Readers share their thoughts on the presidential election and what it would
really take to boost the economy:
I think that many will be surprised at the election results this year.
And as for the economy, I think we have more tough times ahead and getting
the government involved may not be the best course of action, unless it is
to encourage the banks to work with their customers to see what can be done
to keep them in their homes. I believe that these business cycles will happen
no matter what the government tries to do. All we can do is pray and vote.
-Raymond
The Austrian School of Economics' theory of the business cycle predicted
America's current financial fiasco, and its proponents like Congressman Ron
Paul not only recommended methods to avoid the disaster but have provided
recommendations on how to get ourselves out of it. Unfortunately, neither
of the leading presidential candidates (one of whom will be president-elect
shortly after I send this message) seems to have ever heard of the Austrian
School of Economics and probably wouldn't recognize that their own proposed
"solutions" are merely warmed-over Keynesian or even Marxist/fascist
ideas in some cases.
That said, I believe three things about the election: One, whoever wins
will regret winning by this time next year. Two, nothing is going to fundamentally
change for the better. Three, Americans are hosed (or should I say sheared?)
regardless of the outcome. Also, government should leave IT alone. But I think
government should leave everybody alone which would put all of those government
busybodies out of work -- so that ain't gonna happen, is it?
-J.C.
You said: "Apparently, when you have a $10 trillion deficit and a
collapsing economy, the answer is to increase spending and cut taxes. If I
ran Redmond that way, it would be out of business; and if I ran my house that
way, I'd be in a run-down apartment and my 1980 Porsche 928 would be repossessed."
I would like to point out that tax rates (I emphasize the word "rates"')
are a lot like prices. When a business is not getting enough buyers for its
products or services and its revenues are down, reducing the prices for those
goods and services is often a good idea. It is often possible to get enough
new buyers to bring overall revenues up. Government tax rates often behave
in a similar fashion, which is why, for instance, capital gains tax rate reductions
have usually resulted in increased revenues. I think you will also find that
the last few times that income tax rates were reduced, revenue did not fall.
-Rich
But it was Doug's ride of choice -- the aforementioned 1980 Porsche 928 --
that caught Bill's eye:
Check in tomorrow for your thoughts on cloud computing. 'Til then, tell us
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