tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959556.post5531158072366636996..comments2024-02-21T17:30:40.448-05:00Comments on An Objectivist Individualist: Some Observations on Obama's EconomyCharles R. Anderson, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09610765984333672076noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959556.post-88425990406021999522012-02-20T19:16:14.350-05:002012-02-20T19:16:14.350-05:00I certainly agree with you Harry that all the sign...I certainly agree with you Harry that all the signs of disaster were very apparent with Obama. Unfortunately, while John McCain would have been less bad, he was neither inspiring nor wise himself. The McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform bill was very much an attack upon fundamental freedom of speech, which we were very fortunate the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional. Of course, McCain's selection for the Republican nomination was another instance of bad voter judgment.<br /><br />At this time, I would summarize my own judgments on the Republican candidates as:<br /><br />Romney - Executive and organizational skills, capable of money management, will slow government growth relative to Obama, not very concerned about individual rights, tends to do whatever he thinks most people want him to do, but not well-connected to any but an elite of professionals, with substantial establishment ties.<br /><br />Gingrich - Intelligent, but lacking good judgment, fairly independent-minded, but too connected to the Washington and national establishment, knows a great deal about the government, capable of making major cutbacks, but also inclined to start new, major pet projects, talks about individual rights, but is not really committed to them, knows a lot of history, but does not always know its lessons or have good evaluations of it.<br /><br />Santorum - Hates individuality and individual rights, big government man, supporter of labor unions, hung up on duty and responsibilities of the people to society and to the government, collectivist who would widely use government to use force to impose his values on everyone. Unquestionably, an evil, evil man.<br /><br />Paul - The one candidate who would greatly cut the size of government, though he would likely so antagonize most of Congress that few cuts would be made. Good domestic and monetary policies if he could get anyone to go along with him. Awful, embarrassing ideas on foreign policy and defense issues in many cases, though cutbacks in foreign aid and defense are needed. Seems to believe that sovereign nations take precedence over sovereign people, except in the case of Americans. Too hesitant to use force to enable trade.<br /><br />Romney may be the most practical placeholder until the Republicans can produce a good candidate for the presidency. That is not likely to happen in the 2012 election. I see Gingrich and Paul as about the equivalent of Romney, though Romney may have the biggest upside in terms of being someone who will grow into the job. I hope Romney will jettison his Keynesian economic advisers and his science advisers and will produce reasonable budgets. If he will take some advice from Paul Ryan, Mitch Daniels, and Chris Christy, he may do some good. <br /><br />If Santorum is the nominee, I will vote for Gary Johnson on the Libertarian Party ticket, since Maryland will easily go for Obama and I could not stand the thought of voting for Santorum in such a losing cause.Charles R. Anderson, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09610765984333672076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959556.post-82451569933003325822012-02-20T08:09:47.488-05:002012-02-20T08:09:47.488-05:00Charles, I appreciate this analysis.
As for the 2...Charles, I appreciate this analysis.<br /><br />As for the 2012 election, the electorate showed just how poorly it judges candidates these days when it elected Obama in the first place, and the Conservatives are not helping that perception by treating Mitt Romney--the only candidate with invaluable real-life experience both as a successful businessman and entrepreneur, and the former governor of a state--as their ideological (???) enemy. "What fools these mortals be", seem the words to fit our time.Harry Dale Huffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03210275295826050501noreply@blogger.com