Defending Obama

by Don Boudreaux on January 19, 2010

Here’s a letter that I just sent to the Baltimore Sun:

Len Bollinger is upset with Pres. Obama because the president hasn’t delivered on his campaign promise that, as Mr. Bollinger puts it, “Special interests and the influence of lobbyists was going to end” (Letters, Jan. 19).

Mr. Bollinger should be more upset with himself and American voters for believing Mr. Obama to be capable of the impossible.

Any government that annually spends $3-plus trillions of dollars, and regulates trillions upon trillions of dollars worth of other resources, will inevitably be targeted by special interests and their lobbyists. And any government manned by persons capable of the duplicity, pandering, and cheap theatrics required to win elections will inevitably and without shame put itself at the service of these special interests.

Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux

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Ike Pigott

Anytime you concentrate the resources for success, you will draw a crowd for that resource.

Influence is a key to success.

Washington, DC, therefore has become the pre-eminent Free Market for Influence.

Unlike some here who would want to curtail speech, I have a simpler idea.

Make the bastards telecommute: http://ike4.me/ocps

JohnK

Some say power corrupts, I say power attracts the corruptible.

Kevin

That's everyone.

vidyohs

Art 1, Sec 5, para 2, 1st phrase, "Each House may determine the Rules of it Proceedings,"

Why is it so difficult for people to understand how simple it was to write, as one of the Rules of Proceedings, that "In order for Congress to function efficiently Congress shall interpret the constitution as it sees fit, and unless challenged that interpretation shall stand."

Suppose selling out to lobbyist became legal, not only legal but wise in the seeking of riches and power?

Congress could be fixed, but it won't be, at least not for a very very long time. Until at least people get their brains around what power that little phrase gave to people who would corrupt for personal gain.

mikeikon

Well put.

SheetWise

"... any government manned by persons capable of the duplicity, pandering, and cheap theatrics required to win elections will inevitably and without shame put itself at the service of these special interests."

And any government manned by persons incapable of the duplicity, pandering, and cheap theatrics required to win elections will inevitably and with shame find themselves out of power.

I had a conversation today with a friend, and while we both agreed that economic freedom and respect of property rights were the foundation of liberty -- he believes that the road to prosperity is knowledge, while I think it's the right to fail. Very different ideas.

Government may be manned by some very intelligent people -- but while they ponder the possibilities of the state, they ignore any and all metrics that might actually allow them to fail. I think it ought to be clearly defined, and preached -- the right to fail.