LLS
The world is full of morons. We have managed to survive despite them--a measure of our genius. The wonder is that the world's not in worse shape than it is.
Let history be the judge:
On the side of expansive government, see Soviet Russia in the 20s and 30s, or Red China in the 50s and 60s, or North Korea today. In fact, name a Communist country that turned into a bread basket as a Communist country. Almost all of them say food production plunge or at best, stay the same.
On the side of limited government, see the increase in farm production in the United States and Britain during the mid-to late 1800s and into the 1900s when they were at their most free.
Slightly off topic, but over the weekend I heard a number of pundits praising Obama to the skies because he "saved" the auto industry. Makes me gag.
America has enormous, advanced auto manufacturing facilities. We have an army of skilled workers in the auto industry. We have sophisticated Supply Chains setup around the country. If GM or Chrysler went belly-up, what would happen? Would 3 million people lose their jobs, never to work again? No.
The bondholders would suffer. The stockholders would suffer. The Unions would suffer. But SOMEONE would come along, buy the factories, and put people back to work making cars. That's really quite obvious. It's the cheapest way to make cars -- buy ready-made factories which come complete with skilled workforces. They would be hot properties and would be scooped up quickly, and people would get jobs again.
But Obama claims that his Bailout boondoggle saved millions of jobs. I don't buy that for a minute.
"What if Washington stopped doling out relief now? Would a vacuum prevail?"
Not a chance.
Yea, I can see that. I sit at the dinner table with my kids, empty plates and say to them: the rich got a tax break so I am going to let you start to death. /s/
What is a greater danger of putting women and children on the street is to continue Obama’s economic policies. Despite trillions spent on “stimulus” the number of long term unemployed today is greater than during the Great Depression.
I wish.
Children and the poor will always be fed. The question that needs to be asked: will the taxpayer starve if we continue to over burden them.?
"In the 19th century there was no federal government welfare system AT ALL in America. So, exactly how many poor Americans who-were-not-stuck-in-the-California-mountains-in-winter died of starvation?"
Aside from episodes like the Donner party, starvation was simply not an issue due to effective private charity (the only real charity). By contrast, today's poor have a huge problem with OBESITY, not starvation. Think about that for a minute...
I got a letter from my daughter’s public school on Friday. The school will serve free hot breakfasts and lunches all summer for any child who comes in. (I guess it is to replace the free lunches they get during the school year). The kids won’t starve. But I do wonder what Mama is doing with the welfare check.