Comments on: Government Run Amok

By: David A. Singhiser

David A. Singhiser — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:26:13 +0000

That was a great article!

We do have ourselves to blame, but how can the American people pay attention, when they are overworked and exhausted just to keep up? Here in Hawai\’i, many have two, even three jobs. They pay for private schools, because the public schools are so bad. Housing, food, gas. Everything is overpriced because of the Jones Act.

Having to pay for all this, is it any wonder that when workers come home, they flop down in front of the TV and try not to think?

Education is the answer, but do we have enough time before it\’s too late?

By: Steve Hogan

Steve Hogan — Sun, 17 May 2009 02:18:31 +0000

This is a train wreck in the making. There is simply too much inertia to recognize what lies ahead and act to avoid a massive crash – and that assumes we have leaders that understand the causes and have the honesty and political will to reverse course. Clearly that is not the case with the Obamatons. They’re too busy plundering the country to worry about the people they are supposed to be serving.

Do we have our work cut out for us? Indeed. But it isn’t to educate a critical mass to wake up and change things for the better. It’s far too late for that. Instead, we should acknowledge that something approaching a worst case scenario is inevitable. Our work should be to educate those closest to us that they need to plan for how to survive when things turn sour, and they will.

Maybe those with more vision than I possess can also figure out how to pick up the pieces when the train wreck does its damage. The fallout from what awaits us is going to be very unsettling. Buckle up, folks.

By: robert stewart

robert stewart — Sat, 16 May 2009 13:29:53 +0000

Sheldon again hits the nail on the head. As a resident of Bermuda I often feel insulted that the US President and Congress threatens our livliehood because we have low taxes (and nil income tax)whilst they tax to the hilt hardworking US citizens for purposes that do not make sense.
It is ironic that America revolted again George III because he taxed at a rate of around 2% of GDP (not that GDP as a concept existed then)but now sheep-like agree to tax rates of around 40%. Meanwhile, the descendants of George III – British colonies like Bermuda – have tax rates that are a fraction of US. Rather than the US threaten Bermuda, Cayman, or the BVI perhaps the Bermuda navy, the Caymanian marines, or the BVI airforce should invade the US and liberate you from what HL Mencken called the \\"wowsers and snouters\\" of government.

By: william white

william white — Sat, 16 May 2009 02:11:56 +0000

highly indirect representation to international bodies that can establish regulations (tax) is another area that is irritating.

By: Chris D. Mason

Chris D. Mason — Fri, 15 May 2009 21:31:32 +0000

Mr. Richman, as usual, poignantly captures the “real” facts and issues. I have been angry and dumbfounded and the depth of hubris currently piling up in the vicinity of the National Mall. I am concerned that my anger might turn to despair as the “train of abuses and usurpations” grows ever longer.

I wonder if economic and liberal (classical sense) truth is that murky to so many…then I remember that freedom has ALWAYS been a radical idea! While we long for days of yore, we must remember that people have always tried to control other people…whether through outright military conquest or through “mere” taxation, people can’t seem to leave well enough alone.

We always look with envy at what the Joneses have; their stock options, their cars, their whatever. When it comes down to it, it doesn’t matter what the Joneses have or don’t have. But this simple fact escapes us. We are a bipolar species. We don’t care about other people’s plights when we are wealthy but when hard times befall us we scream bloody murder to Leviathan for “fairness” and “equality”.

The previous poster pondered about the identity of the “fraudsters”…I say the real fraudsters are us. The current mess would happen regardless of which extorter in chief is sitting in the Oval Office. We have forgotten that life takes work. Sometimes the work pays off and other times it doesn’t. But regardless of how our lives turn out, we have only ourselves to hold accountable.

By: William Anderson

William Anderson — Fri, 15 May 2009 15:10:27 +0000

Sheldon hits it right on the head in this one. In the private business world, one can go to prison for fraud for misrepresenting the use of business revenues. However, as Sheldon shows here, the government is doing it with a vengeance — while ratcheting up the prosecutions of people in business.

So, who are the real fraudsters?