I find it hard to support war hero John McCain and his dud Vice Presidential candidate Palin. But Obama is no shining angel either. 100 prominent US economists get stuck into Obama's policies on tax and trade (a longer list is here):
'Barack Obama argues that his proposals to raise tax rates and halt international trade agreements would benefit the American economy. They would do nothing of the sort. Economic analysis and historical experience show that they would do the opposite. They would reduce economic growth and decrease the number of jobs in America. Moreover, with the credit crunch, the housing slump, and high energy prices weakening the U.S. economy, his proposals run a high risk of throwing the economy into a deep recession. It was exactly such misguided tax hikes and protectionism, enacted when the U.S. economy was weak in the early 1930s, that greatly increased the severity of the Great Depression'.
What a clown Obama is and McCain at least supports free trade. If I had the chance would I ever think about voting for McCain? Probably 'no'. Don't ask me to explain my reasons in detail. What a choice!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
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11 comments:
Harry,
I'd be cautious about using McCain campaign propaganda as your primary source.
For a more moderate view try:
http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2008/10/economists-against-obama.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/16/business/16view.html?_r=1&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink&oref=slogin
Mark U
Harry,
one of those 100 economists, Kevin Hassett of the American Enterprise Institute, is McCain's chief economic advisor.
You are very naive if you think McCain actually supports free trade. The difference between the Democrats and Republicans on trade is that the Democrats talk protectionist and act protectionist while the Republicans talk free trade and act protectionist.
The material I took from the Mankiw website. I forgot to acknowledge with a Hat Tip.
While the material came from the McCain website it is a statement prepared by 100 very prominent economists including Gary Becker and Robert Mundell.
I am no fan of McCain. But on economics I tghinkl he outperforms Obama.
.
I’m sure the Obamassiah will fix all the problems perfectly. All progress is possible and positive if we just hope.
People should vote on the real issues and a candidate's true character and political leanings, not just a bunch of populist fluff.
People are hypnotized with Obamamania and his Obammunism. Good fodder for Obama posters here. Posters about him reflect this puppy dogs, doves and rainbows feeling. The Obama Utopia.
If Obamassiah doesn't get POTUS in 2008 and if he can stay pretty clean, do some good things as Senator, and then become Governor of IL, he could be unstoppable in 2012 or 2016. Scary stuff.
I would dearly love to see a Jewish, African-American woman as POTUS. It's not race or gender that makes it for me though. It's political beliefs that matter, and socialism is bad for everybody, (accept maybe those high in government or high-level academia) especially poor people, of all races. Obama is a dyed-in-the-wool Marxist, no thanks.
His 'Change', 'Hope' and 'Progress' mantras are actually somewhat self-mocking. Making your own Obama posters is totally addicting.
I laughed so hard I almost had a breakdown. LOL!
:)
.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
pretend to be moderate
move towards the center fast
enrage your Left wing early
.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
befriend a bomber
pushing for change at all costs
sacrifices must be made
.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
only feel and hope
please force people to change
change can only be good
.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
NEVER ELECT a woman
OR a minority
if they are Right of center
.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
you must be a racist
if you vote for a white man
it can't be his politics
.
All real freedom starts with freedom of speech. Without freedom of speech there can be no real freedom.
.
Make Some Obama Posters NOW!
.
Che Makes Money for Capitalists
.
Help Halt Terrorism Now!
.
USpace
:)
.
"Obama is a dyed-in-the-wool Marxist"
If only.
BTW, what is the origin of the phrase, "dyed-in-the-wool"?
Harry:
out of curiosity why do you feel the need to support one or the other candidate? Why is sitting it out too difficult as no one forces you to take sides?
McCain will lose the election for running a terrible campaign, lacking ideas and failing at being incoherent.
Obama on the other hand is selling? He's basically an open book, hasn't said anything specific to any degree and belongs to a party that wants to raise the level of government involvement in the economy: something the American people really don't want by and large.
So why go for one particular candidate?
JC, I agree with you - I don't have to make a decision. I guess I am saying that as a long-term supporter of US policy in various settings I think a change in the drift of policy is called for.
I am expressing my unease with that position. Obama is better but still a poor alternative.
JC
"something the American people don't want"
To be frank, I don't know whether such an assertion is right or wrong - no evidence simply an assertion. Though I'm sure the Cato group would support the idea.
Leaving the above aside, I think JC raises an interesting question for Harry.
I'm not sure of the answer and I perhaps kid myself that being a policy wonk I am divorced from ideological pressures.On the other hand I realise that is not completely true - but I think in the real world there are degrees of ideological bias - and particularly if you are in an advisory role you need to find a "real world" balance.
It was therefore with some surprise to see JC asking a very reasonable and interesting question regarding Harry's perceived need to "out" himself.
Admittedly JC doesn't need to declare his ideological prism - it is self-evident! Apart from that, the inferences eg 'Obama is simply selling' would suggest selection has been made - though not admitted.
Notwithgstanding the above, it remains an interesting question and may tell us a little more about the real HC!!
No anon , I wouldn't vote for either of them and sit this one out.
Feh, Harry, every one of those 100 economists whose name I recognize is a "free market" type (Chicago and GMU are heavily represented), and most are at least as firmly in the Republicans' pocket as Brad deLong is in the Democrats'. The Mandy Rice-Davies line applies.
In the US it seems to be much more accepted than here that you can sacrifice intellectual honesty to support a favoured candidate, even where you have a lot of intellect to betray. They don't seem to pay muh of a reputational price.
Greg Mankiw is a case in point. He has a damned cheek to write about the candidates' economic policy after his personal association with the Bush disasters, of which McCain's tax policy can reasonably be represented as more of the same.
DD,
Mankiw comes out of this a lot better as he did NOT sign the letter because he thought the claims made in it were a "tad too hyperbolic". See the link in my original comment.
Mark U
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