Rockwell argued that, if the debt ceiling was not raised, it would mean that the government would be forced to live on its income and not be able to expand beyond that.This is an extremely important insight on just how capping debt slows the growth of government.
However, since Rockwell's comments the government has unfortunately raised the ceiling.
Rockwell's view needs to be contrasted with that of Rand Paul. RP did not vote for the raising of the debt ceiling, but issued this curious statement following the passage of H.R. 2775, as amended, that suspended the debt ceiling until February 7, 2014 and fund the government to January 15, 2014:
Tonight, a deal was struck to re-open the government and avoid the debt ceiling deadline. That is a good thing. However, our country faces a problem bigger than any deadline: a $17 trillion debt. I am disappointed that Democrats would not compromise to avoid the looming debt debacle.This is typical confusing Rand statement. What does he mean that "to re-open the government and avoid the debt ceiling deadline" is a "good thing"? This sounds like typical political hogwash. Keeping the debt ceiling at the then-prevailing level would be the first step in dealing with the massive USG debt, not raising the ceiling.
Rockwell is straightforward in his commentary; while Rand seems to be on both sides of the issue, typical politician.
Sadly, Rand is not his father. The truly sad part is those who hope he runs and gets the presidency and expecting great things. They'll get more of the same.
ReplyDeleteIt's really quite simple. Lew Rockwell is not running for public office and can afford to tell the truth. Rand Paul is a politician with aspirations to be President, so of course he cannot afford to tell the truth. The practical art of politics consists primarily of telling people the lies they want to hear and pandering to the vast ignorance of the electorate. Rand knows this and behaves accordingly.
ReplyDeleteStop living in a make believe world where voters are intelligent, informed and rational. If you want to be successful in the loathsome game of politics you have to deal with voters the way they really are, not based on some fools paradise. The average American voter is an ignoramus, a coward, a gullible fool, an unprincipled jackass and about as interested in free markets and individual liberty as a 1930's resident of Germany.
The momentum was on truth's side. Rand is just quashing it. He has some goofy pollsters telling him what he should say, like "I drive a Prius. A Prius. I have a Prius." This is not what people are interested in. It was embarrassing watching that clip. If Rand really wanted to make a difference and make a real attempt for the presidency, he would look so much better if he stood his ground like his father and tear into the establishment - win/lose. Right now even when he makes a good attempt at a liberty argument, it just comes off as unbelievable and disingenuous. People may not be that smart according to your standards, but they can see a leader. Bad or good, they'll follow the strong and unwavering. Rand is just not that guy, hence, the straw poll.
Delete"The average American voter is an ignoramus, a coward, a gullible fool, an unprincipled jackass and about as interested in free markets and individual liberty as a 1930's resident of Germany." Ignoring the liberty movement and Tea Party (yes, flawed) attempts at changing political operations... They're like this because we weren't supposed to be here. People are ignorant of national and state politics because they're good at what they do at work and how they live. They don't have time, but because we're taxed, they have to get involved....because they're already involved...because they're taxed and regulated.
It's just cynicism from the cocktail people like the MSM and D.C. elites to say they shouldn't be there interrupting their "progress", and that these Tea Partiers and liberty people are kooky. If these elites don't want these people to decry what they're doing, then they ought to stop taxing these folks to use their money for their personal lifestyle and building a town like D.C. They ought to stop using their kids as sacrifices for their profitable wars. It's not D.C. elites; it's welfare elites.
Stop living in a make believe world where you think politics will solve anything. It won't. Like you said, the average American voter is an ignoramus, a coward, a gullible fool, an unprincipled jackass and about as interested in free markets and individual liberty as a 1930's resident of Germany. Most of them are worthless idiots which is why government should be outright abolished. I don't like having useless morons having that much power over me.
DeleteThe sad fact of the matter is the American voting public was just as ignorant, propagandized, and instinctually reactive as they were back in October, 1967, when I was 13 years old. I had to come to grips with the fact that Americans were rightly viewed by many europeans as ignorant, redneck, football crazy loons, who had absolutely no grasp of history what so ever. From my vantage point of closely watching the American political landscape for 50 years, things have only gotten worse as the propaganda has gotten much more sophisticated and hideously pervasive.
DeleteBlah blah blah... Excuses excuses excuses. All based on the fantasy that Rand Paul has some secret ulterior libertarian plan he has to hide from the stupid masses but which somehow his apologists seem to be aware of.
DeleteUnfortunately, apologists for Rand Paul still have blind faith in something they have no reason to believe will happen, just like all statists who believe in politics as the answer. Liberals believed in Obama as peacemaker who wanted a transparent government. And here we have the Rand disciples who believe that Rand is actually BETTER than how he presents himself, when the historical proof has always been that politicians are worse. Talk about living in a make believe world. How more "make believe" can you get than believing in the goodness of a politician, even after millennia of corruption, false promises and lies?
I'm sure Rand apologists would have said the same thing about Reagan in 1979.
It is very simple; Rand voted against raising the debt ceiling. Lew Rockwell did not vote against raising the debt ceiling.
ReplyDeleteRockwell did not make an argument. He made a few ridiculous claims.
ReplyDeleteNot raising the debt ceiling to avoid a "debt crisis" is the same as crashing your car to avoid an accident. Refusing to raise the debt ceiling creates a debt crisis.
Right now there is not a debt crisis. The interest expense in 2013 was 220 billion dollars. 85 billion of that was sent to the Fed which returned it to the treasury so the actual interest expense was less than 1% of GDP. That is not a debt crisis.
There are 3 types of people who are making a big deal out of the national debt:
1) creationists who believe sovereign debt is a sin
2) plutocrats who want to use the debt as an excuse to cut entitlements (tax cuts will follow the entitlement cuts of course so there will be no deficit reduction)
3) fools who have been duped by #2
serious ? what a ridiculous article. how can you compare Rand and Rockwell ? Rand is a senator whose every move is under microscope. On the other hand you and Rockwell can say the earth is flat and no body will care.
ReplyDelete