Marty's Market View Blog - Because Your Money Matters.

What’s your devotion? Are you Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Rastafarian, Republican, Democrat, Global-Warmocrat?

Politics and religion – the two most discussed topics that supposedly nobody’s supposed to discuss. I honestly think that politics and religion in the same sentence presents a just association. I’d go so far as to say (based on the red-faced passion I’ve witnessed) that for some, politics is religion. Now if that mere suggestion finds you the least bit flushed, well then… my point exactly.

So why is Global Warming on my list of fundamental pursuits? It’s just my observation, but if one isn’t careful, one’s identity can easily become vested in one’s cause. Just tell a Global-Warmist that you believe it’s a cyclical phenomenon, or worse yet, that it’s all a hoax (I honestly don’t have a strong opinion by the way), and he’ll attack with the rage of a republican at a healthcare-reform town-hall meeting – or a democrat at a social security-reform town-hall meeting. And speaking of those town-hall meetings, etc., you have to wonder, would Republicans be on the attack if this same health-care reform plan were a Republican initiative? Or would Democrats favor it if it were a Republican proposition? Or would Democrats have attacked social security-reform if it were their plan? Or would Republicans have backed it were it a Democrat plan? Please, don’t pop a vein – I’m only asking.

Personally, as a (supposed) grown-up, I’d like to think my thinking is independent of the political influences of my youth – but sometimes I wonder. I seem to consistently find myself on the same side of certain issues. Am I truly against the whole healthcare-reform notion because I believe it’s a bad idea – because private insurers can’t compete with a public option – because people from countries with socialized medicine come to America for their healthcare when they really need it – because thirty years after England went that route there were fewer hospital beds and hundreds of thousands of people in line – because the champions of the four-figure (paged) proposal that will cost the tax-payer thirteen figures don’t seem to understand it themselves – because we’re not a socialist country – or is it my politics?

Am I truly against the government controlling our financial industry because I believe it’s a bad idea – because these jokers (republicans and democrats), who blow money like politicians (I know, but even drunken sailors don’t spend like politicians), want to tell our banks how to handle their business – because they won’t accept a modicum of responsibility for their own contribution to last year’s meltdown – because our founding fathers warned us specifically about the perils of big government – because legislating away risk-taking unequivocally sets the most dangerous precedent I can imagine – or is it my politics?

Please forgive me if I’ve struck a nerve – I understand the risk I run. I would surely alienate no one were I to simply report on last week’s market, but where’s the fun in that? Politics, that’s the subject my friends – and it is indeed pertinent here, because I am a staunch believer in the business cycle and free-markets. And the greatest risk to both, in my humble opinion, is political risk – regardless of the party “in power”.

Two weeks ago I included the following Daniel Webster quote; “There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters.” Our founding fathers clearly understood human nature – that men and women who find themselves in positions of power will forever seek to expand their powers – even with good intentions (but we all know what they say about the pavement on the road to perdition).

I’ll let them take it from here:

“A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.” Thomas Jefferson

“I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.” John Madison

“An unlimited power to tax involves, necessarily, a power to destroy; because there is a limit beyond which no institution and no property can bear taxation.” John Marshall

“The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive.” Thomas Jefferson

“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Benjamin Franklin

Have a great day!
Marty