printHow is it that in an atmosphere infused with empty prattle about transforming ethics in Washington—as if Sodom and Gomorrah could change without cataclysmic intervention—nobody says a thing about the procession of politicos who use their office to promote themselves and their products? Pelosi abused her abusive political position to flog a best-selling book about … herself. Republican Tim Pawlenty is after the same unjust deserts.
The main title of the former Minnesota governor’s new book is insufferably titled “Courage to Stand.” Pawlenty, I presume, is referring to his own indomitable grit. In a book studded with references to faith and the Almighty, you’d think there’d be some space for humility.
It goes without saying that the man is positioning himself for 2012.
In any event, politicians—all public servants—should be put on a very tight leash and prohibited from exploiting their already exploitative positions for yet more profit. Then again, you know that I believe government workers should be disqualified from voting. For one thing, they don’t pay taxes, but are paid out of taxes. (Taxpayers pay taxes twice: on their own income and on the income of members of the bureaucracy). For another, they are in the position to vote themselves higher and higher wages.
Which they do.
Why do you think “Oink Sector” salaries are double that of productive-sector wages? Market forces?
No; It’s the vote. The vermin have voted themselves the kind of raises you don’t see in the private economy, where productivity—output per unit of labor—dictates pay.
MORE about the Intrepid One HERE.
When he said, that he thought we should crack down on our enemies, he meant creditors, didn’t he?
Actually I’m torn. On the one hand, it’s infuriating to see pols as you say, “exploiting their already exploitative positions for yet more profit.”
On the other hand, every minute they spend penning their self-serving screeds is a minute they’re not working at the public business (or more aptly, giving the public the business.)
As Will Rogers noted, aren’t you glad you don’t get all the government you pay for?
(Sent from Minsk, Belarus.)
If he has such a religious calling, why doesn’t he quit politics and become a minister??
“…the private economy, where productivity—output per unit of labor—dictates pay.”
In small business I agree but not so much anymore for corporate America except of course for white males. Not to say what Unions do to this standard.
Back cover blurbs”
“Another in a series of self-regarding pols paying tribute to themselves.”
“Sure to lower the IQ of anyone already stupid enough to read it.”
“Golden TWOT* Award winning political autobiography”
“No trees were harmed in the production of this book. Recycled dreck on recycled dreck.”
*TWOT – total waste of time
“as if Sodom and Gomorrah could change without cataclysmic intervention” – precise analogy.
Besides, anyone who claims himself to be a “Christian” and yet engages in / supports theft (taxes, welfare, etc), is either not a Christian, or is a horribly warped and misguided one.
On the one hand the pols you mention are making profits from their experice either in the state house or in DC. On the other hand the free market (and I realize I’m using that term loosely) will tend to ignore, hopefully, lousy books by blowhards and beter written books by those who actually have something important or relevant to say.
If the publishing companies get burned enough they will quit giving these blowhards the equivalent of big sign on bonuses. Clearly a more effective but less profitable way to get ideas to the market is by blogging. This approach can be more free from the polishing of editors and the political correctness crowd as well.
However, to maintain or gain the kind of lifestyle afforded pols in the government can certainly be maintained much easier by brisk sales and sign on bonuses than blogging!
PS I know there is a publishing term for getting money up front before the book is published but I can’t recall it at the moment so I used a term from my industry, sign-on bonus.
The following is what I meant to say above but left out an important word accept:
…and accept better written books by those who actually have something important or relevant to say.
On John Stossel’s show last week, he mentioned that ‘Atlas Shrugged’ sold more copies last year than Obama and Clinton’s combined. So much for best selling authors, when a fifty year old book out sells two current pols. However, I read somewhere a note, sub-article or otherwise overlooked bit. Many times a politician is rewarded, by someone buying a gross of books without picking up the delivery. The author gets the royalties though and no laws are broke. Oh, getting the money up front before the book is printed is called ‘an advance.’