This is a bit depressing, but hardly surprising. From this month’s issue of The Atlantic (which features an awesome new look for the old girl and a great column by Virginia Postrel.)
Jackboot JunkiesPeople living under the yoke of corrupt governments tend to want … more government regulation. It’s a vicious cycle: in trusting societies, people act civilly and expect less government interference. In distrustful societies, people act selfishly and expect tighter regulation. But more government corruption leads to less-trusting societies, and citizens will generally “prefer state control to unbridled production by uncivil firms”—even when they know their leaders are crooked.
—“Regulation and Distrust,” [PDF] National Bureau of Economic Research
Given the choice between conspiracy and incompetence, I usually chalk up what the federal government does more to the latter. But it makes you wonder about the mess the government created with the housing market through Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and going all the way back to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). It’s almost like they planned this, knowing they could cash in on “disaster socialism.”
In fact, it looks exactly like that.
Yup. A friend the following joke this weekend. I think it’s appropriate here.
Back in 1990, the Government seized the Mustang Ranch brothel in Nevada for tax evasion and, as required by law, tried to run it. The Government’s attempt failed and it closed.
Now we are entrusting the economy of our country to the government who couldn’t make money running a whore house and selling booze?
I am not a negative person, it takes a lot to get me down, and the actions of our dear leaders usually leaves me entertained, but I came to that same conclusion last week, and it’s enough to dishearten a lesser man.