Writes Brian Doherty:
Many aspects of America’s future are at risk as politicians and public intellectuals respond to the current economic crisis. The politicians are shaping how (far too much of) Americans’ money, resources, and precious bodily fluids will be expended, both now and in the very far future. Beyond the (completely insane) spending explosion per se, the specifics of how banking and technology policy will be dealt with, along with the detailed shopping list of Washington spending, show that D.C.’s strength in shaping how agents in the “free market” (that is, us human beings out here) move through the world is growing at an alarming rate. The incentives–and yes, even whims–of free individual choice are increasingly losing out to the commands and decisions of special interests in Washington. That will prove more dangerous in the long term than even the spending.
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What is the meaning of economic intervention?
Economic intervention is another way of saying ‘political corruption of the economy.’ It is accomplished by various political means and it happens at all levels of government. Each and every time it occurs wealth is redirected and power is increased towards the locus of origin.
At the national level in the U.S. the more political the economy becomes the more wealth and power is funneled to Washington, D.C. This can only be described as a vicious cycle! The more wealth and power in Washington, D.C. the more special interests migrate there to get a piece of the pie. The corruption (economic intervention) acts like a magnet attracting those who want to use political means to alter the economy to enrich themselves.
This explains the pernicious significance of the changes in the powers of the Federal Reserve that were pushed through as part of the ‘Bailout.’ The central bank can now reach deeper into the economy which means that more wealth and power will go to Washington, D.C. New powers to penetrate into the economy placed in the hands of economic interventionists can only mean one thing – more economic intervention. And more corruption! Notice the feeding frenzy called the ‘Stimulus Package’ and all of the ‘pieces of the pie’ being served.
When this pie is eaten gluttonously with no thought other than ‘feed me,’ the illusion of power in Washington, D.C. will have grown and the magnetism to the source of the corruption will have intensified. Soon the cycle of theft and corruption will begin again.
Pigs at the trough. Disgusting. And as long as they can look good to each other and on TV, there’s no end to the leangths they’ll go to to keep the slop pouring into the trough. Never mind that most people, I mean the average rational person, are quite skeptical of any “plan” comming out of DC. Nothing the politicos in DC has ever done before has “helped” them in any way, shape or form, and never will….
But the population repeatedly elects those who will exploit them. Why? Because they have been taught that it is in their own best interest. That is what I try to change (their perception of their own self-interest) when I talk about economics. Nothing matches the feeling of success I get when I finally see the light of “Hey, those guys just might be screwing me!” start showing in my conversation partner’s eye. What then follows is an explanation of what they can do to change things.
The Market Ticker, in this 8-min video, explains to us economic dummies out there what damage the government has done by messing with the markets: Illiquid Assets – the Truth. I thought this was good: short, clear and to the point.
Secession it is. Darn it. Experts on guerrilla warfare against domestic tyranny say that this style almost always fails because the enemy, the US Government in this case, is too embedded ideologically, knows the terrain, and has access to local supply. Repelling foreign invaders has a much higher success rate.
Secession, then, seems the best strategy. Successful separation would also have the consequence of making the federalies a foreign invader, with all the negative implications.
Secession? Didn’t Lincoln put a stop to all that? What are you, a Southerner?
Here in Australia, we have a separate microstate called Hutt River Principality, which successfully seceded from Western Australia in 1970. It even has its’ own website! Google for it. You might be able to set up a libertarian society, if you settle into the economy! Prince Leonard might be in favour of immigration.
Colin,
After a cursory reading of about 15 mins on Hutt River Principality I do not know what to conclude. Some call it a company run by eccentrics and not a real sovereignty at all. However, some offshore banking is allowed there (but not to Australians). HRP coinage has more value as collector and tourist items than anything else. They don’t say if their money has commodity backing. Kinda funny.
Should they be taken seriously, I ask, like many Australians.
Their constitution is terribly flawed, very much like the USA’s. It allows for great freedom and protections from arbitrariness… except when the government says so. Of course the “Law” has to be invoked in any conflict, but the “inviolable” (infallible?) Prince is the Law and government.
It would be ok if to live there based on something like a condo community contract I guess.
At least the Principality is small and without nukes. Maybe will visit with girlfriend someday.She likes flowers, their big export.
ps. not a southerner
pps. F’ Lincoln anyway
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