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Methinks the gov is about 80% bigger than it should be. And that the component of gov spending as "GDP" should be removed or at least factored downward....reflecting that gov spending is perhaps 70% less effective than efficient capital being put to work. i.e. they really piss away alot of money.
That said, gov is a convenient scape goat, and they deserve the scaping. No offense to goats either.
Much of the disgust with big Gov is justified, some is caused by general disgust with the system and stress caused by poor financial conditions. The torture, the spying on citizens, the gun grabbing, the blatant propaganda, control of media, and allowing themselves to be captured by special interest and cartels such as the nuclear cartel which does alot of harm...well those are all issues in which gov deserves more than just a rant.
Speaking of nuke stuff...the disgusting coverup of Fukushima, which still goes on today, the coverup and the fresh radiation pouring into the Pacific.
These things are unforgivable, as well as the BP oil spill, and Katrina response. Just piss poor disgusting.
Some obvious inequality, theft by the top
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Second Slope post
I have been following your blog since 2009 and I have to admit that the contrarian tone of your blog has helped me to score quite a few profitable trades.
However in the recent past, it seems that the blog (articles as well as comments) is fomenting a lot of anti-government sentiment. I understand that the sentiment among your followers is primarily stemming from the relentless rise in stock prices due to the interventionist policy of the central banks across the world. I had hoped that amid all the mindless bashing of the government and the feds (especially Ben Bernanke), you might step in and make your followers understand the rationale behind the policies.
That real GDP is calculated by the formula real GDP = C + I + G + Xn where C = consumption I = investments G= goverment spending Xn = net exports The financial collapse of 2007-2008 led to a severe reduction in real GDP and Bernanke (being a student of great depression and proponent of Keynesian economics) decided to increase the G component in the above equation which in turn would increase the other variables in the equation due to multiplier effect thus bringing the economy to potential output and restore long run equilibriums.
Even the devaluation of dollar has been done in order to increase Xn component in the above equation. One might argue that Bernanke could have opted for Adam Smith's "invisible hand" policy and let the economy fix itself. That would have worked as well but it would have been a excruciatingly painful process where the economy might have encountered an unemployment rate > 25% (just like great depression) before achieving equilibriums in the long run charts.
In Slope I did not find a single article or comment which can be considered constructive criticism of the Fed's policies. Now the Fed bashing is being accompanied by anti government rhetoric (your article).
Please ask yourself how would you have fared if you did not have roads ( state highways/ interstates) ? How would you have fared if there was no military protecting our country from forces hell bent on destroying the american way of life? How would you have fared if your town was ruled by gun toting warlords? Enough of ranting...
I know you are a smart chap and I hope that you will be able to get over your frustrations and work towards creating an environment in your blog that promotesobjective thinking. Good Luck and God Bless -----------------------------------------------------
Tim Knight original rant So I guess the threat of a miniscule, spit-in-the-ocean cut in our bloated federal government has everyone's panties in a bunch. As if the pitiful slowdown in the growth of spending this year will make any difference.
Frankly, the entire government aparatus - federal, state, and local - could completely shut down, and I couldn't care less. For an independent fellow like myself, the government has provided one and only one service my entire life: it has stolen money I earned. I've never been saved by the police. I've never been rescued by the army. I've never received any government aid.
I've never been given good service by any government entity. It has been a parasite, and nothing more. Personally, I'd have preferred keeping the millions of dollars I've handed out over the years for the benefit of folks like the trolls I saw ambling around the DMV a few days ago.
So the government's going to cut back a teeny bit on a few services? Big deal. Shut it down. Shut it all down. I'm fine.
And, on that jolly note, let's tear it apart in March. This market deserves to be carpet-bombed. You may fire at will.
