Posted on 10/22/2009 12:20:56 PM PDT by JohnRLott
The Obama administration claims that it was their passage of massive government spending that saved the United States from another Great Depression. Last week, Larry Summers, Obama's top economic adviser, claimed that because of the stimulus:
"We have walked a substantial distance back from the economic abyss and are on the path toward economic recovery. Most importantly, we have seen a substantial change in the trend of job loss."
And Vice President Biden declared at the end of September:
"In my wildest dreams, I never thought it [the stimulus] would work this well."
As President Obama and other Democrats have correctly pointed out many times, this has been a worldwide recession. But if Summers and Biden are right in their assessment of the stimulus measures, one would think that the U.S. economy should be recovering better the many other countries, countries not wise enough to follow Obama's lead of an extraordinary $787 billion increase in government spending. It is also particularly timely to evaluate the spending since Christina Romer, the chairwoman of President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, told Congress today that the stimulus had already had most of its impact on the economy.
Take Canada. Their stimulus package was nowhere as extensive as ours. Their $22.7 billion in stimulus spending this year, and $17.2 billion next year, amounts to about 7.5 percent of their federal spending for their 2009 and 2010 budgets -- not much more than a third of the per-capita stimulus spending in the United States.
Has Canadian unemployment climbed higher than than ours because of their relative inaction? Hardly. . . .
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
And Vice President Biden declared at the end of September: “In my wildest dreams, I never thought it [the stimulus] would work this well.”
You forgot another one:
In “Communist China” there are NO capital Gains taxes.
The stock market and oil are up. All is well!
My guess is that most other countries don’t have a dedicated cadre of Marxist socialists who think progress is completely destroying the country in order to rebuild it in their own image.
One, ideology is paramount.
Two, he does not give a rat's ass about you, me or even the people who voted for him.
Three, he has no idea what makes an economy work.
“...You know, when I was asked earlier about the issue of coal, uh, you know — Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket. Even regardless of what I say about whether coal is good or bad. Because I’m capping greenhouse gases, coal power plants, you know, natural gas, you name it — whatever the plants were, whatever the industry was, uh, they would have to retrofit their operations. That will cost money. They will pass that money on to consumers...”
How is that Hope and Change treating you now?
That is because Russia is Capitalist now. They have a flat tax rate as well.
Wow. That deserves to be passed on as a chain email.
Obama, always claiming his policies are working, says everything will level right out when unemployment reaches 100%.........
Does the Chinese govt. protect human rights?
Not arguing. Just curious.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going shooting at the Shanghai Gun Club tonight with some friends, so it's time to get ready and head on down to Huai Hai Lu and have a wonderful evening (you did know that you can go shooting here in China, right? More freedom than in Chicago, IL - even in a country that nominally is "gun free").
Yep. If the Government wants to take it - via Eminent Domain - they must pay fair market value as established by the market (real estate agents who are privately licensed). And there aren't any property taxes, so no worries there.
Cars are freely owned, as are stocks, and even companies; I own 100% of my own company in China, free and clear. I am the only name on the articles of incorporation, it is mine (no State or Chinese National involved).
Overall, I'd say property rights are no weaker than you find in the US, and when the Government decides to override your rights it treats you a heck of a lot better than the US (Kelo case, for example).
Does the Chinese govt. protect human rights?
Within reason, yes. See the list I posted earlier - it is incumbent upon the individual to exercise their rights, but they are there.
Abortion is the sticky one; there really are very, VERY few forced abortions any more. The way they handle it is to simply say there's a fine for each child beyond 1. Until that fine is paid, the child does not get a national ID card, so they do not get to participate in the subsidized health, or free schools, etc. You can still work, earn a living, and use private doctors and schools, though.
Religion is pretty open, I go to an evangelical church here in Shanghai. Sure, it's licensed by the State, but the preaching is about as straightforward as in the Free Methodist (very conservative denomination) church I attend in the US. China loves their licenses and permits, so if set up a house church and don't get the proper permits, your pastor is arrested, thrown in jail for a day or two, and fined 1000-2000 RMB (about 1-2 months salary).
There is a national minimum wage, and for the most part it's enforced, especially in the bigger cities. Likewise restrictions on work hours, laws about overtime pay, minimum age of workers, etc.
I'd say they're no worse than most of South and Central America, or Eastern Europe. No, not up there with the US, Great Britain, Germany and the like, but not Burma, or like most of Africa, Middle East, or even India or Malaysia.
Does the Chinese govt. protect human rights?
Not arguing. Just curious.
You're either being disingenuous or appallingly ignorant.
Try speaking openly against the government and see how long your private property remains in your hands.
Testimony on the Rule of Law in China
Finally, no respect for the law. This is largely because laws on the books in China are not enforced or are ignored by the government itself in reality. This has created a huge discrepancy. While a large number of Chinese laws have strong provisions for individual and property rights, in reality such provisions have little meaning because the government, especially local authorities, can ignore them with impunity.It is clear that the Chinese government is aware of these problems and reformists within the Chinese government have been trying to address them for a long time, but so far, judging by the facts on the ground, it appears that China remains far away from its own declared goal of ruling the country according to law.
Hey, I can only relate my direct experiences as someone who lives half-time over here, with lots of Chinese nationals as friends, including some who have run (and actually been elected) for Government representatives.
Well stated!
It sure does.
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