George Will cites Calvin Coolidge to support his argument that Obama

is ruining the economy..

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/10/AR2009061002855.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

Noting that people "criticize me for harping on the obvious," Calvin Coolidge justified that practice by saying, "If all the folks in the United States would do the few simple things they know they ought to do, most of our big problems would take care of themselves." Consider what individual Americans know they ought to do, and what their government should know not to do.

The nation could subtract from its health-care bill a significant portion of the costs caused by violence, vehicular accidents, AIDS, coronary artery disease, lung cancer and Type 2 diabetes resulting from obesity. All six problems are significantly related to known risky behavior, which can change.

Visa, the credit card company, recently reported a behavioral change that went remarkably unremarked: In the fourth quarter of 2008, for the first time ever, the dollar volume of purchases made with its debit cards -- they deduct funds immediately from checking accounts, rather than allowing card users to carry debt -- exceeded the dollar volume of its credit card transactions.

..snip

The president's astonishing risk-taking satisfies the yearning of a presidency-fixated nation for a great man to solve its problems. But as Coolidge said, "It is a great advantage to a president, and a major source of safety to the country, for him to know that he is not a great man." What the country needs today to shrink its problems is not presidential greatness. Rather, it needs individuals to do what they know they ought to do, and government to stop doing what it should know causes or prolongs problems.

..snip

:wtf:

Often wrong, but never in doubt.

I hope you didn't think the election would change that :)

loonier.

I wish he would stick to writing about baseball.

HH: I disagree with Will.

:)

You know, if it rained less, there would be fewer floods and flood insurance premiums would go down. Same thing with house fires and homeowner's insurance. It's so easy!

What an idiot!

to make your point! :sarcasm:

That kind of bitter muttering doesn't come along every day, and the good Lord knows we can all use a laugh these days.

But as the Nation would soon find out Coolidge's philosophy is better spoken than actually practiced. Designing your healthcare system to work in real actual life rather than fantasy world seems like a better option.