Noonan: We're Governed by Callous Children
The new economic statistics put growth at a healthy 3.5% for the third quarter. We should be dancing in the streets. No one is, because no one has any faith in these numbers. Waves of money are sloshing through the system, creating a false rising tide that lifts all boats for the moment. The tide will recede. The boats aren't rising, they're bobbing, and will settle. No one believes the bad time is over. No one thinks we're entering a new age of abundance. No one thinks it will ever be the same as before 2008. Economists, statisticians, forecasters and market specialists will argue about what the new numbers mean, but no one believes them, either. Among the things swept away in 2008 was public confidence in the experts. The experts missed the crash. They'll miss the meaning of this moment, too.
The biggest threat to America right now is not government spending, huge deficits, foreign ownership of our debt, world terrorism, two wars, potential epidemics or nuts with nukes. The biggest long-term threat is that people are becoming and have become disheartened, that this condition is reaching critical mass, and that it afflicts most broadly and deeply those members of the American leadership class who are not in Washington, most especially those in business.
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Moonraker
Noonan's a sellout to conservatives. Don't depend on her for political info'.
horse sense
Most elected people have only one concern. Get re-elected. They then give one group what it wants, the next group what it wants and so forth down the line just for votes. Pretty soon everyoe has nothing. Most of our currant elected officals should be voted out of office.
Georgia Cricket
Lourdes: You speak the truth and you speak succinctly. Right on! Keep it up!
Lourdes
I think some of the things she says are true. I already know three business owners who were told by their accountants to get out while they're ahead, so they are closing up at the end of the year. Their employees are jobless. Business owners don't owe anybody a job, they don't have to stay in business; they can quit any time. With the war on capitalism, many will.
Doc 3
If Ms. Noonan ever reads these:
Excellent analysis, both thoughtful and concise. There is something dreadfully wrong with the "leadership" of this country. I believe term limits would be a great starting point to unseat the seated for life mentality of our Congress. We enacted it for the Office of the Presidency and I do not understand why we as the people can not have a voice through a referendum and enact the same for Congress. We need to get the money and power and deep seated corruption out of the legislative body and maybe, just maybe. we can somehow return this country to it's rightful owners, "We The People"!
hurtzallot
TERM LIMITS! 2 TERMS ONLY!!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
1 term in office.
1 term in prison!
Lightbringer
Excellent and simple analysis. We are in fact being governed by callous children!
If any have read the childish work of Marx, Das Kapital, it's easy to see the immature envy and greed manifest there, the sheer resentment of others and the beginnings of class warfare.
The Socialist/liberal agenda is in fact childish, and some of the adherents are the most poorly behaved I've ever seen.
The Nick
Wasn't Noonan all googly eyed with Obama earlier this year.
JustinCase
If that's true, that would be a good sign that people are opening their eyes.
TOMALINUSANAT
From Ayn Rand novel "Atlas Shrugged". Ayn Rand makes it very clear throughout the novel that the men of minds are central to the existence and prosperity of mankind and without them, the world stops turning. Without the men of minds, the weight of the world becomes too much to bear, even for Atlas, the mythological man who holds the world on his shoulders:
"'Mr. Rearden,' said Francisco, his voice solemnly calm, "if you saw Atlas, the giant who holds the world on his shoulders, if you saw that he stood, blood running down his chest, his knees buckling, his arms trembling but still trying to hold the world aloft with the last of his strength, and the greater his effort the heavier the world bore down upon his shoulders-- what would you tell him to do?' 'I... I don't know. What... could he do? What would you tell him?' 'To shrug.'"
Authentic Conservative
Announcing The new Pocket Book Party of America
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We're not voting Democrat or Republican we're voting Pocket Book! Both parties have been stealing the American public BLIND for years! Enough!
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COUGH, COUGH: House health bill totals $1.2 trillion...
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1 Million Seconds = 11.57days !
1 Billion Seconds = 31 years !
1 Trillion seconds = 31,688 years !
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People should know just exactly what these number mean in real values and ratios !
When they say it will only cost a Trillion $ ............
You must realize that if someone wanted to count to 1 Trillion, it would only take them 31,688 years to do it, provided they never stopped counting until they got to 1 Trillion. But a person could count to a Million in just 11.57 days if they counted non stop !
Huge difference, astronomical difference.
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And our Government spends our money in these proportions, and refuse to discuss the reasons or the details with us.
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And Acorn is set to receive over 5 Billion in Funds, from we the Tax Payer / Voters !
And For this Reason, Nancy Pelosi should be Impeached for not launching a full scale investigation against Acorn, and anyone connected with there receiving Tax Payer Funds !
That is Pelosi's job and She just ain't gonna do it.
That is grounds for removal.
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1 Million Seconds = 11.57days !
1 Billion Seconds = 31 years !
1 Trillion seconds = 31,688 years !
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People should know just exactly what these numbers mean !!!
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http://www.usdebtclock.org/
DS
Liberals always act like children......"I didn't do it.....it was Bush's fault, Waaa, waa, wa.....".
Concerned, Very Concerned
Children don't think past the end of their noses, they do ignore Facts, History, Logic, but so do Liberals. Oh Yes, the Libs ignore the Constitution also, Kids have not read it.
NJG
The biggest threat to the future of the United States is globalism: http://bit.ly/jbraR
Dixie Conservative
This is one very tired and worn out story that has circulated for decades in this country and once again is being pushed by a dishonest journalist. Appearing under different headings the story is still the same, the haves and the have not's. Government is not the problem, uneducated pop culture materialistic voters are to blame for the problem. Gimme Gimme Gimme, no sense of responsibility and a huge sense of entitlement.
zlato
@Major Tom
The article has nothing to do with Bush or Obama - at least not as individuals. It is that the ruling class or more specifically the political elite (regardless of the side of aisle that they belon) have never known true hardship. No different than the royalty that inherited throwns and stole from their serfs (that's you and me). She is spot on when she states this and that they are callous children. Bush made mistakes, Obama even more (in 1/8th the time) and others like Pelosi and Reid are certainly callous children. She is also spot on about the people (the serfs if you will) becoming disenheartened and a critical mass is rising. This rising could lead to the people giving up or rebelling - it is yet to be seen. In Europe, the serfs still exist - they just receive 6 weeks of vacation each year and are allowed to travel. That is what is happening to us as well - it doesn't matter if you think liberal or conservative. We must revolt in order to correct the problem of government tyranny - but I am affraid that most will just sit down and give up.
Recon
I like Sarah Palin style of expanding her conservative base.
It is like Khmer Rouge of Cambodia and Sandinistas of Nicaragua.
Her strategy is slowly put precisely.
You know how hurricane is becoming strong?
when it moves at a very slow speed, with large area coverage and getting strength from within the cold fronts.
Sarah is a combination of hurricane and barracuda.
It spins around, gaining momentum, strike, leave and comeback in slow pace.
Polemic
Well, she starts out her article pretending like she's going to be impartial, but finishes it up with the same conservative talking points. My feeling on this is simple; Republican's had their chance. The had control of congress for 14 years, and the presidency for 8 years. At the end of their tenure the country was in two wars, the economy had the biggest collapse since the Depression, and there were too many instances to name of where Republicans had tried to destroy the fabric of our country. Saying that the country was in a worse place at the end than at the beginning of Republican control doesn't sufficiently convey the depths that we had fallen. I don't think that the Democrats have the key to our salvation, but I'm sick of the Republicans and their BS and I'm ready to give the other guy a try.
Practical American
Let's be real here. The Democrats did not hide for these years. They imparted their views and philosophy as stridently as the Republicans. The problem is our leaders are more interested in winning fights, prestige & power. They no longer solve problems. We have health care issues that require reform, & they seek ideological solutions. They believe they have mandates as a result of elections. There is no such thing in US politics. An election result has the life cycle of the solutions it produces, especially given today's scrutiny. If you are tired of BS, force our government to write bills that can be consumed, to throw out corrupt politicians, to force our leaders to stop worrying about THEIR needs first. They are all influenced by money, lobbies, "party unity", and narcissistic goals. It is time to force democratic ideals over political influence, to support public servants over career politicians. Ms Noonan is correct. Closed door sessions, back room deals, by both sides, is undemocratic. Congress sees no problem with lying to, deceiving or manipulating the US public to meet their needs. It is time for fundamental change to force honesty. The VA legislature forces its delegates to write in a readable form, and to post the docs for all to read. Less BS. So, call it a Repub problem if you like. I prefer to label it a professional politician problem. Insensitive, self aggrandizing professionals pretending to lead. We want solutions.
Greenlawn
Only problem is the "other guy" was right in there with them screwing things up. The repubs are corrupt and want to spend our money on their projects. The dems? Same thing. We have to watch them very closely.
Polemic
I would agree with this.
conservabit
No one believes the numbers b/c they are all due to GOVERNMENT spending so they are all FALSE! Cash for Clunkers, housing credits = are the only reason why car sales and housing sales were up! Americans are not stupid! Wealth Redistribution in the works!!!
irondog
If I end up in line behind her to see my doctor,I would cop a feel
public optional
Noonan provides an accurate reading of the mindset of the hard-working, common sense, tax-paying, working class Americans. And, really, it's SO obvious, but the communists will claim that they never saw "it" coming; only that the working class didn't behave the way they were supposed to during the take-over.
Major Tom
No, sweetie, there was an election, Bush isn't in office anymore darling. Baby, you need to pay more attention.
thomasboy
If anyone needs to pay attention, it's obama. You are correct Bush is no longer in office.
DUMBocratNoMore
He should be....and by the way....it's your left wing loon party who blames President Bush for everything. Didn't you hear....NObama named his the Blame Czar!!
TruthSpeaker
Peggy Noonan is so out of touch she has become irrelevent. Her brand of "journalism" no doubt gets her invited to all of the best parties and dinners, but she has nothing meaningful to say. She's one part of the Saturday WSJ that I skip.
Fed Up
I know why you skip it, because it has no pictures.
Jackdamaris
The biggest threat is the govement. As we have left our conservative values that our country was founded on, we have become prey to facist and communistic ideals being implimented into our nation. If "health care reform" is not defeated, we will become a third world bannana republic. Our freedoms will be lost and a world goverment will be on the rise which will enslave the world.
thomasboy
Absolutely. If this monstrosity of a bill goes through, it will wreck our economy, and will be so far reaching it will destroy our freedoms as well.
Delores CH WV
WELL, I SEE YOU AS AN ELITIST HAVE A JOB, A HOUSE, AND LOTS OF MONEY IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNTS.......................WELL, YOU DON'T LIVE ON THE SAME PLANET.................THERE IS NO PROGRESS.....ECONOMICALLY,. ONLY AN ARTIFICAL ONE............WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE REAL WORLD HIT YOU IN YOUR FACE...........CHINA AND INDIA , AND OTHER SMART COUNTRIES ARE DUMPING US...........THEY DON'T TRUST THIS MARXIST SITTING IN THE WHITEHOUSE! AND NEITHER DO COMMON SENSE AMERICANS....................WE ARE NOT ELITIST...............KEEP WRITING YOUR STORIES WHILE THE COUNTRY FAILS!!!!!
THE TOMB
I guess I qualify as a callous child born during the middle of WWII. I grew up as one of 5 children, Our father worked a full time job and get books for small businesses and did taxes. Everyone of us children worked from the time we were able in elementary school, high school, college, and graduate school. Two of us have advanced degrees and were and are workaholics. None of us knew hardtimes as a result and none of us relied upon government to give us money! We paid our taxes and when someone needed our assistance we answered the call! We are hardheaded children of parents who sufferred and survived the depression and numerous wars and alleged wars! What disheartens me is the standards for success in education required and the dumbing down of todays children. A college education today does not compare with my high school education of the late 50's and early 60's. Society today is gimme, gimme, gimme the money you owe it to me. Well, I don't owe it to anybody! My kids and nieces and nephews all had part time jobs to learn the value of a dollar and several won academic scholarships and were expected to earn money if they wanted extra. This country is going to the dogs and big government is at fault!
BOSMAN
I agree with your conclusions. many of us have a very similar background. One is only limited in life by how hard you're willing to work and sacrifice to achieve your goals!
Gary-Illinois
I agree with both of you. I had the same childhood !