Obama's State of the Union could be a WILD Time

Guest Post by Modest Mouse

Tomorrow night, my time with the television will be rudely interrupted by President Obama’s address to the nation. The State of the Union address is like the People’s Choice Awards for Ugly People (yep, just like Washington, D.C. is the Hollywood for Ugly People…just not for Aaron Schock, Jeff Flake, Scott Brown, as they are the exception of the rule), where it becomes a who’s who amongst American politicians. The only good thing is that this speech highlights the President’s so-called agenda to destroy our liberties (CCC would appreciate this line…that’s why I am inserting it). Even though, I am not able to watch my typical programs, I will be watching this speech for one reason…the games that come from this blessed speech.

Now, I know the goody-two-shoe CCC will most likely be sitting at home watching the speech and live blogging it, because she’s a fan of this stuff and a complete nerd. On the other hand, I will be sitting at home doing my part by playing a game, while watching the speech. Obama’s speech is filled with one liners to create this exciting game. CCC and I had an interesting email exchange earlier about this, and I think she could be excellent at this game. Based on the ATR version of Obama BINGO, you can either drink an adult beverage (or more depending on tolerance), or be like CCC and drink Berry Blue Kool Aid (straight up…no alcohol). Since I am a party animal (unlike CCC…you nerd!), this is a game that will be lively considering the President’s remarks.  I actually had a difficult time deciding between Guinness and Natural Light, but since we are in an economic recession, I am leaning towards the cheaper stuff.

Here’s the email exchange:

Crystal Clear Conservative: Since you are proposing the so-called Obama game, I will sit around the house drinking Kool Aid (preferably Berry Blue without booze). For every time, Obama says, “Hope,” take a sip. Every time, he says, “Bailout,” take a gulp, and every time, he says, “Let me be clear,” SHOTGUN!

Modest Mouse: CCC, seriously! Do you have an inner wild child that you could tap into for this one game? You are worthy of spiked Kool Aid for this game. I agree with the terms you laid out in the first email, but we should add references to his Chief Tax Evader, Timothy Geithner and his economic dream team.

CCC: Honestly, you would be dead or close to death after those references, because Obama is likely to refer to them all night long. How about any mention of “too big to fail” or “tax cuts to working families?” You’re right, Modest Mouse, I need to have fun…sugar highs are much better. At least, I enjoy sugar highs.

Modest Mouse: Whatever, CCC! I guess you’ll be decked out in your pretty purple snuggie and live blogging with Kool Aid. So, I’ll sit around with an adult beverage enjoying this party. Hasta la Vista…Nerd! Oh yeah, since I am sharing this with everyone, please give CCC some encouragement and tell her to be bad for one night.

As you can see, this could be a fun game and ATR has some of the one-liners to look out for. BINGO is so much fun with President Obama and his teleprompter. Stop by here tomorrow night, as CCC and myself will be doing a series of live blogs. CCC will provide the analysis and I will be in charge of the entertainment value. Hey, since we are all inclusive, I will even invite the sexist 200 Grande to join our live blog, if he’s up to challenge.

"Fear the Boom and Bust" a Hayek vs. Keynes Rap Anthem

Enjoy.  You can find the complete lyrics at the EconStories.tv website but it’s probably best to just skip through to 3:20, bypassing the fluff to the real meat:

Hayek sings:

I’ll begin in broad strokes, just like my friend Keynes
His theory conceals the mechanics of change,
That simple equation, too much aggregation
Ignores human action and motivation

And yet it continues as a justification
For bailouts and payoffs by pols with machinations
You provide them with cover to sell us a free lunch
Then all that we’re left with is debt, and a bunch

If you’re living high on that cheap credit hog
Don’t look for cure from the hair of the dog
Real savings come first if you want to invest
The market coordinates time with interest

Your focus on spending is pushing on thread
In the long run, my friend, it’s your theory that’s dead
So sorry there, buddy, if that sounds like invective
Prepared to get schooled in my Austrian perspective

We’ve been going back and forth for a century
[Keynes] I want to steer markets,
[Hayek] I want them set free
There’s a boom and bust cycle and good reason to fear it
[Hayek] Blame low interest rates.
[Keynes] No… it’s the animal spirits

The place you should study isn’t the bust
It’s the boom that should make you feel leery, that’s the thrust
Of my theory, the capital structure is key.
Malinvestments wreck the economy

The boom gets started with an expansion of credit
The Fed sets rates low, are you starting to get it?
That new money is confused for real loanable funds
But it’s just inflation that’s driving the ones

Who invest in new projects like housing construction
The boom plants the seeds for its future destruction
The savings aren’t real, consumption’s up too
And the grasping for resources reveals there’s too few

So the boom turns to bust as the interest rates rise
With the costs of production, price signals were lies
The boom was a binge that’s a matter of fact
Now its devalued capital that makes up the slack.

Whether it’s the late twenties or two thousand and five
Booming bad investments, seems like they’d thrive
You must save to invest, don’t use the printing press
Or a bust will surely follow, an economy depressed

Your so-called “stimulus” will make things even worse
It’s just more of the same, more incentives perversed
And that credit crunch ain’t a liquidity trap
Just a broke banking system, I’m done, that’s a wrap.

We’ve been goin’ back n forth for a century
[Keynes] I want to steer markets,
[Hayek] I want them set free
There’s a boom and bust cycle and good reason to fear it
[Hayek] Blame low interest rates.
[Keynes] No it’s the animal spirits

“The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong, are more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed the world is ruled by little else. Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influence, are usually the slaves of some defunct economist.”

John Maynard Keynes
The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money

“The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design.”

F A Hayek
The Fatal Conceit

Since the United States is currently in super-Keynesian overdrive, take this with a sense of humor.  Enjoy the drinking-to-get-sober analogy appearing in this video.  But don’t fret.  Stay positive!  Here’s a ray of hope for the jobless.  As promised, it comes from Obama himself.  Just go outside, roll up your sleeves, and take up one of the many shovel-ready jobs.  This is one everybody can do.  It involves shoveling up the mega-tons of bullshit spewing from the mouth of our esteemed celebrity President.

One final thought and not to be so hard on old Keynes but, in his time, government spending was ultimately based on an industrial-based economy.  One wonders if there is a material difference when comparing the effects of government spending on an industrial-based economy versus today’s public-relations-based sheconomy.  Maybe China can be examined in this regard?