US Politics

Buying Congress

This entry was posted in Capitalism Economics Libertarianism Politics Republicans US Politics on by

Henry at Crooked Timber offers congratulations to Congressman Billy Tauzin a republican from Louisiana:

CT extends its hearty congratulations to Congressman Billy Tauzin (R-La), who�s demonstrating his sincere attachment to free market virtues by retiring from politics and selling himself to the highest bidder.

Well, yea, Henry is being a bit tongue in cheek. Tauzin’s retirement plans (R) do have a peculiar (though common in Washington) stench.
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Henry also notes that:

Needless to say, Tauzin has been assiduous in his efforts to protect the interests of big pharma and the content industry over the last couple of years; it�s hard to believe that his grossly inflated salary is unconnected to services previously rendered.

If this assessment is true, and I agree with it, it appears to directly conflict any idea of “…attachment to free market virtues…” Rather more likely is that Tauzin has dedicated himself to both protecting the interests of his suitors not the citizens he his supposed to serve andstealing money from taxing you and I and finding ways to put the proceeds, unearned, into the pockets of others. This has nothing to do with free market virtues.
There is an interesting discussion in the comment thread regarding the causes of this long standing environment of subtle and not so subtle corruption that permeates the relationship between government at all levels and the clients the goverment protects regulates.
Update (Jan 25): Also see Marx, Incentives and Liberalism at Catallarchy.

Nickology

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Prompted by this satirical look at the new nickel designs The Noble Pundit makes some interesting historical comparisons and provides some great graphics of older coins. In academia the Treasury’s work, if left undocumented, would probably be considered plagiarism.
Chris also argues that:

The Romans used their coinage for propaganda which is why they had multiple reverses. While our coinage is a reflection of who we are, it is not a propaganda piece.
Our coinage should reflect a certain dignity.Multiple reverses take away from that dignity. That’s why I don’t really like the state quarters or the new nickels. They look nice, they’re interesting to collect, but I don’t really think that they are a good representation of who we are as a nation.

Given what you can buy with a nickel or a quarter these days I’m not sure there is much dignity left to take away and it is not at all clear that US coinage is not also progaganda.

Immigration Failure

This entry was posted in Capitalism Drug Laws Economics Immigration US Politics on by

Current immigration law and enforcement appear to be an utter failure. Jeanne D’Arc points out that:

Between 1994 and 2002, we spent $20 billion militarizing our southern border and trying to keep out or send back immigrants, and it’s hard to see that as anything but a complete waste of money.

and looks at an alternative approach to discussing the issue:

I wondered if maybe there was another way to frame the issue: Should we continue to pour massive ammounts of money into a policy that clearly doesn’t work (and also kills people)? Should we give up? Or should we spend that money in ways that will improve life for people in Mexico so that they aren’t forced to come here to work? What good could we do with $20 billion over the next eight years?

Perhaps money will talk. This same approach is starting to make inroads against the drug wars.

Interview with the Patriot Act

This entry was posted in Constitution Domestic Terrorism Humor Libertarianism Patriot Act US Politics War on Terrorism on by

Dong Resin interviews the Patriot Act:

DR: Right, yeah. Now, I thought your name was an attempt to sell you as, you know, “good for American citizens”, yet another big pander from the current administration, as in”no child left behind.” Not the case?
PA: Yeah, a lot of people have taken it that way, but really, if you think about it for even half a second… exactly who needed to be sold? Where was the big scary resistance that I had to push through?
Face it, I could have been named “The Let’s Knife-Rape Dakota Fanning For Satan Act”, and no one would have twitched. I passed though congress like greased shit through a goose with nary a peep. Nobody really had the stones to open their cry-holes after 9/11, did they.

There is more. Laugh or cry as it suits.
Via Gregory Harris at Planet Swank.