The American Spectator

Whenever the Russian government chooses to kick aside this, to them, jejune experiment with democracy and capitalism, and return to a good old soviet totalitarian economy in a good old Russian totalitarian government, they will return to being a good old communist world power. And, as anyone can see — anyone but a hermit (and the intellectually hermitted media) — that process has already begun.

The “victory over tiny Georgia” did not just “demonstrate that Moscow could defeat a small neighbor.” It demonstrated that Russia could defeat a small neighbor without interference from a completely impotent world.

Do Mr. Bandow or the “wishes really ARE horses” world of the media remember how World War II started in Europe? Or in Asia? Germany and Japan both started their power projection by attacking their smallest and weakest neighbors — and none of the loud but impotent world powers stopped them.

I despair.
— A. C. Santore

IMAGINE A WORLD WITH NO BAILOUTS
Re: Brian Wesbury’s Unemployment and Stimulus:

No need for more taxpayer bailouts and economic stimulus, if politicians would do the following: First, repeal all sales taxes and replace the lost revenue with an import tax/tariff on imported labor and manufactured goods. Second, repeal all local tax incentives that shift business costs to taxpayers and that create poverty wage jobs; or change these incentives to pay a living wage, minimum wage of $14/hour (parent with one child). Third, re-regulate banks and financial corporations. Fourth, enact a windfall profits tax on oil and gas companies; but, rebate this money through tax incentives for drilling and building refineries (including ethanol ones in other countries) as well as eliminating the $.54/gallon import tax on sugar cane ethanol. This strategy will slow these companies from using excess profits to enrich executives and to buy company stock. Fifth, increase taxes on fuel guzzling vehicles, wealthy individuals and corporations (eliminating corporate welfare and tax loopholes) to pay for the Wall Street bailout, the Iraq war and to pump more oil in Iraq for export. These strategies will lower the $11 trillion ($14 trillion forecasted) taxpayer debt leading to a stronger dollar that will reduce inflation and increase the number of good paying jobs with benefits for American citizens.
— Brent Pittman
Brownsburg, Indiana

DEPT. OF SIMPLE SOLUTIONS
Re: George H. Wittman’s China’s Balance Sheet:

So high consumption in the USA is a problem for China?

If the poor trusting Chinese have been harmed by wicked America’s appetite for cheap goods, the cure is certainly available:

Let us impose appropriate tariffs on cut-rate cloth, toxic toys, melamine milk, poison pharmaceuticals, etc, etc etc. — at once.
— Martin Owens
Sacramento, California

INTELLECTUALLY DWARFED
Re: Ralph R. Reiland’s Isn’t It Reich?

Reich is as short on intellect as he is in height. I worked construction putting myself through law school and gained a great repect for able construction workers, white and black, who don’t need the like of Reich dissing them
— Gary Beauchamp

Reich misses one point?

There could be a burgeoning tourist opportunity I am missing.