The link below is to an article by Thomas Friedman on the reasons for why the U.S. seems to be lagging in a number of areas. Well worth the read.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/opinion/12friedman.html
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Misguided Generosity
There is something intrinsically wrong with enacting legislation to fix economic problems because economic problems cannot be fixed with political solutions. The results always carry unintended consequences because those enacting the legislation are acting from a flawed worldview. Taking money from people who one thinks do not deserve it and giving it to those who one thinks do deserve it is not compassion, it is cheap generosity . Worse yet, it is outright theft.
In a Biblical worldview, yes, we are supposed to care for the poor, but it is not the government's responsibility to do so, it is the responsibility of the church. When government intrudes on what is not its rightful sphere two things happens. In this case, the church abdicates its responsibilities and the government usually makes matters worse.
The recent mortgage crisis is a case in point of good intentions gone awry. The Fair Housing Act was a nice idea, but based on a flawed premise which was the idea that everyone who wishes, should be able to have a house, whether they can afford it or not. So what did congress do? Led by Rep. Barney Frank and Sen. Chris Dodd , they enacting legislation to force lending institutions, to abandon sound lending practices and lend to borrowers who would not have ordinarily qualified. The quasi-government institutions, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, major contributors to the Democrats, then put then bought these "sub prime" mortgages from the banks giving the impression that the mortgages were government backed, which encouraged the banks to continue the practice. Of course other factors came into play and I am not absolving the banks of wrong doing, but congress was the major catalyst. The result was a massive bailout of the banks with taxpayer money, Frank and Dodd denying all responsibility, the banks taking all of the blame and the mortgagees getting off with no penalty.
Now congress is at it again. President Obama is touring the nation blaming the continuation of the current recession on the refusal of businesses to hire while sitting on massive amounts of cash. Unemployment hovers around 10% and stubbornly refuses to come down despite massive infusion of taxpayer dollars. No one stops to think that maybe congress, once again offering political solutions to economic problems, has contributed to the problem of non-expansion by business.
It works like this. Employment benefits have traditionally been given for 26 weeks. Congress has responded to the recession by extending them another 73 weeks. Think about it. That is almost two years worth of benefits for not working. Once again, congress has taken money from some and given it to others with unintended consequences. In Pennsylvania, 73 weeks of unemployment translates to $2260 a month or $41,245 over the 73 week period. Why would anyone work when they can make more on the dole and many have reached that conclusion. Small businesses that would like to expand can't for lack of workers willing to take the entry level positions available.
If Obama wants the recession to go away, he only need to look to himself and his party for the reasons. Democrats played a huge part in creating this mess and they are playing a huge part in its continuation.
In a Biblical worldview, yes, we are supposed to care for the poor, but it is not the government's responsibility to do so, it is the responsibility of the church. When government intrudes on what is not its rightful sphere two things happens. In this case, the church abdicates its responsibilities and the government usually makes matters worse.
The recent mortgage crisis is a case in point of good intentions gone awry. The Fair Housing Act was a nice idea, but based on a flawed premise which was the idea that everyone who wishes, should be able to have a house, whether they can afford it or not. So what did congress do? Led by Rep. Barney Frank and Sen. Chris Dodd , they enacting legislation to force lending institutions, to abandon sound lending practices and lend to borrowers who would not have ordinarily qualified. The quasi-government institutions, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, major contributors to the Democrats, then put then bought these "sub prime" mortgages from the banks giving the impression that the mortgages were government backed, which encouraged the banks to continue the practice. Of course other factors came into play and I am not absolving the banks of wrong doing, but congress was the major catalyst. The result was a massive bailout of the banks with taxpayer money, Frank and Dodd denying all responsibility, the banks taking all of the blame and the mortgagees getting off with no penalty.
Now congress is at it again. President Obama is touring the nation blaming the continuation of the current recession on the refusal of businesses to hire while sitting on massive amounts of cash. Unemployment hovers around 10% and stubbornly refuses to come down despite massive infusion of taxpayer dollars. No one stops to think that maybe congress, once again offering political solutions to economic problems, has contributed to the problem of non-expansion by business.
It works like this. Employment benefits have traditionally been given for 26 weeks. Congress has responded to the recession by extending them another 73 weeks. Think about it. That is almost two years worth of benefits for not working. Once again, congress has taken money from some and given it to others with unintended consequences. In Pennsylvania, 73 weeks of unemployment translates to $2260 a month or $41,245 over the 73 week period. Why would anyone work when they can make more on the dole and many have reached that conclusion. Small businesses that would like to expand can't for lack of workers willing to take the entry level positions available.
If Obama wants the recession to go away, he only need to look to himself and his party for the reasons. Democrats played a huge part in creating this mess and they are playing a huge part in its continuation.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Bittersweet
One cannot explain to those who haven't experienced it the joy of a father when his son returns from war. My oldest son, Saddler, arrived home from Afghanistan for two weeks of R and R.
I think back to my joy when he came home from Iraq in 2005 and I think it is stronger this time around. Does that mean that the love that a father has for his son grows stronger over time? I think it must.
During the first combat tour, I found out what my Dad must have experienced when I was in Vietnam. A constant nagging of missing my son and a background worry for his safety. I don't know if my Dad prayed for me or not, he passed away in 1986, but I sure lift Saddler up in prayer every day, sometimes several times a day.
Civilians will never understand the sacrifices that our men and women and their families are making for the country. There is no way to explain it to them so that they truly understand. It is not only the soldiers who bear the burden, but the wives and children also. My daughter-in-law has been a single mom for almost a year now, coping with the demands of raising three children and home schooling two of them. My grans miss their Dad terribly. This, without the built in support of an active duty family as Saddler is with the National Guard.
If you happen to see our men and women in uniform, please do not pass up a chance to thank them personally for doing what most will not do. Sacrifice themselves for the good of others.
I think back to my joy when he came home from Iraq in 2005 and I think it is stronger this time around. Does that mean that the love that a father has for his son grows stronger over time? I think it must.
During the first combat tour, I found out what my Dad must have experienced when I was in Vietnam. A constant nagging of missing my son and a background worry for his safety. I don't know if my Dad prayed for me or not, he passed away in 1986, but I sure lift Saddler up in prayer every day, sometimes several times a day.
Civilians will never understand the sacrifices that our men and women and their families are making for the country. There is no way to explain it to them so that they truly understand. It is not only the soldiers who bear the burden, but the wives and children also. My daughter-in-law has been a single mom for almost a year now, coping with the demands of raising three children and home schooling two of them. My grans miss their Dad terribly. This, without the built in support of an active duty family as Saddler is with the National Guard.
If you happen to see our men and women in uniform, please do not pass up a chance to thank them personally for doing what most will not do. Sacrifice themselves for the good of others.
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