A Crisis Too Good to Waste

On November 20, 2008, In Uncategorized, By Andrew Schwartz

It is rude to say “I told you so.” No one wants to hear it, and most of the time it does no good. It also reinforces one’s own selfishness, their need to feel like they should be heard. However, just two days ago, I stated my beliefs about President-elect Obama’s agenda concerning global warming. Apparently, the Wall Street Journal has shown my opining was justified.

 

“You never want a serious crisis to go to waste,” is what Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s Chief of Staff, has said concerning the global economic flu. Now the Obama administration plans to use this opportunity to strengthen government involvement in the private sector with the ultimate goal of climate change, the Wall Street Journal reported.

 

Some other quotes from the article:

 

“We are in the midst of a massive reorganization right now in autos but also other areas as well — finance, information technology. All of this flows into…the new green energy economy we are living in, albeit in an embryonic stage.” -Rep. David Bonier, Obama Economic Advisor

 

“We’re backing into industrial policy in an emergency to correct massive market failures,” -Jared Bernstein, Obama Economic Team

 

The bottom line is that Obama will move toward regulating every aspect of the free market, all in the name of a “green” economy, viz., global unity. The massive market failures that Mr. Bernstein refers to were caused by government intervention in the first place, so why would Obama think that more intervention will solve it? Apparently, investors are skeptical of this as well, as the Dow has dropped over 21% since his election, the largest two-week drop in post-election history.

 

Why has America moved so far away from the founding fathers’ intent of our democratic-Republic? Why have we allowed the government on its regulatory pedestal, when the delegates at the Constitutional Convention (at least the ones whose arguments won) clearly wanted the people to regulate the government, not the other way around? Why have we allowed frivolous legislation that is clearly intended to do nothing but establish more power in the federal government?

 

Obama and his idealistic supporters want more government involvement due to their ultimate idealistic goal of Global Unity. The politicized international economic situation and alleged warming-globe crisis have given them a crisis too good to waste.

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Obama to lift Cuban Embargo

On November 10, 2008, In Economy, Foreign Policy, By Andrew Schwartz

President-elect Obama has promised to ease sanctions on Cuban trade if they “take significant steps toward democracy….” As much as I would like to disagree with him, I can’t on this issue. There is no economic reason for a U.S. embargo on Cuba.

The Political Darwinism of the 20th century is by no means over, but it has significantly dwindled to tolerable levels. Truly, we are punishing that country by denying them trade. Their economic situation for the past 40 years has been evidence of that. But dictatorship thrives under turmoil, and by our not assisting their economic prosperity, we have been assisting their despotism.

In 1969, President Nixon began implementing unprecedented measures in order to ease impediments to a bilateral trade agreement with Communist China. In 1980, we began to allow China to export at the same tarriff rates as friendly countries. We currently enjoy the largest mutually beneficial trade agreement with China. Not only has this trade agreement encouraged growth and decreased prices, it has also allowed the people in the People’s Republic of China to see the benefits of a capitalist economy. In 1990, the current Shanghai Stock Exchange opened and has quickly become the fifth largest exchange in the world.

Since these capitalistic trade agreements have been incrementally implemented, the people’s attitude toward communism has also become incrementally more negative. Democratic activists are increasing anually, and the Chinese government is becoming more and more tolerant. This is due partly to the government’s gradual acceptance of the idea, but it is also due to their reliance on international trade. They have come to fear the world’s economic reaction if they overtly supressed all forms of democracy.

This is the way to influence democracy. By strengthening Cuba’s economic base their people will gradually enjoy a better quality of life. Once the people become accustomed to the benefits of capitalism, they will be resistant to go back; and once the leaders of Cuba become dependent on U.S. trade, they will be equally hesitant to return to despotism for fear of economic reprisal. As long as we perpetuate their economic strife by resisting trade, we are perpetuating their dictator’s whim. I’m sorry to say it, but I think Mr. Obama is on to something.

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