The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

What Interest Rate Would You Charge Yourself for a Loan of Monopoly Money?

This is the question posed by the Fed policy of “quantitative easing”: The Federal Reserve’s experimental effort to spur a recovery by purchasing vast quantities of federal debt has pumped up the stock market, reduced the cost of American exports and allowed companies to borrow money at lower interest rates. . . . The Fed […]

The Futility of Class Warfare Rhetoric

Graphic: RushLimbaugh.com via Hot Air Pundit Demonizing the rich may work as politics for Democrats, but the problem is that it fails as policy. One could argue that Americans are undertaxed in general, and that some kind of across-the-board rate increase (or closing of loopholes) is therefore necessary for the purpose of enhancing federal revenue […]

One Can Admire Norquist’s Sadism, But We’re Still Beating Around The Bush

by Smitty To raise the debt ceiling, or not? National Review has a bunch of opinions from the wise guys. I can imagine Sprinklerman listening to Norquist: My preference would be to keep the administration on a short leash and extend the debt limit by only a small amount and for a short period of […]

Tax Day 2011

It is no small irony that Tax Day came late this year because on Friday, Washington, D.C., celebrated “Emancipation Day.” The Lonely Conservative: Isn’t it nice to know that so many of our fellow Americans pay no federal taxes? The Associated Press article linked does not make clear that most of these non-taxpayers are low-income […]

The Ryan Budget

I’m tempted to call it “The Savage Young Ryan Budget,” but seriously, folks: House Republicans did the smart thing yesterday, and don’t let worry-wart Allahpundit tell you any different. Not a single Democrat voted for it, and DCCC Chairman Steve Israel’s boast that this will help Democrats recapture the House is nonsense. Let the Democrats […]

Boehner’s Bargain Approved 260-167; 59 Republicans Vote ‘No,’ 81 Dems Vote ‘Yes’

Reported by Robert Costa at National Review, noting that Michelle Bachmann, Mike Pence and Allen West were among the Republican “no” votes, while the Democrats voting “yes” included Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. Y’know, I think that pretty much settles the argument of whether this was a good deal from the conservative perspective. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz voted for it, […]

‘No Poor Man Ever Gave Me a Job’

As an impoverished American — hey, buddy, you wanna try raising six kids on a freelance journalist’s income? — I look on in amusement at the self-described “Patriotic Millionaires” who insist that they should pay more taxes. I agree with Moe Lane: “Raise Your Own Damned Taxes.” Contrary to all the class-warfare demagoguery pouring forth from […]

It’s a ‘Framework,’ Not a ‘Plan’

Last night I glanced at the White House talking-points outline of Obama’s Big Important Speech and had to smile at the effrontery of this part: $4 Trillion in Deficit Reduction: The President is setting a goal of reducing our deficit by $4 trillion in 12 years or less. This deficit reduction would be phased in […]

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