The United States as Seen from Space at Night

The President has--in yet another example of his disdain for victory with regard to anything beyond his personal ambitions--failed rather miserably in his attempt to gain the 2016 Olympics for his political and business "Associates" in Chicago. The President had a truly compelling and original argument that those at the IOC had, no doubt, never heard before:  "There is nothing I would like more than to step just a few blocks from my family's home with Michelle and our two girls and welcome the world back into our neighborhood.”  One supposes this might be the Mother of all "Multi-Billion Dollar International Emotional Business Deal Appeals."  The Mainstream Media reacted to the first round elimination of Chicago predictably--that being hysterically.

One particular CNN (Rubber Boat) Anchor blubbered in disbelief to such a degree that viewers, one must imagine, waited for him to let out a staccato, ululating wail of grief –then melt to the floor (after the cameras cut away) in a despaired and breathless effeminate faint of disbelief (and he was their Iron Man).

Can this "Messianic Misanthrope" actually accomplish anything which is TRULY good for his country for Heaven’s sake?  Mr. President…one should point out that the Chief Executive's traditional homage to his "Domestic Town of Origin" (to replace birthplace) normally comes after the term in office has concluded and is typically in the form of a Presidential Library....not an Olympic Village ....Good Grief!

Capitalism under Attack (or is it just Halloween?)

The valid concern of virtually anyone (whose head is not firmly supplanted up his posterior) is that it would appear that Capitalism and our Free Market System have come under Extreme Attack since the advent of the newly elected Obama Administration and the unwieldy and democratically haphazard leadership of Speaker Pelosi and Harry Reid. The Senate, which has been described as the "cooling saucer" for the "hot teacup" that is the House, has been "barely functioning" in that the new Health Bill, which was recently introduced by Max Baucus, has so many laughable (yet eerily spooky) provisions in it -that one might think that it has been designed to commemorate the upcoming Halloween season. Reid recently also indicated that they would, yet again, try to brute-force the measure through in true "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" form (in keeping it seasonally thematic…oh and don't forget the Yes We Can campaign  theme played backward…eeeww...Goosebumps!)

One thing the Legislative folk need to bear in mind in their upcoming Healthcare deliberations this week:  You will vote your conscience and The People will then vote theirs. THE PEOPLE can repeal what you pass (and you yourselves) within the elected post that you occupy.  You have temporary power but THE PEOPLE have the ultimate power and their memories will be as sound as Deep Blues.

Having said that, We all find this "so really cool and exciting" that our "New Government" cares so much for its Citizenry it's even merrily willing to scare the bejesus out of "most" of us with these Free-Market /Liberty eviscerating provisions just to get us all in the mood for All-Hallows Day. What next?  Haunted "ScarroWhite House" or "House and Senate Chamber of Horrors?"  (Oh...wait…forget Christmas.....now we have Legislative Halloween all year!)

Granted it was indeed an early Christmas for the Democrats and their interwoven pet lobbyists with the "Stimulus Bill,'" and its Santa's bag full of economically useless "shovel ready" projects. But what many did not realize was that the "shovel ready" referred more to what one might find on the floor of a stable rather than a true economic shock treatment for US industry.

This attack on capitalism has come on the heels of what the Presidential Chief of Staff has referred to as "A crisis to be taken advantage of" (he was referring to the economic meltdown). Well, at least HE got something useful out of it -one might suppose.  Former Fed Chairman Greenspan has also come out with a rather dour outlook on the US economy in 2010, while the Media has just reported that unemployment claims have gone up this past month of September. This is beginning to become a recurring theme under our Statist controlled government. The Statist portion of the Democrats seem to be operating under the underachieving premise that even if they actually accomplish something that is mildly good for the economy, the populace (still waiting) will look upon the "comparatively pathetic" feat as a crowning achievement in legislative jurisprudence. The truly "sarcasm inducing" explanation that they habitually tout being "this administration has increased jobs by 2-3 million (while actually losing 3-4 million jobs) is simply propagandistic hyperbole.

This particular rationale could only make logical sense to a brain-addled maniac; however, the White House Press Secretary has a way of explaining it that leaves everyone in the press room feeling all schmaltzy since they now understand it (for a few minutes at least.).  But then when the few inquiring minds that we have left in journalism start asking the tangential questions, the Administration's economic plausibility factor falls in on itself like a house of cards.

Why is the Economy Continuing to Sputter?

With Regard to this ongoing Capitalism Attack, one of the reasons this recession has been so long and so deep is due simply to the "imputed future" government philosophy of the current Congress and Administration to investors and business executives. Historically, the lows that we descend to (in our economy) during difficult times are accompanied by a corresponding high not too far later on. However, in this case we seem to be sputtering along lethargically while being criticized for our over-spending and anti-capitalist rhetoric/policy efforts from, amazingly, Socialist-Communist US Trading Countries for Pete's sake!  (And who can blame them?)  The world economy is invested in the economic powerhouse that is the US. (As we go, so go they.)  But does anyone not find it absurd that the world's shining example of "Free Market Economics" seems to be altering course into more of a regressive socialist path?

This path of alteration has given virtually every business executive and investor in the US and abroad a severe case of the jitters--which translates into an economy that seems stuck in the mud. The drivers of the economy keep spinning the threadbare wheels in a vain effort to get the consarned thing out of the mud and moving again (the Chinese, by the way, are getting tired of pushing).   But this is probably why the numbers coming out are so mixed.  When the "economic vehicle" is stuck, one engages and disengages the wheels in a rocking effort. These mixed results coming out seem to equate quite aptly with the back and forth rocking effect. Were the administration to actually utter something even vaguely promising to the business world, I expect our mud-marooned economy would quickly lurch back into motion.

All the while, both predominantly Democratic (branches) of our government and much of the "Celebrity Illuminati" have been decrying the terrible Illness that is capitalism at every possible opportunity while hypocritically raking in cash and wealth at a gleeful pace.

Cause de Célèbre

WE ALL KNOW what celebrities earn, while many, if not most, decry the profits of corporate executives and insurance companies--not to leave out energy companies--while we all must choke down the costs of theaters, concert tickets and over-priced music CDs and videos, since it is purely a diversion and not truly needed for quality of life. If this is, indeed, the case then why does the government support and endow ventures such as the National Endowment for the Arts and various other "non-profit" organizations as numerous as the stars in the nighttime North Carolina sky?

We are offered disparate arguments in this regard, but can you just imagine the howls of protests from Hollywood, the non-stop commercials and Dixie "Chicken "  regalements that  we would have to endure were the government to reach into the celebrities’ pockets the way they have auto dealerships and manufacturers and many other industries too numerous to mention? We would not submit that the entertainers’ or athletes’ salaries are too high, despite the temptation, simply because as an avid free market participant, I understand that one individual's too high is another's too low and that it is all very subjective and relativistic to the point that only a Messiah could figure it all out and make it fair (not!).

Michael Moore who is valued at a net worth in excess of $50 million would be the Chief Co-Conspirator of all the celebs--releasing a movie that decries and despises Capitalism as a scourge to the world while suckling from one of Capitalism's grandest teats which would be akin to strangling the mother with one hand while consuming her nourishment with the other. Yet none of the imbeciles who will worship/view this movie will see the wretched hypocrisy of his actions (that we should celebrate such disingenuous fools).

Hypocrisy on Parade

But Nancy Pelosi--who never misses an opportunity to trash-talk any form of corporate profit or free enterprise--has an investment package of wealth that would turn even Warren Buffet's head.  Her net worth has been estimated in the approximate range of $18.71 million, while Barack Obama, no net worth slouch, has wealth which is approaching $1.5-3 million (his book deal is a mystery).  Harry Reid, whose rhetoric also falls on the anti-capitalist side, is a millionaire several times over. These are the same folks who trash talk "exorbitant employee salaries" and wish to "spread the wealth" of We Americans (or at least what we have left) while stealthily imparting a Socialistic agenda that would force a sympathetic tear even from Karl Marx. They have their fortunes, I suppose, so screw everyone else!

I suggest we start with their wealth (Pelosi, Obama and Reid) and work our way down. Hey!  If you’re gonna talk the talk, ya gotta walk the walk--leaders take the arrows and all.  Has any cognitively activated liberal (oxymoron?) out there even stopped and considered what truths have just been communicated  and documented ?

Conservative Refocus has endeavored to thoughtfully provide the fact--supporting details of our research below.  I truly don't know which viral infection is worse "progressive/liberal Ostrichitus or the H1N1?

Barack Obama            Net Worth:  $1.5-3 Million    2007 (Source One, Source Two)

Nancy Pelosi             Net Worth:  $18.71 Million   2008 (Source)

Harry Reid                 Net Worth:  $1.5 Million       2003 (Source)

(Most likely each of these figures is underestimated due to singular Congressional veracity.)

During all of this conflictive logic, the Media seems to plod along much like a blind and sickened Beast of Burden that cares not to see what is actually going on and even less to report it since the "emperor of all ills" has taken his Arthurian throne. When did Free Market Capitalism (which is the engine along with our Individual Liberties that powered the United States into a Super-Economic Powerhouse) become an illness that needs to be corrected?

The recurring theme throughout man's recorded history, whether it be money-grubbing Televangelists, proselytizing Talk Show Hosts, or even trash-talking Politicians is that whatever the subject being lambasted and burned at the stake is, that same persecuting individual or group of individuals is often simply trying to overcompensate for their own shortcomings or excesses by demonizing the very subject that they "secretly" hold so dear.

Barry Secrest

Parts Two and Three of this Three Part Series:

Part Two:  The Case for Capitalism:  Attack of the Authoritarians

A Glorious Cause:  The Return of the True Conservative