Sowell: Obama Win Would Be Historic Tragedy

[dtr98]

Sowell: Obama Win Would Be Historic Tragedy

Wednesday, October 29, 2008 2:07 PM

By: Thomas Sowell

Some elections are routine, some are important, and some are historic. If Sen. John McCain wins this election, it probably will go down in history as routine. But if Sen. Barack Obama wins, it is more likely to be historic � and catastrophic.

Once the election is over, the glittering generalities of rhetoric and style will mean nothing. Everything will depend on performance in facing huge challenges, domestic and foreign.

Performance is where Obama has nothing to show for his political career, either in Illinois or in Washington.

Policies he proposes under the change banner are almost all policies that have been tried repeatedly in other countries � and failed repeatedly in other countries.

Politicians telling businesses how to operate? That's been tried in countries around the world, especially during the second half of the 20th century. It has failed so often and so badly that even socialist and communist governments were freeing up their markets by the end of the century.

The economies of China and India began to take off into high rates of growth when they got rid of precisely the kinds of policies that Obama is advocating for the United States under the magic mantra of change.

Putting restrictions on international trade in order to save jobs at home? That was tried here with the Hawley-Smoot tariff during the Great Depression.

Unemployment was 9 percent when that tariff was passed to save jobs, but unemployment went up instead of down and reached 25 percent before the decade was over.

Higher taxes to "spread the wealth around," as Obama puts it? The idea of redistributing wealth has turned into the reality of redistributing poverty, in countries where wealth has fled and a lack of incentives has stifled the production of new wealth.

Economic disasters, however, may pale by comparison with the catastrophe of Iran with nuclear weapons. Glib rhetoric about Iran�s being "a small country," as Obama called it, will be a bitter irony for Americans who will have to live in the shadow of a nuclear threat that cannot be deterred, as that of the Soviet Union could be, by the threat of a nuclear counterattack.

Suicidal fanatics cannot be deterred. If they are willing to die and we are not, then we are at their mercy � and they have no mercy. Moreover, once they get nuclear weapons, that situation cannot be reversed.

Is this the legacy we wish to leave our children and grandchildren, by voting on the basis of style and symbolism, rather than substance?

If Barack Obama thinks that such a catastrophe can be avoided by sitting down and talking with the leaders of Iran, then he is repeating a fallacy that helped bring on World War II.

In a nuclear age, one country does not have to send troops to occupy another country to conquer it. A country is conquered if another country can dictate who rules it, as the Mongols once did with Russia, and as Osama bin Laden tried to do when he threatened retaliation against places in the United States that voted for President Bush. But he didn't have nuclear weapons to back up that threat � yet.

America has never been a conquered country, so it may be very hard for most Americans even to conceive what that can mean. After France was conquered in 1940, it was reduced to turning over some of its own innocent citizens to the Nazis to kill, just because those citizens were Jewish.

Do you think our leaders wouldn't do that? Not even if the alternative was to see New York and Los Angeles go up in mushroom clouds? If I were Jewish, I wouldn't bet my life on that.

What the Middle East fanatics want is not just our resources or even our lives, but our humiliation first, in whatever sadistic ways they can think of. Their lust for humiliation has been demonstrated repeatedly in their videotaped beheadings that find such an eager market in the Middle East.

None of this can be prevented by glib talk, but only by character, courage, and decisive actions, none of which Obama has ever demonstrated.

Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif. 94305.

[VeraDeMilo]

Its a scary thing if he wins. The liberal media, the celebrities, the easily influenced youth, the uneducated, the racists, the lazy, and the poor will be the downfall of this country because of their votes

[Panzerfaust]

Like Americans give a shit about the real issues, Oprah said Obama was fine so we should agree with that. Blacks are voting for him based on skin color alone. Afterall they see him as a 'brother" who might give them handouts. That culture ahs been taught to vote Democratic their entire lives so it comes as no surprise really.

This whole "historic" bullshit because he is Black is retarded and typical of dipshit American ideology. I'm ****ing sick of people pushing someone based on something as ****ing retarded as their skin color. Obama isn't worth a damn because he has done absolutely nothing politically that says he is ready to lead the most powerful nation on the earth.

I would vote for a green or purple martian if the mother****er actually backed our U.S. Constitution and fought for the people instead of special interst groups.

[VeraDeMilo]

Like Americans give a shit about the real issues, Oprah said Obama was fine so we should agree with that. Blacks are voting for him based on skin color alone. Afterall they see him as a 'brother" who might give them handouts. That culture ahs been taught to vote Democratic their entire lives so it comes as no surprise really.

This whole "historic" bullshit because he is Black is retarded and typical of dipshit American ideology. I'm ****ing sick of people pushing someone based on something as ****ing retarded as their skin color. Obama isn't worth a damn because he has done absolutely nothing politically that says he is ready to lead the most powerful nation on the earth.

I would vote for a green or purple martian if the mother****er actually backed our U.S. Constitution and fought for the people instead of special interst groups.

But.... I saw P.Diddy wearing an Obama t-shirt on MTV the other night. So, doesn't that mean he would make a good president?

[SVTmuscle]

But.... I saw P.Diddy wearing an Obama t-shirt on MTV the other night. So, doesn't that mean he would make a good president?

umm... last time i checked yes... duh he is P.Diddy..

[firmechicano831]

Alot of black people are educated as well. I think its bias or un-ethical to say that all blacks will vote for him because of skin color. I think Obama will be a better president because he is more prepared to over turn the republicans fu..cked up mess we have now. I don't know if some of you even followed the debates but McCain is a retard just like Palin.

[VeraDeMilo]

Alot of black people are educated as well. I think its bias or un-ethical to say that all blacks will vote for him because of skin color. I think Obama will be a better president because he is more prepared to over turn the republicans fu..cked up mess we have now. I don't know if some of you even followed the debates but McCain is a retard just like Palin.

Because he was not reciting scripted rhetoric word for word that was written by someone else?

Once you get passed the smoke and mirrors and actually listened to their plans, McCain definitley came out on top in those debates.

[MuscleScience]

Alot of black people are educated as well. I think its bias or un-ethical to say that all blacks will vote for him because of skin color. I think Obama will be a better president because he is more prepared to over turn the republicans fu..cked up mess we have now. I don't know if some of you even followed the debates but McCain is a retard just like Palin.

Have you seen the statistics on how the black vote is turning out. Every poll, survey and even the primary elections had the black vote at over 90% for Obama. Which is fine whatever but its even more naive to say that its not occuring. Also the last time I checked the democrates have been in control of congress the last two years.

The whole problem with our system is to say that there is any major philoshophical difference between the Republican and Democratic party. It is sheepish to think that way, and frankly it is not good for our country for any person to say that they are republican or democrate. That would mean there are two types of people in this country.

[mustang331]

I am just scared about jobs in America... I honestly believe if Obama gets in, This country will be like Carter days!

[firmechicano831]

If McCain was that good as everyone thinks he is. He would of made his mark when he was vice president. He didn't accomplish anything that I could remember? can anyone here?

[Strategus]

The McCain supporters around here must not invest in stocks.

History shows much better market returns with Democrats in the White Hoiuse than Republicans:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...4_OPCHART.html

You guys also don't seem to remember the Clinton years - dollar gas, prosperous economy and (wink wink nudge nudge) Home Runs! All we've gotten with Bush is strict enforcement of AAS laws, and this economic mess!

The fact that Obama is (half) black has nothing to do with my vote (I am white).

I am voting for Obama strictly on the basis that, on the average, Democrats in the White House bring prosperity. Too bad he had to pick Joe Biden for VP though. However, McCain is just as anti-AAS as Biden.

[Strategus]

??? McCain was never VP. He has been in the Senate since 1987 and in Congress since 1983.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain

However, you're correct about Mccain's "achievements" LOL:

http://www.mmdnewswire.com/dhea-not-...nt-1443-2.html

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?....jsp&c_id=null

He's been busy getting the gov't to crack down on AAS while letting all this fraudulent mortgage lending go on.

If McCain was that good as everyone thinks he is. He would of made his mark when he was vice president. He didn't accomplish anything that I could remember? can anyone here?

[MuscleScience]

The McCain supporters around here must not invest in stocks.

History shows much better market returns with Democrats in the White Hoiuse than Republicans:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...4_OPCHART.html

You guys also don't seem to remember the Clinton years - dollar gas, prosperous economy and (wink wink nudge nudge) Home Runs! All we've gotten with Bush is strict enforcement of AAS laws, and this economic mess!

The fact that Obama is (half) black has nothing to do with my vote (I am white).

I am voting for Obama strictly on the basis that, on the average, Democrats in the White House bring prosperity. Too bad he had to pick Joe Biden for VP though. However, McCain is just as anti-AAS as Biden.

The 32nd president of the US didnt fair so well during the great depression If in fact it wasnt for Hitler, great economist like Milton Freidman believed that it would have ran much much longer and that if there wasnt such poor management of the economy at the time the stock market crash of 1929 would have just been another recession that would have lasted the typical 8 months that most modern recessions last. Plus the NY times is not a great bastion of unbiased truth....LOL

[j4ever41]

Mccain was never VP,WTF,another educated voter i guess,yes blacks are gona vote for Obama because he is black would not suprise me if he gets 95% of the black vote but if a white dem was running he/she would get 85-90% of the black vote so not much difference.It still amazes me that people give credit to whatever party is in the white house when bad things/good things happen. What i can see happening is Obama gets in economy starts coming back mid year 09 and he gets credit for it.

[B.E.N.]

I think Obama will be a better president because he is more prepared to over turn the republicans fu..cked up mess we have now.

I always love this retort and then blaming it only on Bush. Yeah...Bush single handly hurt the economy.

Most people don't realize that Clinton sign and lobbied for the bill that deregulated the financial sector helping to create this mess. Clinton also started the the motions for the foreign policy strategy of regime change in Iraq.

I am tired of all the scapegoating going one in America. The truth is you can't pin blame for a trillion dollar economy on one person, one party, or one administration. It took many hands to create the situation we are in today, citizens of the US included.

I'd rather hear about what the plans are to climb out...

[B.E.N.]

...while letting all this fraudulent mortgage lending go on.

Fraudulent mortgage lending? Don't believe that liberal spin either. There has been mortgage fraud...yes. Admittedly even an increased amount of fraud, but nothing that should have thrown the mortgage industry into the tail spin it is in.

The real reason was the lack of underwriting standards, inflated home values, and ease of obtaining credit.

Do you know that most foreclosures are actually on second homes (vacation properties) and investment properties. People simply over extended themselves and mortgages companies allowed it.

If you don't believe me I can get the numbers and sources...

[B.E.N.]

The McCain supporters around here must not invest in stocks.

History shows much better market returns with Democrats in the White Hoiuse than Republicans:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...4_OPCHART.html

You guys also don't seem to remember the Clinton years - dollar gas, prosperous economy and (wink wink nudge nudge) Home Runs! All we've gotten with Bush is strict enforcement of AAS laws, and this economic mess!

The fact that Obama is (half) black has nothing to do with my vote (I am white).

I am voting for Obama strictly on the basis that, on the average, Democrats in the White House bring prosperity. Too bad he had to pick Joe Biden for VP though. However, McCain is just as anti-AAS as Biden.

Again...one man single handedly destroyed the economy????
Look up cyclical economy on Google and see what you learn.

We have a democracy, meaning one man can't have that much power. That logic just does not add up.

Plus in the 3rd/4th Quarter of 2003 the economy actaully grew by more than it hand in 20 years. I say again 20 years...that would have included your wonderful Democrat Clinton.

I can do this all day long...
You can't look at Democrat or Republican and make your decision. Dig deeper...find your own answers. If you read MSN then go to Fox News also and get the other side. This partisan voting is too much.

[Gears]

I`m a libertarian, but I would have loved to vote for Ron Paul. IMO it`s a one party system, people will be put in power if it serves the general interest of the big pocktes. Someone who ACTUALLY give a sh*t about the lower social classes probably will not get elected.

[j4ever41]

Again...one man single handedly destroyed the economy????
Look up cyclical economy on Google and see what you learn.

We have a democracy, meaning one man can't have that much power. That logic just does not add up.

Plus in the 3rd/4th Quarter of 2003 the economy actaully grew by more than it hand in 20 years. I say again 20 years...that would have included your wonderful Democrat Clinton.

I can do this all day long...
You can't look at Democrat or Republican and make your decision. Dig deeper...find your own answers. If you read MSN then go to Fox News also and get the other side. This partisan voting is too much.

i couldnt agree with you more.

[SMCengineer]

The whole problem with our system is to say that there is any major philoshophical difference between the Republican and Democratic party. It is sheepish to think that way, and frankly it is not good for our country for any person to say that they are republican or democrate. That would mean there are two types of people in this country.

Exactly.

As Jesse Ventura said "The two party difference...is like pro wrestling...In front of the public they make us think that they all hate each other, but behind closed doors they're all best buddies making deals with each other."

[BgMc31]

This is exactly why the far right won't win. They've resorted to bogus scare tactics. According to polls Barack will have had more white support than any democratic candidate in history.

I see a pattern by some here that Barack will owe his victory strictly because of the ignorance of minorities (mainly Blacks). But the polls and the huge crowds, and the fact that he will carry a state like Iowa (which is 95%+ white) says otherwise.

So continue to make stuff up and scare people, continue to call him a socialist, a muslim (i don't know why that's bad), a racists, a Black nationalists, and anti-semite, a terrorist and/or terrorists' sympathizer. The American people are seeing through the bullshit and the GOP is just digging themselves a deeper whole everytime these articles are published, or Shawn Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Micheal Savage, or Mark Levine open their mouths.

So I thank you for posting that bullshit! Americans are tired of being scared by Republicans!

In the words of the great Sam Cook, "Change gonna come!"

I'll get off my soap box now! Flame away! HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

[MuscleScience]

This is exactly why the far right won't win. They've resorted to bogus scare tactics. According to polls Barack will have had more white support than any democratic candidate in history.

I see a pattern by some here that Barack will owe his victory strictly because of the ignorance of minorities (mainly Blacks). But the polls and the huge crowds, and the fact that he will carry a state like Iowa (which is 95%+ white) says otherwise.

So continue to make stuff up and scare people, continue to call him a socialist, a muslim (i don't know why that's bad), a racists, a Black nationalists, and anti-semite, a terrorist and/or terrorists' sympathizer. The American people are seeing through the bullshit and the GOP is just digging themselves a deeper whole everytime these articles are published, or Shawn Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Micheal Savage, or Mark Levine open their mouths.

So I thank you for posting that bullshit! Americans are tired of being scared by Republicans!

In the words of the great Sam Cook, "Change gonna come!"

I'll get off my soap box now! Flame away! HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Isnt the whole idea of redistribution of wealth something that Mr. Ma** was a fan of.

For every Shawn Hannity you have your Keith Obermann. Come on man wake up its a sham in every sense of the word. All these guys are shady, Obama and McCain.

[j4ever41]

well if someone thinks that Obama is going to win because of the black vote they are ignorant,i stated what i did in an earlier post because it is true i also stated that if Obama was not running the dem would still get the vast majority of the black vote so all in all not that much difference

[BgMc31]

Isnt the whole idea of redistribution of wealth something that Mr. Ma** was a fan of.

For every Shawn Hannity you have your Keith Obermann. Come on man wake up its a sham in every sense of the word. All these guys are shady, Obama and McCain.

Isn't the stipend that the citizens of Alaska enjoy for energy corps. the definition of redistribution of wealth.

There are no perfect politicians. They are all somewhat corrupt. YES RON PAUL INCUDED! But I do feel more comfortable with Barack's positions than McCain's!

[BgMc31]

well if someone thinks that Obama is going to win because of the black vote they are ignorant,i stated what i did in an earlier post because it is true i also stated that if Obama was not running the dem would still get the vast majority of the black vote so all in all not that much difference

I wrote what I wrote because it is constantly brought up. No one made an issue about Kennedy garnering a vast majority of the Catholic vote, when he ran. No one pointed out the overwhelming support of Mormons when Romney was running, etc. Racial and ethnic pride is a fact. Remember white men have enjoyed 100% of their races vote since the birth of this country, why should minorities be any different? LoL!

[j4ever41]

I wrote what I wrote because it is constantly brought up. No one made an issue about Kennedy garnering a vast majority of the Catholic vote, when he ran. No one pointed out the overwhelming support of Mormons when Romney was running, etc. Racial and ethnic pride is a fact. Remember white men have enjoyed 100% of their races vote since the birth of this country, why should minorities be any different? LoL!

Agreed

[MuscleScience]

Isn't the stipend that the citizens of Alaska enjoy for energy corps. the definition of redistribution of wealth. No, that is the people having a resource and selling it to the highest bidder. The oil companies when they entered into a contract with the state of Alaska had a choice for that to be part of the allowance of drilling rights. Working hard your entire life being fiscally responsible and wanting to give your already taxed money to your kids when you die is not a choice. Same with going to school for years and years or building a business and then finding yourself with a successful situations only to find out that you moved up into the bracket that basically says you make to much money it is time for you to give back to society to which you successfully out competed in the economy. Thats not a choice and no matter how you look at it goes against every thing America is about. True there people that make a billion dollars a year should be taxed but they should not be forced to share there wealth with the less fortunate. America time and time again has shown that its is the most generous country in the world. Look at Andrew Carnage, his great success throughout his life is still benefiting society and that was through his choice not a government mandate.

There are no perfect politicians. They are all somewhat corrupt. YES RON PAUL INCUDED! But I do feel more comfortable with Barack's positions than McCain's!

Thats fair to say, and thats a respectable answer if more people would state it like that instead of making a blanket polarizing stance by saying I am only voting democratic or republican because bla bla bla. The political process of this country would be for the better.

[j4ever41]

And when i have white people tell me ( and yes im white ) that blacks vote for Obama only because he black i asked them what would you do if first time in history they had a credible white person on the ticket? Problem with alot of white people is that they have no idea what it is like to be in the minority just something as simple as going out to eat or going to the store when they look around they see mostly white and everywhere they go they are the majority. oh boy here it comes.

[j4ever41]

Thats fair to say, and thats a respectable answer if more people would state it like that instead of making a blanket polarizing stance by saying I am only voting democratic or republican because bla bla bla. The political process of this country would be for the better.

so many people are so partisan and brainwashed they dont wont to hear both sides and always blame only 1 for the problems.

[BgMc31]

I have a question, and its a serious question: why do the most affluent of us (stars, athletes, Warren Buffet, etc.) seem to have no problem being taxed higher by Obama's plan but the major people bitching from the GOP side are people who will actually benefit from Obama's plan? Seems to me these people are being led astray. Am I wrong, if so, why?

[Panzerfaust]

As I was saying:




'I can't even envision how bad it's gonna be'. Akon

Akon, the Grammy-winning, multi-platinum-selling R&B star, has said that he will renounce his US citizenship and leave the country if John McCain wins next week's presidential election.

The singer, producer and songwriter, speaking to The Guardian during a promotional visit to Britain, was born in Senegal and plans to return to Africa should Barack Obama fail to become the United States' 44th President.

"If he [Obama] doesn't get into office, I'm gonna change my citizenship," he said. "I'm moving back to Africa. You can hold me to that. I'm afraid to live there if he [McCain] is President. The decisions he makes scare me: he's making selfish decisions, he's doing whatever it takes to get into office."

Akon cited the selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as McCain's running-mate as one of the decisions that gave him concern. "I don't think he's going to last eight years," he said, referring to McCain, "so she's definitely going to be president. Oh my goodness - that's scarier. And who would be her running mate? Joe the Plumber?

"I'm very afraid," he continued. "If the people don't see [that life in America will deteriorate under McCain], then that's a dangerous place to be for the next four years. I can't even envision how bad it's gonna be. I see it now - like, I'm driving down the highway, and I see cars parked with their emergency lights on because [people] can't afford to buy gas. You've got families walking, carrying infants to the next exit to take a taxi, because the taxi will get them home cheaper than the gas."

The singer, who is unable to vote in this election due to a previous felony conviction, does not have a track record of speaking out on politics; but as one of the highest-selling black artists in the US, his views may carry some weight.

"I really, really hope that Obama gets in," he said, "but I don't want to jinx him. It's too early to say, because I don't remember anybody voting for [George W] Bush's second term, and he still won."



Sure, I'm going to make my decision based on some stupid famous ****. Oh wait...most Americans would and do. Shucks!

[IronReload04]

Have you seen the statistics on how the black vote is turning out. Every poll, survey and even the primary elections had the black vote at over 90% for Obama. Which is fine whatever but its even more naive to say that its not occuring. Also the last time I checked the democrates have been in control of congress the last two years.

The whole problem with our system is to say that there is any major philoshophical difference between the Republican and Democratic party. It is sheepish to think that way, and frankly it is not good for our country for any person to say that they are republican or democrate. That would mean there are two types of people in this country.

and how long were the repubs in office before the democrats which have been in for 2 years? when did our problems start? (more than 2 years ago)

[xlxBigSexyxlx]

If Lil Wayne supports Obama, so do I!

[MuscleScience]

and how long were the repubs in office before the democrats which have been in for 2 years? when did our problems start? (more than 2 years ago)

there was a republican congress when Clinton was in office....LOL

[KZRSOIZE]

We are doomed if Osama wins.... The Rise of the United Socialist States of America

http://objllc.com/USSA.htm

[xlxBigSexyxlx]

"The fatal flaw in socialism is twofold: first, the conceit inherent in the desire to plan the lives of others; second, the force necessary to impose that plan on unwilling subjects. This is not a formula for freedom but for tyranny."

– Jim Peron in The Ideals of Tyranny

[MuscleScience]

"The fatal flaw in socialism is twofold: first, the conceit inherent in the desire to plan the lives of others; second, the force necessary to impose that plan on unwilling subjects. This is not a formula for freedom but for tyranny."

– Jim Peron in The Ideals of Tyranny

Things would be different if I was the king, I would be a compassionate leader. Only those who think My ideas are bad would suffer.

[Panzerfaust]

I gotta augh at the arguing over Republican vs Democrat...when you do you only feed into the farce that are the two parties. They are the same goddamnit! The idea of a two party system (which is false as well) gives the people the sense of having a choice and of course gives people the ability to point the finger to.

No matter who it is, it will be the person the special interests ordained, not "we the people". Anybody that would trust an electronic voting machine is a goddamn fool.

[goose]

I gotta augh at the arguing over Republican vs Democrat...when you do you only feed into the farce that are the two parties. They are the same goddamnit! The idea of a two party system (which is false as well) gives the people the sense of having a choice and of course gives people the ability to point the finger to.

No matter who it is, it will be the person the special interests ordained, not "we the people". Anybody that would trust an electronic voting machine is a goddamn fool.

[BgMc31]

We are doomed if Osama wins.... The Rise of the United Socialist States of America

http://objllc.com/USSA.htm

I didn't know Osama was running!