what if?

Something Vile

What is more disgusting?  That someone would think this play was right and appropriate to create?  Or that people would go to see it and applaud?

Essentially, Bret Stephen's first few paragraphs say it all. 

Here's a sketch for a racist play about "moral decline" in black America since the civil rights era.

Act I: Heroic protestors gather at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., in 1965 to march in defiance of a segregationist state. Act II: The scene moves to San Francisco in the early 1970s, where the radical politics of the Black Panthers quickly give way to robbery and murder. Act III: A New York City crack house, circa 1985. Act IV: the trial of O.J. Simpson. Act V: The present, in which a black man on a prison furlough goes on a murder spree.

Appalled? I hope so.

Now substitute the word "Jewish" for "black" and change the scene to Europe and Israel and you have, roughly, the plot of celebrated British playwright Caryl Churchill's "Seven Jewish Children," which debuted last month to some controversy and much acclaim at London's Royal Court Theater. It is now in the U.S., playing in small but respectable venues to sophisticated audiences that -- judging from the performance I attended in New York last Thursday -- are overwhelmingly disposed to like it.

But please do read the whole thing.

Welcome to My World

First - a video about international tournament bridge play in Houston, where yours truly was battling away 2 weeks ago.

Next, moi, the "roaming reporter" roams and photographs in Houston.  As I'm sure you know - I love my world!  Hope this gives you a little flavor of how exciting it is.

WTF?

Can't decide whether to laugh my head off - or sit down and weep.  Our government is going to manage automobile warranties?

Obama will make two other announcements Monday.

One, the president will announce a new government-backed warranty program for all new GM and Chrysler vehicles purchased during this restructuring period. A fund will be set up equal to 125 percent of the total cost to pay for warranty service.  The auto makers will contribute 15 percent while the government will provide 110 percent, with the money coming from the economic stabilization funds, the gift that keeps on giving. A separate company will hold the funds and pay the claims even if one of the auto manufacturers goes into bankruptcy or out of business.

The president will also name a Director of Recovery for Auto Workers and Communities. Edward Montgomery, labor economist and former Deputy Secretary of Labor, will serve in the role, helping autoworkers, communities, and regions adversely impacted by the failure of the automakers find new jobs, businesses, and industries.

Good lord.  I have a vivid imagination, but not even I can dream what idiocy might be next.

The War on Drugs

If anyone would be supportive of a war on drugs that stamped out substance abuse and addiction, it would be me.  I've seen both friends and family members most dear to me suffer from this.  The amount of pain, agony and despair that's resulted from addiction is virtually bottomless.

Unfortunately, we've had a War on Drugs for decades.  The results of this massive war?  Pathetically unsuccessful.

David Harsanyi muses that perhaps, we should stop the war and search for other solutions, albeit most imperfect ones. 

The drug czar has never been able to control demand, nor will he ever.

In the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, roughly 8 percent of Americans admitted using illegal drugs within a month of participating in the poll. The numbers may fluctuate slightly, but they never correlate with drug war policy.

And no matter how much money we send to Mexico to fight violence, that teenager in the blood-socked gangland of Vermont, which leads the nation in marijuana use, will find a joint whenever and wherever he or she pleases without any violence or much interference.

You may not like the idea of decriminalization, but this is about economics. And most economists will tell you there are no solutions, only tradeoffs.

How many of these users have been stopped by the tens of billions of dollars pumped into drug war funding? How many will be stopped by this new front in this war?

Speaking of Death...

Death is exactly what should be delivered to McCain-Feingold.  While I will agree that McCain-Feingold may have been created as an effort to "clean up" politics, its goals can never be realized.  We humans are messy and competitive and open to a host of frailties.  No law can be passed to change that.

The best solution (though assuredly not a perfect one) is free speech.  McCain-Feingold squelches that.  Thomas Mitchell well highlights why this is so - and why this assault on one of our most precious liberties should be sent to the morgue.

Once you begin haggling over the details -- it's OK prior to 60 days before an election but not after, a 90-minute movie might be OK but not a 30-second commercial, this money is good but that money is corrupting -- you have lost sight of the fact that the fundamental premise of the whole damn thing is a fraud perpetrated by charlatans against liberty and democracy.

You see, McCain-Feingold was passed by Congress -- and fundamentally twice upheld by the Supreme Court, though it chipped away at some aspects -- under the rotten rubric that the people are just too gosh darned gullible to be exposed to the corrupting influence of campaign messages financed by wealthy corporations and unions. (Wealthy political action committees and individuals are another matter.)

Persuasion is persuasion. Whether it is financed by a candidate, a party, a company, a union, a newspaper, a foreign power. In a democratic republic, anything short of vote buying or bribery should be not just permitted but encouraged.

Why do you think it is called a marketplace of ideas? Let the best argument sway the people -- whether it comes at them in printed newspapers or books, in the mail, via brief television commercials, lengthy movies, over the phone, via the Internet, skywriting or door-to-door canvassing. The people can accept or reject without any guidance from our elected lawmakers out to protect their own sinecures.

Life and Death

Those who follow what if? know that I am strongly against government intervention into business.  It should not be the purview of government to judge who lives and who dies.

It is not certain that this is accurate.

AIG, knowing it would need to ask for much more capital from the Treasury imminently, decided to throw in the towel, and gifted major bank counter-parties with trades which were egregiously profitable to the banks, and even more egregiously money losing to the U.S. taxpayers, who had to dump more and more cash into AIG, without having the U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner disclose the real extent of this, for lack of a better word, fraudulent scam.

In simple terms think of it as an auto dealer, which knows that U.S. taxpayers will provide for an infinite amount of money to fund its ongoing sales of horrendous vehicles (think Pontiac Azteks): the company decides to sell all the cars currently in contract, to lessors at far below the amortized market value, thereby generating huge profits for these lessors, as these turn around and sell the cars at a major profit, funded exclusively by U.S. taxpayers (readers should feel free to provide more gripping allegories).

What this all means is that the statements by major banks, i.e. JPM, Citi, and BofA, regarding abnormal profitability in January and February were true, however these profits were a) one-time in nature due to wholesale unwinds of AIG portfolios, b) entirely at the expense of AIG, and thus taxpayers, c) executed with Tim Geithner’s (and thus the administration’s) full knowledge and intent, d) were basically a transfer of money from taxpayers to banks (in yet another form) using AIG as an intermediary.

For banks to proclaim their profitability in January and February is about as close to criminal hypocrisy as is possible. And again, the taxpayers fund this “one time profit”, which causes a market rally, thus allowing the banks to promptly turn around and start selling more expensive equity (soon coming to a prospectus near you), also funded by taxpayers’ money flows into the market. If the administration is truly aware of all these events (and if Zero Hedge knows about it, it is safe to say Tim Geithner also got the memo), then the potential fallout would be staggering once this information makes the light of day.

If it is accurate, as stated, it appears criminal.  If it is not, it simply demonstrates the possibility of wholesale fraud (among other things) when government begins choosing who survives and who does not.  Either way - a pernicious policy that should not be in place!

The Limbaugh Challenge

If I had the time, I could have written this - though I'm sure not as well as Andrew Klavan. 

If you are reading this newspaper, the likelihood is that you agree with the Obama administration's recent attacks on conservative radio talker Rush Limbaugh. That's the likelihood; here's the certainty: You've never listened to Rush Limbaugh.

Oh no, you haven't. Whenever I interrupt a liberal's anti-Limbaugh rant to point out that the ranter has never actually listened to the man, he always says the same thing: "I've heard him!"

On further questioning, it always turns out that by "heard him," he means he's heard the selected excerpts spoon-fed him by the distortion-mongers of the mainstream media. These excerpts are specifically designed to accomplish one thing: to make sure you never actually listen to Limbaugh's show, never actually give him a fair chance to speak his piece to you directly.

By lifting some typically Rushian piece of outrageous hilarity completely out of context, the distortion gang knows full well it can get you to widen your eyes and open your mouth in the universal sign of Liberal Outrage.

You're not tolerant of a wide range of views; you are tolerant of a narrow spectrum of variations on your views. And, whatever you claim, you still haven't listened to Rush Limbaugh.

Which leads to a question: Why not? I mean, come on, the guy's one of the figures of the age. Aren't you even curious? I listen to all your guys: NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, The Times, the New York Times, the New Yorker -- I check out the whole left-wing hallelujah chorus. Why are you afraid to spend a couple of hours listening to Limbaugh's show and seriously considering if and why you disagree with him?

Take the challenge.  Listen to Rush a couple of times this week.

 

A Love Story

Two weeks ago, I wrote a remembrance of my friend Vera Mednikov on the day her 10+ year fight with cancer ended.  Today, my dear friend Bonnie Miller Rubin, journalist at the Chicago Tribune, shares with millions her own story about Vera.

Last month, dozens of people gathered for an early celebration of her 64th birthday. The guest of honor—held up by someone on each side—got to hear her own eulogy. In another time, she would have skewered the sentimentality, but now the barrage of powerful drugs had taken its toll and when she spoke, the words spilled out in an incoherent jumble. We applauded anyway.

Three decades after she arrived at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport, Vera's journey ended March 13th. At the funeral, Maria, now 35, noted that she recently came across a snapshot of her mother, shortly after her arrival. "When I look at photos of her from that time—pregnant, not knowing a soul—I notice how fearless and proud she looks," Maria said, "ready to face any challenge and excited about the future."

Vera found sublime pleasure in the fact that she could pop into any supermarket and buy a fresh tomato without standing in line for hours. She saw it as one of this country's many gifts to her.

Her optimism and her appreciation of America, which helped us see our world with fresh eyes and greater gratitude, was one of her many gifts to us.

Bonnie, thank you for writing about your story of lives intertwined with the Mednikovs and of Vera's love for her adopted nation.  A true love story - told only as you can.

Walking or Wading?

At times in the past year, be he candidate or President, Barack Obama seemed almost to walk on water.  Now, however, some of us are questioning whether the President walks on water - or is wading up to his knees.

Mark Steyn with a round-up of opinion as to Obama's waterworld - and his own inimitable opinions.

This is the point: The nuancey boys were wrong on Obama, and the knuckledragging morons were right. There is no post-partisan centrist "grappling" with the economy, only a transformative radical willing to make Americans poorer in the cause of massive government expansion. At some point, The Economist, Messrs Brooks, Buckley & Co are going to have to acknowledge this. If they're planning on spending the rest of his term tutting that his management style is obstructing the effective implementation of his centrist agenda, it's going to be a long four years.

Fed's Fault?

Did the Fed cause the housing crisis with low interest rates?  The short answer, delivered by many of these economists in a Wall Street Journal symposium is:  yes.  As a Realtor, this was easily seen.  Most buyers don't pay much attention to the actual purchase price of their home.  Whether it's $225,000 or $540,000 isn't that relevant to them; they want to know what their monthly payments are.  The lower the rates - the lower the payment.  And - the lower the payment, the higher a purchase price they can afford. Yes, it is that simple.

Still, that being said - the Fed was but one factor of many.  Do check out these economists opinions.  I don't presume to understand all their technical points.  Still, much of what they say is straightforward - as these comments from David Malpass.

The blame for the current crisis extends well beyond the Fed -- to banks, regulators, bond raters, mortgage fraud, the Bush administration's weak-dollar policy and Lehman bankruptcy decisions, and Congress's reckless housing policies through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the Community Reinvestment Act.

But the Fed provided the key fuel with its 1% interest rate choice in 2003 and 2004 and "measured" (meaning inadequate) rate hikes in 2004-2006. It ignored inflationary dollar weakness, higher interest rate choices abroad, the Taylor Rule, and the booming performance of the U.S. and global economies.

Thought for The Day

  From Hazelden Foundation.

Everyone has his own fingerprints. The white light streams down to be broken up by those human prisms into all the colors of the rainbow. Take your own color in the pattern and be just that.
--Charles R. Brown

I Report; You Decide

Ed Morrissey is surely one of my favorite bloggers in the vast enormity of the Internet.  Always fair; never unjustly insulting, Ed well presents the issues and explicates why he believes as he does.

Today, a cartoon about Israel, jackboots and Gaza.  Justifiable criticism?  Wrong-headed point - but an expression of opinion that should be printed?  Or - one more form of anti-semitism?

I report and you can decide.  My own opinion is that it is unfair, and yes, perhaps even a form of anti-semitism.  Nevertheless, I defend Oliphant's right to print and express himself.  The world is always better off when people express their views - and when those who disagree can argue why.

Poynting Home

With a half-frozen tush after an hour of sitting on a steel seat with no back, I'm at the Tampa Airport.  A mere ten hours from now, after a dash to Houston and a trip on another flight to my beloved Twin Cities, I will be home.  Bridge is the love of my life and the Poynter Institute conference was enlightening and fascinating.  Still; two weeks is too long to be gone!  I look forward with great anticipation to sleeping in my own bed tonight and - honestly - to seeing snow instead of palm trees.

That being said, the last two weeks have been exceptional.  Even though nothing great happened for me with my bridge results, a national bridge tournament is always a delight.  The competition was excellent, the people even better - and applauding for friends like George Jacobs and Ralph Katz, who did win the premier team event, was great.  I also had an excellent time as "roaming reporter" - and if you are interested in some of my products, here you go.

The Poynter Institute was, as the saying goes, a true trip.  I will write much more about my experiences there (assuming that I don't drop dead from exhaustion).  In the meantime, some short notes.

I met extraordinary people.  Most are folks doing "new journalism" - blogs, start-up online newspapers and websites with a specific focus or purpose.  Some are doing important journalism by following up on politicians, or "following the money."  Others have more "fluffy" sites.  Yet, some of these people are the ones who, when you say "show me the money" about actually making cash from online work - they can!

I met black women writing about the pain of discrimination and sexism, children of immigrants writing about the land of their ancestors and some working at Big City newspapers.  I met a gay black guy so knowledgeable and articulate and well connected, he could seriously put President Obama to shame. 

I met a woman from the Daily Kos (yes, that Daily Kos!) who made me more aware than ever that what we share is greater than what separates us.  Although probably hundreds of philosophical issues would find us on opposing sides, she is quite capable and thoughtful and creative and pleasant. 

I got to know Kelly McBride, who handles ethics issues for the Poynter Institute and ran our conference, along with her most capable associate, Nafi Schwanzer.  The Poynter Institute lucked out big time getting these two women to grace their halls.

An object lesson of being a minority was dealt to me every day.  I think I was the only conservative/libertarian in a sea of moderate to "Marx was right" liberals.  That was indeed enlightening!  Yet, I also learned that these people are smart and involved and caring and incredibly hard working and talented.  They were also quite nice to me - though if they ever muck around much in what if? they may truly think I'm a lunatic.

More to come when I have the opportunity, but one last thought.  Being in Tampa when my folks are in Palm Beach - and not visiting - was painful.  I felt guilty and conflicted not heading down south.  But - as it is - I was gone two weeks from home.  Not returning this afternoon to better serve my real estate clients would have felt morally and professionally wrong.  And I will come to Florida again soon to visit my parents.

But still . . . did I make the right choice?  I don't know.  I only hope that my mom and dad know how much I love them - and how much I appreciate all the many years that they have made choices that have allowed me to live a life rich in competition, intrigue, travel, intellectual stimulation, fun, freedom - and people.

I know that they usually read what if?  So - sorry, Mom and Dad.  And thanks a bunch.  I will be in your neck of the palm trees another time, soon.

Tuesday at Poynter

The second day of my conference surely matched day #1 for interest, surprise, learning experiences and new friends.  Nevertheless, when my blogging begins at a few minutes to midnight and the alarm is set for 7AM - once again, photographs shall be IT!

A walk by the bay was delightful; hope my shots give you a bit of the flavor. 

 

 

 

Poynter Institute Conference

Too whipped to blog about it.  (Amazing how one actually does need more than 5 hours of sleep a night, day after day ....)

So - simply some photos of instructors, administrators and participants at my seminar.

 

 

 

 

Life, Liberty

And the pursuit of happiness.

Granted to us by government?  Or our inalienable rights?

Rush speaks and we really should listen.

You better explain why the individual is so important.  You know, a lot of people, you got a whole bunch of brand-new tuner-inners out there, Rush, and a lot of these people think the individual is just a greedy SOB, and the individual, a bunch of individuals are what got the country in trouble."  I said to Snerdley during the top-of-the-hour break, "If I have to explain this, it's over."  I mean, it depresses me to have to try to explain this, why is the individual important?  If you have to explain why the individual is important in the United States of America, then you have to explain freedom, and if you have to explain that, I'm at a loss.  I guess I'll just ask you a question.

To those of you in the audience who kind of have a fit when you hear me say that this administration's targeting and making an all-out assault on the individual, which is an assault on freedom, individual freedom and liberty, where and how do you think your freedom comes from?  Why is it you are free?  To me, that answers it.  I mean are you free because you are a member of a group?  Or are you free because you are your own soul, endowed by your creator, God, certain inalienable rights: life, liberty, pursuit of happiness.  From where does your freedom come?  Do you not have freedom until you join a club?  Do you not have freedom until you join a union?  Do you not have freedom until you are part of the disabled?  Do you not have freedom until you are a minority?  Where does your freedom come from?  

In the United States of America, what our revolution was fought over -- the whole concept of individual freedom and liberty was the reason we sought independence from the tyranny of King George. 

All Points

Today - they lead for me to come to the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida.

A dear friend, who has won the Pulitzer Prize for Journalism herself, recommended that I attend this conference.  So far, I'm not exactly certain why I was chosen.  Nevertheless, I will try to do my best to contribute well and to listen long and hard to the other stimulating conference members and contributors. 

Many seem to be quite liberal; not a shocking development, I would imagine, given the overall nature of journalists today in general.  I hope that I can debate and appreciate without acrimony - and that my own thoughts will received in the same manner.

Yes; bridge in Houston has ended - and no stars for yours truly this time.  But, as a friend said: "Every tournament, there are only a few winners and many losers."  Although this time I belong in the latter category, some good friends did seize national championships.  I am terrifically happy for them!  Congrats to Karen Walker and Tom Kniest, Nik Demirev and Nick L'Ecuyer and George Jacobs and Ralph Katz.

 

Karen and Tom

   

George and Ralph at Acquire

 

Nick

 

Nik & wife Dar

Just Bridge

Friday night, and one of our bridge stars, Larry Cohen, wants to turn the tables on me.  He has his partner, Dave Berkowitz, take a photo of the "roaming reporter" herself along with Larry.

Larry oddly enough is now retiring.  He has so many national titles, I cannot count them all.  To say Larry is going out on a "high note" (and yes, he did win another event with David here in Houston!) is an understatement.

Cure Worse than the Disease?

It surely will be if it destroys capitalism.  Don't let it.

The Great Depression induced a massive worldwide retreat from capitalism, and an embrace of socialism and communism that continued into the 1960s. It also fostered a belief that the future lay in government management of the economy, not in freer markets. The result was generally slow growth during those decades in most of the undeveloped world, including China, the Soviet bloc nations, India and Africa.

Partly owing to the collapse of the housing and stock markets, hostility to business people and capitalism has grown sharply again. Yet a world that is mainly capitalistic is the “only game in town” that can deliver further large increases in wealth and health to poor as well as rich nations. We hope our leaders do not deviate far from a market-oriented global economic system. To do so would risk damaging a system that has served us well for 30 years.

Sunshine

Finally a good game at the bridge wars!  And - a good column for you, too.