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The Unelected Bureaucrats
Guitar Conservatives. Frightening bureaucrats. Ugly cosmetic taxes and more.
THE EU EFFECT
Re: Philip Klein's
All the President's Regulators:
The Philip Klein article about our wily Proto-Dictator simply makes my brain hurt.
Who is to stop this unparalleled dismantling of our social, economic, and political systems by a tiny less-than-a-minority who does not represent the beliefs of Americans?
I call it "The E.U. Effect," in which unelected bureaucrats simply mandate anything they want, while the people have no say whatsoever in the matter.
Others might call it "The Chavez Effect," or "The Commissariat Effect," or "The Adolf Effect."
"The E.U. Effect" brings the same totalitarian result, just under
a different, softer name.
-- A. C. Santore
We owe a big "thank you" to all the conservatives who said we
could lose an election or two back in 2006. We also owe a "pat on
the back" for those "independent" voices in the
alternative/conservative media that said punishing Republicans
was smart. Thanks for the Obamanation you've created. Hope you're
enjoying the change you helped create.
-- Michael Tomlinson
Jacksonville, North Carolina
A truly limitless source of energy -- if only someone can find a
way to harness all that hot air rising over Capitol Hill.
-- Gretchen L. Chellson
Alexandria, Virginia
SURRENDERING ALUMINUM
Re: Eric Peters' Worst
of the Beetles:
The author is wrong about the engine being aluminum. A few of the autos produced after the war used aluminum as Germany was forbidden by the surrender treaty to produce, use, fabricate, etc magnesium in any manner. This lasted until 1950 when VW started to get magnesium from Norway and from Dow Chemical in Texas.
The original Beetle had a cast magnesium block and transmission
housing. The original Beetle was designed by Porsche who had used
magnesium engines since 1928. The Beetle and the 911 Porsche both
used magnesium blocks.
--Robert E. Brown
THE BOTAX
Re: Robert M. Goldberg's A
New Ugly Wrinkle:
The "Botax" will ostensibly raise several billion dollars, while
affecting working women who want to appear young in the
workplace. I have suggested that Congress tax legal plaintiff
judgments instead, which are currently tax-free and involve
hundreds of billions every year. That may solve both the health
care and the legal problems in one fell swoop! Suing someone for
something can be a lot more lucrative than the lottery , where
odds are long and winnings are taxed.
-- Robert Mandraccia MD
Plastic Surgeon
ON THE MONEY
Re: Tom Bethell's
Britain's Taxing Mistake:
Exactly on the money. If anything, it understates the stupidity of what is taking place. The structural changes brought by businesses and productive executives fleeing for more friendly environments will be at a minimum long lasting and probably permanent. London spent a long time creating its financial centre but it will not take long to significantly reduce its importance. Most companies I know are also ruthlessly cleaning out expats that fill key knowledge and experience gaps.
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Ret. Marine| 12.11.09 @ 8:23AM
For some reason I suddenly realized this might be what the hildabeast, our SOS, was referring to when she spoke of her"solf power approach." But, I must be mistaken.
The CONgress has largely been missing in action regarding this admin.'s czars. I think they approve of it that way. They get the best of the two worlds, they act as though their positions in power mean something to the People they are suppose to serve and at the same time can just say, well we had nothing to do with it, regarding the unelected bureaurats decisions towards the livelyhood of We the People. Try as we may, but We the People have no say or decision as to the outcome of their deeds. This alone should concern all but apparently does not.
A question to the pretender-n-theif, how many congresscritters does it take to change the constitution into a doctatorship? From where I stand in life, the entire democratic party seems to be the answer. Am I wrong?
Stephen Zierak| 12.11.09 @ 11:34AM
The American people get the government they deserve, and, pace Mencken, they are getting it good and hard. McCain and the other RINOs were never an alternative. Until the American people demand limited government, they will face ever increasing heavy handed government, whether Stupid Party or the looney left Dhimmicrats. Actually, Obama has been a spur to the Tea Parties, the first time in my memory there has been an ongoing revolt by the "silent majority". I doubt the POSSIBLY slower growth of government under a McJerk administration would have resulted in the opposition we are seeing today. Obama has clarified where we have been going for many years now, under both the stupid and evil parties. Time for a real change! And that DOESN'T mean the Crists, Fiorinas, Kirks, and other RINOland characters. The Stupid Party will either wise up, or become the Whigs.
Alan Brooks| 12.13.09 @ 11:48PM
It has to be DECENT limited govt, too, not just limited.
India has limited govt, but you wouldn't want to live there; you don't want to deal long-term with their bureaucrats, either--however small in proportion our govt theirs' is.
Alan Brooks| 12.13.09 @ 11:49PM
DO OVER: however small in proportion to our govt India's is.
Margie| 12.11.09 @ 2:14PM
Go gettem', Michael Tomlinson!
How many have changed? How many are getting ready to give us Obama II?
~Is a Marxist-in-Cheif still abetter choice than a Republican?
As Rush Limbaugh recently said: How many Republicans are Socialists, Marxists, Communists?
Alan Brooks| 12.13.09 @ 11:54PM
Bush 43 did more for Marxism--even reckoning with the wars' costs-- than Clinton did.
But you guys don't want to admit it because many of you voted for him.
Some voted libertarian in sheer desperation.
Alan Brooks| 12.13.09 @ 11:57PM
no, not Communism, Marxism.
"Socialism" is meaningless. It is a generic term such as "Christianity".
Alan Brooks| 12.14.09 @ 12:00AM
Bush wasn't a Communist, yet he promoted Marxism; as Nixon was no Democrat but he gave us Carter.
Difference is: Nixon was evil, while Bush was just in over his head-- it was like sending in James Buchanan to do George Washington's calling.
njoriole| 12.14.09 @ 11:13AM
So, if Bush was "in over his head," what do you say about the current man-child in the wilderness? Obama was in "over his head" as a low-level Chicago political hack; now that he's the Commander in Chief, we all can see the astounding lack of depth on display, along with his breath taking historical ignorance. So,how's that HopeandChange working out for you now?