Victor Davis Hanson discusses the ways in which our country's debt crisis is causing us to think differently about the welfare state in this NRO piece.
His article details the changing perspectives that will affect us as the US simply runs out of money. Initially, it seems to be a rather sobering piece. But, as I read through it, I actually had a little epiphany. I had been suggesting that the country is lost to conservatives. But I think I agree with Prof. Hanson that as the effects of our debt crisis become widespread, our "tolerance" for PC and BS will drop.
Sadly, it may be our last hope for saving our economy.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Missing the Boat
That is how New York State is described in this Wall Street Journal opinion piece.
The article details the different ways the states of Pennsylvania and New York have dealt with natural gas extraction from the Marcellus Shale formation which sits below both states.
New York is foregoing billions in revenue and thousands of jobs. Why? Because rich environmentalists living in New York City and misguided editorialists like those at the Democrat and Chronicle, have decried the process known as hydraulic fracturing ("hydro-fracking") as a threat to the water table.
So Pennsylvania rakes in billions and lures our young people across the border for jobs and opportunity while New York dithers and spends time and energy debating whether wind farms can be located in Lake Ontario to meet our energy needs. Like the author of the linked editorial, I'm not holding my breath for the Green Energy revolution.
This is the conclusion of the piece:
"Governor Cuomo has said he wants to lift New York's moratorium, and the state's recently released draft rules are a step forward. But they must still undergo legal review and a public comment period that could bar New York drilling for the rest of this year, if not longer. New York will also still ban drilling in about 15% of the state's portion of the Marcellus and impose more onerous rules than other states on private property drilling. Such bows toward the obsessions of rich, big-city greens explain why parts of upstate New York are the new Appalachia.
As they look across their northern border, Pennsylvanians can be forgiven for thinking of New Yorkers the way Abba Eban once described the Palestinians: They never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity."
The article details the different ways the states of Pennsylvania and New York have dealt with natural gas extraction from the Marcellus Shale formation which sits below both states.
New York is foregoing billions in revenue and thousands of jobs. Why? Because rich environmentalists living in New York City and misguided editorialists like those at the Democrat and Chronicle, have decried the process known as hydraulic fracturing ("hydro-fracking") as a threat to the water table.
So Pennsylvania rakes in billions and lures our young people across the border for jobs and opportunity while New York dithers and spends time and energy debating whether wind farms can be located in Lake Ontario to meet our energy needs. Like the author of the linked editorial, I'm not holding my breath for the Green Energy revolution.
This is the conclusion of the piece:
"Governor Cuomo has said he wants to lift New York's moratorium, and the state's recently released draft rules are a step forward. But they must still undergo legal review and a public comment period that could bar New York drilling for the rest of this year, if not longer. New York will also still ban drilling in about 15% of the state's portion of the Marcellus and impose more onerous rules than other states on private property drilling. Such bows toward the obsessions of rich, big-city greens explain why parts of upstate New York are the new Appalachia.
As they look across their northern border, Pennsylvanians can be forgiven for thinking of New Yorkers the way Abba Eban once described the Palestinians: They never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity."
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Link of the Week: Mark Steyn on the Debt Ceiling
Many aspects of the debt ceiling crisis have left people shaking their heads.
I am mostly amazed by the fact that the President and Congressional Democrats seem to have been given a pass by the media on the fact that they have made no actual proposals for debt reduction.
Mark Steyn discusses the situation in this great post from the National Review Online. As usual, Steyn makes his points with humor. I think, however, you can tell that Steyn actually finds the situation laughable, but not funny.
I am mostly amazed by the fact that the President and Congressional Democrats seem to have been given a pass by the media on the fact that they have made no actual proposals for debt reduction.
Mark Steyn discusses the situation in this great post from the National Review Online. As usual, Steyn makes his points with humor. I think, however, you can tell that Steyn actually finds the situation laughable, but not funny.
Friday, June 10, 2011
"Neither Explicit Nor Indecent"
That was the description from Congressman Weiner's spokesman regarding the nature of the Twitter communication between Weiner and a 17 year old girl.
Really?
How long will this farce continue? This man is a disgrace and clearly unfit to be in Congress. And lets not kid ourselves, you have to be quite a lowlife to be unfit to serve in Congress these days.
Really?
How long will this farce continue? This man is a disgrace and clearly unfit to be in Congress. And lets not kid ourselves, you have to be quite a lowlife to be unfit to serve in Congress these days.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Another Reason I'm a Conservative
"Every sane person who eats bacon knows that bacon makes everything better".
That's the conclusion of this post, which discribes differing food preferences of liberals and conservatives.
I'd say that conclusion is indisputable!
That's the conclusion of this post, which discribes differing food preferences of liberals and conservatives.
I'd say that conclusion is indisputable!
I Have Some Questions
Reading and watching the news lately, I have been wishing that some reporter would ask some follow-up questions. Here are a few:
To Kathy Hochul and many other Democrats...You stated that the Ryan/GOP budget would "end Medicare as we know it". Follow-up. Can you describe the services which constitute "Medicare as we know it" today and can you tell us how we can pay for those services going forward?
To Governor Cuomo and many Albany politicians...You stated that you support a 2% real property tax cap to reduce New Yorker's tax burden. Follow-up. Why don't you start with a State government tax and spending cap? And, how can you support a local government tax cap without mandate relief?
To President Obama...You gave a series of speeches to Hispanic-American groups regarding immigration reform, which included claims that the "border fence is complete". Possible follow-ups. Isn't it true that less than 20% of the US- Mexico border has an actual barrier? And why did you wait until you lost your Democrat majority in the House to begin your push for immigration reform? Is it because you are just pandering to Hispanics on the issue?
To Rep. Louise Slaughter...You told NRO that you are confident that Rep. Anthony Weiner, a fellow NY Congressman, did not share a lewd picture of himself via Twitter. You said “Why would he do a stupid thing like that? Anthony Weiner is as smart as a whip.” You also said “I don’t doubt for a moment that it was not him.” My follow up is, what do you know that makes you so certain?
To Rep. Anthony Weiner...You stated that you hired attorneys to find out who the "real sexters" were regarding your twitter post. My question, do you think they are the same people who really killed OJ's wife?
To Kathy Hochul and many other Democrats...You stated that the Ryan/GOP budget would "end Medicare as we know it". Follow-up. Can you describe the services which constitute "Medicare as we know it" today and can you tell us how we can pay for those services going forward?
To Governor Cuomo and many Albany politicians...You stated that you support a 2% real property tax cap to reduce New Yorker's tax burden. Follow-up. Why don't you start with a State government tax and spending cap? And, how can you support a local government tax cap without mandate relief?
To President Obama...You gave a series of speeches to Hispanic-American groups regarding immigration reform, which included claims that the "border fence is complete". Possible follow-ups. Isn't it true that less than 20% of the US- Mexico border has an actual barrier? And why did you wait until you lost your Democrat majority in the House to begin your push for immigration reform? Is it because you are just pandering to Hispanics on the issue?
To Rep. Louise Slaughter...You told NRO that you are confident that Rep. Anthony Weiner, a fellow NY Congressman, did not share a lewd picture of himself via Twitter. You said “Why would he do a stupid thing like that? Anthony Weiner is as smart as a whip.” You also said “I don’t doubt for a moment that it was not him.” My follow up is, what do you know that makes you so certain?
To Rep. Anthony Weiner...You stated that you hired attorneys to find out who the "real sexters" were regarding your twitter post. My question, do you think they are the same people who really killed OJ's wife?
Monday, May 30, 2011
What's A Party To Do?
That's the question that the GOP is facing on the Ryan Medicare plan. As Jonah Goldberg put it here, the GOP needs to convince the public that they have the right plan, or face extinction as a party.
That may seem to be somewhat extreme, but I think its fairly accurate. The GOP owns the Ryan Medicare plan and the Democrats are determined (in light of the Hochul victory in NY-26) to try to ride the "Medi-scare" horse back into power. Goldberg analogizes the Medicare debate to Ceaser's crossing of the Rubicon. His view, "the die is cast" and the GOP, like Caesar, must win or die. Here is a portion of his post:
"The simple fact is that the Democrats have their battle plan. It’s going to be Medi-scare every day in every way for the next 17 months. They are on autopilot. They are committed. Their die is cast. They have crossed their Rubicon. They have no desire to defend Obamacare, high gas prices, high unemployment, and a third Middle East war. They want — no, need — to be on offense because they have so much they cannot defend.
The question now is, “What are Republicans going to do about it?” Are they going to play the role of Pompey, the dissolute leader who didn’t want to fight? Or will they don Cesarean robes and join the battle head-on because they know they have nowhere to retreat? That is the political choice for the GOP: Win or die."
I hope that GOP leadership has the stomach for this fight. Frankly, I'm halfway to believing that this is the battle that will determine the fate of the Republic. Once again, I know I sound extreme, but lets face it, Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, entitlement after entitlement, all broke. The report of the trustees was a real eye-opener (or, in a rational society, it would be). We don't have any more time to waste. This is a can that cannot be "kicked down the road". (For an interesting synopsis of the issue, check out this piece by Veronique de Rugy).
The GOP, in fact, the country, has crossed the Rubicon. There is no turning back. This is a battle which must be fought and must be won.
That may seem to be somewhat extreme, but I think its fairly accurate. The GOP owns the Ryan Medicare plan and the Democrats are determined (in light of the Hochul victory in NY-26) to try to ride the "Medi-scare" horse back into power. Goldberg analogizes the Medicare debate to Ceaser's crossing of the Rubicon. His view, "the die is cast" and the GOP, like Caesar, must win or die. Here is a portion of his post:
"The simple fact is that the Democrats have their battle plan. It’s going to be Medi-scare every day in every way for the next 17 months. They are on autopilot. They are committed. Their die is cast. They have crossed their Rubicon. They have no desire to defend Obamacare, high gas prices, high unemployment, and a third Middle East war. They want — no, need — to be on offense because they have so much they cannot defend.
The question now is, “What are Republicans going to do about it?” Are they going to play the role of Pompey, the dissolute leader who didn’t want to fight? Or will they don Cesarean robes and join the battle head-on because they know they have nowhere to retreat? That is the political choice for the GOP: Win or die."
I hope that GOP leadership has the stomach for this fight. Frankly, I'm halfway to believing that this is the battle that will determine the fate of the Republic. Once again, I know I sound extreme, but lets face it, Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, entitlement after entitlement, all broke. The report of the trustees was a real eye-opener (or, in a rational society, it would be). We don't have any more time to waste. This is a can that cannot be "kicked down the road". (For an interesting synopsis of the issue, check out this piece by Veronique de Rugy).
The GOP, in fact, the country, has crossed the Rubicon. There is no turning back. This is a battle which must be fought and must be won.
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