Oh… Now We’re in a Recession

This recent headline amongst the main-stream media is thankfully shedding some light on this previously cloudy subject. I have to admit, i wasn’t quite yet sure whether our economy was in rough shape. Luckily we have the National Bureau of Economic Research to let us know what’s really going on.

(Tongue planted firmly in cheek.)

The article continues on in more of the same obvious path, but towards the end it gets into some of the recommended “solutions”

“With rising costs of living, rising unemployment, record foreclosures and depleted savings, we must do more to help families make ends meet,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in a statement. “With the cooperation of our Republican colleagues, we intend to send a plan to the White House as soon as possible following President-elect Obama’s inauguration next month.”

The recommendation thus far seems to be some kind of coordinated bi-partisan stimulus plan. Oh, like the one we just gave Wall Street?  That’s working out well, and completely covered the problem there. At least it seems now the stimulus will be based on helping families and individual Americans, which will feel good.

However consider the problem inherent. Cost of living is increasing because of inflation. The dollar is losing it’s purchasing power because the government has decided that it can both cut taxes and spend more simply by printing money. Thus making all of our lives hell. The method is explained in my post Inflation Destroys. This money that the government is going to give us has to come from somewhere. Whether by taxes in which cases it’s simply the redistribution of wealth and there is no net benefit to the economy, only a reduction in efficiency. Or they are going to print it, the much more likely scenario. In that case when all of America suddenly has $300 more dollars or whatever the amount, they are going to go out and spend it most likely. Because that’s what they are going to be told to do, god forbid anyone ever saved or paid down debt, consumption is patriotic. But i digress, no matter what they decide to do with the money, it all comes down to more money chasing the same amount of goods, bidding up prices and reducing the value of each existing dollar.

The result is going to be a dependence on these stimulus plans for basic living and a new welfare state, eventually leading to runaway inflation and some really serious problems afterwords. At least, that’s what i think, how about you? You must be happy about getting some money soon from the government, i suppose i am. But how do you feel about a continued trend of a reduction in standard of living and dollar purchasing power?

Too Much Gun Control?

“If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.” — The Dalai Lama, (May 15, 2001, The Seattle Times) speaking at the “Educating Heart Summit” in Portland, Oregon, when asked by a girl how to react when a shooter takes aim at a classmate

That is one of the quotes in a recent article at LewRockwell.com a libertarian commentary site and blog. The article concludes that overly strict gun-control contributed to the incident in India over the the past week and weekend and indeed contributes today to a majority of violent crimes across the world. The argument is simple and well-known… “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” But The article looks past the rhetoric and into some of the implications of gun control. It also draws some quotes off of some very interesting minds like The Dalai Lama. How do you feel about gun control? Do you believe in limited regulation? If so, why? Where does the regulation begin and where is it justified and where is it not?

Murder by Sale

Definitely losing faith in humanity after this story. A Wal-Mart worker who opened a door on Black Friday was trampled to death by thousands of shoppers in search for discounts on crappy electronics. The worst part is that police and EMTs were being knocked to the ground and ignored while trying to save the man by more shoppers. He lay dying on the floor and people still couldn’t give a shit. I have yet to find any confirmation but i was also told by a friend that shoppers became irate when told the store was closing because it was a crime scene. One good piece of information is that the pregnant woman reported on in the video is actually okay and did not lose her baby.

And i found this video as well just in my search… it is of a group of Wal-Mart shoppers fighting over some sale items. A sign of the Apocalypse no doubt. If we are willing to kill each other over such simple and insignificant things as this… what happens when the real pain comes?