Keynes versus Hayek. Of course, it’s never an argument about how best to revive an economy — it’s an argument about how to either maximize government power, or to liberate the people from an overspending, overtaxing tyrant.

[Update a few minutes later]

Lynne Kiesling has more thoughts:

This theme of “economic control becomes political control” is crucial to making sense of the corporatist nature of political activity, and why regulation is so pernicious for individual well-being and liberty.

Hayek is, if not one of the first to make this connection, certainly the most prominent early proponent.

It’s taxpayers versus Washington.

Let’s hope that the Republicans finally figure that out this fall, and don’t forget it.

…will eat itself.

Whatever happens, I think we’re in for a rough ride. This fall may be the last chance to stave off real catastrophe.

It makes California look frugal and responsible. So naturally, we took the people responsible for it and put them in charge in Washington. Not for much longer, I hope.

A cheery interview with Vox Day:

The dirty little secret of politics is that most politicians are of barely above average intelligence and possess very narrow educations. They’re mostly people with IQs of around 120 and a law degree. So, they know literally nothing about economics and lack the capacity to see that what the experts are telling them doesn’t add up. Given those circumstances, it should come as no surprise that they so readily embrace the economic theory that tells them exactly what they want to hear. “Go, thou, and spend, and thus shalt the economy be saved. And lo, thou shalt be the savior of thy people!” That’s a lot more palatable than being told that the nation is in dire straits and their careers are in jeopardy due to the actions of their predecessors, and that there’s not much they can do about it. So, they listen to the self-interested parties and blindly go about making the situation worse.

I think that he overestimates the intelligence of the narrowly educated lawyer/politicians. Particularly the one in the White House.

I’m sure that the president will get right on it, just as soon as he finishes his latest round of golf.

You know, I’ll bet that Bobby Jindal hasn’t hit the links once in the past couple months.

One of the most insane things is the EPA not allowing the ships to clean the water, because they only remove ninety-plus percent of the oil. This is bureaucracy run amok. The president could fix it with the stroke of a pen. I wonder why he doesn’t?

…than the alternative, Mr. Vice President.

And they called Dan Quayle stupid.