February 28, 2010 --

Recently, LPR noticed the term “lemon socialism” in a Paul Krugman column in The New York Times.

(See Wikipedia for the origin of this term.)

Nobelist (Economics) Krugman used the term to describe this process: profits to the executives (and shareholders); losses to the people.

This seems to summarize the economic process today. LPR, however, objects to the term “socialism” in an economic or political context. We should have learned by now that socialism has zero dynamic function in politics or economics. That is to say, it is
not socialism that is the moving force when private industries are nationalized.

Something else is going on. Managerialism.

When a private company is “nationalized,” does the nation operate the company. Of course not. Managers, appointed by government officials, run the company.

Who pays? The people.

Who gains? The managers.

This is, LPR submits, what state managerialism is all about. In our previous, free enterprise, economic environment, companies succeeded when the people voluntarily purchased their products. When the people stopped buying, the companies failed – and went out of business.

Today, a company that is failing and has political clout gets Washington to designate it as “Too Big to Fail.” The administration steps in and provides forced-dollars (taxpayer money) to make up for the consumers’ dollars, no longer freely given.

Who pays, involuntarily? The people.

Who gains? The managers.

Of course, 222 years ago, Madison, in the opening line of Federalist Paper No.. 57 recognized this phenomenon, referring to the ambitious sacrifice of the many to the aggrandizement of the few. (Is it any wonder, our public officials ignore the counsel fo Federalist 57. It goes contrary to every aggrandizing thing magerialism stands for.)

President Obama is no socialist. (Nor could he be – the term having as little substance as a Potemkin Village) He is, however, quite the managerialist , and, consequently backs the aggrandizers of our business world, who manage business entities for their enjoyment, with dollars pocketed from any possible source, private or public, and with no concern for the common good.

(To those who doubt that President Obama is a loyal managerialist, this question: did you ever hear him demand an end to 30% credit card interest rates?)

And so – to all you conservatives talk-radio opinionaires– stop this nonsense about
socialists in Washington, D.C. They are managerialists, pure and simple. Their ideology is “managerialism” -- the accumulation of wealth by all political means necessary. And, “the public be damned,” indeed.

A word on Paul Krugman. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Economics for his theory on global trade. LPR has no theory on the topic – just a hunch that global trade might tend to increase when companies abandon their places of origin to produce goods at lower costs and lower taxes. Theory on the
deleterious impact of global trade on the deserted localities, anyone?

Lastly, LPR recommends these three words from Watergate days to understand the current politics of Washington, D.C. -- “follow the money.”

Remembering "The Gates"

March 3, 2010 --

It is five years since the paths of Central Park were adorned by "The Gates." This "artwork" from Christo and Jean-Claude was unveiled (perhaps unraveled is more accurate) on February 12, 2005; the last of "The Gates" was removed March 11, 2005.

It might be said that never before had so many people visited this great park in the final weeks of winter -- indication perhaps that steadfast commitment to a vision can become reality.

Balto and Shana, and a passer-by.

LPR once again thanks Christo and Jean-Claude, and Chief Engineer/Director of Construction Vince Davenport and Project Director Jonita Davenport for "The Gates" and their implied teaching that relentless persistence is not necessarily a sign of insanity.

LPR also thanks Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and NYC Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe for their invaluable aid in making "The Gates" -- and its lesson in persistence -- a reality.

"For the world is full of zanies and fools who don't believe in sensible rules and won't believe what sensible people say and because these daft and dew'y-eyed dopes keep building up impossible hopes impossible things are happening every day."

Oscar Hammmerstein II lyric for the song "Impossible" from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Cinderella," originally presented on the CBS television network.

By the way ...

February 28, 2010 --

I (David R. Zukerman, LPR proprietor), am planning to run for governor of the State of New York.

Why? I believe in the relevance of our founding legacy. I believe in the counsel set forth, generally, in The Federalist Papers, and, specifically, in the first half of Federalist Paper No. 57. Accordingly, when my campaign for governor gets underway, contributions will be limited to $57.

Presently, Andrew Cuomo is regarded as the likely Democratic candidate for governor, and Rick Lazio is the leading Republican aspirant. I look forward to asking the attorney general about his involvement, as U.S. Housing Secretary in the Dayton-Seaside property tax matter, a matter that included curious disposition, by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Affairs, of the Dayton Seaside property tax escrows – disposition which supported New York City’s factually inaccurate claim of vast tax arrearages at the Dayton Seaside buildings.

Sen. Hillary Clinton defeated Mr. Lazio in their Senate race. I tried to call No. 57 to his attention, during that campaign. Perhaps he never got my messages. I do not recall he ever referred to No. 57. I would ask him, in this gubernatorial campaign, if he regards No. 57 as relevant, or as mere relic from our past. I would also ask Mr. Cuomo his view of No. 57, and of another Federalist Paper – No. 10, which has one line warning us that powerful people will apply property taxes to unjust purpose.

I have not heard much about Mr. Lazio since his loss to Senator Clinton. If he has ever clicked LPR, he would have some information about the heavy hand that dominates the nation’s economy at present: a hand heavy with the economic brass knuckles of today’s business leaders who seek, as Madison explains in the very first line of Federalist 57,the “ambitious sacrifice of the many to the aggrandizement of the few.” These economic brass knuckles are wielded without notice from our elected officials. If our elected officials noticed, would banks crush us with 30% credit card interest rates, with a penalty of $35 on a $12 overdraft?

With G-d’s help, I will be a serious, a very serious candidate for New York state governor. I believe the people of the State of New York -- indeed, throughout the land --still have faith in our founding legacy. If I am right on this, with the founders smiling, there will be a very fresh face in Albany, next January, a very fresh face, indeed.

More on this, next LPR.

Just Be

January 26, 2010 --

Be encouraged