Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns.
I am thankful that thorns have roses.
Allophones Karr
Earlier One-Off Post: Is the Pope Catholic?
Facebook Comment of the Day
Libertarian Republic posed this reflection:
In a libertarian republic, public infrastructure might be funded through a lottery tax. Although it wouldn't be the only lottery game in town, this at least is a voluntary form of taxation.My Response:
Nope: you have a freeloader problem. If you can't privatize it, at least have users pay for it, not subsidized by government. We should not have people with gambling problems subsidize a public goodBy the way, the dumbest Facebook quirk: After a post from Sen. Mike Lee, I'm presented with similar public figure presented to like; I understand Ted Cruz, but "Cherokee Lizzie" Warren, the high priestess of American progressivism? Not a chance in hell....
A Good Politician
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| Mine: A good politician is like a little Dutch boy trying to plug a hole in the dike with his finger.... |
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| Courtesy of The Libertarian Republic |
Right after I write a supportive post about the Pope, he decides to step in it on talking about joblessness, and I'm not going to defend him. Papal infallibility does not extend to matters of economics. From Yahoo:
I find suffering here ... It weakens you and robs you of hope,..Excuse me if I use strong words, but where there is no work there is no dignity. We don't want this globalised economic system which does us so much harm. Men and women have to be at the centre (of an economic system) as God wants, not money. The world has become an idolator of this god called money. To defend this economic culture, a throwaway culture has been installed. We throw away grandparents, and we throw away young people. We have to say no to his throwaway culture. We want a just system that helps everyone.One of the background stories here includes an unemployed worker, laid off from an alternative energy company. Do I need to discuss how consumers and taxpayers have lost and will lose to subsidize the noncompetitive costs of green energy, based on alarmist rhetoric and political correctness?
The Pope is flat out ignorant on economics; he is demonizing the business owner and engaging in the same zero-sum nonsense like Barack Obama. Business owners are not intrinsically motivated by money or wealth ; money is simply a manifestation of economic success. For example, Warren Buffett and Bill Gates are the richest men in America. They could have retired, set for life over 15 years ago. Buffett still lives in the same plain house he bought decades ago and for years drove a nondescript used station wagon. He still goes to work every day, a decade after most people retire. He's made many employees and investors (not me) wealthy. Most of his wealth will be left not to heirs but Gates' charity.
Business owners focus on seeing or anticipating unfulfilled needs. Entrepreneurs are motivated by a passion in meeting that need. It could be motivated by noble objectives, say, curing cancer (maybe a relative died from the disease). No doubt, if someone does conquer this mission, he or she could become wealthy, compared to billions spent on treating the disease, lost income for the afflicted.
Businesses win more business if they can make goods or services more affordable, not less affordable. These low prices benefit the consumer--especially for lower-income workers. Walton's heirs are billionaires because small profits on sales volume add up to big profits--but the lower-income people who shop Walmart also benefit from lower prices on the same goods. It's a case where buyer and seller both benefit. Now "fighting for jobs" is populist claptrap, and Pope Francis is demeaning the credibility of his office by engaging in such nonsense; it may get cheap pops from the crowd--hey, he's one of us, rah, rah, rah. Jobs are not grown on trees like apples. More labor is employed because a business can increase its revenues and profits by utilizing labor, taking the cost of labor into account; it makes no sense to hire workers otherwise.
If the Pope really wants to be constructive, he should renounce counterproductive statist labor policies, like wage controls, penalties for worker layoffs (an employer has to think twice before hiring a worker for life), benefit mandates, etc. Young people are particularly hurt by minimum wage laws, which arbitrarily limit the number of low-skill jobs.
I find it offensive that the pontiff is so judgmental about higher-income workers, especially after he asked who was he to judge homosexuals? Apparently that only applies to low-income gays. I strongly suggest that he review the scriptures: Jesus had wealthy followers--consider the Last Support in Jerusalem at a crowded time of year--Passover. In another passage, He makes references to things His enemies said about Him--He was a glutton, drunkard, etc.; well, He did not feast at the homes of poor people.
JOTY Nomination: Nancy Pelosi
Just when you thought Nancy Pelosi couldn't say anything more clueless or outrageous, she tops herself. (Yo, Nancy! Make me President, and I'll whack a trillion out of that budget.)
I'm not making this up. Pelosi actually said this:
“The cupboard is bare. There’s no more cuts to make. It’s really important that people understand that."The only thing empty is Nancy Pelosi's head.
A UT Alumnus' Favorite Cheerleader
Political Cartoon
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| Courtesy of Glenn McCoy and Townhall |
Stevie Wonder, "You Are Sunshine of My Life"
