The Divider vs. the Thinker - WSJ.com - 0 views
online.wsj.com/...3554104577002262150454258.html
Banksters Paul-Ryan Obammunism Peggy-Noonan WSJ The-American-Idea
shared by Gary Edwards on 28 Oct 11
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There's a lot to rebel against, to want to throw off. If they want to make a serious economic and political critique, they should make the one Gretchen Morgenson and Joshua Rosner make in "Reckless Endangerment": that real elites in Washington rigged the system for themselves and their friends, became rich and powerful, caused the great catering, and then "slipped quietly from the scene."
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It is a blow-by-blow recounting of how politicians—Democrats and Republicans—passed the laws that encouraged the banks to make the loans that would never be repaid, and that would result in your lost job.
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It began in the early 1990s, in the Clinton administration, and continued under the Bush administration, with the help of an entrenched Congress that wanted only two things: to receive campaign contributions and to be re-elected.
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Specifically it is the story of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the mortgage insurers, and how their politically connected CEOs, especially Fannie's Franklin Raines and James Johnson, took actions that tanked the American economy and walked away rich.
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"the temptation to exploit fear and envy returns." Politicians divide in order to "evade responsibility for their failures" and to advance their interests.
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Which gets us to Rep. Paul Ryan. Mr. Ryan receives much praise, but I don't think his role in the current moment has been fully recognized. He is doing something unique in national politics. He thinks. He studies. He reads. Then he comes forward to speak, calmly and at some length, about what he believes to be true. He defines a problem and offers solutions, often providing the intellectual and philosophical rationale behind them.
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But Republicans, in their desire to defend free economic activity, shouldn't be snookered by unthinking fealty to big business. They should never defend—they should actively oppose—the kind of economic activity that has contributed so heavily to the crisis.
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"Why have we extended an endless supply of taxpayer credit to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, instead of demanding that their government guarantee be wound down and their taxpayer subsidies ended?" Why are tax dollars being wasted on bankrupt, politically connected solar energy firms like Solyndra? "Why is Washington wasting your money on entrenched agribusiness?"
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The "true sources of inequity in this country," he continued, are "corporate welfare that enriches the powerful, and empty promises that betray the powerless."
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The real class warfare that threatens us is "a class of bureaucrats and connected crony capitalists trying to rise above the rest of us, call the shots, rig the rules, and preserve their place atop society."
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Peggy Noonan writes about Paul Ryan's "The American Idea" speech he recently gave at the heritage Foundation. It's a beautifully written summary that goes right to the heart of the matter: the ruling elites have been enriching themselves, feeding at the public trough of corporate welfare and crony capitalism. Washington DC is corrupt and rotten to the core, and the hand maiden of Banksters, Global Corporatist, Big Unions, and Big Bearucracy. One things for sure. Congressman Paul Ryan is a brilliant thinker aho believes in the great promise he calls "The American Idea". Funny how, as the presidential primary race rolls on, my hopeful attention is being drawn towards four men: Herman Cain, Paul Ryan, Ron Paul and Marco Rubio. Herman unfortunately is soft on Banksters, totally unaware and oblivious to the need to take back the currency, and end the Federal Reserve Bankster Cartel. I also have some difficulties with the "revenue neutral" aspects of his 999 plan. We need less government, not more. The private sector needs to keep more money, not less. Too bad because everything else about Herman excites me. Especially his authentic, from the heart love of America, American exceptionalism and opportunity, and the founders truly unique "American Idea". Ron Paul has an awesome "American Recovery" plan. Awesome. But his remarks on terrorism and foreign policy stray far from his usual reliance on the Constitution and the 10th Amendment. He's right about the connection between global corporatism and the never ending militarism they push. But he's dead ass wrong about our enemies and their intentions. And that's scary. If RP had stuck to the Constitution and 10th Amendment, i would fully support him. If it's not an enumerated power, it belongs to the States and individual citizens. End of story. Marco Rubio is awesome in the same way Herman is. He connects with a special authenticity that screams the principles and val