Sarah Palin - Not as dumb as she seems

[G-Max]

I completely understood what you said, I was being ironic. Yes government can sometimes get in the way of business and markets working effectively, but I would contend that when all is said and done government's net impact on business and markets is decidedly beneficial. In fact government is vital for the effective functioning of businesses and markets, for a number of reasons which were alluded to in the examples I mentioned earlier. Yes government is imperfect, as are businesses and markets, but all I'm saying is don't throw the baby out with the bath water.

You don't seem to understand that my original comment was referring specifically to cumbersome over-regulation and micromanagement, not the legitimate functions of government

She supported it because Ted Stevens wanted it, until it became an embarrassment. Then she opposed it... But isn't ignorance the absence of reasoning?

No, ignorance is the absence of knowledge, and I didn't know about the Ted Stevens thing because I don't give two wet farts about the bridge to nowhere and therefore didn't research it.

It gets spent because people keep introducing earmarks... There's everything wrong with that

Yeah, probably. But RP is still against the spending, and if he got his way every time, he would not be bringing home any pork. Nothing is wrong with that.

Now that needs some backing up before I'll accept it.

The part about him being right most of the time, or the part about him being a creationist?

 

[Ajidica]

So Palin has become a Paulistinian?
That says more about Paul than my words ever could.

 

[Antilogic]

The part about him being right most of the time, or the part about him being a creationist?

Considering one contradicts the other...

It's the "being right most of the time" that I was pointing out, by the way. I don't know if he's a creationist or not, but that's only one thing.

 

[Gatsby]

You don't seem to understand that my original comment was referring specifically to cumbersome over-regulation and micromanagement, not the legitimate functions of government

I understood, but the phrasing in your initial comment seemed to suggest that you meant something in addition to that. My point is that any institution composed of imperfect human beings will tend to be imperfect by that very fact, whether that institution is a government or business or whatever else.

Cumbersome regulation and micromanagement is problematic, but the underlying intent of these things is probably valid in most cases. The real challenge for government is how to protect society's interests (which includes but is not limited to businesse's interests) in ways that aren't cumbersome, excessively micromanaging, stupid, short-sighted, and costly. Government regulation and micromanaging can be smart, efficient, and helpful when it is done in the right way, to the right extent - which is *not* necessarily zero - and with careful strategic planning. The fact that virtually every prosperous developed country in the world today is not (and never has been) anything remotely like a libertarian utopia is testament to this reality.

Another important consideration is the extent to which businesses and market mechanisms (e.g. campaign contributions and pork barrelling) actually corrupt the political process and promote the development of cumbersome over-regulation and micromanagement themselves. Certain lobby groups and businesses might engage in these activities to advance their own particular economic interests, and then pro-business and pro-free market types will decry the stupid policies and regulations that result from such rational profit-maximising behaviour

 

[Ayn Rand]

Palin has always been intelligent - anyone can be made to look stupid if you take every mistake they make and endlessly replay it across multiple media channels saying "look at dummy". It's a foundation of the liberal World-view that they actually think they are more intelligent than right-wingers, and this repetition is necessary for them to keep believing it.

 

[Antilogic]

Palin has always been intelligent - anyone can be made to look stupid if you take every mistake they make and endlessly replay it across multiple media channels saying "look at dummy". It's a foundation of the liberal World-view that they actually think they are more intelligent than right-wingers, and this repetition is necessary for them to keep believing it.

Wait, are you describing Ron Paul supporters?

 

[Cutlass]

Palin has always been intelligent - anyone can be made to look stupid if you take every mistake they make and endlessly replay it across multiple media channels saying "look at dummy". It's a foundation of the liberal World-view that they actually think they are more intelligent than right-wingers, and this repetition is necessary for them to keep believing it.

Palin has never demonstrated intelligence. She's never demonstrated that she has basic comprehension of any issue that she's spoken on. Liberals as a whole are more intelligent than conservatives. It's a phenomena recognized for centuries.

Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservative. John Stuart Mill

 

[bombshoo]

It's a foundation of the liberal World-view that they actually think they are more intelligent than right-wingers, and this repetition is necessary for them to keep believing it.

Of course they think they are smarter than everyone than the right. Just as those on the right think they are smarter than everyone on the left. I hope you realize that this can basically be said about any political party ever in the history of the world.

 

[GamezRule]

Obama has always been intelligent - anyone can be made to look stupid if you take every mistake they make and endlessly replay it across multiple media channels saying "look at dummy". It's a foundation of the conservative World-view that they actually think they are more intelligent than left-wingers, and this repetition is necessary for them to keep believing it.

Fixed that for you.

 

[Camikaze]

Moderator Action: This is essentially another Ron Paul thread. Again, don't create another one, G-Max.

Spam OP as well.