Tag: #Op-Ed

  • ODDS and ENDS: Josh Hawley is Still Stupid, Aaron Rodgers, and Gyms

    “ODDS and ENDS” is my continuing series of random thoughts and follow ups…

    This morning as I was sitting in the car for the street sweeper, and I read Josh Hawley’s Op-Ed in the New York Times. If you have forgotten, Josh Hawley is the Republican Senator from Missouri who tried to help overturn the 2020 Election and was pro-riot at the Capital. You know, that Josh Hawley. As you can tell, I’m not a fan, but out of fairness, I read his Guest Essay, “The Only Way to Solve Our Supply Chain Crisis Is to Rethink Trade.” First of all, I love how conservatives rally against liberal media like the NY Times, but still want their opinions published in the NY Times. Second, the awful trade deals were created by both parties, not just Democrats like Josh claims. Third, jobs going overseas started forty years ago, which clearly doesn’t make it a new phenomenon. And last, if I understand Josh here, he is a person that doesn’t want government telling business what to do, but in his essay he  wants government to tell business what to do. Right… You still stupid Josh. Not for suggesting government regulation. No, you stupid for thinking that if it comes out of your mouth, it’s not a liberal idea. Stupid.

    So, does Aaron Rogers look he’s having the most fun playing football in the NFL?

    I have never been to a gym. That shocked my wife, but I really don’t workout, ever. I might have to join one soon though. Just saying…

  • Morality in Economics

    I read David Brooks today, and call me crazy, I think that this conservative guy is slowly becoming liberal. I will thank Trump for that, but more importantly, I welcome David to the party.

    I took the point of his piece, which was that America business needs to get its morality back in check. Think about employees, customers, and the communities they exist in, and not just the bottom line, shareholders, and stock value.

    Is this the first crack in the Conservative love of all things that came out of Milton Friedman’s mouth?

    I have held, and said many times, that Friedman’s approach and the way he viewed capitalism was destructive to all of us. I always felt that Friedman’s failure was rooted in the idea that an individual or corporation would “pay by the rules” in their quest for capital, and no one would cheat. The truth of the matter is that if there is money to be made, someone, inevitably will cheat, and someone gets hurt.

    Also, Friedman thought that governments should get out of the way and let companies do what they do. He thought all companies would want deregulation, but what he missed was that companies want regulation on everyone else, just not them. That’s why there is a weird revolving door with CEOs and executives getting named as heads of regulation organizations. (FCC, FDA, ect…)

    In a philosophical sense, I believe that all economics are based in emotions and not in logic. Economies are not math, it is not a science; it is completely man made, and as such, will behave illogically often to meet its desired ends. To put a morality on top of capitalism is a neat idea, and to do that, you need some agreed upon regulations.

    Welcome to the party, David.

  • What Is Happening?

    It has been such a strange news week. All of it bad.

    I try to avoid writing about politics as it makes me angry and I feel like not a whole lot gets settled.

    But this week has started me rethinking that decision.

    First of all, the context of this week’s events was clearly framed by John McCain’s funeral. From The New Yorker calling it the “…Biggest Resistance Meeting Yet,” to W. Bush and Obama saying nice things about an adversary while sharing a pew together. (And the two couples did seem to be enjoying each other’s company.)

    Then we get Bob Woodward’s book, “FEAR,” which proposes that things are very bad in the Trump White House. Only to be followed by the anonymous New York Times Op-Ed that pretty much confirms Woodward’s book.

    I agree with most of the late-night comedians, nothing about Woodward’s book or the Op-Ed piece make me feel any better. Trump is surround ideologies encouraging his worst tendencies, and  cowards who have a way to save the Republic, the 25th Amendment, but won’t do anything other than secretly try to thwart their boss when he’s not looking.

    I can’t help but wonder, how will this end? It just keeps getting worse every week. I’m ready to vote in the Blue Wave, but even then, it would only be a check to Trump’s power. What I fear, but know is right, is that we have to get through two more years of this, because I want Trump removed in an election. I want the people of this country to say, “No more,” and elect another person.

    And that is a dangerous gamble. I have a bad feeling that Trump could find a way to win in 2020.

    It’s not that crazy of an idea, because none of us thought he’d win in 2016.