You, unfortunately, ignored the single most important part of my post and one of the most important economic principals: “……There is NO OTHER SYSTEM other than FREE MARKET CAPITALISM that can determine the correct PRICE of goods and services. It REQUIRES that government NOT DISTORT THAT PROCESS with interference…..” Determining the correct PRICE of goods and services has been the SINGLE MOST DIFFICULT task of every system devised but one…Laissez-faire Free Market Capitalism. There is an inherent reason why Wall Street and eBay are so successful. Their ‘auctions’ determine PRICE at a moment in time where knowledge of supplies and demand come into equilibrium with emotion, reason and risk. Equally important is the ‘legal framework’ from which derives ‘trust in the trading activity process’. If ebay allowed ‘rigged bidding’ or ‘insider knowledge of reserved prices’ they would undermine the integrity of their auctions. It would go down the tubes. We found out with Wall Street’s recent debacle the elements of risk were distorted by government backed securities that the private sector standards would never have allowed to exist. Compounding this problem was Wall Streets ‘lack of traditional fiscal curiosity and basic lending principals’ that gave ‘trust’ to these government enterprises. Their ‘correct logic’ being that these securities are Government Backed and so posses reduced risk was offset by their ‘incorrect analysis’ of supply in relation to how much could the Government handle. They proved the United States Government has limitations that do not make it risk free. Yet instead of letting these enterprises fail via free market principals, we prop ‘em up again. One humongous Ponzi Scheme. ————- (1) ‘…some industries should be Socialized…single payer health care…’. (A) We are all entitled to our opinion, however, the Constitution does not back up your ‘belief’. We have the ‘amendment process’ to tack on to the existing Constitution the kind of ‘social engineering’ you desire. Just like the Volstead Act of 1919 and Prohibition of Alcohol. I firmly believe that if ‘anyone’ can ‘convince the majorities necessary’ to pass Constitutional muster than so be it. But not through the legaleeze of slow drip statutes and mandates that undermine ‘real law’. You might have noticed in the news (what little there really is) that Hawaii, being the only state with a form of universal health care, is abandoning the programs because those ‘needed who pay now’ have ‘stopped paying’ in order to get their benefits for free. ——————————- (2) ‘…laissez-faire is a theory that runs askew of social realities…’ (A) Laissez-Faire Free Market Capitalism is the benchmark principle of social realities. It’s total focus on self interest creates the foundation of those societal realities. No one can get ahead unless ‘their self interest in doing’ has an existing ‘self interest in receiving’. No one is forced ‘against their will’ to pursue endeavors that would not maximize their ‘natural talents, predispositions, and personal self interests’. It is freedom to choose. Until someone comes along and meddles with it. It starts by your fellow citizens telling you that you ‘ought to do this’ or ‘you ought to do that’ because ‘that is what we think or feel’. This is despotism. No different than hiring organized crime to ‘force protection or compliance’ on your competition, or electing Government Bureaucrats to provide the same: “Do what we say or else..It’s for your own good”. Our Founders understood, based on their own self interests, that within a legal frame work that protects against criminal activity between citizens, and ensures equal protection of the law, we the people could go about our lives in the ways we saw fit with the full understanding that life is inherently unfair, there are no guarantees in life, that no one is more responsible for you, than you. God gave us America, our ‘sandbox for citizens to play in’. The Founders gave us the Constitution, our ‘rulebook and referee to ensure we play fair in that sandbox’ Nothing more.

To clarify….Nice post, Eeanor Roche,….Thank you.

Nice post! Thank you.

Partisan, who would of thunk it. Hard to reconcile with the ‘bringing together’, ‘we’ll cross party divides’, mantra spewed by your advocacy of Obama Campaign rhetoric. On the rest of your reply: (1) …i am able to take in facts… (A) Are you implying others can’t? (2) …i know what’s wrong with Obama….. (A) Funny, we couldn’t tell. How about list some of them using the same language you would use for McCain or Palin on the same contentious issues. (3) …openness to dissenting opinions…. (A) Are you totally bereft of any sense of objectivity? Obama, the Media, and YOU are relentlessly attacking that dissent while simultaneously claiming your not. Hypocracy defined. (4) ….glaring lack of information and judgment… (A) Let’s face it, you are jealous of the Governor of Alaska (one of only 50 State Chief Executive Officers with responsibility for a budget and 80% approval) and her accomplishments, talents, and not to mention…good looks. John McCain and Sarah Palin is EXACTLY what this country needs. Back to basics in ‘administrative government’ that respects the peoples money. They are the only ticket to practice such novel ideas as NO EARMARKS AT ALL NO TAX INCREASES AT ALL LESS GOVERNMENT INTRUSION RESPECT FOR LIFE RESPECT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO SELF DEFENSE ENSURE THAT OUR ENEMIES CHOOSE TO ‘FEAR US’ RATHER THAN ‘RESPECT US’.

“Marina B Reply: Joe sought out Obama. ” Are you kidding me? Obama was campaigning in JOE’S NEIGHBORHOOD. Joe was outside playing catch with his son when Obama ‘made his apperance’. His presence, in Joe’s neighborhood, IS an OPEN CALL to the citizens to ENGAGE THE CANDIDATE who is trolling for votes. He GOT ENGAGED alright. Now he wants to BREAK OFF THE ENGAGEMENT. What a guy. ——————- Fact: Joe IS A PLUMBER and has been for over a decade Fact: Joe ALWAYS maintained his INTEREST IN BUYING the company he worked for as a plumber. That is how you move up in the world like in The Jeffersons. Fact. Joe IS HIS MIDDLE NAME. My brother in law uses his Middle Name too. Which ironically is also Joe. ——————- No other aspect of Joe’s life is relevant to the exchange between CANDIDATE and VOTER other than the ISSUES RAISED about TAXES and SPREADING THE WEALTH. Obama is on record describing his Socialist and Marxist ideologies. And, like Bomber William Ayers, is un-repentant about these positions.

Nearly ALL of the postings I have read here have got this subject completely wrong! The CAUSE of the current meltdown IS NOT REGULATION. There was plenty of it. All of it was thwarted by THE DEMOCRAT CONGRESS. They are on video, repeatedly performing their malfeasance. The Republican Executive branch is ON RECORD repeatedly HAMMERING these accounting transgressions at Fannie & Freddie. They share ‘some blame’ for not putting the Justice Department in charge of investigating those in Congress who had obvious conflicts of interest. There is NO OTHER SYSTEM other than FREE MARKET CAPITALISM that can determine the correct PRICE of goods and services. It REQUIRES that government NOT DISTORT THAT PROCESS with interference. Government CAUSED THIS MELTDOWN, just like it CAUSED THE GREAT DEPRESSION. To any of you willing to ‘learn’ about the Depression and Government failure in it’s handling you’re in for a treat. It is a sad commentary that so many of you ‘intelligent’ people are actually advocating policies that are proven failures. Keynesian Economics has been completely routed intellectually and in fact. Yet here we are with ignorant populists screaming the usual ‘get the bastards’ mentality while simultaneously advocating the ‘same old Liberal solutions’ that are driving more of our freedoms and economy into the ground. ———————————- FACT: If the government WAS NEVER in the mortgage business to begin with, business would asses RISK properly because the consequence of failure is BANKRUPTCY. The correct ‘free market solution’. FACT: If the government LET THE REGULATORS DO THEIR JOB the failures of those Congressman would be readily apparent and their conduct exposed for the fraud and corruption they promoted.

Margo, Not one ‘original thought’ in your diatribe! Just ‘talking points issued by the NoBama Campaign. Hypocrisy and Plagiarism. Way to go Margo. It say much about you, Margo, on why you literally promote the ‘personally attacks’ on a common man that Obama sought out while stumping for votes? Could it be the he ‘exposed Mr. Government’ for what he is and ‘your scared of the implications’? You ‘betcha that’s the reason. By repeating these personal attacks, you are explicitly guilty of ‘oppressing your fellow American neighbor’ because he ‘spoke out’. A FEDERAL CRIME has been committed by using Government Computers to ‘run background checks’ to ‘smear this man’ and you ‘do not give a rats ass’. Your article is nothing more that Liberal Fascism!!! Shame on you!

Starry Nite, In my review, as I posted, of the ‘evidence’ and issues regarding the different ‘camps’ Mr Obama ‘has not met the conditions of evidentiary proof’. Look at the evidence. Where is the birth certificate ‘he mentions’ he had in his autobiography written nearly 10 years ago? Not the one posted on his website from ‘this year’. Why has comments regarding his birth from his ‘half brother in Kenya say one thing’ and his ‘half sister in Kenya say another? Why is there NO PROOF at all, from the period, of Barack being at either Queen’s Medical Center or Kapiolani Women’s Center in Honolulu in 1961? This ‘could be a Supreme Court Issue’ if their are continued lingering doubts. By the way, thank you for the implicit plug on software development ability. I would like to say that I and other developers could remove such attempts at fraud, but I can’t. There is simply no system out there that is 100%. Remember that the 911 Hijackers has ‘valid drivers licenses’ from Florida and elsewhere.

Amen sister to your efforts. Hang in there.

Starry Nite, More spirited rebuttals: (?) “Views like that of a Libertarian” (A) I have made other postings declaring that I am a Fiscal Conservative and a Social Moderate. By the way, do you have a problem with Libertarians or Obama’s membership in the Socialist New Party? (?) “Taxes not sole reason to reject Obama.” (A) You are correct. I have many reasons to reject outright Mr Obama but here are my…: ———————- TOP 3 REASONS TO REJECT OBAMA: (1) His basic philosophy regarding American Government and its relationship to its Citizens is diametrically different than mine. (a) I support the premise that ‘….government governs best that governs least….’ (b) Obama believes ‘…. I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody….” —————————- (2) His stated values in relation to Life: (a) I support the premise that ‘….life begins at conception….’ (b) Obama believes ‘…. that decision is above my pay grade…’ ———————- (3) His stated record and views on Self Defense. (a) I support the premise that ‘….the Constitution Affirms my right to own firearms and protect my self & property with them….’ (b) Obama has voted 100% of the time AGAINST EVERY gun rights legislation before him including outright bans. ———————- Your comment that…”I didn’t pay Futa because I wanted to, it’s not compassion it is the law”. THANK YOU for stating EXACTLY the reason for my TONE in postings and replys to you and others with Liberal and Socialist views. Because the Law ‘forces’ me to give up my company earnings to others does not make it right. I can assure you that it is not voluntary on my part. I already have a Mommy and Daddy and so do all those out there working for their paycheck too. Since when should any private entity start providing for you or anyone else’s benefits in life. That is the ‘individuals personal responsibility’. Do not confuse my response ‘as mean’. I’ll be first in line to voluntarily contribute for the care of the Infirmed, Indigent, and destitute. Charity starts at home and if I could, I would direct ‘my corporate earnings’ to my own family. That is why I am in business. That is why we call it ‘my business’. Just like you would regard your income as ‘my paycheck’. Should the employee ‘be forced to give something back from their paycheck to support the operation of my business’?

Starry Nite, Apparently my reply to your postings have struck a chord. (1) “..accused me & liberals of being ‘amoral’….”. You bet I did, and I gave MANY examples of why ‘moral relativism’ is wrong? I also provided a ‘preface’ to my comments to help ameliorate any perceived ‘sting’ to my response. It is ok to hear things you may not like without thinking that the speaker regards you as less than pond scum. I don’t. Someone must defend the system designed by our Founders. I try to see the long and very long term consequences of present day government action and inaction supported ‘by the people’. It shakes my sense of confidence to the depths of my soul to see the ‘slow drip of despotism’ drowning The American Experiment. (2) Reality dictates anyone has to acknowledge the present progressive tax system. You ignore why I do not agree with it. In a nutshell, it is inherently unfair, distorts free markets, work ethic, and ultimately our freedoms. It has been proven time again as a very ineffective ‘means of allocating scarce productive resources efficiently’. (3) Your analysis of ‘my sense of self’ requires a bit of input from me. I am a Staunchly Fiscal Republican and a Social Moderate. I am hardly bitter but most definitely humbled in my capacity as a business owner and Head of my Home Owners Association to recognize ‘my limitations’ and what it takes to ‘get along as well as prosper’. (4) Compassion and Taxes: Obama’s tax plan will affect me directly and a large percentage of my exclusively ‘small business customers’ located in 43 states. You know, the small companies who create most of the jobs in this country. In addition, down here in Florida, 60% of my entire county’s revenue originates from ‘passive income’. That means stocks bonds, and other financial instruments. You know them as Retired Folk. The Obama plan to increase dividend taxes will ‘hit them directly’ no matter what ‘their total income is’. It is no different than a State Income Tax on Intangibles. Money leaves your pocket and goes to the state. (5) No compassion! First anyone willing to maintain a business ‘adds to the economy and their employees’ on a daily basis. Who do you think ‘gives away’ part of their companies earnings to match your government retirement (Social Security) and matches your unemployment benefits (FUTA)? That is not compassion? ————————————— Humphrey Bogart once said ‘…I only owe my fans a good performance…’ Business owners could say ‘….I only owe staff and community my best effort to stay afloat and be here tomorrow…’ We are a part of the producers small, medium and large, that make markets matter,

”..By MaryPage Drake: …their latest lies..attempts to finally get something done about his birth certificate…” Since ‘you brought it up’ I believe you are not thoroughly ‘vetting’ the oppositions argument on some basic eligibility requirements to be President. If I were Obama, I would take this seriously. ———- The link below is the certificate Obama offered as proof from his website: http://fightthesmears.com/articles/5/birthcertificate ———— The link below is a certificate ‘normally’ offered as proof in Hawaii: http://snarkybytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/hawaii-birth-certifica… ———— It IS FISHY. The one submitted appears to be an obvious ‘fraud’ because it doesn’t show any details of the birth, hospital, parents, or watermark. This could have been ‘typed up in a minute’ on blank copies of State Forms. I was born in the Midwest the same year as Obama, and my ‘original’ and ‘copy’ (I requested one years later for backup) is far more like the second example than the first. How about yours? My company designs software products for Credit Bureaus, Credit Granters and the Collections Industry, believe me your claim that ‘its impossible to obtain a social security card or license without an original birth certificate IS PATENTLY FALSE. It happens hundreds of thousands of times A YEAR! How do you think so many illegal aliens are able to ‘game the system’. It is very easy, even without special knowledge. And could be done on a much larger scale with special knowledge.

Sarah, unfortunately, does not have a shred of even handed coverage from: NY Times, DC Post, La Times, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Time, US, People, Newsweek, USA Today, Boston Globe, Des Moines Register, Google, Yahoo, etc, etc… Consider how the Liberal Obama Candidacy has needed ‘all this media’ to slant, omit, distort, and promote Sarah’s records of achievement yet her popularity grows. Now that’s a Maverick! If equal time and unbiased coverage of her huge turn outs at rallies all across the country (60,000 N of Orlando) were given the ‘same’ attention to details there wouldn’t even be a race. It has taken Sarah Palin less than 6 weeks to gain the support of millions versus Barack Obam taking more than 2 years of campaigniing. while fawning mild, incurious, ignored failures this very same media , who provides ‘marketing outlets to business’

It would be nice Liz, if you would “…separate the facts from fiction …” on all unfair coverage the media has given Sarah Palin as you will with Madonna.

I think Sarah Palin has shown true grit under adversity. Real down to earth Traditional American Values of ambition coupled with hard work. She walks the walk. Others will nit pick, rationalize, and demonize everyone she ever knew, everything she ever said, or everything she ever did. She walks tall in my book.