Confusion, Hokum and Fluff: Vote for Obama

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2008/05/06/from_the_babbling_brooks_confusion,_hokum_and_fluff_vote_for_obama.thtml

Echoes from the Babbling Brooks Envision a New Conservatism. The New York Times Advises Us on Society, as Usual: Higher Taxes

Posted by rycK on Saturday, February 16, 2008 10:37:49 AM

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2008/02/16/echoes_from_the_babbling_brooks_envision_a_new_conservatism_the_new_york_times_advises_us_on_society,_as_usual_higher_taxes.thtml

Brooks of the New York Times Mumbles about Bugs, Independent Voters and Mechanical Liberalism Tuesday, January 08, 2008 10:36 AM

http://rycksrationalizations.townhall.com/g/50bf9f36-0e0b-4e9a-be6d-5234d0d54f2c

The Babbling Brooks of the NYT Babbles about Obama and his Failure to Have a Clear Lead Over McCain.

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2008/08/05/the_babbling_brooks_of_the_nyt_babbles_about_obama_and_his_failure_to_have_a_clear_lead_over_mccain.thtml

The Babbling Brooks of the NYT Babbles about Education.

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2008/07/29/the_babbling_brooks_of_the_nyt_babbles_about_education.thtml

Echoes from the Babbling Brooks Envision a New Conservatism. The New York Times Advises Us on Society, as Usual: Higher Taxes Posted by rycK on Saturday, February 16, 2008 10:37:49 AM

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2008/02/16/echoes_from_the_babbling_brooks_envision_a_new_conservatism_the_new_york_times_advises_us_on_society,_as_usual_higher_taxes.thtml

[3] In honor of that celebrated Communist stooge and liar and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for the NYT. The color RED is used in my essays in honor of Walter Duranty, a saint, if there could be one, in the Marxist Archives of Honor.

“He said that these people had to be "liquidated or melted in the hot fire of exile and labor into the proletarian mass". Duranty claimed that the Siberian labor camps were a means of giving individuals a chance to rejoin Soviet society but also said that for those who could not accept the system, "the final fate of such enemies is death." Duranty, though describing the system as cruel, says he has "no brief for or against it, nor any purpose save to try to tell the truth". He ends the article with the claim that the brutal collectivization campaign which led to the famine was motivated by the "hope or promise of a subsequent raising up" of Asian-minded masses in the Soviet Unionwhich only history could judge.”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Duranty

[4] Guide for the Perplexed By DAVID BROOKS Published: August 20, 2012

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/21/opinion/brooks-guide-for-the-perplexed.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[5] The Babbling Brooks of the NYT Advocates Liberal Arts Studies and Knowing The Big Shaggy to Cope in our Society. http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2010/06/10/the_babbling_brooks_of_the_nyt_advocates_liberal_arts_studies_and_knowing_the_big_shaggy_to_cope_in_our_society.thtml

[6] 1950's Government and Politicshttp://www.enotes.com/1950-government-politics-american-decades/spending-federal-government

[7] Or a paper bag to hide under.

[8] President Obama’s $700 Billion Medicare Problem http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/314024/president-obama-s-700-billion-medicare-problem-james-c-capretta

[9] CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE Douglas W. Elmendorf, Director

U.S. Congress Washington, DC 20515 http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/43471-hr6079.pdf

Laffer is Correct: QE and Government Spending work Against Recovery: Socialism Fails Again.

Abstract: We are in a titanic struggle, measured in trillions dollars of debt, in the West over the tacky problem of how to ‘stimulate’ economies wrecked by socialist government spending. The debt levels of the US, UK and most of the EU are so huge that there is no way to recover and new methods involving cleptocracy^[1] must be coupled with wealth taxes or outright confiscation of assets for the socialist governments to even survive. Government spending is out of control in the US and EU. Their best hope at the present is to grunt and grab as much loot as they can and try to stave off the next fiscal crisis which will sink several currencies notably the euro and US dollar. Arthur Laffer gives a convincing set of data to argue that such spending is counterproductive. Our debt levels are now too high so expect a fiscal collapse in the next few years at best.

Our Western world is being degraded by those socialist government officials who must, for ideological reasons^[2], dismiss the effect of global markets and attempt to set up their own prices, quotas and costs.  They have no future unless they are in complete control. They have no long-term life anyway if we look at the USSR, Cuba, People’s Republic, most of Eastern Europe, most of Africa and other places. The price of this folly is masked by the incoherent blather from the sorry, discredited John Maynard Keynes who taught us that government spending is good for all of us. It is not when used in excess. There are no known examples of successful Keynesianism outcomes where governments are in deep debt.^[3] They all eventually default and inflation is the favorite escape. FDR defaulted on the dollar by changing the price of gold in 1935.

This debt occurs and multiplies like some pneumonic plague because of the ‘intellectual’ battle between those who believe, erroneously, that government can solve social problems, fix prices and markets and provide not only the necessities of life for its citizens but even more. The eternal excuse is based on ‘equality^[4]’ of the sort that has never been observed in human groups. The promise of more gratuitous monies tossed to the low classes seems to guarantee that votes will flow to politicians and their power base can be maintained. Adam Smith, Winston Churchill, H. L. Mencken, Thomas Jefferson and others warned us about this defect in democracy and the danger of giving the vote to the masses.^[5]

Indeed, capitalism, the only successful way to grow economies, is based on inequality[6] because people must be chosen carefully for their specific duties or mistakes will be made that may threaten the entire group.  The selection of persons for various jobs requires some skill base analysis or a proven track record thus defeating the simple-minded notion of equality. This is the basis for all liberalism as they attempt to force an equal outcome rather than sit idly by and watch the pyramidal ladder of society erect its own rungs. Thus, massive taxes and phony social programs like affirmative action, ‘education’, welfare and others are required to maintain the illusion that equality can be achieved or, at least, kept alive as a goal. The Bell Curve discusses this in detail and presents millions of data to show that IQ is a major determent in success, however it is defined. Thus, IQ tests discriminate against those who cannot get good scores [what else would an IQ test do?] and predicts lower opportunities for those with lesser cognitive skills. This observation infuriates the rabid left.

Inequality in education:

“For college students who ranked among the bottom quarter of their high school classes, the numbers are even more stark[sic starker is better, ed]: 80 percent will probably never get a bachelor’s degree or even a two-year associate’s degree.”[7]--Plan B: Skip College By Jacques Steinberg New York Times. May 18, 2010. [Emphasis is mine in all quotes]

Bingo! But, how can this be? Where is the equality necessary to proceed with liberal social programs? Why did ‘education’ fail to train us all? And, now for the central but unaddressed question here: why did we ever think that those on the bottom tail of the Bell Curve [below IQ = 80-90 where average is 100] would ever be able to handle college? Does intrinsic IQ have anything to do with this?[8] This is currently the thinking in some phony “Plan A” from the near-bankrupt New York Times—aka the Walter Duranty Papers[9][10]-- and it works in advanced education only for those with IQs greater than about 110.  I think we already knew that and it is called the education gap.[11][12]  This gap is the difference between average test scores of white and blacks or 100- 85 for a 15 point difference [one standard deviation]. These 15 IQ points have even been acknowledged by the New York Times.[13] This gap was first noticed about 1905.[14] Such an observation clearly argues against equality in the cognitive sense. This gap then forms the basis for ‘equal outcomes’ because the cognitive playing field is not level for any race and shows disparities among certain races.

The Bell Curve[15] clearly shows this gap effect for the abilities of those with minimal cognitive skills and they clearly have a difficult time getting a good paying job or going on to college where prospects are much better. What is missing here is a comprehensive set of standardized test results for those groups who have failed and these must be compared to those from similar backgrounds who succeeded in Western society. Teachers should also take these same tests to see if they quality for their jobs. These testing data are inordinately difficult to obtain as the mere mention of standardized testing gives rise to furious and emphatic complaints over ‘equality’ and race differences. Such differences are not discussed in liberal circles and such information on grades and related evidence is closely guarded by various school systems. The truth is not important here; a political mandate is more important than fact.

  

What IS important is that governments spend everything they can get their hands on and try to hang on until a major fiscal collapse happens. The QE or the incoherent printing of money to monetize the debt is always in order when governments find themselves deep in unimaginable debt. They are able to force ‘equal outcomes’ only at the expense of terminal debt. Leftists have no other source of income other than taxing the successful with malice and spite. This makes them feel better and it thought to be a punishment for capitalism. It is not as corporations do not pay taxes at all. Think about that.

Art Laffer’s Position on QE and Stimulus spending:

“Policy makers in Washington and other capitals around the world are debating whether to implement another round of stimulus spending to combat high unemployment and sputtering growth rates. But before they leap, they should take a good hard look at how that worked the first time around.

It worked miserably, as indicated by the table nearby, which shows increases in government spending from 2007 to 2009 and subsequent changes in GDP growth rates. Of the 34 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development nations, those with the largest spending spurts from 2007 to 2009 saw the least growth in GDP rates before and after the stimulus.

The four nations—Estonia, Ireland, the Slovak Republic and Finland—with the biggest stimulus programs had the steepest declines in growth. The United States was no different, with greater spending (up 7.3%) followed by far lower growth rates (down 8.4%).”[16]-- The Real 'Stimulus' Record By ARTHUR B. LAFFER OPINION August 5, 2012, 6:11 p.m. ET

Since QE has failed, it is of interest to question why it is employed and the answer is that such “free money’ helps keep government fully funded and able to make more promises that it cannot ever deliver. That eventually culminates in a fiscal disaster of the sort we are heading for. The government subsidizes failure calling and encouraging more of this.

Art continues:

“Often as not, the qualification for receiving stimulus funds is the absence of work or income—such as banks and companies that fail, solar energy companies that can't make it on their own, unemployment benefits and the like. Quite simply, government taxing people more who work and then giving more money to people who don't work is a surefire recipe for less work, less output and more unemployment.

  

Yet the notion that additional spending is a "stimulus" and less spending is "austerity" is the norm just about everywhere. Without ever thinking where the money comes from, politicians and many economists believe additional government spending adds to aggregate demand. You'd think that single-entry accounting were the God's truth and that, for the government at least, every check written has no offsetting debit.”-- The Real 'Stimulus' Record By ARTHUR B. LAFFER OPINION August 5, 2012, 6:11 p.m. ET

 Spending leads to massive and unmanageable debt levels[17] and ultimately to default.[18] Even Warren Buffett[19] chimes in with a rare bit of truth on spending and debt. All stimulus efforts have failed to produce results.[20] Our phony government touted a ‘recovery’ in jobs with phony numbers.[21] They still think they can spend our way out of debt.[22]

From the Sage of Omaha:

“Every country that has denominated its debt in its own currency and has found itself with uncomfortable amounts of debt relative to the rest of the world, in the end they inflate,” Buffett explains. That becomes a tax on everybody that has fixed dollar investments.”[23]--Buffett Sees Massive Inflation to Handle Staggering Debt. Monday, May 4, 2009 By Dan Weil [Emphasis is mine in all quotes]

Our debt is now $16 trillion dollars with a 40% deficit that adds 8% more to the current 102% debt-to-GDP ratio that will bring it to 110% in less than a year. A currency bubble is in the making and has been for several years.[24] In a mere 5  years we will surpass Greece in relative  debt.

Laffer continues:

“Well, the truth is that government spending does come with debits. For every additional government dollar spent there is an additional private dollar taken. All the stimulus to the spending recipients is matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis every minute of every day by a depressant placed on the people who pay for these transfers. Or as a student of the dismal science might say, the total income effects of additional government spending always sum to zero.”-- The Real 'Stimulus' Record By ARTHUR B. LAFFER

 But, the argument against QE or other massive government spending raises the sticky hackles of so-called economists like Paul Krugman and Joseph Stiglitz:

“One note: I see David Glasner ragging on Art Laffer over a terrible op-ed on stimulus; Brad DeLong too, for different reasons.

Oddly, neither of them catches Laffer’s extraordinary assertion that Estonia and Ireland are the leading examples of failed stimulus. Weren’t they supposed to be heroes of austerity? How incompetent do you have to be not to get that story straight?”[25]—The Conscience of a Liberal By Paul Krugman August 7, 2012, 5:34 AM

Art Laffer[26] is counting stimulus spending not the absence of it Paul. Try to keep up.

“The four nations—Estonia, Ireland, the Slovak Republic and Finland—with the biggest stimulus programs had the steepest declines in growth. The United States was no different, with greater spending (up 7.3%) followed by far lower growth rates (down 8.4%).”-- The Real 'Stimulus' Record By ARTHUR B. LAFFER

This works in economic theory because the efficiency[27] of government runs by the inverse ratio of G/GDP where G is government spending and GDP = C +I+G where C is consumption and I is investment. The more the government spends the fewer dollars are available for investment hence tax revenues so this is a big negative. A ratio of G/GDP more than about 15% leads to massive debt.

“Sorry, Keynesians. There was no discernible two or three dollar multiplier effect from every dollar the government spent and borrowed. In reality, every dollar of public-sector spending on stimulus simply wiped out a dollar of private investment and output, resulting in an overall decline in GDP. This is an even more astonishing result because government spending is counted in official GDP numbers. In other words, the spending was more like a valium for lethargic economies than a stimulant.”-- The Real 'Stimulus' Record By ARTHUR B. LAFFER

We must prepare for a fiscal collapse because there is no political reason on either political isle to cut down the 40% deficit and avoid becoming a PIIG as Greece, Ireland, Portugal and next year Italy. Buy gold and hope.

Comments: ryckki@gmail.com

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[1] The process of government stealing the wealth of its citizens to make up for excessive spending and terminal debt.

[2] From a singular devotion to the Marxist slop from Lenin who copied much of that from the parasite and pervert J. J. Rousseau who set up the philosophy for the French Revolution in 1789.

[3] Defined here as the debt-to-GDP ration exceeds 30%.

[4] The Destruction of the US Constitution So ‘Equality’ can be Forced Upon the Masses for the Benefit of Leftist Government and their Political Allies.

http://ryckki.blogspot.com/2010/08/destruction-of-us-constitution-so.html

The Futile Attempt of Forcing Equality Among the Masses.

http://ryckzrantz.blogtownhall.com/2009/04/30/the_futile_attempt_of_forcing_equality_among_the_masses.thtml

[5]  We have a federal republic not a democracy. That later word is not found in the Declaration of Independence or Constitution or in any of its amendments.

“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.” 
― Winston Churchill

“The Democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.” 
― Thomas Jefferson

“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.” 
― Winston Churchill

“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.” 
― H.L. Mencken

[6] The Pyramidal Theory of Capitalism Explained in Simple Terms.

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2010/01/07/the_pyramidal_theory_of_capitalism_explained_in_simple_terms.thtml

[7] The New York Times Advises: Plan B: Skip College. They Missed Plans A, C and D. http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2010/05/18/the_new_york_times_advises_plan_b_skip_college_they_missed_plans_a,_c_and_d.thtml

[8] http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:bVKvzTdZcvwJ:garfield.library.upenn.edu/classics1978/A1978FQ53600002.pdf+“How+Much+Can+We+Boost+IQ+and+Scholastic+Achievement%3F”&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

Abstract: Individual differences in intelligence, as a scientific construct, can be reliably measured and indexed as IQ. IQ is the best single predictor of scholastic achievement, and has other occupationally, economically, and socially important correlates. Individual variation in IQ is largely genetic, as shown by heritability analysis of kinship data. Social class differences involve genetic factors, and many lines of evidence suggest it is a reason- able hypothesis that genetic factors may be strongly implicated in the one standard deviation average IQ difference between whites and blacks.

[9] The Babbling Brooks of the NYT Babbles about Israel and Hamas

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2009/01/06/the_babbling_brooks_of_the_nyt_babbles_about_israel_and_hamas.thtml

[10] In honor of that celebrated Communist stooge and liar and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for the NYT. The color RED is used in my essays in honor of Walter Duranty, a saint, if there could be one, in the Marxist Archives of Honor.

“He said that these people had to be "liquidated or melted in the hot fire of exile and labor into the proletarian mass". Duranty claimed that the Siberian labor camps were a means of giving individuals a chance to rejoin Soviet society but also said that for those who could not accept the system, "the final fate of such enemies is death." Duranty, though describing the system as cruel, says he has "no brief for or against it, nor any purpose save to try to tell the truth". He ends the article with the claim that the brutal collectivization campaign which led to the famine was motivated by the "hope or promise of a subsequent raising up" of Asian-minded masses in the Soviet Union which only history could judge.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Duranty

[11] “The Education gap is a common term for describing differences in educational attainment measured by grades, test scores or other measures between different social groups. The groups compared often are categorized by race or ethnicity but may also include gender or other features.”

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_gap

[12] “The Education gap is a common term for describing differences in educational attainment measured by grades, test scores or other measures between different social groups. The groups compared often are categorized by race or ethnicity but may also include gender or other features.”

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_gap

[13] An Emerging Theory on Blacks' I.Q. Scores by Daniel Goleman; Daniel Goleman Covers Psychology For The Times.  Published: April 10, 1988 “Most social scientists know - though few publicly discuss it - that there has been a puzzling gap of about 15 points in I.Q. test scores, on average, between blacks and whites in America ever since the tests were first widely used more than 70 years ago. After long debate over why blacks score lower, and what it means, a fresh theory is putting the discussion into perspective.“

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE1DF1E3AF933A25757C0A96E948260

[14] The Measurement Of Intelligence by Lewis M Terman. Published by   George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd, 1905.

[15] This book[The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life (ISBN: 0029146739)  by Herrnstein, Richard J. and  Murray, Charles  Free Press of Glencoe , Inc, Old Tappan, New Jersey, U.S.A., 1994.] is blacklisted in leftist circles  because it shows that when standardized test scores are sorted by race that blacks and Hispanics score much lower than whites and Asians. Thus, a refutation to this vast array of data must somehow be accomplished.

[16] Arthur Laffer: The Real 'Stimulus' Record

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444873204577537244225685010.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop

[17] Krugman of the NYT Confuses Wealth Transfers with Job Creation and Calls for Higher Taxes or More Spending

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2009/12/01/krugman_of_the_nyt_confuses_wealth_transfers_with_job_creation_and_calls_for_higher_taxes_or_more_spending.thtml

[18] The Coming Age of Debt Defaults: The US May have to Lead the Way and Default on All Debts. We Must Learn New Ways to Live and Survive.

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2009/12/19/the_coming_age_of_debt_defaults_the_us_may_have_to_lead_the_way_and_default_on_all_debts_we_must_learn_new_ways_to_live_and_survive.thtml

[19] Has Buffy the Bozo Been Reading My Blog? Buffett Predicts Inflation—Bernake Does Not.

http://ryckzrantz.blogtownhall.com/2009/05/05/has_buffy_the_bozo_been_reading_my_blog_buffett_predicts_inflation%E2%80%94bernake_does_not.thtml

Buffy the Bozo Buffett Blows his Baloney Wad in Rails? He must have Another Sweetheart Done Deal in the Bag. II

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2010/01/04/buffy_the_bozo_buffett_blows_his_baloney_wad_in_rails_he_must_have_another_sweetheart_done_deal_in_the_bag_ii.thtml

[20] Imaginary Numbers in the Starry Skies and the Quest for a Crystal Ball: Our Government Announces Job Creation Success with their Stimulus Program!

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2009/10/30/imaginary_numbers_in_the_starry_skies_and_the_quest_for_a_crystal_ball_our_government_announces_job_creation_success_with_their_stimulus_program!.thtml

[21] 650,000 Strawdogs Bark at the Moon. The Obama ‘Recovery’ is a Numerical Monkey Circus

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2009/10/31/650,000_strawdogs_bark_at_the_moon_the_obama_%E2%80%98recovery%E2%80%99_is_a_numerical_monkey_circus.thtml

650,000 Strawdogs Bark at the Moon. The Obama ‘Recovery’ is an Hallucination

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2009/10/30/650,000_strawdogs_bark_at_the_moon_the_obama_%e2%80%98recovery%e2%80%99_is_an_hallucination.thtml

Imaginary Numbers in the Starry Skies and the Quest for a Crystal Ball: Our Government Announces Job Creation Success with their Stimulus Program!

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2009/10/30/imaginary_numbers_in_the_starry_skies_and_the_quest_for_a_crystal_ball_our_government_announces_job_creation_success_with_their_stimulus_program!.thtml

[22] The Fed is Battling Debt Deflation with More Debt—an Essay in Lunacy. http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2008/12/19/the_fed_is_battling_debt_deflation_with_more_debt%E2%80%94an_essay_in_lunacy.thtml

[23] Buffett Sees Massive Inflation to Handle Staggering Debt. Monday, May 4, 2009 2:34 PM By: Dan Weil http://moneynews.newsmax.com/headlines/warren_buffett/2009/05/04/210480.html?s=al&promo_code=7F1D-1

[24] The Bubble that will Burst Higher than all Previous Bubbles: Depression Looms as the Dollar Crashes.

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2009/11/02/the_bubble_that_will_burst_higher_than_all_previous_bubbles_depression_looms_as_the_dollar_crashes.thtml

[25] http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/07/poor-spokesmen/

[26] Mr. Laffer, chairman of Laffer Associates and the Laffer Center for Supply-Side Economics, is co-author, with Stephen Moore, of "Return to Prosperity: How America Can Regain Its Economic Superpower Status" (Threshold, 2010).

[27] Inefficiency in California, Greece and Other Places and the Socialist Disease of Parasitism: They will NOT stop spending and WILL default.

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2010/03/05/inefficiency_in_california,_greece_and_other_places_and_the_socialist_disease_of_parasitism_they_will_not_stop_spending_and_will_default.thtml

The NYT Whines: Business Fears the Fiscal Cliff. Raise taxes!

The NYT Whines: Business Fears the Fiscal Cliff. Raise taxes!

http://ryckki.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-nyt-whines-business-fears-fiscal.html

Abstract: The NYT whines for more wealth from business as it has no other sources to suck dry.  It inaccurately attempts to show that business now realizes they need the assistance of higher taxes, more regulation and such to maintain the system, presumably for their benefit. The prattle grinds on with the predictable outcome that we cannot cut spending, must maintain our phony social programs and spend more and more until we go bankrupt. As usual, there is no discussion of business costs derived from ObamaCare and other fatal programs and business is just left out with no help from the government. We are following the idiot EU into bankruptcy.

The New York Times, aka the Walter Duranty Papers[1] is a simple and uncomplicated global stoogery[2] for leftist causes with the primary focus on grunting and grabbing other people’s monies to spend on foolish and incoherent social programs that inevitable fail.

How to best read my blogs:

[I offer extensive quotes in this blog so that the reader can view the exact language and can be confident that nothing was taken out of context or that nobody was misquoted. The easiest way to take in the salient points is to read the emphatic points in the quotes and then peruse my comments. Comments on my comments are always welcome: ryckki@gmail.com.]

They begin to whine:

“As Nelson Schwartz reported in The Times on Monday, a number of manufacturers say they are canceling plans for investing and hiring, in part, because they fear that some $100 billion in budget cuts will take effect in 2013. In all, the law currently calls for $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts over 10 years, starting Jan. 1, divided between nondefense programs and defense projects.”[3]-- Business Fears the Fiscal Cliff NYT Editorial Published: August 6, 2012

From this article we are amused to read about some rare facts:

“Unless Congress acts to extend the tax provisions and comes up with a budget deal that averts the planned reductions in military spending and other government programs, taxes will rise by $399 billion while federal government spending will fall by more than $100 billion, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office. The end-of-year battle comes after Democrats and Republicans have failed over the last year to reach long-term agreements on how to tackle the budget deficit.”[4]-- Fearing an Impasse in Congress, Industry Cuts Spending By NELSON D. SCHWARTZ Published: August 5, 2012

Comment:

This is all very reasonable as business faces [1] a hostile leftist hoard of tax mongers and socialists, [2] A roaring deficit and the lateral effects of a $16 trillion dollar debt that will crush several elements in our economy including much of the Federal government[5] and several states. [3] The highest corporate tax rates in the world and [4] a hoard of leftist ragzines who cry out from their impending graves for money from those who have some left.  What else would you expect from such a hostile business environment? Business expansion is clearly on hold.

The NYT View on this mess:

“Republican lawmakers demanded the cuts last year as part of their brinkmanship over the debt ceiling, and business lobbies have generally supported slashing the deficit. But now that the cuts are imminent, corporate executives seem to have realized that the last thing the economy needs is a large budget cut across the board.”-- Business Fears the Fiscal Cliff

“More than 40 percent of companies surveyed by Morgan Stanley in July cited the fiscal cliff as a major reason for their spending restraint, Mr. Reinhart said. He expects that portion to rise when the poll is repeated this month.”-- Fearing an Impasse in Congress

This SCHWARTZ stooge rounds off his piece with a broad conclusion that is immediately plastered up front in the 7th paragraph in this NYT article:

“Even business leaders are starting to complain. Now it is up to Democrats to force Republicans to rework the coming spending cuts and tax increases in a way that benefits most Americans and the broader economy. ”-- Business Fears the Fiscal Cliff

This screed reads like business really wants more taxes and higher government spending so government revenues will soar and the good citizens will spend more. They do not; they are on hold and waiting. The actual fact is that we are running a $1.3 trillion dollar deficit, 40% of our GDP each year or in time units we are adding 8% every 10 months to our %102 total debt so we will surpass Greece in less than 5 years in terms of who is bankrupt. This debt is terminal of the Greek or Irish sort and can offer no business opportunities in the US until defaults start and that, mostly based on QE and inflation, are the sort of cleptocratic mechanisms that stifle business so they tend to look elsewhere as in Asia. The US is ugly, anti-business and just about the last place on the planet you would want to start a new business. California is an uglier monster in business terms.

What is omitted here is a coherent discussion from the drooling left on business costs. Taxes, rules, energy regs, EPA foolishness and high employee costs force businesses to cut profits until there are none and then they either ship the manufacturing across the pond to more favorable regions or go out of that business. They NEVER discuss business costs and seem to believe that business should not make profits and should hire people from some basis of good will or concern for minorities or other follies

The brutal facts are that businesses cannot formulate a reasonable 2-5 year business plan. Much of this was caused by the government with phony socialist items like the CRA and other spending programs. The inflection point was spring of 2006 when the housing bubble popped and rained down disaster in all sectors of the US economy and is still polluting the fiscal landscape. That was from the CRA.[6] [Meet the Real Villains of the Financial Crisis—the CRA [Community Reinvestment Act], “Affordable Housing” and the US Government]

Our government forced banks to give out loans to people with no credit and many were illegal aliens?? Yes they did. That triggered a housing bubble from phony demand and soaring prices and cause this deflationary bubble to pop.

I am amazed that this is not both predictable and clearly understandable in all variants given what should be common knowledge. Are most of our citizens ignorant?

Facts:

[1] We had a depression starting in 2006 with falling house prices due to a phony demand schedule that boosted house prices from too much cheap credit and phony political themes about equality and all that rot.

[2] Falling house prices eats away at equity-based credit thus lowering demand for goods and services and that costs jobs and that forces more people to lose their jobs and default on their mortgages. This is a debt-driven deflationary spiral and happens with all bubbles. 

[3] Our idiot governments liked this idea because it hiked the tax revenues so they could expand their Nanny State social programs and entitlements to buy more votes.  They could then secure fat paychecks, enormous pensions and other perks for their fine work. 

[4] Numerous entities are bankrupt now such as Fannie Mae and many big banks in Germany, Spain, Italy, US, etc. and those zombies are being kept lukewarm solely by printed money, known as QE. 

[5] Our idiot governments have borrowed money to fund these follies up to their sovereign credit limits and now the debt service is crushing their economies. To wit, all the unfortunate citizens can think about is howling about austerity and begging for alms.  They were promised things that could never be delivered. 

[6] The surging debt of all members of the EU, UK, many in the EZ and the US will force interest rates upward in the near future and force even more money printing in a futile attempt to stop the damage. Prices will soar as inflation rips and government costs will rise faster due to their propensity to want to manage about 1/3 to 1/2 the GDP. Currencies will be debased.  Prices of tangible assets will surge. 

Conclusion:

The current $16 trillion dollar debt can only be spread among those who pay Federal taxes and that is about ½ of 142,100 workers at last count.  That leaves each new trillion dollar tranche burdening the taxpayer with yet another $16, 000/ per trillion with the grand sum, so far, of 16 x 16 or $256,000 dollars.

But, our government would have you ask for higher taxes which lead to lower business profits and more unemployment and keep the 40% deficit at its current rate to keep cozy jobs for government employees who meddle and create potholes for business in the interest of social justice or other follies.

Notice that our phony government, with many states in agreement, is copying the most critical errors of the EU and their failed system with the result that we are all heading toward fiscal oblivion or, in current parlance, the Cliff.

The next thing to happen will be a bond bubble and money will fly out of bonds, rates will rise, government and state borrowing will rise sharply and our debt will increase with the only outlet being printing money.  We follow, thusly, the same morons in Europe who managed to get in two World Wars with 81 million dead bodies scattered around the globe and now sinking in unmanageable debt.

We need new words other than dumb and stupid to describe our phony leaders. They are losers. We need a regime change.

Comments: ryckki@gmail.com

---

[1] In honor of that celebrated Communist stooge and liar and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for the NYT. The color RED is used in my essays in honor of Walter Duranty, a saint, if there could be one, in the Marxist Archives of Honor.

[2] A place to coddle and encourage political stooges to honk and wheeze clearly defined political themes.

[3] Business Fears the Fiscal Cliff NYT Editorial Published: August 6, 2012 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/07/opinion/business-fears-the-fiscal-cliff.html?_r=1&ref=opinion

Fearing an Impasse in Congress, Industry Cuts Spending By NELSON D. SCHWARTZ Published: August 5, 2012[4] http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/06/business/fear-of-fiscal-cliff-has-industry-pulling-back.html?ref=nelsondschwartz

[5]  I use the term government for the Federal government, such as it is, and the state governments are identified differently usually by name.

[6] Meet the Real Villains of the Financial Crisis—the CRA [Community Reinvestment Act], “Affordable Housing” and the US Government

http://rycksrationalizations.blogtownhall.com/2010/04/29/meet_the_real_villains_of_the_financial_crisis%e2%80%94the_cra_[community_reinvestment_act],_%e2%80%9caffordable_housing%e2%80%9d_and_the_us_government.thtml