StephenKMackSD's Blog

Can it last? That is the salient question that begs to asked of the latest political crush of Cockeyed Platonist (CP)? Does it have the staying power of true,lasting political fidelity,or will someone come between them? Donald Trump or Michelle Bachmann or even the sedate and respectable Mitch Daniels? The dictates of political pragmatism being his singular guide.The answer awaits the passage of time in The American Political Melodrama. But let us carefully consider a more pressing issue, the seriousness of the Mr. Ryan's budget proposal and the 'courage' and 'initiative' that accompanied its birth, as argued by our thinker. But a more burning question obtrudes itself into this essential debate: CP cannot resist making this about morality rather that politics i.e.'This is an immoral imposition on future generations.' This in a passage on the lifetime contributions of an average working couple: Medicare contributions of $140,000 contrasted with $430,000 of benefits. But a question arises in my mind, as to the interest paid on these lifetime contributions and the totality of all contributions in the aggregate, and the potential for accrual interest,or is this a question of the economic naif? And then in any discussion of Medicare and cost control come the question of 'The Death Panels' no matter how seemingly high minded the rhetorical frame: this a perennial Right Wing shibboleth. For a critique of Mr. Ryan's budget, as to its seriousness and viability, one need turn to Mr. Paul Krugman, in the New York Times, for a cogent,unsparing evaluation. Paul Ryan is CP's political man of the moment, of course, subject to the vagaries of his political sensibility.
As for Mr. Ryan moving us off 'Unreality Island': like most of his fellow Conservative Thinkers and some Liberal Thinkers, CP has yet to even acknowledge the utter failure of the myth of 'The Self-regulating Free Market',in practice, as the cause of the Economic Collapse of 2008. The repeal of Depression Era economic reform legislation was the reason for our current economic crisis and the propagation of the Myth of Austerity as the inescapable answer to that crisis. It is not the political romanticism masquerading as 'Economic Theory'  of Friedman or Hayek, that will dominate this political moment in American life, but the actuality of the effectiveness of Keynesian thought and practice, even in modified form.                     

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-haze-of-humanitarian-imperialism/2011/04/05/AF5EbPrC_story.html?wpisrc=nl_opinions

From his eyrie on a lower elevation of Mount Olympus, looking from his position in terms of distance and ethical/political superiority, The Great Will (TGW) pronounces on subjects of concern. His missive today is titled ‘The haze of humanitarian imperialism’. It seems that TGW has developed a political scruple about Humanitarian Imperialism, in contrast to the bold, ruthless, unapologetic Imperialism of the Bush Restoration. Is it the Humanitarianism that is the crux of his vexation? Certainly the invasion, devastation and brutality of the Iraq invasion or it’s precursor in Afghanistan remain in an intellectual/moral limbo, in this argument against the Libyan intervention? He has perhaps channeled the political/ethical and rhetorical spirit of Orwell, if only as a convenience, of this historical moment. But he does sound a note of caution in regards the words ‘rebels’ and ‘insurgents’ and their meanings in the world of political actualities, surely as cautionary? His use of literary and musical references is his homage to his own cultural breadth. A number of prominent American politicians are the subject of his ire: John Kerry, Lindsey Graham and John McCain and of course, the political weakness of President Obama is of utmost and perennial concern. And a comparison with Jimmy Carter’s ineffectual Iran Mission is telling, but probably of interest only to an ideologue like himself , as argumentative fuel to stoke his low burning fire, in fact, it might even be embers. The last paragraph is a quotation from Calvin Coolidge properly and ideologically garnished for the occasion:

 ‘As Calvin Coolidge, who knew his depth, was leaving the presidency in March 1929, he said, “Perhaps one of the most important accomplishments of my administration has been minding my own business.” Before an administration can do that, it must define its responsibilities and competence with sufficient modesty to acknowledge that some things are not its business.’

Calvin Coolidge left office in March 1929 and on October 29,1929, Black Tuesday occurred ,ushering in The Great Depression. Perhaps President Coolidge should have minded the people’s business!