George Rebane

The assumed level of perceived risk in competitive markets is constant.  When governments alleviate known risks, added unknown risks will be assumed to maintain the balance – profit demands it.

Obama’s economy continues to scoot along on its butt.  Seven years on and we have finally achieved the steady state snail-paced GDP and jobs growth rates that confirms American socialism in action.  Reported GDP and jobs growths are anemic, politically manipulated, and constantly revised downward from initial announcements.  Keep an eye on what the palpitating Fed does this December about interest rates.

World chess champion turned international political activist Gary Kasparov has written Winter is Coming.  Therein readers will find an expanded development of the history of collectivism, communism, and today’s geo-political realities that mirror what has been exposed in our commentaries.  Kasparov’s theme is the disastrous world order we are heading toward given the west’s (and specifically Obama’s) foreign policy in meeting the expansionist threats from the covey of international bad guys.  He concludes – “With world events crashing around us, the final year of Barack Obama’s presidency promises to be among the most dangerous in our history. A long dark winter will indeed be upon us unless our nation changes course.”  All this, of course, continues to be invisible to the liberal mind.  (more here)

Dr Anna Haynes’ website NC Voices has been a useful compendium of links to local online information and media sources.  I notice that she has recently rearranged the categorization and display of links to these sources.  NC Scooper and RL Crabb formerly enjoyed a ‘humor’ section of their own, but have now been buried in a potpourri of websites/blogs the nature of which eludes.  I wonder how/where they stepped out of line.  And a new ‘Climate/H2O’ category has been added that properly reflects this very leftwing website and the sentiments of its owner/publisher.  However, only True Believers are allowed their links in this section; skeptics (now called ‘Climate contrarians’) are still relegated off-page to the last righthand column.  That is where RR finds itself included with websites and blogs which have long been abandoned or unused.  On the other hand, the most prominent top lefthand and first category of blogs continues to be labeled ‘JeffP’, and belongs to none other than Mr Jeff Pelline.  Most readers will agree that it is most appropriate and appreciated that RR finds itself bookended from that progressive propagandist and his purple pillar of social justice, morality, and correct thought.

[29oct15 update]  Now that he has been cut down a mite by the mild-mannered medico, did anyone else see the future of a more mellow and measured Trump?  What effect will that have on the Republican base as the man, now having cartooned his name into every household, begins to roll out substantive policies and plans on foreign policy, illegal aliens, economic growth, trade, tax reform, …?  I believe he has the brains to assemble a respected brain trust that will generate a political work product which will quickly gain traction with a large segment of voters.  The real question is ‘given the persona he has ingrained in us, can he believably reinvent himself as one who can win and execute his newly minted plans for the country?’.

RR has maintained for years that debt service to budget ratio (NOT the oft quoted debt to budget or GDP ratio) is the metric that will impact America’s QoL.  Finally, the pundits are beginning to recognize that and show concern about the inevitable rise in interest rates.  This rise will blow the federal budgets into unknown territory as debt service on $18T+ soars from its current pittance.  But to get the economy out of its Obamanomics doldrums, banks have to start loaning money to individuals and businesses at much higher rates.  Right now it doesn’t make much sense to risk loaning money at these low rates; everyone is waiting for the return of real (risk compensating) interest rates to loosen the flood of money into the economy.  So now you see what makes up the rock and the hard place when you mismanage the economy for years.  Thank you Democrats and Team Obama.

An elected politician’s accomplishments are still measured by the ‘significant legislation’ that he has been able to get passed.  According to Rebane Doctrine that criterion is simply unmitigated bullshit, especially today when government overreach extends into every sector of the economy and private life.  I fervently hope that we will someday be smart enough to also laud politicians who have spent their political capital fighting and holding back bad bills about to become law, and repealing the putrid legislation already on the books.  Increasing the stack of US Code and new regulations should not be the only measure of a successful politician.

[30oct15 update]  The Donald's first campaign ad (here) is a clever amalgam of our (un)military anthems.  H/T to reader.

[31oct15 update]  Dr Haynes' NC Voices appears to have stabilized its new format.  I'm happy to see that now my friend RL 'Bob' Crabb's blog has been awarded its own real estate labeled V.I. (Village Idiot?) and located right under the site's prime spot.  And under Bob's new plot we have the new home for the perennially piquing NC Scooper.  And in this recent reshuffle and face lifting, I am happy to report that lesser lights like RR are still tolerated and are allowed to ride along in what charitably can be called the website's caboose (for which we are grateful).  So all is again well with world, and as our German friends would say, 'Alles ist wieder in Ordnung'.