Jamey is a friend of mine from back when on Facebook, in the Gingrich and Tea Party wars of 2012. He’s going to the Inauguration. His son is an Eagle Scout! Jamey is our kind of people. He is prone to use recon by fire the way I do, so watch out when the boom starts swinging. Welcome, Jamey!
Metcalfe’s Law is a concept used in computer networks and telecommunications to represent the value of a network. Metcalfe’s Law states that a network’s impact is the square of the number of nodes in the network. For example, if a network has 10 nodes, its inherent value is 100 (10 * 10). The end nodes can be computers, servers and/or connecting users. So, get with it people.
Shocked that various Republicans can’t won’t whatever see their way to drowning ObamaCare in a bathtub. You don’t plan a replacement before you put out a house fire. You just put out the fire. But some people just want to see things burn.
A casual reading of political press this young year reveals a clear truth that previously was known to a select few wise seers, such as the author, and our assembled crew here at the last outpost on the right: Majority Republicans absent possibly Ted Cruz have no intention of repealing Obamacare; they merely wish to pull its levers of economic distortion for their benefactors. Obamacare memorializes that healthcare is a ‘right’. Further, it memorializes that another person’s ‘right’ to healthcare and the ‘right’ of healthcare providers to be paid fee for service supersedes an individual’s right to his/her personal property. This is a logical extension of medicaid, WIC, SNAP, and all other forms of federal government wealth transfer that I do not think will be undone absent a financial and/or civil crisis…. Continue reading
As we end the year it seems that many are anticipating great change in the future. I hear optimistic notes in voices about next year and beyond. I just finished a deal for replacing a pickup truck fleet for a client. They let the current trucks run until the wheels were falling off as they were unclear if they even had a business future. As I sit here typing, I await a phone call from the owner to let me know he is ready to sign the credit app , the first money he has borrowed since we took him through chapter 11 six years ago. He is out playing golf to get some in before the deep freeze rolls in next week. Another group is building apartments… Continue reading
Israel has been in the news off and on since its inception in 1947. The latest brouhaha comes from the UN, where a particularly onerous resolution was passed, without the United States vetoing it. ?So what all is happening. Perhaps a brief review of Israel’s history might be appropriate. Israel was created by a UN mandate in 1947. One may attribute some of this to the Zionist movement, some to national guilt, some to growing pressure within the Jewish community for their old country back. Take your pick which was the most important aspect. As soon as Israel was announced, she was immediately involved in a war for her very existence. All her Arab neighbors colluded to attack her and push her into the sea. That failed. Subsequently… Continue reading
This was funny. That is all. Merry Christmas and Thank You Ball.
I am sure somewhere on the interwebhinterland there is no shortage of neocenterrightwarmongering outrage at Mr. Putin’s letter to Mr. Trump that His Excellency (Putin’s words, not mine and the funniest thing I’ve read this month) released this morning. There is a lot enamel gnashing, ash slathering, garment tearing, and hand wringing because Mr. Trump has not automatically singled out Russia as a sworn enemy. Rather, His Excellency has chosen Islam as a target of indignation. To date I am challenged to dispute this strategy. By last count Muslims have killed more Americans than the Russians have though the Chechen judge has yet to weigh in on scumbag team Tsarnev. I am vintage 67 and grew up during the end of the cold ware where Russia = USSR… Continue reading
Did anybody else get this? Mail from National Review begging for money to upgrade their website. They sent a tasteful and self-deprecating goofy e-mail, but I can’t shake the feeling that this is not how grown-ups run things. Sigh.
Lots has been mentioned here about what Trump can or cannot do. Part of the discussion has been, at least tangentially, about the central bank (the Fed) and its role in the country finances. Perhaps that and the title might be interesting topics to discuss some. I would hesitate to put myself forward as any expert on anything financial. I know a touch of history, and that can come in useful. So at the risk of being grossly wrong, let me put forward some structure around which to discuss. Hopefully those with better knowledge will correct me where I have strayed. Central banks and fiat money have been around since time immemorial. The Romans had it, and while I can’t speak to all situations, I believe that all modern… Continue reading