Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Sowell the Magnificent

For years, I've recommended Thomas Sowell's The Vision of the Anointed as the best one-volume analysis of liberalism. And now Dr. Sowell applies his analysis to the subject of Obama's health-care address to Congress:
One plain fact should outweigh all the words of Barack Obama and all the impressive trappings of the setting in which he says them: He tried to rush Congress into passing a massive government takeover of the nation's medical care before the August recess-- for a program that would not take effect until 2013! . . .
If we do not believe that the President is stupid, then what do we believe? The only reasonable alternative seems to be that he wanted to get this massive government takeover of medical care passed into law before the public understood what was in it. . . . .
A familar tactic known as the fait accompli -- it is always more effective to act, and then explain your action as a thing already done, than to seek permission to act.

This tactic is beloved of school boards and county commissions. Enact the potentially controversial new policy without calling too much attention to the change, knowing that repealing a policy is a task more difficult than arguing against a change in policy. The status quo always has the best of the argument against novelty -- "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" and the "better the devil we know," etc. -- and so local goverments are always doing things this way.

This just doesn't work in the glare of national politics, when trying to pull a fast one against organized opposition. The Clintons came out of Little Rock accustomed to always having their own way, and were blindsided by the opposition in Washington. I'm thinking Obama was too used to the way things were done in Chicago and Springfield, and is now learning the same lesson the Clintons learned. What I can't understand is how someone as cagey as Rahm Emanuel miscalated so badly.

9 comments:

  1. Sowell is so undervalued, his writings are always spot on. And he is completely ignored by prominent African Americans because he discounts the victim role so enjoyed by many.

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  2. The Mafia and the Vatican share space in Italy. And, Rahm Emanuel, from Chicago, shares space with James Baker. Ah. James Baker was smoother. Not every other word was "unprintable, here."

    And, Rahm's not Italian.

    There are differences between "big difference." And, small ones. But it really is ALL ABOUT POWER.

    Too bad Rahm Emanuel set off the COWBELLS. And, also all those old people. Who knew the elderly had this much energy in them? When FDR was president, the actuaries stuck the age at 65, because old people were dead at 63. Maybe, the big difference is anti-bioltics?

    As to Rahm Emanuel, he comes closest to that idiot, Jordan. Who said it was prounced "Ger-den." Like in Gerotol. Or something. You want differences between Jimmy Carter and Obama? Well, if Jimmy left his yellow sweater hanging in the Oval Office closet, and one day Barry (Dunham)Obama, puts it on, we'll be able to say "not much."

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  3. fait accompli
    Act I. Don't vet the DNC POTUS CANDIDATE


    Thanks for the tip to Sowell's work. I'll enjoy reading his 'vision'.

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  4. "What I can't understand is how someone as cagey as Rahm Emanuel miscalated so badly."

    Barring a better explanation, I'd go with Occam's Razor - hubris and narcissism. Rahm greatly underestimated not only the momentum and political capital available at the onset of this administration, but also the shallow depth of support within the masses. Once the "free lunch" illusion was removed from the "public option", what little support there was evaporated quickly.

    The big surprise(at least to me) was the vehemence of the public backlash during the August recess. That's the coffin nail as those standing for re-election in 2010 saw their political future flash before their eyes.

    The nagging question is, "What will Rahm do now?"

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  5. And yet when squishes like Ruffini and Henke whine about the lack of intellectuals on the right, they somehow always neglect to mention Dr. Sowell. Wonder why.

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  6. No, I think Barry is not bright, but has been called bright for years because he is, obviously, black and can smile and is cool and shit.

    Libs think they are cool, therefore they are smart.

    But they're little minded fools.

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  7. It is always easier to get forgiveness than permission.

    General Charles Napier - "Peccavi" (I have sinned. After he conquered Sindh. {I have Sindh.}) Napier acted without orders in conquering Sindh.

    Also a great Laconic phrase.

    yrs,
    Mikey NTH

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  8. What did we see tonight? Why did I think "this isn't rhetoric, this is THREAT-O-RIC. It's designed to frighten you. Not lull you. And, if this gives the democraps cover, they don't know what cover is. And, they'll stampede themselves ahead. What impressed me most was the quiet way republicans just sat. This animated the dons to rise and "ovate" like crazy. All that was missing was the fat lady singing the last aria.

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  9. "One plain fact should outweigh all the words of Barack Obama and all the impressive trappings of the setting in which he says them: He tried to rush Congress into passing a massive government takeover of the nation's medical care"

    Umm... there's nothing "plain" or "factual" about the claim that current health care reform legislation is a "massive government takeover of the nation's medical care." That's what's known here in reality as disingenuous hyperbole due to severe bias. If diagnosed early it is often treatable, but it seems many of you are in the terminal stages. It speaks volumes (Sorry; I know you prefer to keep things "one-volume" or shorter) about the judgement of RSM and his praisers that this kind of partisan hackery is lauded as recomendable "analysis."

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