Stimulus/Recovery/Bailout, Global Warming/Climate Change

Developing Story --- the "Stimulus" Bill was at one time a "Recovery" Bill that was at one time a "Bailout" Bill. Get the picture. At any other time in the nation, the same bill would have been called simply a "Spending" bill that would increase the deficit and increase government intrusion into people's lives. But because the current situation is framed as a national or even global emergency, people are asked to look the other way -- just trust us. A similar argument on a smaller scale has come from the claimed global emergence of what used to be called "global warming" but now is called "Climate change."

Here is an article that reviews the historical reality of the failures in the use of government "stimulus" in faltering economies. Either willful ignorance or a thinly veiled power-grab motivation could bring an administration to push this kind of bill.

Here is an example of the power grab and government encroachment from the excuse of the latter - climate issue.


People need to realize that freedom is not a means to an end. When it is treated as such, it will be lost.

Here is a comment from writer Camille Paglia, in Salon.Com, a liberal online magazine. Rather than being swept up in the spin of the moment, she seems to be standing on her principles -- whether you agree with her or not, it is good to have clearly defined principles for the world to see and debate with instead of just having the "will to power."

"Surely common sense would dictate that when Congress is doling out fat dollops of taxpayers' money, due time should be delegated for sober consideration and debate. The administration's coercive rush toward instant action, accompanied by apocalyptic pronouncements of imminent catastrophe, has put its own credibility on the line."

More from the same writer --

"Speaking of talk radio (which I listen to constantly), I remain incredulous that any Democrat who professes liberal values would give a moment's thought to supporting a return of the Fairness Doctrine to muzzle conservative shows. (My latest manifesto on this subject appeared in my last column.) The failure of liberals to master the vibrant medium of talk radio remains puzzling. To reach the radio audience (whether the topic is sports, politics or car repair), a host must have populist instincts and use the robust common voice. Too many Democrats have become arrogant elitists, speaking down in snide, condescending tones toward tradition-minded middle Americans whom they stereotype as rubes and buffoons. But the bottom line is that government surveillance of the ideological content of talk radio is a shocking first step toward totalitarianism."

More on the "Fairness" Doctrine...
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Also with regard to the "Fairness Doctrine" issue, Democrats in elected office need to realize that even in floating trial balloons and talking about these kinds of policies will have an impact around the world. Right now in Taiwan, perhaps emboldened or in imitation of the talk in the United States, the KMT government of Ma Ying-jeou and the Legislature that the party controls has begun moving swiftly to silence political dissent by using similar language to excuse suppression of any opposition voices on television talk shows. Last week, they used the same words -- that these shows are not "balanced" or "fair" and so should be fined or eliminated from television. The only shows they singled out were the ones critical of the current government policy.