Foreign aid, after all, is more than just charity. It gives us leverage with allies and against enemies in ways that far outweigh the actual dollars we pay.In addition to such disastrous policies like "let's pick and choose who are our friends with squandered money" Page also issues this statement of journalistic brilliance:
Whenever I hear someone ask that question, I ask them how much of the federal budget they think is spent on foreign aid. They almost always guess wrong. I hear estimates as high as 30 or 40 percent or more. In fact, foreign aid amounts to barely more than 1 percent of the budget.My email response follows:
Mr. Page,Perhaps my opening reinterpretation could have been worded better, but I think I got the point across. No doubt if a Republican was in office, Page would be all for stopping foreign aid as it means less money for dependency creating welfare programs, but supporting the biggest warmongering president to date comes first because of the D next to his name. Page, like many of his peers, is a political hack who would support Obama even if he introduced a "Kill All Puppies for Their Fur" bill.
"Whenever I hear someone ask that question, I ask them how many of you think Clarence Page lacks journalistic integrity? They almost always guess wrong. I hear estimates as high as 30 or 40 percent or more. In fact, Clarence Page has close to 0% of journalistic integrity."
See how dumb it sounds when you can just make up your own poll and numbers?
This was of course in reference to your latest Chicago Tribune column that was critical on the GOP presidential candidate's stance on foreign aid. In case you haven't realized it, Paul holds the only principled stance of not picking and choosing who gets taxpayer money.
Your critique of Ron Paul on foreign aid lacks any actual understanding of the incentives foreign aid creates. Tell me specifically where foreign aid is authorized in the Constitution; seriously, tell me where.
Do you really disagree that foreign aid creates dependency? That foreign governments don't become reliant on the check written by Uncle Sam? Please explain how.
And whom decides which countries we should be allies with? We were allies with and paid for the training of Osama bin Laden in the 80's. That turned out really well. When are you going to realize that our idiotic foreign policy of intervention has created more problems than it solved? The newest boogeyman threat from Pakistan, the Haqqani, was trained and financed by us in the 80's as well. Are you that unaware of history?
Judging by your lack of understanding of foreign affairs and economics, I can only assume that you also believe when government spending is cut, the money magically disappears and isn't spent elsewhere. If not spent directly by consumers, it doesn't get placed in bank to be invested elsewhere of course. That way we can never cut government spending, right?
Being a fool may give you an excuse for failing to understand basic economics, but it doesn't excuse your lame attempt at promoting the giving away of money from poor people in the U.S. to rich people overseas. I thought you cared about the poor? Why not let them keep more of their hard earned money?
(very furry)
A few days ago, an Ohioan unleashed a batch of exotic animals he was housing on the public and proceeded to kill himself. The 56 animals he set loose included lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!) which subsequently had to be shot and killed by the police. You could almost hear the blood curling screams from PETA as police officers who normally protected the public from such dangers as recreational drug usage and jay walking got to use their guns for more than threatening deviant teenagers.
Out of this bizarre affair came this interesting piece of information (ht Tyler Cowen) via WashPo
Well well, looks like bartering still exists even in the most abnormal of trades. Funny thing is, in the event of a fiat currency collapse, this type of trade wouldn't be so farfetched. Assuming there exists a demand for wild animals of course outside their use for food. An interesting case study indeed.ZANESVILLE, Ohio — An owner of dozens of wild animals who freed them before committing suicide this week was an avid gun collector who had traded weapons for a monkey, a leopard and a tiger cub, federal documents show.
Terry Thompson built his collection of exotic animals by swapping guns, sheltering animals no longer wanted by their owners and buying others at auctions, according to public records released Friday and interviews with those who knew him.
So the never ending serious of meetings between Euro zone leaders continues today and wouldn't you know it, they haven't reached a conclusion! Via Financial Times:
After a two hour overrun, the meeting of the EU 27 has broken up here in Brussels, to be followed by a pow-wow of the 17 eurozone members. This could be another late one.More meetings, more crap about how some conclusion is close to being made, and more guarantees the euro will be saved to calm the markets. None of which involves doing what's in the best interest of the taxpayers. The show must go on!
One thing we know has been agreed so far: more meetings.
With the market barely given enough time to digest the last easing drive, talk already is emerging that the Federal Reserve is getting ready to rev up the engine again.What did the first few rounds of QE solve? Nothing. What will another round solve? Nothing. What would stopping all government intervention in the housing industry and letting prices fall till the market clears solve? Everything. So which course will be pursued? HmmmChairman Ben Bernanke, in his thus-far unsuccessful quest to resuscitate the moribund housing market, is making his case for another round of easing in which the central bank would buy up mortgage-backed securities, according to a report in Friday’s Wall Street Journal.
Update- Simply awesome:
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