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Ron Paul talks about the Fed and the bail out

By Howard B. Owens

Philip Anselmo

"You can't have free-market capitalism if you have a secret bank creating money and credit out of thin air," says Ron Paul.

This is similar to my own thoughts when I heard President Bush on television the other night, putting on his best serious face — he almost looked like he wasn't going to laugh at the teleprompter this time — say this:

"Despite corrections in the market place and instances of abuse, Democratic capitalism is the best system ever devised."

Another thought — aside from the tone and phrasing of the statement that calls to mind a kid holding up his new Ninja Turtle and proclaiming: "This is the best Leonardo ever!" and the ensuing scuffle with the neighbor boy who thinks his Leonardo is the "best ever" — is that wouldn't a bailout by the Fed undermine the core principle of Democratic capitalism that operates according to the free market principle, ironically pinched from evolutionary biology, of survival of the fittest? Shouldn't sloppy bankers and greedy financiers be weeded out to make room for the more capable? I mean, if we're speaking about Democratic capitalism. Isn't that the case?

Can't say I'm too comforted, either, by the vision of a senator waving around letters from the nation's top economists urging the government NOT to go through with this. Somehow, though, it all seems such a fitting end to the Bush Reich.

Sep 26, 2008, 11:19am Permalink
Gabor Deutsch

Philip,I think it is unfair to refer to the presidents two terms as the "Bush Reich".
I am not disagreeing with your point of view.

I would agree with Bush "Dictatorship" or any other word.

Why dont you refer to his staff (BUSH) as NAZI's while your at it.

Sep 26, 2008, 2:26pm Permalink
Philip Anselmo

But is "dictatorship" any more accurate? Bush isn't a dictator by any means. He's a cretin and a tool. But if anything, he's manipulated more than he manipulates. A dictator is autonomous. Bush is dependent.

Fine, I'll give you that "Bush Reich" might be a tad "unfair," or if not that, then at least a little tactless, but surely you can allow this poor sap the occasional hyperbole to help get him through the day. All the politicians get to do it. Why shouldn't I? I'm not even running for anything.

Sep 26, 2008, 2:49pm Permalink
Meg Cook

Philip,
You asked what the people in Alabama think about this.... I will tell you. The reason I live in Alabama is bacuase it is a very small town and the only traffic we have is related to the reservation. I live very close to where this would be located and if it is put in I know Alabama is going to lose several of it's current long time residents. The only ones that want this to come into the town are the one's who are going to profit i.e a certain local contractor who has been a very avid supporter of this, and people who will profit off the sale of their land the rest of this brings nothing but trouble.

Sep 26, 2008, 2:51pm Permalink
Philip Anselmo

Meg: Thank you. Yes. I had a feeling some folks might not look to kindly on that. I would like to hear more about this. Who might be some good people to contact? What does the town board think?

<a href="http://www.thebatavian.com/blogs/philipanselmo/news-roundup-alabama-tal…, you may want to switch your comment over to the post on this topic.</a> That way, more folks will see it and it will be better understood. This post does not mention the Alabama meeting.

Sep 26, 2008, 3:05pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Dictator is the wrong term. Imperial is more correct, but that isn't just Bush ... It's Clinton, Bush, Reagan, ... Nixon, Johnson, Kennedy, Eisenhower, Truman, Roosevelt ... but the trouble really begins with Teddy Roosevelt (McCain's hero) and Woodrow Wilson.

Bush is maybe inept, but on par in power grabbing with many of his predecessors throughout the 20th Century.

Unfortunately, neither McCain nor Obama (or as I heard them referred to recently as McBama), offer any way out of this quagmire.

Sep 26, 2008, 3:17pm Permalink
Meg Cook

Honestly Philip I have never used this site until now so I just responded in the first spot that popped up. The contractor I was refering to is Greg Post. I will have to ask my brother in law who was at the meeting becuase Im sure he was there as he is very opposed to this as well.

Sep 26, 2008, 3:35pm Permalink
Gabor Deutsch

Well, I guess if you want to use german originated words that through the years have been associated with such negative things as the holicaust, war, and political parties then I fear that vocabulary is not being used correctly.

Ich bin Sprachlos.

The Reich might be an english translated word but any time its used it is a reminder to the German nazi polititical social military nightmare.

I dont care what other word you use but such an advanced educated person like your self should know better than compare any POLITICAL situation with a word that can and would only be associated with such a regime as the Germans in world war TWO.

I hope you didnt mean it even if you are of German descent.
I hope that you didnt mean it if you are of Jewish descent.
I hope you really understand how powerfull one word can be to people and why i just think it was wrong.

I would accept a vulgar swear word, facist idiot , Dictatorship, Captain Crappy and the "crappertones,anything, whatever.

I do agree with everyhing else you have so passionately stated on the failure of the last 8 yrs.

I guess my last name might give others the idea that i am insensitive to certain references of the english launguage or moral standards.

Gabor D Deutsch
American

Sep 26, 2008, 7:36pm Permalink
Philip Anselmo

Gabor: I think you're laying it on a bit thick here. I've already stated that my word choice may not have been optimal, and I was sincere enough to admit my tactlessness. But I chose it not thinking — my mistake — of its Nazi connotations, rather more because of the sonority: it just sounded well with Bush.

Besides, Reich isn't an English translation that only means Third Reich. It's appropriated directly from the German, and it means, simply, 'empire', which is what I had in mind.

To criticize my choice of 'Reich' for its inherent baggage, while claiming that 'dictatorship' or 'fascist' are somehow not subject to their own insensitive associations is a tad hypocritical. No? I mean, the Nazis were fascists, weren't they? Stalin was a dictator, wasn't he? Why does my choice leave you speechless, but these can be reeled off with impunity?

Again, however, I'd like to repeat that I concede. Bad choice on my part. And I sincerely thank you for calling me on it. I'm always up for a discussion on our language's inability to ever be just neutral. Even if I'm the schmo of the moment.

Sep 26, 2008, 10:19pm Permalink
Gabor Deutsch

I may have over reacted on my part. It just rubbed me the wrong way at the time. I guess I have been overly concerned with the use of words since these campaigns have gone into full force.
I enjoy your articles and hope I didnt sound too prudent.
I could think of all sort of words about what Bush has done/trying to pull, but most of them are not appropriate.
Blame it on the economic situation.

Sep 27, 2008, 3:04pm Permalink

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