tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208477069975281778.post6450462561996887962..comments2023-10-30T08:04:30.982-04:00Comments on Merlin's Musings: So, explain something to meMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03357420829928075512noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208477069975281778.post-86917742985669231222011-12-28T21:32:15.658-05:002011-12-28T21:32:15.658-05:00Me, I have a problem with anyone telling me what I...Me, I have a problem with anyone telling me what I can and cannot do with my money, specifically relating to excesses. That comment stands in general, but I get <em>really</em> torqued off when someone tells me that I should tighten my own belt "for the good of the country" or some other idiotic reason, and then goes and proceeds to spend gratuitous amounts of money on things they just called out as frivolities. <br /><br />'Course, I try to shy away from those kinds of arguments exactly due to their weakness.Linogehttp://www.wallsofthecity.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208477069975281778.post-39114016423031109792011-12-27T11:29:17.554-05:002011-12-27T11:29:17.554-05:00Okay, that's a proxy argument I can understand...Okay, that's a proxy argument I can understand. But I'm not necessarily sure that's the argument everyone is making.<br /><br />I think they are trying to deliberately conflate public vs. private spending in the minds of voters.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03357420829928075512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208477069975281778.post-35386649694660940102011-12-27T10:58:40.984-05:002011-12-27T10:58:40.984-05:00I think that most free market types have no proble...I think that most free market types have no problem with a plumber working hard enough to stay at a nice hotel. They have no problem with an entrepreneur being smart enough to earn the money. They have no problem with a restraunteur making the money and spending it.<br /><br />They (we) get upset at POLITICIANS who have never - to reuse a tired phrase - "done an honest day's work in their lives" spending that money, because they think that whatever money they have to spend is - by definition - ill gotten.<br /><br />What wealtyh has Obama or Biden ever generated in their lives? They're pretty much just cashed government checks and used inside information to make can't-lose investments.<br /><br />"He spent $5k on a hotel" is a proxy for "he's stolen so much without working honestly that he can spend $5k on a hotel".TJIChttp://tjic.comnoreply@blogger.com