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Random Thoughts (Thomas Sowell)
Creators Syndicate ^ | December 23, 2008 | Thomas Sowell

Posted on 12/23/2008 11:28:47 AM PST by jazusamo

Random thoughts on the passing scene:

Maybe the current bailout fever is Congress' way of getting into the spirit of the season— saying in effect, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus." They will undoubtedly also be saying, "Yes, New Jersey, there is a Santa Claus... Yes, Ohio, there is a Santa Claus. . ."

A reader suggests that members of Congress should wear uniforms, like NASCAR drivers, so that we will know who their corporate sponsors are. Many of those in Congress should also wear logos representing the teachers' unions, environmentalist extremists and other special interests.

They say we live and learn. Often what we learn is what damn fools we have been.

If there are still any educators or others who think that both sides of an issue should be presented, the non-profit Heartland Institute has put together Al Gore's movie "An Inconvenient Truth" and the British Channel 4 program "The Great Global Warming Swindle" in one package with two DVDs.

People who are impressed by how many of Barack Obama's advisors have Ivy League degrees seem not to remember how many people with Ivy League degrees mismanaged the Vietnam war and how many people with Ivy League degrees mismanaged economic policy during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

The fact that sales at Starbucks are going down, while sales at McDonald's are going up, shows that people are adjusting to economic adversity by cutting back their spending. Only in Congress do people adjust to economic adversity and growing deficits by spending more money.

Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke seems to be pretty popular thus far. My own preference is for Federal Reserve chairmen who are unpopular. When Paul Volcker was chairman of the Fed back in the 1980s, he was hated like poison, but his policies finally broke the back of the inflation that had been out of control for years— not without some painful costs, but few benefits can be gotten without costs.

It is fascinating to see that politicians whose interventions in mortgage lending have created a disaster in financial institutions are now moving on to intervene in the automobile industry.

After the San Francisco 49ers' interim head coach Mike Singletary has breathed some new life into that team, if the 49ers do not make him their regular head coach some other team probably will. What happens to Singletary may tell us more about the 49ers management than about Singletary.

Wal-Mart has done more for poor people than any ten liberals, at least nine of whom are almost guaranteed to hate Wal-Mart.

Ronald Reagan had a vision of America. Barack Obama has a vision of Barack Obama.

One of the signs of how easily we are bullied by small and vocal groups is how many universities, among other institutions, dare not even refer to the Christmas vacation but instead refer to "the winter holiday."

As American incomes have risen over the years, liberals have kept changing the definition of "poverty." Otherwise, the dwindling numbers of people who could be called "poor" would take away the liberals' main claim to influence and power.

If you didn't know that Governor Rod Blagojevich was a Democrat, you are unlikely to find out from the mainstream media. But, if you didn't know that recently convicted Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska was a Republican, the media made sure to tell you.

An e-mail from a reader whose job requires him to take urine tests, to make sure he is drug-free, wonders why he is taxed to provide money to people on welfare who are also on drugs. He thinks they should have to take urine tests too, before they get his money.

Recent covers on Time magazine and Newsweek— as well as the stories inside— suggest that these magazines are as giddy as teenagers are over some rock stars, when it comes to Barack Obama.

Governor Rod Blagojevich may have inadvertently done us a big favor by discrediting the idea that we should look up to politicians as our protectors and saviors.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: randomthoughts; sowell; thomassowell
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To: jagusafr

Yes, ‘random’ drug testing is an annual event for MP’s!


21 posted on 12/23/2008 12:41:23 PM PST by SFC Chromey (We are at war with Islamofascists inside and outside our borders, now ACT LIKE IT!)
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To: jazusamo
People who are impressed by how many of Barack Obama's advisors have Ivy League degrees seem not to remember how many people with Ivy League degrees mismanaged the Vietnam war and how many people with Ivy League degrees mismanaged economic policy during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

George Bush has an Ivy League degree, as well. I guess that some degrees are more equal that others. Surprised that Mr. Sowell failed to point this out.

22 posted on 12/23/2008 12:56:20 PM PST by wbill
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To: jazusamo

FTA: “It is fascinating to see that politicians whose interventions in mortgage lending have created a disaster in financial institutions are now moving on to intervene in the automobile industry.”

This made me think of this quote:

We can’t solve old problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Maj Gen Ken Israel, USAF (ret)


23 posted on 12/23/2008 1:06:27 PM PST by 2nd Bn, 11th Mar (The "P" in Democrat stands for patriotism.)
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To: 2nd Bn, 11th Mar

Maj Gen Israel nailed it.


24 posted on 12/23/2008 1:15:29 PM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo

What a delightful columnist is Thomas Sowell, a man whose eyes have been opened!


25 posted on 12/23/2008 1:18:50 PM PST by RoadTest (The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? - Jer.17:9)
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To: jazusamo

What a delightful columnist is Thomas Sowell, a man whose eyes have been opened!


26 posted on 12/23/2008 1:21:32 PM PST by RoadTest (The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? - Jer.17:9)
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To: jazusamo
After the San Francisco 49ers' interim head coach Mike Singletary has breathed some new life into that team, if the 49ers do not make him their regular head coach some other team probably will. What happens to Singletary may tell us more about the 49ers management than about Singletary.

He could go to the other side of the Bay. :)

/silver and black colored glasses

27 posted on 12/23/2008 3:11:40 PM PST by GOP_Raider (Have you risen above your own public education today?)
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To: jazusamo
...giddy as teenagers are over some rock stars, when it comes to Barack Obama.

Was I the only teenager who was giddy to see a sitting US Senator (Alan Simpson) instead of rock stars? Man, I was a strange adolescent.

28 posted on 12/23/2008 3:16:18 PM PST by GOP_Raider (Have you risen above your own public education today?)
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To: GOP_Raider
He could go to the other side of the Bay. :)

LOL! Have a second cousin who's a rabid Raider fan that would back you up on that, he'd hit it off with you.

29 posted on 12/23/2008 3:25:16 PM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo

“I believe Obama is a neophyte in regards to thinking ability as compared to Dr. Sowell.”

My Great Dane has more thinking capability than Nobama!


30 posted on 12/23/2008 4:00:42 PM PST by GWMcClintock (Right after Lib Democrats, the most dangerous politicians are country club Republicans. T. Sowell)
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To: GWMcClintock

That’s cold but quite probably true. LOL!


31 posted on 12/23/2008 4:07:34 PM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: Aquinasfan
lol!

I had never been in a Wal-Mart before moving to the South from the SF Bay Area. When people here learn this, they are shocked, I tell you SHOCKED. Then they ask how come I'd never been in a Wal-Mart in the SF Bay Area, and I tell 'em the truth: "The SF Bay Area doesn't "allow" Wal-marts."

And the universal feedback I get to this truthfulness, from my so-called "hick" hayseed rednecks is: Well, no WONDER CA is going broke!

32 posted on 12/23/2008 4:37:29 PM PST by Alia
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To: jazusamo
A reader suggests that members of Congress should wear uniforms, like NASCAR drivers, so that we will know who their corporate sponsors are. Many of those in Congress should also wear logos representing the teachers' unions, environmentalist extremists and other special interests.

My favorite.

33 posted on 12/23/2008 4:55:52 PM PST by the invisib1e hand (appeasement is collaboration.)
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To: jazusamo

Merry Christma jazusamo!

And thanks for the pings. This one had a good assortment of stocking stuffers :)


34 posted on 12/23/2008 5:18:48 PM PST by Gene Eric
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To: Gene Eric
This one had a good assortment of stocking stuffers

Thanks, GE. I always look forward to Dr. Sowell's next Random Thoughts, they're the greatest! :)

35 posted on 12/23/2008 5:27:57 PM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo; GOP_Raider
He could go to the other side of the Bay. :)

Hope he stays away from Cleveland! Just don't even think about it.


36 posted on 12/23/2008 6:33:07 PM PST by rdb3 ([T]he cool regions of the head are easily trumped by the raging fires of the heart.)
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To: jazusamo
Ronald Reagan had a vision of America. Barack Obama has a vision of Barack Obama.

Best summation of B Hussein Obama ever.

37 posted on 12/23/2008 7:18:48 PM PST by Rummyfan (Iraq: it's not about Iraq anymore, it's about the USA!)
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To: jazusamo

Merry Christmas and thanks for the posts. You have introduced me to the wit and wisdom of Thomas Sowell throughout 2008.

Seasons blessings!


38 posted on 12/24/2008 3:38:21 AM PST by vimto (To do the right thing you don't have to be intelligent - you have to be brave (Sasz))
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To: rdb3
Hope he stays away from Cleveland! Just don't even think about it.

Racist! j/k

Merry Christmas rdb3.
39 posted on 12/24/2008 6:40:04 AM PST by BraveMan
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To: vimto

Thank you, vimto and seasons blessings to you also!


40 posted on 12/24/2008 7:21:16 AM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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