Sunday, December 05, 2004

Values, Economics, and Holiday Blues

In the Washington Post today, Dick Meyer, the editorial director of CBSNews.com, writes about the "prevailing interpretation of this year's presidential election -- the great moral values theory." He goes on,

Here's the simple fact: The evidence that moral values determined the election rests on a single dodgy exit poll question. ... The myth of the moral values election is proving hard to snuff out.

Moral values are not a discrete, clear political issue to be set next to taxes or terrorism; it's public-opinion apples and oranges.

His conclusion:

Despite the best efforts of myth-busters, the moral values doctrine has morphed from a simple poll finding to a grand explanatory theory to gospel truth. This contaminated strain of punditry needs to be eradicated before it spreads further.

It's always refreshing to read Walter E. Williams, a stalwart in Economics at George Mason University and a no-nonsense observer of the American scene. Read his views on values in today's America, which includes this:

Years ago, the lowest of low men wouldn't use the kind of language routinely used today not only in the presence of women but often to women.

Right on, Dr. Williams! I couldn't agree more--but maybe I'm just showing my age.

Economist Lawrence Kudlow's column today in the Washington Times begins with this:

If the economy is so bad, why is it so good? Crashing dollar, twin deficits, rising gold, foreigners selling our assets — the list goes on for the negative and pessimist mainstream media. But unfortunately for them, and fortunately for the rest of us, the economy is in excellent shape.

Most normal people are quickly turned off by dry discussions of economics. But if you're getting your news on the economy from the mainstream media, remember that their agenda is to weaken the President and the Republican congressional leadership. (Wouldn't it be nice, for a change, if their agenda were simply to report the news factually, without bias?) Read Kudlow's column for a more positive assessment of our economy.

Maureen Dowd's column in the New York Times on holiday blues reminds me of the curmudgeonette I always loved, before she lost her moorings over the election. Her best line is, "If I hear 'Frosty the Snowman' one more time, I'll rip his frozen face off." Aside from one pro-forma, non-sequitur shot at the President and Vice President, it's a good read.

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