I'm so sorry!

Of course money is the thing at the center of the universe. It explains everything and is the key element explaining human behavior.

Let's step back a minute...

A few posts ago Humanaction made a fairly common mistake in stating:

"It's this philosophy of inflating the money supply (via central bank, fiat currency and fractional reserve banking) that has created the booms and the busts."

For those that don't understand human behavior it is a common error to blame our unstable nature on external forces that are easy to villainize. My point in response is that by focusing on money you won't understand economics because as we all know economics is the social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

Then you come along and call me an fool for stating the obvious. You make an outlandish claim that human endeavors over the last 200 years can ONLY be understood via finance. An obvious fallacy on par with Humanaction and the "fake money stole my lunch" crowd.

You seem too fascinated by Quigley, a favorite of some "conspiracy" theorists. I don't know if you are of such a mind but to base your economic world view on one influence is hazardous.

Let me be perfectly clear. I does not matter if the medium of exchange is bags of grain, diamonds or whatever there will always be those that claim to have more than they actually have and other forms of human foolishness. We covet, hoard, fight over, steal, inflate, degrade and a zillion other machinations to whatever we feel has value. We do this in an attempt to "come out on top" of whatever heap we are in. Left unchecked this basic human behavior creates booms and busts. Central banking is the current method we try to moderate this undesirable human behavior.

For someone who claims to "have no time for fools" you seem to have squandered your resources.

"For someone who claims to "have no time for fools" you seem to have squandered your resources.

Gracious of you to admit yourself to be a fool, sir."

It's a joke and a trap. By responding you demonstrate I am not a fool in your opinion. You are in a no win situation.

"You're such a willing victim. You condemn yourself and fully deserve your misery."

And what a victim I am.

Good health, house paid for, no debt, portfolio same value as 18 months ago, self employed, insured, beautiful child and a stable but evolving worldview. I am MISERABLE! And I am good at it.

I am around quite a few "money people". Some of them think I am a whack job but time continues to reveal the error of their dismissive attitudes. If your worldview works for you then good for you! I see a lot of unhappy people these days that continue to hold on to misguided notions of how the human side of the world works. The dissonance of their framework to observed reality is painful to see.

Good day!

"American turnout prompted by Obama's candidacy, not to mention the anti-Republican feeling, probably helped Miller quite a bit last year; he won't have either of those advantages in 2010."

If the GOP keeps up this special brand of crazy their negatives will keep increasing. The disrespect and attempts at delegitimizing the Obama Presidency are starting to show many just how out of touch the GOP is with reality.

The GOP has been on the wrong side of history for over 100 years. Freeing the slaves was the last thing they got right. The only way they made it back in power was with the extreme right culture warriors back in the late 70's. That is continuing to backfire with no end in sight.

"Call me an absolutist, but giving the Nobel goddamn prize for Peace to a man who has killed hundreds of civilians is wrong for that reason alone."

By that measure Obama is a piker compared to 1973 recipient Kissinger.

"And finally, take the lead from europe and gradually phase out for-profit status for health insurance companies and convert them into not for profit companies serving the public good."

RIGHT! For profit insurance companies are the blood sucking tick on our health care system. The only long term reform is to get rid of them.

"Open up the competition by allowing insurance companies in one state to sell to individuals in any state."

WRONG! All we would end up with is several "too big to fail" insurance companies. This notion is being championed by those that would profit from the mergers and attendant paper pushing.

"The jury system is the real problem."

WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! Did you read the article? The trial system works. Having been on a jury and having observed many juries, in general they work well. Troglodytes that keep blaming the legal system for our medical problems are a large part of why "the real reason is overlooked..."