We must be honest in our arguments
I get many e-mails from listeners who vehemently disagree with President Obama, and myself, about how we should be dealing with the current economic mess. I try to respond to them all, but it gets a bit overwhelming. So instead, I’ll respond to some assertions made by listener Bill in a recent message…
- the Obama Administration does want to nationalize business in this country. How else will he redistribute wealth as he and others in his party have stated is their goal?
Obama does not want to nationalize business in this country, and he doesn’t want to redistribute wealth. He does believe, as many do, that the wealthy (including himself) should shoulder their fair share of the tax burden, and that there must be a safety net for vulnerable Americans. More on this as we go along…
- the economy is now officially owned by the Obama Administration since he and the Democratic majority have pushed through the recent Stimulus Bills and budgets with his $3.6 trillion budget about to be pushed through as well. He is increasing debt, not cutting it.
It’s true that the economy is Obama’s baby now, and he admits it himself. He will be judged by the success or failure of his economic plan. But he’s the guy who was elected to implement his ideas. Be honest, though. The first stimulus bill was passed under the previous administration. He is increasing debt, not cutting it, out of necessity. With all quarters of the economy contracting, the government can’t sit on the sideline and watch the economy collapse. I don’t care what history revisionists say, the New Deal did pull America out of the Great Depression. World War II finished the job - but that was exactly because the government adopted even more deficit spending.
- Politicians are very good at grand standing and rushing to pass new regulation and do a terrible job of evaluating what the unintended consequences of their decisions or bills may be. This is also another basic rule in business, determine what the upside and downside of the decision that you are about to make may be.
That may well be true of politicians. But we’re seeing in vivid detail that businesses aren’t always so capable of determining what the upside and downside of a decision will be. The bottom line is that this recession was caused by businesses run amok, not by government, though I believe government could have done much to prevent it via stricter regulation of these irresponsible financial institutions.
- Joe. My father worked three jobs to provide for his family. He never sought, demanded or expected the government to support him or his family. I have worked since I was 14 years old and actually from the time I was 8 if you consider a paper route, snow shoveling and lawn mowing jobs. Now Joe. My father worked three jobs to provide for his family. He never sought, demanded or expected the government to support him or his family. I have worked since I was 14 years old and actually from the time I was 8 if you consider a paper route, snow shoveling and lawn mowing jobs. Now I am supposed to just sit back and accept that all that I have EARNED with over 45 years of work is to be taken or taxed away to redistribute to second and third generation welfare recipients who have proven that they are too lazy to work and also to support illegal aliens who shouldn’t be here in the first place. And you call this fair and just?. And you call this fair and just?
Your father’s work ethic is admirable. But there are many, many people out there who can’t find one job, let alone three these days. Shouldn’t government help those people via unemployment benefits, etc.? I, too, have worked all my life and have never gotten government assistance - unless you want to count student loans (which I did pay back 100%). But I don’t resent a portion of my tax dollars going to support an unemployed worker or a family mired in poverty. And to say that “I am supposed to just sit back and accept that all that I have EARNED with over 45 years of work is to be taken or taxed away to redistribute to second and third generation welfare recipients who have proven that they are too lazy to work and also to support illegal aliens who shouldn’t be here in the first place” is nonsense. If anyone says that raising the tax rate the wealthiest Americans pay from 35% to 39% percent is taking “everything they’ve worked for,” that person needs to get an education in mathematics. Also, don’t discount the benefits that workers, whether legal or not, bring to our communities.
Once again, as my title to this blog says, we have to be honest in our arguments. Outrageous overstatements and misrepresentations do nothing to either solve the problem or enhance the discussion.
I hope Obama succeeds fantastically!
March 27th, 2009 at 11:42 am
I hope what the President does will help the country but I do not think it will. Bigger government will never be the answer as it costs more than it ever gives. I also see politicians benefiting from catering to some groups and burdening others. You may look at a picture and see something others do not but I do not see benefits from the current administration that will help the majority of legal American Citizens nor do I see any politician leading by example and cutting their expenses. Who pays for all the goodies the White House kids are getting and the cocktail parties thrown at the White House. Who pays for all the traveling and the special benefits politicians get? I would have more respect and hope if the leaders could lead instead filling bills with Pork and benefiting their careers.
Thank You
March 28th, 2009 at 12:03 am
That last one, a republican pork covered delicacy itself, was typical though. Not a “do as we say, not as we do”, but a “do as we say they do, say that we’ve never ever”.
April 6th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
It would be better if each American was given their share of the stimulus package to spend as they see fit and stimulate the economy as it would only work. The current party in charge wants to get rid of CEO’s who are not doing their job properly. So let’s get rid of politicians who are not doing their job as the tax-payers think is proper? I see a Govenor who raises the gas tax to fix our roads and so we drive less and the state has less money for roads. The tax on cigarrettes is raised to fund health care for children and to stop people from smoking so less revenue for children’s health care as smokers have to stop buying a legal product. How about raising taxes on alcohol to fund health care for children and cut the programs to stop alcohol abuse and get drinkers to stop getting drunk and killing people or abusing their families or filling homes with people suffering from dementia caused by drinking too much of a legal product. Makes no sense at all to me.
April 8th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Thank you, Joe, for your reasonable levelheaded comments on KGMI in the morning. And here on your Blog. I freqently find you respond to comments with similar words I would have choosen. I really appreciate your perspective and your ability to articulate intelligent responses to adversaries on the air. Some mornings I’m appalled at what people are saying about the current financial situation and how much they have forgotten where it began.
Thank you. I love hearing the things you have to say!
April 8th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
I sometimes wonder if you’re wasting your time Joe. It seems to me that many of the talk show host on KGMI are great at stirring up the mob that seeks to lynch you and people like you. I too appreciate your levelheaded comments, even as I disagree with you. I wish KGMI would offer some level headed conservative to counter you, but apparently angrily yelling ad hominem sells more books.
April 9th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
I like listening to both sides and making up my own mind. I can see Joe’s side at times but am more conservative. All these thoughts and ideas are what I hear from the young but they will grow up and learn that caring is wonderful if there is money to fund all the great programs. Right now with the shortfalls in revenue many are living in fear of losing health care and income as the progams they have grown to depend on are being cut. That is sad and unfair. The government should not be our parent telling us what to do and when and how. We are getting weaker because of it. I hope some day we will mostly be independent and taking care of ourselves. The only thing I can say about Joe is that his voice sounds like he thinks most of Patti’s and the listener’s concerns are funny or not relevant. Almost half the country disagrees with that and should be represented and taken seriously too. I do with the morning show was much longer though as local opinions are most important to me. I turn over to KOMO and listen to Ken and John for the local perspective.
April 12th, 2009 at 1:27 am
That can’t be an easy job, being the Liberal Pinata at a Republican Radio Party so to speak, but alot of KGMI’s hosts are to me logical rational level-headed and real people.
If not I’d wonder if they’re playing a character, a radio persona, to represent an extreme view of a wingside and their opinions?
May 21st, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Joe:
Why don’t you practice what you preach and try being honest on your own blog. Once again you are twisting what is stated. Why don’t you try stating the truth. I never stated that I was against unemployment compensation. This is you twisting what was stated. What I am opposed to is continued welfare payments to people who have never worked in their lives. Also what are you basing your “Facts” on? This Administration wants to raise taxes beyond the 39% that you state via elimination of deductions, raising capital gains taxes, cap and trade, carbon tax etc.. 50% of working Americans already pay 100% of the taxes. Yes, today there are many people who can’t find a job. What I was referring to and you know this is people who have never worked a day in their lives. Again Joe, try to be honest.