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OUR COUNTRY IS RUN BY IDIOTS.
Nice squib from the Columbus Dispatch:
U.S. Rep. Steve Austria said he supports a scaled-down federal economic-stimulus proposal, but the Beavercreek Republican told The Dispatch editorial board that the huge influx of money into the economy could have a negative effect.
"When (President Franklin) Roosevelt did this, he put our country into a Great Depression," Austria said. "He tried to borrow and spend, he tried to use the Keynesian approach, and our country ended up in a Great Depression. That's just history."
Most historians date the beginning of the Great Depression at or shortly after the stock-market crash of 1929; Roosevelt took office in 1933.
It's hard not to imagine Rep. Austria as Will Ferrell in Anchorman. "It's history. You can look it up." (Say it like this.)
COMMENTS (15)
One can never underestimate how broadly the Know-Nothing current runs through our country. I recommend extra funding for civics and history teachers as part of the educational component of the stimulus bill -- also, perhaps some funding breaks for middle schools that adopt mandatory civics for their curriculums.
Posted by: BryklynLibrul | February 11, 2009 11:27 AM
We had a "Know Nothing" party once before in US history, so the precedent is set.
This Amity Sholes-like rewriting of 1930's history is now a serious part of the GOP story today. This isn't just one or a few kooks from the Republican economic right, but a movement with momentum. This is the economic equivalent to believing in Intelligent Design as better explaining biology and genetics (great NOVA two-hour series last night - check it out on PBS online)
Rove's 'up is downism" has burst forth into flower and the sun is shining on the hill.
Posted by: JimPortlandOR | February 11, 2009 11:32 AM
There is something to say: Amazing that a media outlet didn't just report the Gooper's lies as truth.
Posted by: Obama -- Not as Tough as the Steelers | February 11, 2009 11:33 AM
Politicians do what politicians do and that is to appear busy.
Obama wants to do something...regardless if it's the right thing or not. He must appear busy. Anything proposed would be the 'right' thing to him.
Posted by: El Viajero | February 11, 2009 11:34 AM
Wow, you mean a reporter actually included a contrary fact in the report and did it right after the quote even? That's news I can use!
Posted by: David W. | February 11, 2009 11:36 AM
Having dealt with Austria a few times, he's not really that abjectly stupid (that is, I'm pretty sure he passed his High School history classes). Rather, I think this is one of those times when you lay bare the fact that the conservative movement and the GOP is built on nothing more than constantly repeating a bunch of abject nonsense in classic brain-washing fashion. In this case Austria forgot what he was supposed to be saying (FDR made the Depression worse), mangled the bullshit, and it's obvious that he's out there spouting bullshit. But if he gets the Shlaes line right, then it's treated like it's not somehow rank bullshit.
Posted by: Brien Jackson | February 11, 2009 11:48 AM
There should be a moratorium on accidental economicst and financial analyst (read congress who know not what they speak).
I'm all for dissent against the stimulus but it's pretty clear that a majority of politicians quoting this stuff are doing so from talking points and no basis in economics or history.
Hey if you say something enough times it's true.
k1
ryanculver.blogspot.com
Posted by: k1 | February 11, 2009 12:14 PM
Some one from the Heritage Foundation no doubt wrote up Cliff Notes versions of Shales book to hand out to all House GOP members and Rep. Austria confused "prolong" with "start".
At a certain point this bs is going to wear thin with voters, even ones in Austin
s district, as we are not in HI seminar debating the merits of her book. We're on edge of capitalism's collapse. You ask an average GOP governor (one who isn't thinking of running for pres) and they could give a flying f*** about her thesis. I mean Florida is running double digit unemployment.
Posted by: am | February 11, 2009 2:04 PM
Agree to disagree. When in Rome...
Posted by: Pesto | February 11, 2009 3:30 PM
I think it's "Shlaes" not "Shales". Doesn't make her less of an idiot. Might make you less of one.
Posted by: SqueakyRat | February 11, 2009 4:26 PM
Are UCLA Economists idiots too?
http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/FDR-s-Policies-Prolonged-Depression-5409.aspx
FDR was President during the great depression, so I think *historically* he has to take responsibility for *prolonging* it, right?
Posted by: FatSquirrel | February 11, 2009 7:13 PM
It's like these guys take pride in being ignorant.
Phew - Scarborough had me nervous for a moment there.
Posted by: Wareq | February 11, 2009 7:23 PM
It's amazing that people still advocate FDR. The man was an idiot, and had it now been for WWII our economy probably would have collapsed due to the New Deal nonsense. What we need is another Reagan, not another FDR.
Posted by: Anonymous | February 12, 2009 2:15 AM
The current economic crisis has certainly been beneficial to Professor Ohanian. His article had sat around for four years until wingnuts decided to dust it off and pretend it was brand new research. Similar to the discredited Ms. Shlaes, his "hours worked" doesn't include those employed under the auspices of the New Deal.
Posted by: Republican squirrels subsist on wingnuts | February 12, 2009 4:39 AM
if you notice... austria said "a great depression" not "the great depression."
if he was referring to the great depression, then yes, he is a moron.
but i think it is widely known that FDR's new deal didn't bring this country out of the great depression... it was a little something called WW2. nothing like a war to get businesses booming again!
Posted by: mikeyc | February 13, 2009 9:17 AM