We are developing the social individualist meta-context for the future. From the very serious to the extremely frivolous... lets see what is on the mind of the Samizdata people.

Samizdata, derived from Samizdat /n. - a system of clandestine publication of banned literature in the USSR [Russ.,= self-publishing house]

Samizdata quote of the day

American government spending will be higher in 2011 than it was in 2010.

Government spending will be higher in 2012 than it was in 2011 – much higher.

The above is all that matters – everything else is piss and wind.

The deal is one great big shining lie.

– Paul Marks

14 comments to Samizdata quote of the day

  • I need to find the time to find out which republicans voted for and against – or has someone already done that?

  • Laird

    The problem is “baseline budgeting”, which is a fraud. It starts with a “baseline” prepared by the Office of Management and Budget (a reasonably honest and nonpartisan bureau, for what that’s worth) which assumes a certain level of future spending growth. Anything less than that “baseline” amount is considered a “cut”, even if more actual dollars are spent than in the previous year. In actual human-speak, of course, only an absolute reduction is spending is a “cut”, but in Washington they use some sort of “Alice in Wonderland” language where ordinary words have extraordinary (and unexpected) meanings.

    What is needed is “zero-based budgeting”, where all budgets start at zero and every dollar to be spent is justified. But at this point I’d take a simple budget freeze: hold the dollars at their current level, with no increases of any sort. That would be a bigger “cut” (in Washington terms) than this farsical bill.

  • Laird

    Alisa, here’s the list you were looking for. (It’s a WSJ link; I hope it’s not behind a paywall.)

  • Richard Thomas

    Conversely, the longest journey starts with one step.

    Personally, I’m very sceptical that this is just more “dazzle them with bullshit” theatrics where we are supposed to be more impressed with the effort expended than the results. However, it is a start and if the people shouting now can be convinced to not drop their guard, it might be possible to build momentum for something that actually makes a difference. Indeed, a strongish win here may actually have been counter productive long-term.

  • Kevin B

    Mind you, if you thought the Guardian , the BBC and the rest of the left were over the top in describing the ‘savage Tory cuts’, (which, of course, weren’t cuts), some of the lurid language use to describe those politicians and their supporters who fought for even this tiny slowdown in the growth of US debt is mind boggling.

    Terrorists, hostage takers, jihadists and the Taliban wing of the Rebublican party are just some of the epithets being bandied about. And it’s not just some lone hothead commentator hurling these insults, it’s clearly an organised response up to and including the Vice President.

    All this on the day that Gabby Giffords, (whose shooting sparked intense introspection over the ‘political climate today’), made her return to public life. Ironically, she voted for the ‘terrorists’ bill.

  • steve

    The tea party faction of the Republican party is the closest politicians get to being innocent in todays America. What do you want to bet they get routinely blamed in the MSM for prolonging the recession by the next election. How? With the massive spending cuts they imposed upon an unwilling electorate of course.

  • Thanks a lot, Laird – it is fully accessible, at least from where I am.

  • Alsadius

    Although, very strangely, 2010 spending actually was lower than 2009. Not baseline lower, but an honest nominal-dollars cut. No, I don’t know how that happened either.

  • PeterT

    And here I was, allowing myself to get a little bit excited about the prospect about the Republican pary standing astride history and shouting “stop!”. Fat chance. I knew it was going to happen, but couldn’t help but being a bit depressed today. Lets hope Texas secedes and we can all move there.

  • Paul Marks

    Yes Steve – the Tea Party people are being set up (as Glenn Beck predicted would happen – although so did lots of other people, it was rather obvious).

    They voted against this deal – yet will be blamed for it.

    The economic will go down – and the “cuts” will be blamed. Even though there is no cut.

    Kevin – the masks are coming off (old Glenn predicted that as well) the left (the media, academia, political elite, and so on) are not pretending to be nice and fluffy any more.

    They believe the collapse is coming soon (and they are correct) – time for the “fundamental transformation” of America (time for total power) so they cast off their masks and stand openly as what they are.

    People who will tolerate no dissent – and who wish to set up a totalitarian system (in fact – if not in name).

    Of course some of them (such as the absurd Biden) are more useful idiots than totalitarian plotters – but they help things along.

    Laird – many thanks for the link.

    Broadly as expected – but with one or two surprises.

  • Paul, I’m curious what were the surprises? For me it was Cantor and Ryan, but I’m not following things as closely as you are.

  • Laird

    I’m pleased to report that my entire congressional delegation (congressmen and senators), with the sole exception of that dolt Clyburn, voted “no” on the debt ceiling bill! Sanford was a surprise (to me, anyway).

  • Paul Marks

    One surprise was no vote by Senator L.G. of South Carolinia – however he had indicated that he was opposed to the way things were going in a Fox News interview.

    However, I was still surprised he ended up voting with “the hobbits” (hey it is better than “the terrorists” which is the other name the establishment have for anyone why wants to limit govenment spending) rather than with conservative-till-it-actually-matters-then-I-switch-sides John McCain.

    Perhaps it was concern with people like Laird back home – but Senator Graham better be careful.

    Middle aged men tend to get a big belly (as I know well), but if finds that he is developing large, hairy feet as well…….

    Seriously I think pro freedom people should take the “insult” of “hobbit” and wear it as a badge of pride.

  • Laird

    I meant “Graham” when I typed “Sanford” (our former governor) in my previous post. Strange slip of the fingers there!