The American Spectator : Maybe It Can Happen Here

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Maybe It Can Happen Here

By G. Tracy Mehan, III on 3.31.10 @ 6:07AM

An Argentina in the making?

A friend of mine has sent me a slide show which traces the decline of Argentina from a resources-rich, prosperous nation, akin to Canada, in the 19th century, to its modern state of economic dysfunction.

The presentation is accompanied by Madonna singing "Don't Cry for me, Argentina." The message is that this, too, could happen to the United States.

A bit of a stretch, you might say. Or is it exaggeration, hyperbole or fear-mongering at its very worst?

Well, maybe. But what does it mean when Fred Hiatt, the editorial page editor of the Washington Post, opines that when (if?) President Obama finally "pivots to fiscal reform, as promised, he may look back to health care as the easy one."

Hiatt supported Obamacare while holding his nose given its implausible funding assumptions. In fact, he believes that, at best, the new legislation, tax increases and all, will only generate "true savings" of $44 billion. In other words, he argues "it would take something like 220 health-care bills of deficit reduction" to bring down the accumulated deficits and debt which Obama would need "to undo the $9.8 trillion that his budgets will add to the deficit during the next 10 years, according to CBO." And this is coming from a supporter of the President's agenda.

Robert Samuelson, writing on the very same day as Hiatt, noted that "Should the United States someday suffer a budget crisis, it will be hard not to conclude that Obama and his allies sowed the seeds, because they ignored conspicuous warnings" such as the Moody's Investors Service's warning on March 15 "that the U.S. government debt could cause a downgrade of Treasury bonds."

Even if the CBO estimate that the new health care legislation will reduce the deficit by $143 billion over a decade turns out to be true, Samuelson asks, "So?" Indeed, "The $143 billion saving is about 1 percent of the projected $12.7 trillion deficit from 2009 to 2020."

Writing on the same op-ed page just last week, Charles Krauthammer, predicted, "As the night follows day, the VAT follows health-care reform." That would be the Value-Added Tax, "a national sales tax of the kind near-universal in Europe" which Krauthammer now believes is "inevitable."

The only argument I would have with Krauthammer is his claim that it was Obamacare which is going to usher in the VAT and not the longstanding crisis of exploding entitlement spending which was already baked into the fiscal cake. Moreover, even the VAT is not inevitable given all the other more onerous taxes which might be imposed.

As I have discussed on this website before, even a long-standing supply-sider such as Bruce Bartlett believes that a VAT is necessary, although he does not view it as inevitable but as the best of a bad deal. The current crowd in charge may prefer to tax income and productivity through higher marginal income tax rates on individuals and corporations and steeper taxes on capital gains. From a liberal or "progressive" perspective, taxing income also satisfies a craving for redistributionism, an impulse not to be underestimated in the modern Democratic Party.

One prays that America is not Argentina or Greece, but only a fool would rule out the possibility given current trends. There is a fundamental corruption in our political culture in California, New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C. and elsewhere which must be recognized and addressed.

Nor have Republicans been immune to this benighted view of public finance. As the Wall Street Journal has stated in a recent editorial, "The reality is that ObamaCare is the price of two GOP electoral defeats caused by the failure of the DeLay Congress and a dismal Bush second term."

"The 2003 Medicare prescription drug benefit compromised the GOP on spending and legislative bullying," says the Wall Street Journal editorialist. "Republicans had a chance to do better on health care in 2005 but put their chips on Social Security and failed. Mitt Romney also gave Democrats renewed political confidence when he signed a prototype of ObamaCare into law in Massachusetts, though he now claims that these fraternal policy twins aren't related."

There are positive signs that the GOP is renewing itself and preparing itself for the struggle ahead. Party discipline is solid on stimulus over-spending. Intrepid spending hawks such as Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma are having an impact, and intellectual leaders such Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin are coming to the fore. Hopefully, it is not too late to avoid the fate of other countries which were incapable of addressing their entitlement cultures.

About the Author

G. Tracy Mehan, III served at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the administrations of both Presidents Bush. He is a consultant in Arlington, Virginia, and an adjunct professor at George Mason University School of Law.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (52) | Leave a comment

Brian Mc| 3.31.10 @ 6:27AM

O.K. let's get started: immediate repeal of the 16th and 17th Amendments for starters.
Jeremiah Ch 17 vs 5

The Demonrats have 'The People' believing that happiness can come from without...when any decent-minded individual knows that it only comes from within.

I believe this is where we must start if we are to have a fighting chance of re-gaining our Republic.

Majito| 3.31.10 @ 9:42AM

Interesting quote Brian...my departed mother would say it to me endlessly but in Spanish: 'Maldito el hombre que en el hombre fia'...the thing about current state of affairs in US, with the lame msm on board blocking tackle for this administration, I could very easily see their false claims of 'the right wing extremists are violently attacking us' along with some type of 'christian milicias declared war on the us' cries (not to mention the recent chorus that the ones that oppose BHO are doing so because they're racists) will lead to some type of martial law. What we need to ask ourselves is: will the personnel in the nat'l guard and armed forces will be willing to point loaded weapons to us citizens inside the us? I know they do it overseas (experienced first hand by the marines in downtown teheran in 1978, right before the wimps gave their arms to the militant students) and inside the us, Kent State, do u remember?

Alan Brooks| 3.31.10 @ 5:32PM

Now that the Cold War is over, you wont find another Reagan-- he was Cold War-specific.

Your grandchildren will live under Communism.

emo| 3.31.10 @ 11:19PM

Grandchildren???? We'll live under communism.

gran torino| 3.31.10 @ 7:06AM

Mr Mehan, could you please fix that horrible grammar error in the first line?

martin j smith| 3.31.10 @ 8:06AM

I am not an economist but having said that I have heard that BHO's goal and the Democrat Left is the bring down our economy. Is this hysteria or is this reality based. ? It is imperative that opposition political leadership not only focus on specific issues such as Health Care--Repubs should right now also bring up JOBS!!! because BHO is not. This topic leads to ideas about preventing an economic meltdown that could lead us down the primrose path to hell. Jobs means growth, controlling spending and lower taxes-remember that ?

Rita| 3.31.10 @ 12:50PM

mj smith; while I agree wholeheartedly with your comment about jobs being the focus, it appears to me that the Repubs are busily trying to protect our freedoms from the rampant out of control push toward socialism. The left hides this agenda behind the guise of progress. We should look to the Reagan policies that brought this country from the brink of depression and oppression back to it's thriving and prosperous beginning. Less government and lower taxes free up the small businesses and bigger businesses to hire and grow. To expand ideas for new inventions and true progress. The transformation of America has been attempted in the past, but never with this much momentum. None of us want to become another Argentina, and if there are those that do...they should feel free to move on.

Bilwick| 3.31.10 @ 3:18PM

"Jobs means growth, controlling spending and lower taxes. . . ." I'm not an economist either, but isn't the cause-and-effect out of whack here?

Ret. Marine| 3.31.10 @ 8:14AM

What are the differences between Argentina and this Country. We have for the first time SS putting out more than they are recieving, a combine 107 Trillion in unfunded mandates, a CONgress hell bent upon telling us what is good for us never mind reading the bills, hurry, just pass it so we can see just how screwed we really are, a presiding usurper-n-thief of traditional American values, barack on the attack, behind one of this country's biggest told lies, that HC is Constitutional and is a "right", we have chicken sheet GOP that can't seem to get the message out quick enough, "I surrender" and you ask the question " could this happen here" hello, it is happening right before our very eyes. When are you and the rest of us, me included, going to ask the questions that need to answered by our pimps disguising themselves as the Representatives of We the People, will our children and grandchildren inherate a safe and sound country without saddling them with our debt and no jobs to pay it off? Are you willing to put all the money's you and your associates have stolen from the treasury back, are you willing to start acting like human beings instead of the over-lords of the santanic types, or are you willing to stop all the spending and enacting entitlements for the votes from your favorite victims? At the rate we are going, one thing is for sure, we either all swim together or we drown together. A Nation divided cannot stand, a house divided is just that, divided.

Gerald Stephens| 3.31.10 @ 11:20AM

Semper Fi...YOU MISSED ONE

Just hitting the news today ( Judge Napolitano - Fox News) that the now health care law includes a section 5210, authorizing a civilian paramilitary organization that would be trained to military standard, be uniformed, AND under the control of the President.

The Judge aired a campaign speech from 2008 wherein Obama called for such a trained force "to provide a level of national security that we require".

Suggest everyone laying eyes on this do the following: 1) pass it on to everyone you know, 2) call your US senator and congressman and demand if they are aware of this unconstitutional section in the law, 3) what the hell do they plan on doing about, 4) and advise them that if these 'goons' ever appear on the streets of America, there will be blood.

Gerald Stephens
Hartford, CT

Rita| 3.31.10 @ 12:55PM

This is the worst thing I've ever heard. I did not hear Napolitano, but it was predicted by Beck after the presidents speech pertaining to this. This is what Pelosi meant by "a gift to the American people"? We've got to unite, left, right, independant everyone if we are to save our nation and our freedoms. Thanks for the info, will contact all my representatives today.

pugsley| 3.31.10 @ 11:33AM

RM-your last sentence says it all. There is no doubt the rats want to bring the country down. The old saying from Russia that they knew they couldn't take over America with 200 million guns pointed at them is still in force today. But, if you break everyone financially you don't really have to worry about guns that much. Hunger is a great equalizer of emotions. Get the population on it's knees and they will do what they are told. The one question that keeps bouncing around in my mind is will they go so far as to break and render the currency worthless or just take it to the brink with everyone out of a job except the unionized fed workers who are a reliable voting block anyway? Somehow I just can't see this crew taking down the dollar, that would totally enrage all the fence setters who are monied and have some influence to still be mined from the left. A calming voice so to speak in the middle of the coming storm. I remember reading a quote from right about the time o won the election and it still rings true, 'may you live in interesting times'. I do believe we have arrived at that point.

Melvin| 3.31.10 @ 8:24AM

"Don't cry for me Argentina..."

Who will be left to cry for us?

fbom| 3.31.10 @ 8:35AM

Katie Couric when she is told she has to wear a burka.

Dan Hirsch| 3.31.10 @ 9:12AM

Who will cry for us? Why should they? We are the number 1 economy in the world and we are letting it be torn down from within by SOCIALIST leaders.

If you want to change that situation, you have a last chance this fall. Work, talk, vote, donate, pray to help truly conservative, Constitution-respecting citizens get elected into EVERY open office in the land. Tempus fugit!

JP| 3.31.10 @ 8:36AM

Martin,
I don't think the President intends to bring down the economy. At heart he is a politicians who wishes to serve 2 terms. Conspiracy theories aside, this was what the President and his allies were betting on in Jan 2009:

1)Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, they really did believe that the Stimulus Bill would manufacture some jobs (construction, infrastructure, and perhaps services).

2)They believed TARP would solidify the mortgage markets enough to see a rebound in home sales by the 2nd Qtr of 2010, and a recovery of home prices thereafter

3)What Paulson started in Dec 2008, Geithner continued in 2009-2010 (printing of money -some $3 trillion) would add extra liquidity to the financial sectors. This huge liquidity injection would spur new bank borrowing, and thus encourage borrowing at the SMB level.

4)Bernecke has kept interest rates at 0% for 6 straight quarters. In combination with item (3), these low interest rates would more than anything encourage borrowing, stock speculation, investments, and expand consumer credit.

All of the above was suppose to act like a shot in the arm to our ailing economy. At least in the short term, all of these actions were designed to give the President and the Democratic Congress breathing room to enact thier transformative agenda. The people wouldn't mind this transformation as long as they were employed, recovered some of the investment losses, and were spending again. The goal was to reduce the political exposure the Dems would surely see in November 2010.

Of course, things didn't work out that way. They never do. The Stimulus failed; the only growth to our economy is in the public sector; banks are not lending -as a matter of fact, they are reacting to the low interest rates and easy money by buying short term Treasuries on borrowed Fed money (at 0%) and reaping a tidy profit. As a matter of fact, the huge new federal debt load has scared all foreign bond buyers off; banks are now the buyers of last resort. Also, large financial institutions are using the Fed's easy money policy to participate in another round of speculation. In short, Wall St is recovering just fine. But Main St remains in the doldrums. Foreclosures are still in the news, and home prices continue to fall -and with them goes the banks.

So no, I don't think this brought about by some conspiracy -just huge economic mis-calculations. The President and his team essientially were guided by a)political calculations, b)a cynical belief that the voters are chumps and c)some really bad economic theories.

Stay tuned.

Majito| 3.31.10 @ 9:50AM

JP, at the WH level, you can't be miscalculating too much...but that's what one gets when an amateur is put in a position than a seasoned veteran should have. Oval office in not the place for OJT...America is reaping what it sowed in 2008...now it must deal with it...also, wall street must be brought down...as a country we must stop believing that what is good for the financial companies is good for the country...not anymore...we must turn to what is good for the country, must be good for wall st. free markets? we don't have them anymore, thanks to wall st...

danfromatlanta| 3.31.10 @ 1:22PM

JP, you are too generous with Obama. Please review history. Obama grew up having radical commie leftists for mentors. It is no secret that they wanted to bring the country down. You think Ayers is just a nice guy that disagrees with you on the nature of America, and has no desire to destroy America so they can rebuild it in the image of the old Soviet Union? What about his friend and pastor of 20 years that stood behind his pulpit and spewed racial hatred and preached the downfall of America? What about all of the rabid communists Obama has staffed his administration with? You think they want to assert their agenda in compliance to a Constitutional authority they despise? Obama deceived enough rational people to win national election by hiding his true intentions, and projecting a cool rational, but false image of a moderate, but he is the absolute most radical leftwing ideologue ever in the White House. Please stop covering for Obama. He's not just some clown that screws up everything he does. He's doing all this on purpose. He's no genius, but he's not stupid either. He does think you are stupid, and the more you make excuses for him, the more you prove him right.

CL| 3.31.10 @ 11:10PM

Great post danfromatlanta...I may quote you..

justasimplepatriot| 3.31.10 @ 8:44AM

Watching this administration is like watching a 6-year-old playing with a loaded fully-automatic weapon in a crowded room.

It is hard to imagine a good outcome.

Melvin| 3.31.10 @ 9:06AM

"DeToqueville's prediction has come to pass. A huge number of Americans have figured out they can use a ballot box to take someone else's property."
"So no, I don't think this brought about by some conspiracy -just huge economic mis-calculations"
JP in this day and age I find it extremely hard to fathom that this was just some huge and very expensive Oops!
We have Wall Streeters, Economists, Advisors, and political know-it-alls out the Ying Yang and somehow all of them, all at once made one big boo boo because someone forgot to carry the decimal point.
I'm sorry I don't doubt that there is some validity to your analysis but I doubt even less that this sorry economic mess on a biblical scale was just a simple miscalculation.
Washington D.C's. very survival depends on calculations.
Someone figured out how to rob the piggy bank without getting caught and that is a sure calculation.

JP| 3.31.10 @ 11:27AM

Melvin,
I can't argue against your excellent points. But I am a follower of the old adage about considering incompetency over conspiracy. To be truthful, it is becoming more difficult for me to think that our minders in the Beltway are that ignorant.

What really has me worried is that Ben Bernecke has got himself caught in a web from which he cannot easily get himself extracted. Despite his easy money policies real estate continues to fall and foreclosures show no signs of abating. But on the end of the spectrum, inflation (esp in commodites) is a big big worry. What will happen when he does begin to raise interest rates, and all that excess liquidity is drained from economy? Will we find ourselves back in October 2008 with a return to deflation? Can anyone say Hoover?

Melvin| 3.31.10 @ 1:08PM

Good points JP. Mel Brooks has the perfect analysis of this, "Oi Vey."

Ken (Old Texican)| 3.31.10 @ 9:16AM

Melvin, good take.

May I add a thought. I do believe it is a conspiracy. Those povert voters did not "figure it out". It was figured out...then implemented by their political masters. Sadly, for what ever reason/s the Republicans felt obliged to tag along or be smeared.

Heatpacker| 3.31.10 @ 10:12AM

I feel sorry for the Baby Boomers who became Democrats in the late '60's and early '70's because they thought that the Democrat Party would usher in the Age of Aquarius. They thought that Democrat politicians were compassionate, altruistic idealists whose exclusive desire was the welfare of the downtrodden.
Current circumstances place those liberal Baby Boomers who still possess functioning brains in a very uncomfortable philosophical and existential position. It is empirically obvious that, given the behavior of Obama and his cohort, that the ultimate end of so-called 'liberal' policies is fascism. Today's Democrat leaders seek, on a national level, a system identical to that which exists in Chicago - a system that features de facto one-party control, patronage, union intimidation, and business subservience.
The benevolent, enlightened government that the old bleeding-hearts wanted has evolved into a vicious, amoral, soul-sucking monster. Every political belief that they have ever held as pure and true is now revealed as false. Every political assumption they have made in the last forty years has turned out to be wrong.
Forty years of devotion, and the leaders whom you have honored hand you a crap sandwich.
Ouch.

Melvin| 3.31.10 @ 10:27AM

Can I have that with bread please?

martin j smith| 3.31.10 @ 10:20AM

Incompetence could certainly be the simple explanation for the BHO's economic policies, yet as you point out certain things need to be looked into for example: what kind of political calculations ? And,really bad economic theories that continue to be imposed on the American people insite of their failure And thyen there is "voters are chumps" element.
Taking these points together we have a government who has poltical calculations with bad
economic theories which they imp[ose on the American peope who they regard as chumps.

That may have been lets say pre-election to early post election thinking. But over a year has gone by
and the results are in so far. On top of that there is growing and increasing dissaproval towards the BHO economic policies including the Health Care Bill. So now that there is open pushback by voters ( those chumps don't you know ) and there is no change in the BHO policy sad to say but suspicion must be raised in questioning motives for a) open hostility to anyone who disagrees and b) maintain the same course inspite of the evidence of economic disasters looming.
So while it is objectively true that I am not the fly on the wall at the WH, there is reasonable grounds to question why there no significant change in policy and why the Democrat Left refuses to work in any real bi-partisan way with Republicans. I m left with two theories. One is that the BHO regime is so enamored with Socialist theory and are so righteous in their beliefs that they refuse to consider any other direction. The other, which is even worse is as RL asserts, this is the plan to force chaos and use the crisis to impose a socialist regime. I can go either way on this.

Howard| 3.31.10 @ 10:50AM

I would say the odd are greater that we become Argentina, than we "right the ship". Why? because more and more people are living on entitlements, sitting on their fat asses watching "Judge Judy". Hence, fewer people are working and creating. Add in the estimated 30,000,000 new Democrat voters once Obama gives amnesty, and you have a country of few producers working to feed the vast majority of "victims".

George S| 3.31.10 @ 11:26AM

Ah, the "true" savings of health care... I remember my first economics lesson came about while watching the TV show I Dream of Jeannie as a kid. My father walked into the room just as Jeannie was explaining how she went on a shopping binge with a credit card. When asked how are we going to pay for for all those things, she explained that all the items were on sale - I saved a dollar here, two dollars on this one, etc. - and that she'll continue shopping sale items until she "saves" enough to pay for them. Well, my father - God rest his soul - fell on the floor laughing. Here is a first generation immigrant with barely a grade school education explaining to me why that is impossible. Yet that economic mindset is what passes for intellectual and brilliantly nuanced thinking by the Harvard eggheads in our government.

Argentina? I'm betting more on Kenya. (oops.)

jack| 3.31.10 @ 11:37AM

Since we do not teach classical economics or world history to our children we are doomed. This educational failure has produced a president who makes one wonder not only how he got into college but how the heck did he graduate?

Al Adab| 3.31.10 @ 12:07PM

It's not that President Al Naqis is stupid, he's not. It's just that he knows so much that isn't true.

With apologies to RR.

kingfish| 3.31.10 @ 11:45AM

So why don't you put up the slideshow or email it to us? Put it on youtube or something.

Al Adab| 3.31.10 @ 12:09PM

Sinclair Lewis wrote, "It Can't Happen Here" showing that indeed it could. In his novel it likewise came from the Left. Tyranny stems from those who believe they are an elite who should control the plebs. That Faith has come home to roost and obviously we will all pay.

Freedom1| 3.31.10 @ 1:02PM

I have always assumed that all responsible citizens would demand a balanced budget, or deficit reduction, even if it had to be done with increased taxes. More recently it has occurred to me that perhaps our only hope of forcing financial discipline on the socialist impulse in our country is to resolutely and fiercely resist any new taxes at all, even if leads to looming default on our debt payments, and the total destruction of national credit. Only when our citizens and leaders have been so forcible confronted with the boundaries of federal income can we break the willingness to keep increasing the size of government and socialistic programs. Under this view, we should not even consider a VAT, let alone deem it inevitable, at least until the growth of government has been decisively reversed.

Ellis Wyatt| 3.31.10 @ 2:29PM

The VAT in itself is not a bad thing necessarily. it may even be a better system. However, I am afraid the current bunch of politicians will be pushing a VAT in addition to our current income tax and not as an alternative . Having the two together would be a colossal mistake. And you are right, revenue is not the problem we face. The problem we have is spending.

Cupcake| 3.31.10 @ 11:20PM

Vat tax, Fed tax, State tax, Property tax, ObamaCare tax, fines,Utilities tax, gasoline tax...there comes a time when you raech 50% tax on indivuals and you are then a slave to government. The time you spent away from your family working ...for the government. This is NOT liberty !

Paul| 3.31.10 @ 5:09PM

Americans need a man who has both financial and executive experience to correct this nation's fiscal problems and put us on the road to solvency. That man is Mitt Romney...everyone who comments on this thread agree?

Al Adab| 3.31.10 @ 5:22PM

Romney resume is fine, but Bush 41 was elected for his resume. Neither is a Conservative. That is what we need. Steve Forbes has it all, except fervor.

The who is not as important as the what. Principles matter. The who will come.

Wesley Crusher| 3.31.10 @ 11:17PM

used car salesman

DatsunMark| 3.31.10 @ 8:48PM

Excellent piece. I like the energizied republicans coming up such as Paul Ryan and Tom Coburn. Those who've got to go besides McCain is Romni. His RomniCare in Mass. is a disaster and makes us no better than the liberals. I agree with some of the comments above that this fall is our last chance to save the republic...we've better get busy.

CL| 3.31.10 @ 11:16PM

I keep recalling how Obama stated in one of soaring books abot himself how much he admired Malcolm X and his thoughts on things. Malcolm X stated that there would never be racial justice in America until America was destroyed and rebuilt.
I am married to a man who used to be a Black Panther/Black Muslim back in the 60's in Oakland. He is nearly normal now :-) However he told me when he listened to Rev Wright spew his doctrine from the pulpit it reminded him of exactly what was drilled into his head by the Black Muslims. This President sat under this teaching for 20 years and embraced Wright as his "mentor". As for me...I'm stocking up on canned goods, non-perishables, supplies and silver for barter. God save the Republic !

danny| 4.1.10 @ 12:45AM

Paul; NO!!

SENSAI | 4.1.10 @ 2:47AM

Idealism not balanced by realism =failure. Everyone is entitled to a house, so drop requirement for down payment, eliminate income verification etc. and we are surprised it led to worst financial situation since great depression? A professor told me that if somewhere else in the world widgets could be made more cheaply that it would be a small price for me to be put out of business and the greater good would be everyone now gets cheaper widgets. Wonder why manufacture is declining along with standard of living? Listen to broad idealistic speeches from candidate no critical evaluation , elect him President then don' t like it? Wow!

Northern Rebel| 4.1.10 @ 4:04PM

Paul:

The idea that my choices where the doddering old fool from Arizona, or the slick used car salesman from Massachusetts who changes his spots to fit the occasion, tells me all that's needed to know about a declining party.

Allen/Palin for President!

Kee pThe Change| 4.1.10 @ 5:47PM

I hope that what Krauthammer predicts is not true. There is a rising anger and frustration simmering in this country already. Perhaps replacement of the income tax with a flat tax or a national sales tax would be acceptable to the masses. Imposition of a VAT on top of the income tax will be the straw that breaks the camel's back. People will not stand for it and it will very likely cause a rebellion or revolution, call it what you will.

mtm| 4.2.10 @ 9:22AM

So what do *we* do besides applaud Coburn, Ryan, and the gang?

Michele San Pietro| 4.2.10 @ 11:24AM

I think we shouldn't have any such fear. The United States is definitely not Argentine. And no Obama will ever be eternal, thank God.

itemgarden| 4.2.10 @ 9:24PM

do what we can do !
http://www.itemgarden.com

dewey from detroit| 4.3.10 @ 7:53PM

Just for the record, the slide show the author refers to was "Don't Cry for me America" and was written by Doug Ross at DougRoss@Journal.com http://directorblue.blogspot.c.....erica.html
I don't know who did the Power Point, but I have a video of it set to Madonna's music here: http://www.deweyfromdetroit.com/search?q=Argentina It is quite compelling, and not just a little disturbing.

dewey from detroit| 4.3.10 @ 8:00PM

Sorry, I think the link above works, but here's the direct link: http://www.deweyfromdetroit.co.....itina.html

Ron| 1.16.11 @ 12:18PM

Regardless it is a good presentation as what could happen! I believe the paramilitary unit would be comprised of foreign military units! Obama is a communist! He is a Muslim and there is not doubt to this. He stopped the national day of prayer but then allowed the Muslims to come to the White House for a like day for them!

Isn't it interesting to see Obama now quoting the bible when he told the world we were not a Christian nation and there was a video on the web featuring Obama mocking certain books of the bible! And how come not one had brought forth the Obama taking the government for a spin hiring CZARS without the vote of congress; Obama letting his pimp Reid BUY votes with taxpayers funds; put a bill out for health care where no one could even read the 2300 or so pages; Obama pushing a hate law; Obama attacking the whole nation through the UN which is lopsided with the majority being anti Israel and therefore anti-America; sending Biden to Israel to tell them to stop expanding their settlements for the land given to them and this list goes on and on! Now is Obama trying to take a tone of reconciliation because he senses he will be a one term President? And he cannot even keep the Democraps in line! Senator McCaskill spoke of "transparency" and yet all of the "craps" attended the secret, closed meetings led by none other than Obama! I.e. Obama is the reason for the talk of Nazis, Hitler and any words to describe a dictator! Obama wants to make us a socialist country! He has attacked all of our freedoms! And to take the internet! I would ask if this man is a crazy but that is not necessary because he is a crazy! And lastly he is phony! A friend sent me a recap of Obama!
"Obama just uses the Bible and God for political purposes. He has no faith other than Islam. He is the Great Pretender who received dispensation from some Ayatollah somewhere to act the part of a Christian in order to advance the Cause of the Radicals."
Is this not "food for thought!" Did he really think he could destroy what none other than a Holy God established for a particular purpose! In his quest to ruin our country he overlooked one thing! God is in control! Cut and dried! And did not Obama quote part of the Gettysburg address and leave out the reference to God! And the later when he was referencing the Bill of Rights did he not again leave out the reference to God! This is why Obama wants to control the internet! He wants to stop talk radio! Is freedom of speech only for the democraps! And then again the media spoke of the use of Nazis, Hitler etc? That my friends is a "no brainer!" Again a "crazy" thinks that American is done! lol! Don't hold you breath on that one Obama! We do have one thanks to Obama; it is quite possible that he has "awakened a sleeping giant!" We are shucking the lawyers of congress and are electing successful business individuals! Reid bought his position this time but then that is all of that type of a loser that we need! And the democrap Senate will wise up and Obama's control of such will be lost because the government spoken of by Lincoln, "of the people, by the people, for the people" is well and coming on strong! And whether or not a lot of mouths, ignorant, are condemning Sarah Palin not because they are right but because she is powerful and correct! Hold on Obama and Reid! I don't think you have seen "nothing" yet(I like the double negative) and what is coming will be with a revolution, with no violence, called an "election" The people are revolting with a powerful weapon called "the vote!" And the "freedom of speech" will come back to the voters and the Media will be condemned for "making the news" instead of just "reporting the news!" I predict groups like "The View" and others will be washed away in the tide that is rising! The "biased" news media will follow the paths of Reid and Pelosi! The people now have seen the transparency" of the democraps! And finally the missile treaty with Russia! Obama! Did you not know that Russian and Chinese pilots were flying against America in the Korean War! And we still kicked their ass! But is it not known that many American pilots who were shot down were shipped to Russia never to be heard of again! The Russians cannot be straight and we also sold out the ex-soviet countries like Poland! Have you no shame Obama! Why was this not investigated to the fullest before entering into such a treaty! And did not Russia laugh at you after the treaty was signed! You sold the farm! That was what I read. Obama don't you know you can't get into bed with dogs without getting fleas! I don't know about rest of this country but to me you have sold America out to our enemies and the UN! And finally do we not give foreign aid to our enemies and then when we sell bonds to finance our massive debt are not the countries taking our foreign aid dollars and then spending this money to buy our bonds so we are paying interest on the money we gave out! I think our country should see a list of the countries we given foreign aid to! I do believe that would be an interesting eye opener! And the list the foreign countries that are financing our debt with our money! I think this information came from a British Newspaper and I sent copies out to several Congress members and of course no reply was received! If this is correct then the term "S... for brains" has really taken on a new meaning! And then in the early hours of the morning, on Public TV, there was a discussion on the leaking of all of our secure documents! And it was brought out that a law was presented by congress and, guess what, none other that Willy, President Clinton, vetoed the bill! If the public will remember Clinton dissolved our intelligence to a large degree stating that we had electronics to monitor what was needed! Man alive did we get slammed on that! Maybe he was thinking of his sexual escapades at that time? Yeah! Clinton! And I wonder if you Mr. President Obama had anything to do with all of those documents slipping out to further degrade my America to the world? And the papers are saying Obama's Tucson was a turning point? Is the Media again using their position to start now lauding Obama when he has committed every act of degrading and changing our country! Is the public going to be fooled by this pathological liar! We need to call our country to prayer for God to give us a leader that is good! Obama will sell us out every chance he gets! This man should be tried for high treason! The treaty with Russia was a set-up! Also he is using this tragedy in Tucson to change his position with lies! For him to quote the bible is blasphemy; he stopped recognizing the national day of prayer yet entertained a Muslim group at the White House! All of his antics are well known thanks to the internet and again he wants control of that. We need to watch the Senate and remove all of the Senators in 2012 that are his ass kissing stooges! If you want to see something see if you can tune in to. The item I have is too large for this program.
http://www.authorstream.com/Pr.....n-content/ Pull up the Argentina Powerpoint presentation comparing what happened to Argentina and then just think of what Obama has and is doing!

It is interesting in that I had copied this for a friend of mine and apparently he sent it out. This is the page:
http://spectator.org/archives/.....appen-here Interesting views and interesting times!