The curvacious Mr. Kuznets: No, I hadn't heard of him either but he is another of those economic swots, like Prof. Laffer, who are able to dig deeply into what is in fact commonsense and then produce very learn-ed papers explaining why it is correct. Thus, in considering some of the problems facing China like their economic inequality then, just like the original 'Laffer curve', Mr. Kuznets produces a neat diagram which, considering that it more or less describes what has happened in a host of countries since the British industrial revolution, can't have been that difficult to do. As countries industrialise economic inequality grows but at a certain point it begins to fall, probably, I guess, as a result of that pesky 'trickle down effect' so hated by the socialists.
I am grateful to Timmy for offering a variation on this theme, as well as introducing me to Mr. Kuznets, in which he shows that one of the truly bad effects of industrialisation is a huge increase in truly nasty polution but that, too, follows the Kuznets curve and eventually decreases. I have absolutely no doubt that China will follow the curve in time.
The non-democratic Democrat party: I provide this link mainly for the benefit of my American friends. Look upon it as a resupply of ammo should you find yourself in a fierce fire-fight with some Lefty Democrat:
http://www.jpattitude.com/DemocratPartyTimeline.php
Needless to say, I have it saved for future reference!
Look out, here comes Kennedy-mania! Next Friday is the 50th anniversary of Jack Kennedy's assassination so expect a deluge of historical 'post hoc' memoires and aanalyses. I think it is now fairly clear that as a man he was an A1 shit of the first order but that seems to have been a family trait, and anyway, being a rascal has never been a bar to success as a politician - one thinks, even fondly, of Talleyrand and Bismarck. But these were men possessed of formidable political acumen, something that all the Kennedy's seemed to lack, unsurprisingly given that their sole aim was the enrichment in power and money of the Kennedy clan. And, yes, I fell for the BS at the time but I was young and that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! I notice from one of the links below that Obama intends to visit the Kennedy grave - how eminently suitable!
America plays with nuclear matches: I think, when the history books are written, assuming there are any after a possible nuclear war in the middle east, President Obama, whose behaviour on the international stage can only be described as childish, petulant and irrational, will be seen as the political dilletante that he is. Brought up and developed, as he was, under the sort of Left-wing politik that can only be described in sentences short enough to fit on a protest banner, he is proving to be hopeless at foreign affairs. Perhaps his own innate anti-Americanism plays some part in it. As a result of his so-called diplomacy in the middle east it now looks as though the impossible might happen with Israel climbing into bed with the Saudis. Both, for similar reasons, are determined not to allow the Iranians to develop the bomb. According to the Times of Israel, Saudi Arabia is considering the possibility of offering practical aid to the Israelis in the form of staging posts for attack aircraft in the event that Netanyahu decides to strike. 'Whodathunkit'?
Vintage Mark Steyn: For my money, which ain't worth much, I admit, Mark Steyn is still the wittiest, sharpest commentator on American affairs that I have come across. Here is a taster from his latest column on the eccentric and ego-centric capers of King George III Barry Obama:
On Thursday, he passed a new law at a press conference. George III never did that. But, having ordered America’s insurance companies to comply with Obamacare, the president announced that he is now ordering them not to comply with Obamacare. The legislative branch (as it’s still quaintly known) passed a law purporting to grandfather your existing health plan. The regulatory bureaucracy then interpreted the law so as to un-grandfather your health plan. So His Most Excellent Majesty has commanded that your health plan be de-un-grandfathered. That seems likely to work. The insurance industry had three years to prepare for the introduction of Obamacare. Now the King has given them six weeks to de-introduce Obamacare.
This isn't government, this is just the latest production from the 'Carry On' franchise, minus the appalling jokes, not because the White House gags are better but because they haven't got any at all! Someone should feed King Barry with, perhaps the greatest gag of all from the 'Carry On' films:
"Infamy! Infamy! They've all got it in for me!"
All I'm thinking is 'hurry up, dear!' This just arrived in my In-box because I have signed up to receive quotations from the 'In the Pursuit of Copiousness' site. Some are droll, some are quirky, some are wise and some revelatory. I leave you to decide into which category this fits:
"When a man opens the car door for his wife, he is doing far more than just getting the door open. It is not a matter of utility. It is not a question of pragmatics. Granted, we could save energy all around if both individuals opened their own doors. But he is making a statement in addition to getting the door open. He is disciplining his own heart and soul, which need it, and he is honoring his wife, who is glorified by it. The role of the man here, if we may speak this way, is not just to get the door open. His central role is the liturgical act of saying that women everywhere should be held in honor by men, and that he adds his amen to this, as everyone in the parking lot at Costco can now see."
- Douglas Wilson, Father Hunger (p. 35-36)
No more rumbles today!
"Obama intends to visit the Kennedy grave": for all O's faults (they really should have elected Romney) he's less fake than JFK, by a country mile.
Posted by: dearieme | Sunday, 17 November 2013 at 22:46
Hmmmn! Not sure about that one, DM, a photo-finish, I feel!
Posted by: David Duff | Sunday, 17 November 2013 at 22:52
The difference these days is the internet. How long before the dirt on Obama starts to percolate out? Especially if the Democraft candidate in 2016 is Hillary.
Posted by: backofanenvelope | Monday, 18 November 2013 at 09:50
Quite so, BOE, but Obama is just as adept at devising a wounding leak or two so perhaps they will damage each other below the water line and give the Repubs a chance - assuming, of course, that they find a decent candidate.
Posted by: David Duff | Monday, 18 November 2013 at 10:39