The drag on economy continues, and throughout the latest news cycle, one cannot help but to continue noticing the distraction tactics used by the Obama Administration.
The latest ploy concerns the reputation of Romney at Bain Capital. Emphasis has been placed upon a steel plant that was ultimately shut down over eight years after Romney himself ceased to work there. Most ironic about this tactic is that it leaves Obama particularly vulnerable to the hypocrite counter-tactic, simply at the mention of Solyndra.
As always, in the end it will come down to what vision each candidate is able to project for the future. Obama's record has yet to be fully exploited to Romney's advantage, as he occupies his time in consolidating base support. Come fall, it will be up to former governor to juxtapose himself as a credible leader who can translate his experience into a better direction for the nation. Should he succeed, combined with the right Vice President and the right attacks on his opponent's record, and a solid victory can be envisioned for the republican candidate.
For now, it remains uncertain just who will emerge victorious given the ample opportunities for the political winds to change between now and November. Especially when one factors the individual politics of the keymost battleground states to be in play this election. This excellent article by Stephen Green has more on that topic.
~David Morris~
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
The Distractions Continue
Latest Gallup polling puts Romney ahead of Obama. Why, does the mainstream media ask?
It is truly fascinating to observe such implosions on the left. Touting the "improvements" of the economy and Obama's "likability," the denial of Obama's highly threatened candidacy has witnessed several types of self-delusion as of late:
Romney's Gender Gap With Women.
Fallacies:
•Most job losses in the past three years has been among women.
•Only young, unmarried age group susceptible to "war on women" issue distraction tactics.
•Obama still less popular among women compared to 2008.
•Romney has a reverse gender gap among men against Obama.
Obama's Likability Advantage Against Romney
Fallacies:
•Carter was also "likable." People are not going to vote for excuses.
•Nixon, despite low likability, was primed for reelection before scandal.
•Romney still injured from primary battle. The right VP pick could potentially turn this around.
•The negative ads to remind the people of Obama's record has not begun yet.
Latest among the attempts to distract is Romney putting a dog on the roof of his car. Such irrelevance is bound to ultimately backfire on the patience of the American people.
Nonetheless, expect more attempts to divert the true issues of the day.
~David Morris~
It is truly fascinating to observe such implosions on the left. Touting the "improvements" of the economy and Obama's "likability," the denial of Obama's highly threatened candidacy has witnessed several types of self-delusion as of late:
Romney's Gender Gap With Women.
Fallacies:
•Most job losses in the past three years has been among women.
•Only young, unmarried age group susceptible to "war on women" issue distraction tactics.
•Obama still less popular among women compared to 2008.
•Romney has a reverse gender gap among men against Obama.
Obama's Likability Advantage Against Romney
Fallacies:
•Carter was also "likable." People are not going to vote for excuses.
•Nixon, despite low likability, was primed for reelection before scandal.
•Romney still injured from primary battle. The right VP pick could potentially turn this around.
•The negative ads to remind the people of Obama's record has not begun yet.
Latest among the attempts to distract is Romney putting a dog on the roof of his car. Such irrelevance is bound to ultimately backfire on the patience of the American people.
Nonetheless, expect more attempts to divert the true issues of the day.
~David Morris~
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Rick Santelli On the Idea of Taxing Ourselves Out. of the Crisis
A burn to all soldiers of class warfare. A simple illustration of math from Rich Santelli.
~David Morris~
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Mitt Romney. Eh.
So many excellent GOP candidates this year. So many fallen. With Santorum officially out of the running, the time dawns upon many that "Mr. Inevitable," Willard Mitt Romney, has truly proven to be the last man standing. Barring a convention upset by Newt or Ron Paul,
At what price one must ask? The negative, marginal victory nature of Mitt's wins leaves many a conservative voter feeling mum about the result. The weak positive intensity among his base must be repaired prior to November. Simultaneously, the Obaminable Machine has promised the most outright dirty, negative campaign to be seen in modern history. They have prepared specifically for the former Massachusetts governor, and will do everything in their power to characterize Romney as a "heartless, rich white republican." The wrong gaffe at the wrong time could be all that it takes.
It shall be seen just how aware of this the Romney campaign is. It is true that Romney's comparative advantage lies in his appeal to moderates. Now he'll require a vice-presidential pick that can sate the fears of the base, whilst continuing to fight back a reputation a faux conservative.
Above all however is this:
He must take the gloves off when it comes to President Obama.
This is to be a election won on offense, not defense.
Considering the nature of his apparent nomination, perhaps the Romney campaign understands this already.
~David Morris~
Monday, April 9, 2012
E Plubis, Divitorium - Out of Many, Division
Obama's un-presidential actions towards the Supreme Court last week should come as no surprise. He simply does as a community organizer does: Divide.
Wall Street vs. Main Street.
99% vs. 1%.
Republicans vs. Old People.
Private Health Insurers vs. Health Customers.
"Green" Energy vs. Viable Energy.
War on Catholics.
War on Women.
War on the Tea Party.
Is it any coincidence that all these new means to divide ourselves, only now miracoulously coincide with the election of Obama? This individual does not think so.
So why the surprise of a new War on the Supreme Court?
~David Morris~
Wall Street vs. Main Street.
99% vs. 1%.
Republicans vs. Old People.
Private Health Insurers vs. Health Customers.
"Green" Energy vs. Viable Energy.
War on Catholics.
War on Women.
War on the Tea Party.
Is it any coincidence that all these new means to divide ourselves, only now miracoulously coincide with the election of Obama? This individual does not think so.
So why the surprise of a new War on the Supreme Court?
~David Morris~
Monday, March 26, 2012
A Morning Meeting With Paul Ryan
As Chairman of the House Budget Committee, Congressmen Ryan's position has proposed several bold solutions to America's varied debt and entitlement crisis, and not without controversy. As the congressmen continues to draw headlines with his proposals, cross-examination into his "Roadmaps" ever continues.
On March 22nd, Ryan sat down with the Heritage Foundation concerned with latest revisions to his proposals. The introduction of means testing for medicare was highlighted as among key improvements to his plan, set to balance by the 2020s. Throughout the meeting, Ryan criticized the CBO for its baseline budgeting projections, as well as the President for his weakness on cost cutting, particularly in the area of defense.
Though Ryan himself identifies $300 billion in Pentagon waste that could be eliminated, he insists that the President's $400 billion reduction in pure defense spending would threaten our superiority given an unexpected conflict. Without such superiority, he reminds us, far more soldiers are put at risk.
Ryan concluded on a hopeful note for his proposals, as he finds support whenever the American people are "spoken to as adults."
Scholar Dan Mitchell of the Cato Institute offers further analysis of the Ryan revisions.
~David Morris~
On March 22nd, Ryan sat down with the Heritage Foundation concerned with latest revisions to his proposals. The introduction of means testing for medicare was highlighted as among key improvements to his plan, set to balance by the 2020s. Throughout the meeting, Ryan criticized the CBO for its baseline budgeting projections, as well as the President for his weakness on cost cutting, particularly in the area of defense.
Though Ryan himself identifies $300 billion in Pentagon waste that could be eliminated, he insists that the President's $400 billion reduction in pure defense spending would threaten our superiority given an unexpected conflict. Without such superiority, he reminds us, far more soldiers are put at risk.
Ryan concluded on a hopeful note for his proposals, as he finds support whenever the American people are "spoken to as adults."
Scholar Dan Mitchell of the Cato Institute offers further analysis of the Ryan revisions.
~David Morris~
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
A Single Fire - Part II
My last discourse concerned a question with the development of energy. Why, with the abundance of sources available to us, is the energy industry nonetheless restricted by onerous regulation?
Is it to prevent accidents? We addressed the basic reality of life that accidents can and will happen. Tying it with the analogy of a burnt down home, we note that such accidents do not result in the halted production of housing in general.
Yet somehow this reality of accidents is routinely utilized to block the generation of new energy capital. Save for those favored by government of course. Methods of generating energy that "actually works" however, routinely faces insurmountable regulatory impediments.
It is valid to theorize that, in the end, the justification for such burdens has little to do with preventing accidents. Private companies, who pour millions into the creation of their capital (be it a hydroelectric dam, coal mine, oil rig, genie magic self-perpetuating turbine, or otherwise), are naturally incensed to prevent their loss.
When major accidents occur, one naturally takes to the self to review what happened and to ensure that such events scarcely occur evermore. Not only does the victim reflect, but witnessing neighbors (or rival companies in the case of industries) also join in the interest of reviewing what happened, leading to the self-imposed refinement of internal safety protocols.
A concept known as "risk assessment" is borne of the invisible hand, with entire firms and corporate sub-departments dedicated to cause of loss prevention. Regardless of bureaucratic third-parties who may decide to take advantage of the spectacle in the name of "public safety."
If the true subconscionable purpose for regulations is not about accidents, what else could is be? There are those who postulate that its simply about protecting the "environment" as a general concept. To which you must ask, "Whose environment?"
Globally, the climate simply is beyond our hands and control. Planetary climates et al are destined to change and morph regardless of any life on their surface, and human history is rife with instances whereas the scare of environmental failure on a planetary scale is found to be empty.
Its true that environmental externalities can occur on scales small enough to affect human interests however. How a proposed method of extraction affects the living of fishermen or ranchers is perfectly valid. None wants to suffer smog directly imposed onto their own backyard. Being told that its "for the good of the market" is certainly no solace.
In such cases, the proper observance of property rights and contracts provide solutions where all are better off, both economically and environmentally. Justice for land holders at risk for being negatively impacted is preserved by simple title and deed. And given their necessary cooperation, brutishly sloppy methods of energy extraction are swift to go out of style.
Energy providers, in their own self-interest against liability claims from their landlords, are thus compelled to innovate towards a reduction of their externalized impact upon others. Such is market efficiency. Producers are better off for having expanding their product, at-risk land owners are better off from the provision of royalties, and the all-important consumer is better off from lowered prices.
Recently, such has been the case for energy companies in fact. Contrary to what policy makers in Washington may proclaim, new oil development over the pass four years resulted from this very notion of contracts between private entities, while development on federal lands has shrunk.
Truly, if the hundreds of impediments to energy development were justified by environmental concerns, why develop old technologies such as windmills? Windmills have been documented for harm brought to avian life, resulting in a far more visible impact compared to the fracking and horizontal drill techniques that permit conventional producers to locate far off-site.
If anything, proponents for alternative fuels would champion nuclear energy above all given its ultimate appraisal as a win-win source for energy. A win for the market as it provides on scales necessary to truly compete. A win for the environment as the summarized concept is to simply dig naturally radioactive material from out the ground, slowly deplete its ambient energy, and then return the material to the very ground from whence it came.
Yet even nuclear is denied with routine regulatory interference, same as the traditional resources of petroleum, natural gas, and coal. Hysteria over inevitable incidents (now matter how well their containment fail safes may have worked) is utilized as a politic scapegoat to deny the free-market expansion to human energy needs. Unworkable alternatives are instead ginned up, despite that they to (inherent to all things when one is trying to start a fire or create a spark) hold their own types of risks, even if they were to deliver.
So once more we must ask, "Why?" Subconsciously, why do the proponents of Big Government seek scapegoats to justify the squelching of true energy development? The rationale is simple:
More energy means more freedom, and more freedom always means less power for the state.
~David Morris~
Is it to prevent accidents? We addressed the basic reality of life that accidents can and will happen. Tying it with the analogy of a burnt down home, we note that such accidents do not result in the halted production of housing in general.
Yet somehow this reality of accidents is routinely utilized to block the generation of new energy capital. Save for those favored by government of course. Methods of generating energy that "actually works" however, routinely faces insurmountable regulatory impediments.
It is valid to theorize that, in the end, the justification for such burdens has little to do with preventing accidents. Private companies, who pour millions into the creation of their capital (be it a hydroelectric dam, coal mine, oil rig, genie magic self-perpetuating turbine, or otherwise), are naturally incensed to prevent their loss.
When major accidents occur, one naturally takes to the self to review what happened and to ensure that such events scarcely occur evermore. Not only does the victim reflect, but witnessing neighbors (or rival companies in the case of industries) also join in the interest of reviewing what happened, leading to the self-imposed refinement of internal safety protocols.
A concept known as "risk assessment" is borne of the invisible hand, with entire firms and corporate sub-departments dedicated to cause of loss prevention. Regardless of bureaucratic third-parties who may decide to take advantage of the spectacle in the name of "public safety."
If the true subconscionable purpose for regulations is not about accidents, what else could is be? There are those who postulate that its simply about protecting the "environment" as a general concept. To which you must ask, "Whose environment?"
Globally, the climate simply is beyond our hands and control. Planetary climates et al are destined to change and morph regardless of any life on their surface, and human history is rife with instances whereas the scare of environmental failure on a planetary scale is found to be empty.
Its true that environmental externalities can occur on scales small enough to affect human interests however. How a proposed method of extraction affects the living of fishermen or ranchers is perfectly valid. None wants to suffer smog directly imposed onto their own backyard. Being told that its "for the good of the market" is certainly no solace.
In such cases, the proper observance of property rights and contracts provide solutions where all are better off, both economically and environmentally. Justice for land holders at risk for being negatively impacted is preserved by simple title and deed. And given their necessary cooperation, brutishly sloppy methods of energy extraction are swift to go out of style.
Energy providers, in their own self-interest against liability claims from their landlords, are thus compelled to innovate towards a reduction of their externalized impact upon others. Such is market efficiency. Producers are better off for having expanding their product, at-risk land owners are better off from the provision of royalties, and the all-important consumer is better off from lowered prices.
Recently, such has been the case for energy companies in fact. Contrary to what policy makers in Washington may proclaim, new oil development over the pass four years resulted from this very notion of contracts between private entities, while development on federal lands has shrunk.
Truly, if the hundreds of impediments to energy development were justified by environmental concerns, why develop old technologies such as windmills? Windmills have been documented for harm brought to avian life, resulting in a far more visible impact compared to the fracking and horizontal drill techniques that permit conventional producers to locate far off-site.
If anything, proponents for alternative fuels would champion nuclear energy above all given its ultimate appraisal as a win-win source for energy. A win for the market as it provides on scales necessary to truly compete. A win for the environment as the summarized concept is to simply dig naturally radioactive material from out the ground, slowly deplete its ambient energy, and then return the material to the very ground from whence it came.
Yet even nuclear is denied with routine regulatory interference, same as the traditional resources of petroleum, natural gas, and coal. Hysteria over inevitable incidents (now matter how well their containment fail safes may have worked) is utilized as a politic scapegoat to deny the free-market expansion to human energy needs. Unworkable alternatives are instead ginned up, despite that they to (inherent to all things when one is trying to start a fire or create a spark) hold their own types of risks, even if they were to deliver.
So once more we must ask, "Why?" Subconsciously, why do the proponents of Big Government seek scapegoats to justify the squelching of true energy development? The rationale is simple:
More energy means more freedom, and more freedom always means less power for the state.
~David Morris~
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