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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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1 posted on 12/23/2008 11:28:47 AM PST by jazusamo
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To: AbeKrieger; abigail2; Alia; Amalie; American Quilter; arthurus; awelliott; Bahbah; bamahead; ...



*PING*
Thomas Sowell

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Recent columns
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Please FReepmail me if you would like to be added to, or removed from, the Thomas Sowell ping list…

2 posted on 12/23/2008 11:31:28 AM 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

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

Dr. Sowell’s Random Thoughts and much more impressive than any kind of thoughts BHO has had.


3 posted on 12/23/2008 11:32:28 AM PST by Castigar
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To: jazusamo
Good article.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!
4 posted on 12/23/2008 11:32:42 AM PST by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines, RVN 1969. St. Michael the Archangel defend us in battle!)
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To: Castigar

” than any kind of thoughts BHO has had. “

Having never heard any kind of ‘thought’ from B0, I can neither agree or disagree.....


5 posted on 12/23/2008 11:38:13 AM PST by Uncle Ike (Sometimes I sets and thinks, and sometimes I jus' sets.........)
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To: jazusamo
Often what we learn is what damn fools we have been.

Any fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it.
-henry david thoreau


6 posted on 12/23/2008 11:38:42 AM PST by SouthDixie (We are but angels with one wing, it takes two to fly.)
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To: Castigar

So many taglines from Mr. Sowell. I’m using the one you posted as my newest tagline.


7 posted on 12/23/2008 11:43:00 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (Ronald Reagan had a vision of America. Barack Obama has a vision of Barack Obama.)
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To: Uncle Ike; Castigar

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


8 posted on 12/23/2008 11:45:15 AM 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
Wal-Mart has done more for poor people than any ten liberals, at least nine of whom are almost guaranteed to hate Wal-Mart.

AAAUUURGH! This is SO true!

9 posted on 12/23/2008 11:46:09 AM PST by Aquinasfan (When you find "Sola Scriptura" in the Bible, let me know)
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To: jazusamo

Wal-Mart and other retailers should be coming out with ads letting the middle and lower classes know that it is those that proclaim they want to protect you and keep you dependent on you are the ones causing you the most harm. Business needs to fight back.


10 posted on 12/23/2008 11:49:26 AM PST by Always Independent
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To: jazusamo
My favorite: 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.

This would cut the welfare budget in half, at least.

11 posted on 12/23/2008 11:54:05 AM PST by AZLiberty (I hope Obama changes.)
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Comment #12 Removed by Moderator

To: AZLiberty
This would cut the welfare budget in half, at least.

There's no doubt in my mind that it would and if random drug testing is okay in our military it should also be for welfare recipients.

13 posted on 12/23/2008 12:02:31 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: FrPR

I couldn’t agree more.


14 posted on 12/23/2008 12:03:30 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: FrPR

Certainly the wisest.

I love reading him. Always so clear and concise. I wish my brain worked like that.


15 posted on 12/23/2008 12:04:10 PM PST by Pessimist
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To: jazusamo

If only Thomas Sowell was being sworn in as President. Then I wouldn’t have all this racial angst that I have. I feel guilty for opposing virtually everything that comes out of socialist Obama’s mouth. Libs, college students, and PC people make me feel lower than a neanderthal for not rejoicing in the coronation of Obama as America (or Kenya’s) 1st African-American President!


16 posted on 12/23/2008 12:07:45 PM PST by 2nd Amendment
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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.

Only problem is that there wouldn't be enough room on Pelousy's jump suit for all the union, hyphen-american, gay rights and terrorist-appeasing pressure groups that own her.

17 posted on 12/23/2008 12:18:08 PM PST by scottinoc
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To: jazusamo

“if random drug testing is okay in our military it should also be for welfare recipients.”

True story: the first time I ever had an NCO call the room to attention after I pinned on O-6 was when I walked in to provide my urinalysis sample. God has such a sense o’ humor...

Colonel, USAFR


18 posted on 12/23/2008 12:21:35 PM PST by jagusafr ("Bugs, Mr. Rico! Zillions of 'em!" - Robert Heinlein)
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To: scottinoc

So true and as fat as Fat Jack Murtha is there wouldn’t be enough space for his corrupt campaign donor logos on it.


19 posted on 12/23/2008 12:27:08 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: jagusafr

Thanks for relating that, it kinda keeps everything in perspective. :)


20 posted on 12/23/2008 12:28:24 PM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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