Lurking Absurdities           

            “We need a balanced federal budget; to run government like a business or family.” Misleading—businesses and families are known malingerers—they borrow.  Cars, houses, furniture, payday advances, Christmas money.  Oh! Credit cards!  On the other hand, commercial lines of credit, building expansion loans, Tax Increment Financing. Oh! Stocks and bonds, etc,etc.  Hint: borrowing is deficit spending.

            Absurd because what in the world do you think government does?!  Even the squirrels know it is the economy’s money-balancer, war financer, space invader.  They know it because the government guarantees their loans, and bails their sorry carcasses out when their greed gets them in trouble.  Shame about it kids, “balanced federal budget” doesn’t quite get the deal done.  Besides if we have to balance the federal budget, what do we do when the stars line up and some President brings in a surplus?   

            “Serious economic downturns are a thing of the past.”  Not even misleading, just patently absurd.  Capitalism is a type of economy that produces fluctuations.  Every few years there is a cyclical downturn.  Every few downturns there is a serious one.  Every downturn produces a politician who proclaims that the actions they have taken will prevent recurrence.  Those same politicians tell you they have only your best interests at heart.  Around here that’s absurd too, like having congress cut away all the safety nets and helpful programs for America’s needy.  You KNOW when the cutters need nets for themselves, their lobbyists just get them from the Absent WithOut Leaving gang.