Bat Shit Crazy is the New Black

All right, here is my opening rant. It will get better, I just have some crap on my chest that must be released.

Clearly it is becoming more socially acceptable than ever before to be bat shit crazy. Whether it is incentives from our government, the Federal Reserve, or societal reinforcement it is becoming apparent that the new black is stupid and crazy.

Michelle Bachmann, congresswoman from Minnesota, has convinced some insane people that under the new proposed health plan, their unwilling children will be whisked away for abortions during recess without so much as a parental permission slip. Can you imagine? Well meaning and doting parents will find their children suddenly impregnated and then rushed off for emergency abortions as part of a left wing conspiracy to rid the world of sex having and fun loving people they might count on for future votes. WTF?

Banks are experiencing record profits during the 3rd quarter while our precariously and sometimes unemployed asses are bailing them out. In all fairness I worked in banking and lending and I am an economist and this one still baffles me. WTF?

Economists are saying we are in economic recovery. Let me insert the WTF here and again at the end. I am an economist but I hate economists by and large. Technically we are recovering but much like I know about foreign policy because I can see Russia from my house (I can't), this is a grossly misleading statement.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP for my non-econ friends) does not indicate we are recovering. Right now it just indicates we are spending an assload of money in the public sector because the private sector is smart enough (finally) to know this is a good time to disinvest. We are spending money on social services and safety nets because people are suffering. This is not recovery or economic activity, it is simply an effort to keep the status quo from becoming a beloved memory. Economic recovery has nothing to do with increasing GDP in the short term, it is long term GDP growth that increases wealth. Long term growth only occurs when the private sector creates jobs and provides opportunity for people to increase wealth and opportunity. We are NOWHERE near recovery. Oh yeah, WTF?

Oh yes, I am technically a state employee. Today the state agencies announced their proposed cuts resulting in roughly 800 job cuts across the state and this doesn't include the Regent's Institutions of which I am a proud employee.

Ironically, Iowa's Department of Energy Independence received no cuts. Could someone explain to me why we need this agency at all? Are we going to secede and become energy independent not only from foreign sources of energy but the rest of the United States? Suddenly we are those little bastards in the Children of the Corn, making all our own fuel and worshipping corn. There is an agency waiting to be slashed. People will reduce energy when it makes sense economically, not because you form a state agency to encourage such. Oh and by the way, ethanol sucks. WTF?

Glenn Beck is on T.V. complaining about the push towards volunteerism. He is comparing it to Mao's China. Fine Glenn, let me in the spirit of volunteerism prompted by my socialist/communist president, to be the first to volunteer to sell you a clue. Aren't you a conservative? Less money thrown at the nation's ills and more volunteers and goodwill might actually do some good....but we don't really want that, right? WTF?

The Democrats, those spineless wonders, aren't really sure what to do now that they are in office. Obama has surrounded himself with economic geniuses that got us in this mess. Yippeee!!! No Obama you are not Bush, but you guys sure run in the same circles when you ignore Halliburton. WTF?

Oh yeah, and on a personal note... I am alarmed by the number of people that want to overthrow our government and stage a Coup. Look people, it is a democracy. We elected Obama and our Congress. Overthrows are for far more serious stuff and your desire for such is demeaning to people that need them to survive. WTF?

I'm getting worn out already. This is just a rant, tomorrow will be more fun, I promise. Or not....