For believers, Happy Easter. For the rest of you, you’re welcome for the holiday.
I’m taking today off for Good Friday observance.
But that doesn’t mean I didn’t have time to answer a little mail.
Since Friday for me- at least this week- is the new Saturday, here’s a bonus edition of Email, Hate Mail and Comments from Readers.
Enjoy.
And thanks for doing the hard work of freedom.
Bud wrote: Ransom must have memory loss. George Bush made a real mess of the economy and cannot be let off the hook by revisionist history.- in response to my column The Democrat Debt Mess.
Dear Bud,
The actual GDP numbers don’t bear out what you are saying.
I think Bush inherited at least as severe crisis with 9-11 as Obama did with the economy in 2009.
When you shut down lower Manhattan, as the Trade Center collapse did, you tend to have pretty hard consequences economically. The difference was that Bush took common sense, proven steps to shore up GDP. Obama did not.
One guy was ready to be president, one guy still is not.
Also, the Democrats have been in charge in Congress since the 2006 elections.
But, you know, keep blaming George Bush, Bud; no one is listening.
Lon wrote: When Ransom describes entitlements and road building as a boondoggle, he is making clear that he considers providing a safety net for the poor, the elderly, and the disabled, the groups protected by those entitlements, to be things to be dismissed. -in response to my column Tax Congress!
Dear Lon,
That’s’ not what I wrote.
I knew liberals couldn’t write well, but I thought at least you could read.
Why is it that Democrats are O.K. with corrupt politicians like Ray Lahood, Rahm Emmanuel and Bill Daley running things?
These are guys who are connected.
By connected, I mean “bang-bang, drop ‘em in concrete.”
Why do you put up with criminals in your midst, protect and encourage terrorists and promote racists like Al Sharpton?
Instead, you blame rich people, who pay most of the bill.
oracle1 in Atlanta wrote: We cannot save Mexico from its plutocratic government failures... There are several BILLION in the world who would come here if they could.- in response to my column O: Let's Break Immigration a Wee Bit More.
Dear Oracle,
That’s an important point that is missing from the debate on illegal immigration.
It’s the failure of the government in Mexico that is at the heart of the trouble, just the same as in the Middle East and North Africa.
So much is laid at the feet of the U.S. But it’s not our failure to regulate Wall Street, or have a socialist economy or provide generous benefits to workers that’s at the root of most of the world’s troubles.
It’s that most governments aren’t in sympathy with the aspiration of the citizens of their own country.
That’s as true of Mexico as it is of Syria.
Mark wrote: Thank you for your excellent commentary on the Jihadists that bombed the USS Cole. I am a retired US Navy Warrant Officer, and just want to thank you for keeping the story alive and for telling how the Obama administration has more respect for the Jihadists than for the defenders of our country. -in response to my column Death to the Jihadi.
Dear Mark,
Thanks to you for serving our country. You don’t get to be Warrant Officer unless you are the best of the best. Thanks also for being a serious sailor.
I also want to thank your family- mom, dad, wife, kids, if applicable. It often gets lost that they serve too, along with you and suffer separation and a great deal of anxiety.
You guys are the best.
SpiritInterface wrote: The question I have is why wasn't he put on trial when G.W. Bush was in office? -in response to my column Death to the Jihadi.
Dear SpirtInterface,
Whoa. That’s kind of an Orwellian handle you have there. SpiritInterface?
What would you guys do if you didn’t have George Bush to blame?
Presumably, Bush was busy waterboarding public school teachers and kicking senior citizens and so he didn’t have time to prosecute Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri during his term.
Seriously, they were likely gathering intelligence about Al Qaeda, the Cole bombing and putting together a case in that time.
Are you really trying to make the argument that justice was delayed because George Bush was too easy on al-Nashiri?
Whoa.
4/20 was a few days ago. I understand.
Gfafblifr wrote: Two suggestions. First: A fair tax on all income with no deductions. Second: Make congress's pay and benefits subject to voter approval. -in response to my column Tax Congress!
Dear Gfafblifr,
Is that the Czech derivation of the name Gfafblifr? Or the Polish one?
Oddly, I think even liberals are starting to favor some sort of flat or fair tax. The sticking point will be how you treat investment income.
Liberals have a moral opposition to taxing investment income at lower rates than earned income. They also think that only the rich should pay taxes.
We can point out to them that generally, only the rich do pay taxes, but facts are lost on them.
Have a happy Easter!
JR
You can email John Ransom at thfinance@mail.com
Get John Ransom's daily market commentary at:
Join the conversation as a VIP Member