Comments on: Error of Commission http://keithhennessey.com/2010/01/20/error-of-commission/ Your guide to American economic policy Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:47:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: A "modified, limited" course correction, Part Two | TheWorldPolitics http://keithhennessey.com/2010/01/20/error-of-commission/comment-page-1/#comment-14886 A "modified, limited" course correction, Part Two | TheWorldPolitics Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:01:55 +0000 http://keithhennessey.com/2010/01/20/error-of-commission/#comment-14886 [...] to create a bipartisan commission to examine taxes and spending. Initially, President Obama favored a watered-down commission with a higher proportion of Democrats and less authority than the one proposed by Conrad and Gregg. [...]<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('14886','A "modified, limited" course correction, Part Two | TheWorldPolitics'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('14886','A "modified, limited" course correction, Part Two | TheWorldPolitics','[...] to create a bipartisan commission to examine taxes and spending. Initially, President Obama favored a watered-down commission with a higher proportion of Democrats and less authority than the one proposed by Conrad and Gregg. [...]'); return false;">Quote</a></div> [...] to create a bipartisan commission to examine taxes and spending. Initially, President Obama favored a watered-down commission with a higher proportion of Democrats and less authority than the one proposed by Conrad and Gregg. [...]
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]]> By: A "modified, limited" course correction, Part Two | No Bull. news service. http://keithhennessey.com/2010/01/20/error-of-commission/comment-page-1/#comment-14885 A "modified, limited" course correction, Part Two | No Bull. news service. Tue, 26 Jan 2010 04:23:28 +0000 http://keithhennessey.com/2010/01/20/error-of-commission/#comment-14885 [...] to create a bipartisan commission to examine taxes and spending. Initially, President Obama favored a watered-down commission with a higher proportion of Democrats and less authority than the one proposed by Conrad and Gregg. [...]<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('14885','A "modified, limited" course correction, Part Two | No Bull. news service.'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('14885','A "modified, limited" course correction, Part Two | No Bull. news service.','[...] to create a bipartisan commission to examine taxes and spending. Initially, President Obama favored a watered-down commission with a higher proportion of Democrats and less authority than the one proposed by Conrad and Gregg. [...]'); return false;">Quote</a></div> [...] to create a bipartisan commission to examine taxes and spending. Initially, President Obama favored a watered-down commission with a higher proportion of Democrats and less authority than the one proposed by Conrad and Gregg. [...]
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]]> By: Obama Breathes New Life Into Conrad-Gregg Commission | America Watches Obama http://keithhennessey.com/2010/01/20/error-of-commission/comment-page-1/#comment-14884 Obama Breathes New Life Into Conrad-Gregg Commission | America Watches Obama Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:02:53 +0000 http://keithhennessey.com/2010/01/20/error-of-commission/#comment-14884 [...] grim thanks to the president's opposition. The president was set to announce his support for a different commission, one with more Democrats and less of a chance to pass meaningful reforms. Then Scott Brown came [...]<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('14884','Obama Breathes New Life Into Conrad-Gregg Commission | America Watches Obama'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('14884','Obama Breathes New Life Into Conrad-Gregg Commission | America Watches Obama','[...] grim thanks to the president's opposition. The president was set to announce his support for a different commission, one with more Democrats and less of a chance to pass meaningful reforms. Then Scott Brown came [...]'); return false;">Quote</a></div> [...] grim thanks to the president's opposition. The president was set to announce his support for a different commission, one with more Democrats and less of a chance to pass meaningful reforms. Then Scott Brown came [...]
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]]> By: Brooks http://keithhennessey.com/2010/01/20/error-of-commission/comment-page-1/#comment-14881 Brooks Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:52:22 +0000 http://keithhennessey.com/2010/01/20/error-of-commission/#comment-14881 I guess you're missing my point. If A makes B more/highly likely and A is, by nature, hard to reverse, you can't feel at all secure about the constraint implied by your caveat. Once you allow overwhelming influence of large corporations on our political process, putting up a roadblock to particular policies and taking away that power could become quite difficult or impossible. Although I certainly do not wish to imply any comparison as a matter of degree or clarity of evil, just as an analogy of the kind of dynamic to which I refer, there is the famous poem referring to the step-by-step increases in persecution by the Nazis: <i>First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;</i> <i>Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;</i> <i>Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;</i> <i>Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out.</i> <div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('14881','Brooks'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('14881','Brooks','I guess you're missing my point. If A makes B more\/highly likely and A is, by nature, hard to reverse, you can't feel at all secure about the constraint implied by your caveat. Once you allow overwhelming influence of large corporations on our political process, putting up a roadblock to particular policies and taking away that power could become quite difficult or impossible. Although I certainly do not wish to imply any comparison as a matter of degree or clarity of evil, just as an analogy of the kind of dynamic to which I refer, there is the famous poem referring to the step-by-step increases in persecution by the Nazis: \n \n<i>First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;<\/i> \n<i>Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;<\/i> \n<i>Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;<\/i> \n<i>Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out.<\/i> '); return false;">Quote</a></div> I guess you're missing my point. If A makes B more/highly likely and A is, by nature, hard to reverse, you can't feel at all secure about the constraint implied by your caveat. Once you allow overwhelming influence of large corporations on our political process, putting up a roadblock to particular policies and taking away that power could become quite difficult or impossible. Although I certainly do not wish to imply any comparison as a matter of degree or clarity of evil, just as an analogy of the kind of dynamic to which I refer, there is the famous poem referring to the step-by-step increases in persecution by the Nazis:

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out.

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]]> By: The Condition of the Budget Commission | America Watches Obama http://keithhennessey.com/2010/01/20/error-of-commission/comment-page-1/#comment-14767 The Condition of the Budget Commission | America Watches Obama Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:04:08 +0000 http://keithhennessey.com/2010/01/20/error-of-commission/#comment-14767 [...]  Keith Hennessey is here to tell us how: The Conrad-Gregg task force bill is trying to delegate control to change the law.  The rumored Administration proposal is trying to provide an excuse while they duck a hard policy issue in an election year. [...]<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('14767','The Condition of the Budget Commission | America Watches Obama'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('14767','The Condition of the Budget Commission | America Watches Obama','[...]  Keith Hennessey is here to tell us how: The Conrad-Gregg task force bill is trying to delegate control to change the law.  The rumored Administration proposal is trying to provide an excuse while they duck a hard policy issue in an election year. [...]'); return false;">Quote</a></div> [...]  Keith Hennessey is here to tell us how: The Conrad-Gregg task force bill is trying to delegate control to change the law.  The rumored Administration proposal is trying to provide an excuse while they duck a hard policy issue in an election year. [...]
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]]> By: Fred Hyman http://keithhennessey.com/2010/01/20/error-of-commission/comment-page-1/#comment-14759 Fred Hyman Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:27:42 +0000 http://keithhennessey.com/2010/01/20/error-of-commission/#comment-14759 While corporations may know better how to run their corporation I am not sanguine about their social conscience or ability to act outide their narrow field of interest. Mind you, it certainly isn't a given that politicians can do any better. As long as a member of congress gets all kinds of perks and retirement and health care for life simply for serving one term we will have people selling themselves to the highest bidder. The accolade "public servant" is a misnomer. They are living on the public payroll but serving the special interests. All bills should be voted on without any pork so that we the people know exactly what is happening. And so on and so forth.... All in Congress should not be painted with this brush but the with the majority the paint never dries. <div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('14759','Fred Hyman'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('14759','Fred Hyman','While corporations may know better how to run their corporation I am not sanguine about their social conscience or ability to act outide their narrow field of interest. Mind you, it certainly isn't a given that politicians can do any better. As long as a member of congress gets all kinds of perks and retirement and health care for life simply for serving one term we will have people selling themselves to the highest bidder. The accolade "public servant" is a misnomer. They are living on the public payroll but serving the special interests. All bills should be voted on without any pork so that we the people know exactly what is happening. And so on and so forth.... All in Congress should not be painted with this brush but the with the majority the paint never dries. '); return false;">Quote</a></div> While corporations may know better how to run their corporation I am not sanguine about their social conscience or ability to act outide their narrow field of interest. Mind you, it certainly isn't a given that politicians can do any better. As long as a member of congress gets all kinds of perks and retirement and health care for life simply for serving one term we will have people selling themselves to the highest bidder. The accolade "public servant" is a misnomer. They are living on the public payroll but serving the special interests. All bills should be voted on without any pork so that we the people know exactly what is happening. And so on and so forth…. All in Congress should not be painted with this brush but the with the majority the paint never dries.
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]]> By: Guitanguran http://keithhennessey.com/2010/01/20/error-of-commission/comment-page-1/#comment-14746 Guitanguran Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:47:59 +0000 http://keithhennessey.com/2010/01/20/error-of-commission/#comment-14746 Hence my caveat. However, I'd be more afraid of the government with it's 'we know best' mentality than private corporations. If we really want to deal with the problem at its source, let's get rid of the tax code and the departments I listed below. <div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('14746','Guitanguran'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('14746','Guitanguran','Hence my caveat. However, I'd be more afraid of the government with it's 'we know best' mentality than private corporations. \n \nIf we really want to deal with the problem at its source, let's get rid of the tax code and the departments I listed below. '); return false;">Quote</a></div> Hence my caveat. However, I'd be more afraid of the government with it's 'we know best' mentality than private corporations.

If we really want to deal with the problem at its source, let's get rid of the tax code and the departments I listed below.

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]]> By: Brooks http://keithhennessey.com/2010/01/20/error-of-commission/comment-page-1/#comment-14732 Brooks Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:07:19 +0000 http://keithhennessey.com/2010/01/20/error-of-commission/#comment-14732 Re: <i>Unless or until the internet and social networks are compromised, I could give a rat's patootie about corporate or union ads.</i> Interesting argument (yes, I'm being sarcastic). Ever hear of the "net-neutrality" issue? It's essentially a political issue to be decided at various times by politicians, politicians who are influenced by corporate political spending that could easily mean a few heavy hitters who would benefit from a <i>lack</i> of net neutrality getting/keeping candidates on their side in office via massive political spending, and getting the legislation they want (or blocking legislation they don't want). Would you not then consider the internet "compromised"? <div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('14732','Brooks'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('14732','Brooks','Re: <i>Unless or until the internet and social networks are compromised, I could give a rat's patootie about corporate or union ads.<\/i> \n \nInteresting argument (yes, I'm being sarcastic). Ever hear of the "net-neutrality" issue? It's essentially a political issue to be decided at various times by politicians, politicians who are influenced by corporate political spending that could easily mean a few heavy hitters who would benefit from a <i>lack<\/i> of net neutrality getting\/keeping candidates on their side in office via massive political spending, and getting the legislation they want (or blocking legislation they don't want). Would you not then consider the internet "compromised"? '); return false;">Quote</a></div> Re: Unless or until the internet and social networks are compromised, I could give a rat's patootie about corporate or union ads.

Interesting argument (yes, I'm being sarcastic). Ever hear of the "net-neutrality" issue? It's essentially a political issue to be decided at various times by politicians, politicians who are influenced by corporate political spending that could easily mean a few heavy hitters who would benefit from a lack of net neutrality getting/keeping candidates on their side in office via massive political spending, and getting the legislation they want (or blocking legislation they don't want). Would you not then consider the internet "compromised"?

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]]> By: Guitanguran http://keithhennessey.com/2010/01/20/error-of-commission/comment-page-1/#comment-14709 Guitanguran Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:59:27 +0000 http://keithhennessey.com/2010/01/20/error-of-commission/#comment-14709 Unless or until the internet and social networks are compromised, I could give a rat's patootie about corporate or union ads. I'd rather know who's behind the ad than have to sift thru a PACs organizatonal info to figure it out. As SCOTUS indicated, part of our 1st Amendment rights is the right to determine the truth for ourselves. Part of the Scott Brown phenomenon was his ability to campaign directly and nationally and thereby bypassing the traditional channels. So, in a word (OK, two), screw 'em. <div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('14709','Guitanguran'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('14709','Guitanguran','Unless or until the internet and social networks are compromised, I could give a rat's patootie about corporate or union ads. I'd rather know who's behind the ad than have to sift thru a PACs organizatonal info to figure it out. As SCOTUS indicated, part of our 1st Amendment rights is the right to determine the truth for ourselves. Part of the Scott Brown phenomenon was his ability to campaign directly and nationally and thereby bypassing the traditional channels. So, in a word (OK, two), screw 'em. '); return false;">Quote</a></div> Unless or until the internet and social networks are compromised, I could give a rat's patootie about corporate or union ads. I'd rather know who's behind the ad than have to sift thru a PACs organizatonal info to figure it out. As SCOTUS indicated, part of our 1st Amendment rights is the right to determine the truth for ourselves. Part of the Scott Brown phenomenon was his ability to campaign directly and nationally and thereby bypassing the traditional channels. So, in a word (OK, two), screw 'em.
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]]> By: Guitanguran http://keithhennessey.com/2010/01/20/error-of-commission/comment-page-1/#comment-14708 Guitanguran Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:49:59 +0000 http://keithhennessey.com/2010/01/20/error-of-commission/#comment-14708 How about a citizen commission? Here are my recommendations: Eliminate Department of Education entirely, and most of Commerce, Agriculture, Transportation, Labor, and HUD. <div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('14708','Guitanguran'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('14708','Guitanguran','How about a citizen commission? Here are my recommendations: \n \nEliminate Department of Education entirely, and most of Commerce, Agriculture, Transportation, Labor, and HUD. '); return false;">Quote</a></div> How about a citizen commission? Here are my recommendations:

Eliminate Department of Education entirely, and most of Commerce, Agriculture, Transportation, Labor, and HUD.

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