The
Rational Argumentator
Issue CXCVII
June 22-23, 2009
Why on Earth are You So Glum, Class of 2009:
Bradley Doucet
June 22, 2009
Bradley Doucet addresses the graduating class of 2009 and writes that looking ahead, they might be forgiven for thinking that the future looks rather grim. The worst global recession in decades drags on month after month. Wars rage in the Middle East with no stable peace in sight. Nuclear weapons seem destined to fall into hands that should by all rights never possess them. And the planet itself, they are told repeatedly, has just about had it with the human race and its hubris. Today may be a day for celebration, but looking ahead, does the class of 2009 have any reasons to feel hopeful?
Why I Love America:
Gen LaGreca
June 22, 2009
Gen LaGreca loves America for establishing a revolutionary new country in which a person’s life is his and his alone to live for his own sake, and government’s sole purpose is to protect that sacred right -- and for many other reasons as well. This essay anticipates the coming Independence Day holiday by reminding us what is great about the principles on which the United States was founded.
Economics
International Bailout Brings Us Closer to Economic Collapse:
Ron Paul
June 22, 2009
Last week Congress passed the war supplemental appropriations bill. In an affront to all those who thought they voted for a peace candidate, the current president will be sending another $106 billion we don’t have to continue the bloodshed in Afghanistan and Iraq, without a hint of a plan to bring our troops home. Rep. Ron Paul vehemently opposed this Supplemental Appropriations Bill and was dismayed to see it pass so easily.
Why I Expect Serious Stagflation:
Robert P. Murphy
June 23, 2009
Even though unemployment rates will not be as severe during this economic crisis as they were during the Great Depression, Dr. Robert P. Murphy still predicts that we are in store for a miserable decade of economic stagnation. Given all of the huge assaults of the federal government into the private sector in just the past six months, Dr. Murphy frankly does not understand how anyone except true believers in Karl Marx can be seeing "green shoots."
Defend the Gold Standard:
Robert P. Murphy
June 23, 2009
For some reason, there are a lot of people out there who can't stand the gold standard. Robert Murphy speculates that maybe their hostility is in reaction to the large (and growing) number of gold bugs who think the worst day in history was August 15, 1971. But since he is an economist, not a psychoanalyst, all he can really do is patiently explain how silly the antigold arguments are, rather than speculate on the motives of their authors. For today's article he will focus on a recent Bloomberg piece by Michael Sesit with the suggestive title, "Gold Standard Fans Yearn for Great Depression."
The Costs of Carbon Legislation:
Robert P. Murphy
June 23, 2009
In two of his recent op-eds (here and here) for the New York Times, Nobel laureate Paul Krugman has challenged critics of the government's intentions to regulate carbon dioxide emissions, and he has even specifically endorsed the pending Waxman-Markey bill which includes a "cap-and-trade" program. According to Krugman, the costs of such legislation are no big deal, and in exchange we avert catastrophe. So why all the criticism? In the present article, Robert Murphy wants to show the fragility of Krugman's position. For one thing, the true economic harms of "global-warming" legislation could be much higher than his own cited figures. For another, the benefits of such measures — in terms of averted climate-change damage — are quite negligible, unless other countries follow suit.
Correcting Krugman on Climate:
Robert P. Murphy
June 23, 2009
In the present article Robert Murphy wishes to continue my criticism of Krugman's writings in support of Waxman-Markey. We will see that even on mainstream, neoclassical economic terms, Waxman-Markey fails a cost/benefit test by a huge margin. It's not even close.
Politics
Moving Towards Tobacco Prohibition:
Ron Paul
June 22, 2009
The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act will give sweeping new powers over tobacco to the FDA. It will require everyone engaged in manufacturing, preparing, compounding, or processing tobacco to register with the FDA and be subjected to FDA inspections, which is yet another violation of the Fourth Amendment. It violates the First Amendment by allowing the FDA to restrict tobacco advertising in multiple ways, as well as an outright ban on advertising any cigarettes as light, mild or low-tar. Rep. Ron Paul believes that unfortunately, government is using its already overly intrusive financial and regulatory roles in healthcare to establish a justifiable interest in intervening in your personal lifestyle choices as well.
GM, Amtrak, and an Increasingly Fascist America:
Ron Paul
June 22, 2009
Last week, General Motors finally declared bankruptcy. Many in government thought $20 billion in taxpayer dollars would save the company, but as predicted, it only postponed the inevitable. The government will dump another $30 billion into GM and take a 60 percent controlling interest for it. Public officials are now involving themselves in tactical business decisions such as where GM’s headquarters should move and what kind of cars it will build.
Fight Government Encroachment into Healthcare!:
Ron Paul
June 22, 2009
With a faltering economy, and skyrocketing costs, healthcare continues to be a critical issue for all Americans. Unfortunately government encroachment into the doctor/patient relationship is poised to exacerbate our problems with healthcare. Rep. Ron Paul is worried about the Obama administration's efforts to further socialize the American healthcare system.
"Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn."
~ Benjamin Franklin