The Euro
I received this interesting note from a friend last week, part of an ongoing discussion about the Euro and how it may affect the American election:
So what lies ahead for Europe? A bearish scenario with a substantial cheapening of the Euro vs the UKPound and vs the USD followed by the beginnings of a classic Europe-wide inflation? Or a bullish scenario: recovery and growth of the economies and increases in their rates of employment? I'm not bullish, are you? My concern about applying what sounds like a US-type solution to the European problem is that the US has the advantage of a unified set of laws affecting both its singular US banking system and its singular and unified economy (an economy that produces the unique powerhouse that is the US gdp). I can't see how they can make an economic whole out of an economic patchwork quilt (without a brand new unifying political structure). It will forever look like a work in progress, not like finished goods. The US experience with its First Bank of the United States a couple hundred years ago is evidence of that.
The Cause of His Life (or Thank You, Massachusetts)
Dear God, please save journalism.
“Mandate struck down — High court finds measure unconstitutional.”
“Supreme Court finds health care individual mandate unconstitutional.”
First, the QOTD, from Josh Marshall.
“This is an imperfect law. But what’s most important is that it provides a structure under which the country can make a start not only on universal coverage — as an ethical imperative — but on doing away with the waste and inefficiencies created by the chronic market failure of the US health insurance system. Again, that matters. And I suspect that there’s no going back.”
Now for the right wingnut machine...
“Today, in a closed door House GOP meeting Thursday, Indiana congressman and gubernatorial candidate Mike Pence likened the Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the Democratic health care law to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, according to several sources present.”
What else fun happened?
“If government can mandate that I pay for something I don’t want, then what is beyond its power? If the Supreme Court’s decision Thursday paves the way for unprecedented intrusion into personal decisions, then has the Republic all but ceased to exist? If so, then is armed rebellion today justified?
God willing, this oppression will be lifted and America free again before the first shot is fired.”
“This government takeover of health care remains as destructive, unsustainable, and unconstitutional as it was the day it was passed, unread, by a since-fired congressional majority. Now as then, our first step toward real health care reform and economic renewal remains Obamacare’s full repeal, down to the last letter and punctuation mark. I urge every governor to stop implementing the health care exchanges that would help implement the harmful effects of this misguided law. Americans have loudly rejected this federal takeover of health care, and governors should join with the people and reject its implementation.”
But I save the most precious comment for last...
I know what you did last summer
Yeah, I did this (with my 11 year old nephew)...
...and this, and this, and this...