itshappening
01-15-2010, 09:06 AM
The Myth of “Gridlock”
Posted by Thomas DiLorenzo on January 15, 2010 07:44 AM
In response to my recent post about Beltway “libertarian” David Boaz’s love letter to Bill Clinton, and his wish for a Republican Congress, several emailers have written to say, “but gridlock would be a good thing” since “nothing would get done.” Oh, come now. “Gridlock” is a myth. The two parties conspire against the public to maintain their power, agreeing on 99% of all the big issues, like maintaining the welfare state and the warfare state, and then pretend to make a BIG FUSS over the 1% or so of government where there is temporary “gridlock.” Bush expanded the welfare state as much as any president with his prescription drug welfare legislaition, and Obama expanded the war in Afghanistan shortly after being given the Nobel Peace Prize. The only reason there is ever “gridlock” is that such a large committee as Congress takes a long time to figure out the optimal configuration of bribes and patronage before passing legislation. We had “gridlock” all during the Reagan administration, and the federal budget still increased by a third in real dollars from 1980 to 1990.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/47553.html
Posted by Thomas DiLorenzo on January 15, 2010 07:44 AM
In response to my recent post about Beltway “libertarian” David Boaz’s love letter to Bill Clinton, and his wish for a Republican Congress, several emailers have written to say, “but gridlock would be a good thing” since “nothing would get done.” Oh, come now. “Gridlock” is a myth. The two parties conspire against the public to maintain their power, agreeing on 99% of all the big issues, like maintaining the welfare state and the warfare state, and then pretend to make a BIG FUSS over the 1% or so of government where there is temporary “gridlock.” Bush expanded the welfare state as much as any president with his prescription drug welfare legislaition, and Obama expanded the war in Afghanistan shortly after being given the Nobel Peace Prize. The only reason there is ever “gridlock” is that such a large committee as Congress takes a long time to figure out the optimal configuration of bribes and patronage before passing legislation. We had “gridlock” all during the Reagan administration, and the federal budget still increased by a third in real dollars from 1980 to 1990.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/47553.html