A Magic Show Without a Rabbit in the Hat

by Don Boudreaux on September 23, 2010

in Myths and Fallacies, Politics

Here’s a letter to the Washington Post:

Dana Milbank thinks the Democrats aren’t sufficiently boastful (“Do-nothing Democrats,” Sept. 22).  He writes that “Over the past 20 months, Democrats have done a lot – too much, the opposition says.  But they don’t want to talk about the achievements.  The stimulus bill is unpopular; they’re not getting credit for health-care legislation, financial reforms and many other accomplishments.”

Enacting legislation is neither an “achievement” nor an “accomplishment” that, standing alone, deserves credit.  To think otherwise is akin to thinking that a rain-dancer deserves credit for performing his fancy ritual even if afterward the crops continue to wilt because the drought persists.

Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux

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