Friday, January 20, 2017

Trump's Appalling Inauguration Speech


Economist Robert Higgs, author of the important work, Crisis and Leviathan: Critical Episodes in the Growth of American Government, writes:
Somewhat under duress, because Elizabeth insisted on listening herself, I also listened to Trump's inaugural speech. I would rank it among the very worst political speeches I have ever had the displeasure to hear. Its recipe seems to have been: combine three parts mercantilist fallacies, three parts offensive nationalist bombast, and four parts sheer populist hot air about how great the American people are and how great they will soon be again, thanks to Trump. Serve accompanied by half-hearted applause from the assembled members of the political criminal class. All in all, simply an appalling performance, even by the abysmally low standards applicable to such egregious ceremonies.

14 comments:

  1. What party do you belong to, for I want to join. Whether Hillary wins or Trump you can criticize without waiting to see how things go. It must be very heavy to always have all the answers. Do you call yourself an anarchist? If not I think you should go back and read some of your writing the past six months and then gaze in the mirror.

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    1. is this your first time here, comrade?

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    2. "Do you call yourself an anarchist?"

      I don't know about RW, but I proudly call myself an anarchist. You got a problem with that?

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    3. Yes who could possibly oppose the policy views of both Hillary AND Trump? Don't those 2 exhaust all possible opinions?

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  2. Trump just issue an order for a regulatory freeze. Somehow you are going to spin this in a negative light.

    BTW, it was a great speech.

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    1. After listening to the speech and reading what Higgs wrote, this one thing is what you chose to hone in on?

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  3. "We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world, but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first. We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example. We will shine for everyone to follow," President Donald J. Trump, Jan 20 2017

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    1. ...unless you want to buy something from a Chinese or hire a Mexican. Then we will impose our will on you.

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    2. I expect all Presidents to be bad. I also think that domestic policy is more important to liberty than foreign policy, but smarter people than me disagree.

      No matter his protectionism (which already exists in multitudinous government subsidies, laws and regulations) or flag-waving, if Trump ends the US policy of overthrowing foreign regimes and installing new regimes then he should be regarded as one of the better presidents.

      I do think Trump will be bad for liberty in terms of growing the surveillance and security state.

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    3. Plus, stopping foreign aggression should be politically easier to accomplish. We at Veterans for Peace attract people across the spectrum. Many of us disagree immensely on domestic policy but happily fight together in the War for Peace!

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    4. I give Trump credit for denouncing some of the current US interventions. However, his constant appeals to nationalist solidarity don't seem very conducive to future peaceful coexistence, as that has been such a powerful impetus for conflict over the past century-plus.

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  4. I know where he stands! There are few gray areas. He is a nationalist, how this plays out? None of us knows, neither do you Bob so stop the drama to get clicks.

    See Gary Norths comments on the speech BTW, pretty good. There is a chance that Trump is not Rand Paul, although the way you chased him was the most pathetic thing I have ever seen. I used to bring my kids here for an education on economics and liberty.

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  5. "At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other.

    When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice."

    Yea that sounds innocent, nothing to worry about here.

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  6. Keep in mind who Trump is addressing. They are not libertarian intellectuals. They are the DC criminal class and government-schooled populace. Let his actions speak in the year ahead.

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