The Omnipotent Poobah Speaks!

The Poobah is a featured contributor at Bring It On!

The “I’m the real leader” antics are done and Bailout 2.0 is on the trash heap. In the wake of the failure there’s plenty of rancor and posturing, but it misses the point. No doubt there’s blame aplenty - politicians, CEOs, the voters, investors, and the people who borrowed much more than they could afford should chuck a little mud they’re own way. Because of our poor decisions all of us are going to pay and pay big. It’s too late for blame, so like it or not, it’s time to face reality and start pulling together.

Even economists can’t agree on whether we need a bailout and therein lies the problem. This is macroeconomics writ with a capital, 72 pt. M. Anyone - economists included - that tells you they have the inside, dead-certain track on it is lying at worst and deluded at best.  Nobody knows the best thing to do because ALL the options suck. Despite the bill stinking like rotten fish on a hot day, I swallowed hard and was behind it. We can look at our current situation and see the results of doing nothing - repeat Herbert Hoover six times fast.

Snake Oil, Inc.
I’d describe myself as a ‘reluctant regulator’. I think there can be too much regulation, but I also realize that capitalism is based on naked greed. To let markets cure all the world’s ills may work well in the classroom but as a practical matter, greed-driven free markets run away with themselves. When they eventually auger in, they hurt more than just the investors who signed up for get rich quick ponzi schemes sold by the CEO of Snake Oil, Inc. They can hurt millions of workers and the foundation of the global economic system.

Clearly, Mayor McCheese’s sudden burst of ‘leadership’ was nothing more than political theatre - a bad vaudeville act by an over-the-hill Borscht Belt comedian, but both he and Obama the Oracle deserve some credit. They told the public something they really didn’t want to hear - act now or face larger consequences later. Voters have every right to be pissed. Regardless of their own culpability, because it was mostly people in higher pay grades mucking things up. But refusing to do anything is simply cutting your nose off despite your face.

A Product of Democratic Capitalism
A bailout is neither panacea nor complete flop. It just buys time to work out ways to prevent it from happening again. There will be setbacks that cost taxpayers big money and run roughshod over unlucky consumers, but that’s one of the few constants in macroeconomics - there’s no way to adjust every decision to everyone’s benefit or to total ‘fairness’.

In some ways this pickle is unprecedented and hopefully won’t be seen again for a long time. In other ways it’s a simple by product of democratic capitalism - out of control greed counter-balanced by a need to look out for both your neighbor and yourself. This bill wasn’t perfect or fair and future ones won’t be either. They’re just imperfect examples of how our democracy works when it finds itself in trouble. Hopefully, we can find common ground soon and learn from our mistakes. But if history is any guide, common ground is going to be uncommonly difficult to find.

And that, my friends, is also a byproduct of democracy.

The Poobah is a featured contributor at Bring It On!

BAM! - Rumor has it that the assailant fits the description of Emeril Legasse, celebrity chef.

If You Must Fart, Fart Proudly! - Just don’t fart on the cops. They don’t like that.

Badonkadonk Bandito - Kim Kardashian robs the West Hollywood branch of Bank of America.

Strange Sex - It brings new meaning to the phrase “greasy spoon“.

The Sexorcist - Sure buddy, she was possessed. We hear that a lot down at the station.

Oops! - I can understand being horny and all, but geez dude, couldn’t you wait until they were away at PE to do that?

Cold Case File - I guess he really likes the “cold fish” type.

Take a Bite Outta Crime - I bet this works. In fact, I bet it works as well as shitting yourself to avoid a robbery.

Don’t Tase Me Bro - “Walking the dog”, so that’s what you crazy young kids are calling it these days.

Things Have Changed Since My Day - We always did it IN the back of the car, not TO the back of the car.

Of Course, Of Course - The shoot each other over pizzas, now I remember.

What a Suave Gentleman - I hear he only takes his fees in $1 bills too.

Obligatory Japanese Post - No shit?

Darwin Theory Disproved - I’m afraid the evangelicals will seize on this as another way to prove man isn’t descended from the apes.

Questionable Products - I’ve seen a lot of things allegedly approved by the American Dental Association and I can safely say that I see why this hasn’t been.

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