Musing of one thinking about the man who was late to catch a train, bag in hand, he grabbed his ticket, tore through the turnstile and started running down the platform as hard as he could only to realize that the train was going in the opposite direction…

I continue to wonder if those in charge of government finances have the vaguest idea as to what they are doing.  Considering the national debt and the annual budget (whenever there is one), I don't think so.  Unfortunately, occasionally a lone voice in the wilderness pops up and tells people what we need to do, which makes him very unpopular.  I hope that someday the majority of people will call a halt to all the deficit financing. 

Musing of One Wondering What the Roman Government in the First Century Did About Sword Control

Rhetorical question: if the people could establish an immutable rule that unless the "fiscal cliff" is definitively solved by January 20th, then the President and all Members of Congress would take an automatic 10% pay cut for the rest of their term, what would happen?

Musing of one watching a Congressman mow his lawn while clad in a three-piece business suit and $400 dress shoes.

While watching on TV the donnybrook regarding the "fiscal cliff," it occurred to me that apparently all parties are missing one significant aspect of the problem, i.e., the recession. (Yes, Virginia, there is a recession -- at least in my opinion, because any time the economy does not grow rapidly enough to absorb new workers, we have a problem known as a recession.) It seems to me the principal reason the various stimulus packages did not work well was that they were primarily associated with non-recurring demand. It seems self-evident that a recession occurs when recurring demand drops off and people are no longer able to sell their products. Therefore, any government effort to alleviate a recession should be associated with recurring demand. I have some ideas, such as a relatively small stimulus package aimed at increasing recurring demand (for example, a package that would increase sales of consumables) and replacement of the current health care law (Obamacare) by a simpler, more pragmatic plan. But then, who is going to listen to a crotchety old curmudgeon.

Musing of one thinking about the country music star who had a cow brought into the recording studio so he could get into the proper mood.

Some months ago I heard President Obama state on a tv news show, "---healthcare is a basic human right."  (I can't remember the prefatory adjective.)  I have been pondering as to the definition of the authority that creates basic human rights.  I do not think that the President or any other individual can do that.  For example, if I state that it is a basic human right to pick fruit off any fruit tree you encounter, that does not make it so.  Such a right can only be exercised against me and my fruit trees if I have any.  In my opinion, the rights which every American has were established by the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, each of which were approved by the 13 colonies (for the Declaration of Independence) and the 13 states (for the Constitution).  Subsequent rights have been established legislatively either in implementation of or under the authority of the Constitution.  Some rights are established by religious organizations but they are enforceable only by the adherents of that religion.  Various religious documents, such as the Bible, also set up rights, which are possessed by the adherents of that religion.  However, religious documents which I have read appear to me to be more concerned with responsibility than rights.  Of course there is a general right to pray. 

This dissertation will no doubt produce controversy and I will be happy to receive any comments. 

Musing of one thinking about the Congressman who dozed off during the session, fell off his chair, bruised his head, and demanded that OSHA penalize the architect of the Capitol for failing to provide a safe work environment...

Thanks to Jim Coyne for his comments.  I do have a great son of whom I am very proud.  He was borne and raised by a terrific mother who was also very proud of him, as she was of our other two children.

I didn't know he was a professional hula dancer.  I'll have to get him to give me a demonstration.

Musing of one watching a 270-pound pro football player land on his derriere while trying to imitate the movements of a professional hula dancer.

Thanks to Bob Bernard for his comment.  That's more food for thought.  Incidentally, I have heard that some people have difficulty making a comment on this blog.  Anyone who has such difficulty can email a comment to me at dsrteilands@earthlink.net and I will transfer it to the blog.  Somewhere down the road I am going to make a posting on rights but don't hold your breath. 

Musing of one wondering what would happen if all the cell phone towers in the world went out of commission simultaneously...

One of the earliest postings I put on this blog was some notes about the nature of government.  With an election coming up, it seemed appropriate to recall those.  As I said then, government is an artificial being, invisible and intangible, and its affairs are handled by a group of fallible human beings who are no smarter than the rest of us.  It seems self evident that the collective judgement of perhaps 5000 people operating in and around Washington DC cannot be superior to the collective judgement of perhaps 200 million people operating in the free market.  I hope that people will think about this when they vote.