Election news from the weekend tells us that Ron Paul won the majority of delegates at Maine’s GOP state convention, with a sizable hunk of Republicans saying, yet again, “no” to Mitt Romney.
In France, Nicolas Sarkozy got ousted, as French voters put in a self-declared socialist for the second time since World War II.
Meanwhile, in beleaguered Greece, elections gave no clear majority to any party.
Since the new French president, François Hollande, has pledged to fight back against German “austerity” measures, and since Greece, too, resists those “bailout” procedures, it looks like the collapse of the European Union may be at hand.
On one level, Greek and French voters seem to prefer to live in that special fantasy land where you can grow government and debt indefinitely and expect good times to roll on forever. On another, they are reacting, at least in part, to the idea that austerity is being pushed by foreigners, that they have been forced not by reality to reform, but by … Germans!
Americans wouldn’t be happy about having a policy shoved down their throat by France. Or Germany. Or (more likely) Beijing.
It’s not easy accepting less than one is used to.
Which is why, here in America, neither Obama nor Romney talk seriously about measures to balance the budget. Obama lives in la-la land, and Romney thinks that Rep. Ryan’s plan — which allegedly would balance the budget scores of years from now — is a responsible fix for the irresponsible reality of the day.
Only Ron Paul and Gary Johnson are really taking reality seriously. Perhaps that’s why they are still in the race.
Thus it is, in interesting times.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
6 replies on “So Goes the Ancient Chinese Curse”
And the, “Ancient Chinese Curse” is????
Paul as a Republican, and Johnson as a Libertarian are still in ghte race because they are to only candidates who actually were providing an different vision and course.
Romney will move to center, and Obama will feign moving to center. Neither will provide the leadership and truth in the election campaign as to how dire the situation is, and how America must live within its means. The fact is the only exceptionalism which the major parties actually believe in, to the point that they are willing to act on it, is that being that America is immune from the laws of economics. That, of course is false will and must be proven wrong.
Perhaps the will wake up when the Euro zone implodes.
As for Greece, France or eventually the Untied States resenting what must come, it is not Germany or China which makes the rules, it is mankind — as explained by Mises and Hayek.
.… Thus it is, in interesting times.
.… Or so Goes the Ancient Chinese Curse .…
The ancient curse, that is, that Urban Legend dates all the way back to the 1950s.
Skip: The “ancient Chinese curse” Paul refers to is “may you live in interesting times.”
In fact, I believe Brian Richard Allen is correct; according to a friend of mine who has studied Mandarin, there is no such curse.
I would be interested if a source for “dating all the way back to the 1950s” could be cited. I’m not finding one. If anyone knows of this, could you forward me a link?
MarkPickens@hotmail.com
Ron Paul was still in the race back in 2008 when New Jersey had its primary. That he is in the race now means nothing. He’ll get as far in 2012 as he did in 2008, and 2004 and 2000.….right back to his safe House seat.
[…] inQuick Hits: Green Day to induct GNR; Neil Young takes on MP3sGreen Day Ha Ha You’re DeadCommon Sense with Paul Jacob […]