Month: August 2008

“Suck It Up”

Sane words from Steve Chapman on our oil and real estate woes:

When the economy contracts, the government may use sound monetary and fiscal policy to help revive growth. But when wealth goes up in smoke, the government can’t necessarily bring it back. If it tries, the effect is likely to resemble what happens when you give a recovering alcoholic a drink: deceptively pleasant at first, but ultimately calamitous.

Meanwhile, Obama and McCain are playing the kind of politics that will only make things worse.

Same As It Ever Was?

A reader writes:

I recently read these arguments against a presidential candidate:
…"decried as a hopeless visionary, a weakling… more a Frenchman than an American, and therefore a bad man."
 
"Not only was [he] a godless man, but one who mocked the Christian faith."
 
"With [him] we shall have peace… the friends of war will vote for [the opponent]."
I removed the names – they aren’t about Barack Obama against John McCain, but about Thomas Jefferson against John Adams in the election of 1800. (I’ve been reading David McCullough’s "John Adams", several years too late.) There are an alarming number that sound like they came straight from this election: Adams was mocked for being old. Jefferson was considered a man of the people despite coming from a wealthy background. Adams was considered "elite" despite having more humble beginnings. They are both criticized for having questionable associates.
 

Sort of disheartening to think we’ve been doing this for 208 years…

Or encouraging. This is part of a free society. I’d rather we had the freedom to be sleazy than no freedom at all.

Obama’s Worst Idea Yet

This whole idea of taxing the oil companies on a "windfall" profit in order to shovel money to potential voters is pretty dreadful. It’s up there with the gas tax holiday in the so-dumb-it-has-to-poll-well category. Of course, McCain’s emphasis on domestic drilling – did everyone in the GOP get the same memo? – is almost as lame. McCain’s speech today embracing an all-of-the-above approach to energy independence nonetheless struck me as a sensible theme. And when you look at all of Obama’s energy proposals, they’re not as bad as that headline pander might suggest. This news is depressing, however:

   The Washington Post reported that McCain received $1.1 million from oil and gas industry executives and employees in June — three-quarters of which came after he called for lifting the ban on offshore drilling on June 16.

Still, I’m not sure there’s a huge amount of difference between the two on energy policy at this point, especially when you consider both are for cap-and-trade (I’ve become disenchanted with that option) and will be managing a much more Democratic Congress.

Unstarry Night, Ctd

A reader writes:

Your item about the Undark Night, Ctd. reminded me of this great quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson.  I think of it almost every night when I enjoy the dark skies around my home in Vermont:

"If the stars should appear but one night every thousand years how man would marvel and stare.”

By the way, here’s an astonishing video computer trip inside Van Gogh’s masterpiece, if you missed it the first time.