Obamanomics: The Curly Doctrine

Obamanomics: The Curly Doctrine

One of my favorite Three Stooges episodes involves the stooges in a boat that springs a leak. While Larry and Moe attempt to bail out the water and plug the hole, Curly spies a hand powered auger-style drill. With perfect childlike logic he says “ Oh! A water-letter-outer” and commences to drill holes in the bottom of the boat to let the water out with the obvious result. His theory, as illogical as it is, makes some sense if all knowledge of fluid dynamics, physics and even common sense are ignored. Holes can be used to drain water and many holes can drain even faster. Which brings us to the Curly Doctrine now being employed to solve our economic issues by President Obama.
Though he tries to keep it to himself, President Obama vaguely hints that he may have ‘inherited” the current economic situation from his predecessor George W. Bush. Well… alright he says it a lot and seems quite convinced. Though the economy was in a down turn before the election, the fact is the Dow has lost 3,000 points and dropping since Obama was elected. So what is his answer: SPEND! That always worked for me. Every time I find myself out of money, a mad spending spree always balances my checkbook.
Obamanomics will grow government, nationalize banks, extend the welfare state, implement national healthcare, raise taxes on everyone capable of employing others, and pay for it with crippling taxes and by printing money, which guarantees astronomical inflation in a couple of years. Each one of these is another hole drilled through the bottom of our boat which is quickly becoming the USS Sieve. Though there are instances of corporate greed and excess, all CEOs are not the evil robber barons opposed by the original “Progressives”. Our corporate tax rate remains one of the highest in the world, driving many corporations and jobs overseas. But rather than take steps to alleviate the situation, President Obama decries the private jets, limos, and lavish business junkets. All of which incidentally create jobs. Any CEO who drives anything bigger than a moped covered with sheet metal is pilloried as evil incarnate. So junkets are cancelled, private jet orders dwindle etc.
While this augering of America (pun intended) continues where is the backlash? Anyone who criticizes or is guilty of merely mentioning an alterative is either “following the failed policies of the past” or playing politics. While the Bush administration left a leaky ship, the Curly Doctrine of President Obama is exacerbating the situation. Despite the current Bear Surge of the stock market this week, the overall direction is down. Man the life boats!