Comments on: Who is John MacMurray?

By: Donkeypunch

Donkeypunch — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:20:32 +0000

This debate is one of those “false dichotomies” we often see in our wonderful media outlets. Why does it always have to be one or the other. Both the private sector and the public sector are vital to a strong balanced economy and both have their limitations. BTW, the private sector can “destroy” other private sector jobs (and businesses)just ask small business owners in the downtown areas of any cities across the U.S. I do like the carefully selected word, “confiscated” , to describe how money moves across sectors, it certainly reveals your contempt for the public sector. Of course it is prudent to be suspicious of a candidate’s campaign promises/statements. But considering Duvall had the world by the balls in a cushy gerrymandered district and wasn’t doing much for the 72nd anyway, I’m open to newcomers.

By: Rogue Elephant

Rogue Elephant — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:02:03 +0000

Kanllaynotdead,

Firstly, your obsession with Ken Lay is unhealthy. Get help.

Secondly, your statement that “Government does bring jobs, its the only thing that does” isn’t grounded in even basic economics. If your statement were true, then we could best promote social welfare by abolishing the private sector altogether. There a few problems with that, though.

First, this approach has failed every time its been tried, producing misery rather than prosperity.

Second, you miss the basic and undisputed economic truth that government has no money because it is not the productive sector of the economy. It must confiscate money from the private sector, destroying savings and investment (thereby reducing social welfare). Government spending (including your examples) distort the economy, using political decision-making to divert resources towards the politically influential.

Using your example, every job “created” by government for defense contractors destroyed other private sector jobs savings by diverting resources away from other private sector savings and investment. (Consider, that every dollar individuals pay in taxes to pay for those jobs is a dollar those individuals can’t spend on their family’s food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, or other personal items that would reflect their individual choices.) Likewise, every job for a corresponding government worker destroyed private sector jobs for the same reason.

The concept is simple, as is the math. Government is zero-sum. When it creates something, its destroys something else. The private sector (the real economy) is not zero sum because it based on voluntary transactions between consenting individuals. The private sector produces. The public sector confiscates the fruits of private sector labor.

By: Vern Nelson

Vern Nelson — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:47:31 +0000

Hmmm… unpaid, owed taxes – that’s different from raising taxes. The extraction tax on oil is long overdue, and we need to end the corporate tax cut that Arnold shoved into the budget. These are all very fair and viable ways to address our severe revenue shortage until the economy picks up again.

It’s conceivable that while Hackerwoman and Norby snipe at each other, John could get the 50% + 1. Then in November he’ll have the advantage of running as a winner and an incumbent. And we’ll be that much closer to the 2/3 in the legislature we need to get California alive and kicking again. Maybe that will be my first post.

I worked the phones for John last Thursday night and I’ll be doing it again this Thursday, and walking north county precincts over the weekend – these midterm elections are fun! If you want to join us, sign up here: http://macmurray4the72nd.com/index.php?option=com_volunteer&Itemid=54

By: Kenlaysnotdead

Kenlaysnotdead — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:55:39 +0000

Elephant,

Last time I checked, Boeing, Lockheed and even GM are more Government subsidized than the Main Street cleaners.

Government does bring jobs, its the only thing that does.

For those of you who emigrated to the Golden State: “There are two things that bring development: Freeways and water” Jesse Unruh.

By: Art Pedroza

Art Pedroza — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:51:07 +0000

Rogue Elephant,

Now you know why I am a Libertarian and not a Democrat – I just cannot abide such stances either.

But I would not blame folks in the 72nd for voting for MacMurray just to spite our corrupt OC GOP.

By: Rogue Elephant

Rogue Elephant — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:45:39 +0000

He will “will work to create new jobs to replace the ‘good jobs … building cars, airplanes and even spacecraft’ that have left the region”? How’s he going to do that? The private sector creates jobs. The public sector destroys them. Maybe they don’t teach that in the school of Ed.

By: lottahope

lottahope — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:38:23 +0000

I canvassed in Fullerton on behalf of Mr. MacMurray yesterday. He is a great guy and the only candidate to vote for in this election. The time is now to have someone in office we can trust and respect.