tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749789029915695563.post5340421177339910932..comments2023-08-13T05:40:53.959-06:00Comments on The Mormon Left: Liberaltarianism: Might Mormons Embrace a Liberal-Libertarian Alliance?Jacob S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16519032754947817876noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749789029915695563.post-8930497184472874492010-09-02T10:44:23.657-06:002010-09-02T10:44:23.657-06:00First off, hello to my fellow bloggers -- I'm ...First off, hello to my fellow bloggers -- I'm not dead, just rather busy. I will post something in the next few weeks (I promise!) that I've been meaning to write about for some time.<br /><br />Now, on to the matter at hand. We've been through a couple of bubbles in the last ten years or so (tech and housing), with the housing bubble being the most damaging. There is no question that popping the housing bubble was the primary contributor to our current economic malaise. This was a large-scale implosion caused by poor decision-making on the part of every player; investors, the general public, and the government.<br /><br />I don't know that we need to rehash how that all went down, but I think the mood is right for another Mormon trait -- thrift. And, I would add, sustainable economic growth. <br /><br />These ideas run counter to the capitalistic orthodoxy that's prevailed since at least the 1980's, that we need to grow consumer spending ad nauseum. Wall Street is basically built upon that principle, that we'll always consume more of something (be it goods or services) no matter what, and that there is no limit.<br /><br />That orthodoxy, in light of current experiences with bubbles, sounds an awful lot like bubblespeak. At some point in time we simply produce too much stuff, whether it be houses or computers or online dating sites or search engines or financial services and instruments. Whatever it is, there are limits to how much we can have of it. And, inflating the bubble pushes us well beyond the carrying capacity of the economy in whatever sector is affected.<br /><br />In my mind the Republican party is forever wedded to the prevailing orthodoxy about capitalism -- that we can just produce stuff forever and there are no limits. It runs counter to the concepts of thrift and self-reliance that many Mormons have been taught. It also runs counter to the idea of sustainable economic growth, since that growth simply can't happen at the rates implied during bubbles.<br /><br />Unfortunately, some Democrats also display that bubble-causing mindset. I think most of the folks running the economy now are expecting to get us back on track for the next bubble. It's nice because employment shoots up very quickly (and people need jobs), but ultimately it will crash again and we'll go through the same cycle.<br /><br />Mormons and libertarians are more inclined (at least in my experience) to espouse thrift and sustainable growth as desirable values. I think that many Democrats who recognize the bubble mentality are open to coming up with new ways to grow the economy so that we don't have to go through these destructive bubbles. And, I think they'd be much more receptive to those ideas coming from libertarians than the Republicans will be.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09755808950832071517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-749789029915695563.post-40768742174943141522010-09-02T06:21:09.281-06:002010-09-02T06:21:09.281-06:00I agree that the libertarian movement is made up o...I agree that the libertarian movement is made up of about one third liberals. And that GW Bush encouraged libertarians to leave the GOP. The size and scope of big government is a sincere threat to liberty and self government. How free is someone, really, when half of their pay check disappears to serve questionable government activities?<br /><br />It may be helpful to look at some charts of federal spending.<br /><br />http://www.heritage.org/budgetchartbook/national-debt-skyrocket<br /><br />http://www.heritage.org/budgetchartbook/obama-budget-skyrocketing-debt<br /><br />Or you could use http://www.MyGovCost.org<br />to calculate what the federal government is going to cost based on current spending. I like their tool because it breaks spending into the major budget categories and one can dream of eliminating the wasteful federal departments. <br /><br />A serious discussion about the cost-benefit of federal government programs needs to take place. <br /><br />Is it really necessary to have the federal government endorse charities with tax dollars? <br /><br />Do we already have enough pages of laws and regulations such that no ordinary citizen can read and obey? <br /><br />How many federal programs (that give tax dollars to people)do we need?Architecthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12563556462453127812noreply@blogger.com