Email, Hate Mail and Comments from Readers

There is lots of Sarah-hate this week to wade through, plus we tackle Austan Goolsbee- and who doesn’t want to do that? -Paul Revere, investment and tax theory explained for liberals (we’ll use very simple arguments with gratuitous references to green jobs just to keep them interested), plus we’ll give out a gold star for the comment of the week.

Melech Ha Olam wrote: In God We Trust was inserted in our banknotes and in the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954 by a Republican Congress during the McCarthy anti-communism hysteria. God has no place in the government of the United States. –in response to my column The Left Hates Sarah Palin and Paul Revere.

Thanks once again for providing us with an example of liberals re-writing history to fit their ideological view. Before you do that again, though, perhaps you should look at the historical record first.

The Act you referring to inserted the words “under God,” into the Pledge of Allegiance, not “In God We Trust.” The U.S. has been using the word God on it’s currency for over 150 years.

According to the U.S. Treasury, the insertion of the phrase “In God We Trust” on coinage dates back to the Civil War.

In response to a letter by a minister, Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P Chase directed the head of the U.S. Mint:

Dear Sir: No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins.

You will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delay with a motto expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible this national recognition.

In 1864, Congress passed an Act, directing the motto “In God We Trust,” to be inscribed. And yes, it was a Republican Congress that passed the law and a Republican president, Abraham Lincoln, who signed it.

“The use of IN GOD WE TRUST has not been uninterrupted,” says a brief on the subject by the Treasury Department. “The motto disappeared from the five-cent coin in 1883, and did not reappear until production of the Jefferson nickel began in 1938. Since 1938, all United States coins bear the inscription.”

In 1956, an Act was passed under Democrat majorities in both the House and the Senate that adopted “In God We Trust” as the national motto. It appeared on paper money one year later.

Further, the case of Zorach v. Clauson is often cited, in addition to the records of the Founding Fathers, to make the point that recognition of God does not establish a religion because, as the Court found in Zorach: "We are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being."

JRG3 wrote: Mention the name Palin and the PDS, like a knee jerk, follows. Palin haters, like Malech, will criticize whatever she says and many others will criticize what she doesn't say. In this case Palin knew more about Revere than her criticizers who were probably working from a half-forgotten 12th grade American history class. . –in response to my column The Left Hates Sarah Palin and Paul Revere.

As we see from the example above, the history cited isn’t even at “half-forgotten-12^th grade” level. It’s intentionally slanted to grind an axe. Thankfully, it’s slanted so poorly that the axe remains dull.

I don’t know why the Left is so frightened of Palin. I really can’t figure it out. If she’s as dumb as they pretend she is, shouldn’t they just be ignoring her?

The best I can figure is that Sarah represents the rest of us. As she said a long time ago, she’s just a hockey mom, someone you’d see in carpool line. And the Liberal Elites hold the rest of us in such contempt that they can’t even believe that they have to account to someone like Palin and by extension the rest of us.

RomanLion wrote: Actually, if Revere did tell the British anything when he was captured, then that was a serious breakdown in discipline. You don't give away information when the enemy captures you, you keep your mouth shut unless they are setting fire to your 'nads or something. –in response to my column The Left Hates Sarah Palin and Paul Revere.

Since you are apparently too lazy to pick up a book and read about Paul Revere so you can have facts to base your opinion on, I’ll summarize an account of the event for you.

The British set out patrols of a dozen or so armed men at crossroads to capture couriers like Revere so as to prevent the alarm from being spread. The patrol that captured Revere was getting nervous and apprehensive because they could tell there was a great deal of activity going on in their front.

The Major in charge of the patrol clapped a gun against Revere’s head and told him he’d blow Revere’s head off if he didn’t answer questions truthfully. Revere answered truthfully in part because his answers aided the patriots.

A prisoner isn’t prevented from talking to his captors. He’s prevented from aiding his captors.

Anonymous wrote: It's really scary that most of these leftists who leave this bankrupt administration go on to a teaching job at one of our left-leaning universities. –in response to my column Obama’s Top Econ Advisor Out.

That’s where most to them came from. If we could get a few more to go from the administration back to left-wing teaching…well…that’s a jobs program to believe in.

Lon wrote: Does Ransom actually believe that Goolsbee is being shown the door rather than returning to his job outside the administration where he is likely to continue to advise the president? This column just seems so silly. There is nothing uncommon about people working in an administration for a while and then leaving. –in response to my column Obama’s Top Econ Advisor Out.

So your theory is that rather than be the top economic advisory to the President of the United States during the Slight Depression, a guy who has spent his adult life studying economics would rather go back to teaching kids?

As I said previously, Obama’s out of options: Tax cut acomin’. You’ll see.

Illinois Roy wrote: I'm a little confused on something. What's the difference between a guy who plays the market and makes money and a guy who goes out and digs a ditch to make money. Why should one be tax exempt? –in response to my column Palwenty: Obama’s Central Planning Fail.

Money invested in markets is the money that businesses use to create “green jobs.” When investors make money they don’t just sit on it, they reinvest it, which allows businesses to create more “green jobs.” If you tax that money, less money is available for investment, hence fewer “green jobs.”

The U.S. stock markets are where “green jobs” are created in bulk. Liberals want to demonize the stock market, but most of the innovation in the world- including “green technologies”- are commericalized because people on Wall Street are willing to take a risk.

Go try to raise money for an unproven molecule to fight cancer in Australia or the U.K. or in Israel. You just can’t do it.

I agree that the ditch digger shouldn’t be paying taxes on income they earn, but not as a moral principle that labor is superior to capital.

I think that the income tax is a corrupting influence in government, perhaps the most corrupting influence in today’s government.

If you change they way government collects taxes, you’ll accomplish quite a bit of reform.

And the Goshdarn Liberal wrote: One of the best selling cars in CA, and therefore the US, is the Toyota Prius, a hybrid. Not to mention every other hybrid out there. Mr. Ransom must be driving a Ford Excursion. –in response to my column Obamanauts Flunk Word Problem.

I drive a 2006 Pontiac and I get about 28 mpg. Before that I had a Chevy K-1500 4WD pick-up truck. I’d still have the truck, but I figured gas prices could only go up.

But, yes, besides the price of gas, I’m looking for ways to increase my own personal carbon footprint. The bigger the better, I say.

The top two in sales are the Ford F series pick up and the Chevy Silverado pick up.

Steve wrote: It now costs more than twice as much to house an inmate in a state prison than it does to educate a student in our public school system, per year, both of which are a travesty. This article deals only with state prisons. It does not take into account the county jails in all of the states, of which there are thousands, who also must operate under government mandates. –in response to my column Criminal Illegals Swamp Budgets, Prisons.

What does it say about us that we are willing to spend more than three times the amount it costs to educate a pupil in a classroom on housing criminal illegals every year?

I am finding it increasingly difficult to have a conversation with a liberal/progressive, so I rarely even bother to engage them anymore...

When my brother did 2 1/2 years in the Federal prison in Beaumont, Texas...I was ostrasized by members of my immediate family for stating the obvious...My brother committed a crime, that could have endangered the lives of countless individuals...I stated he needed to be punished for that crime, and since then, has paid his debt to society, and is once again a contributing member of the community...

I wasn’t trying to gloat or rub anyones nose in the fact he screwed up, but during that time he was in prison Ifound out a great many thingas that proved that the Federal government has a real money making enterprise there in the prison system in this country...The states follow that model, and even thought I am a firm believer that when you get caught, you should be punished, no matter what...

The way the government really treats the issue is just as abhorant...

What was truely hurtful is that families are treated as criminals (who just haven’t been caught yet) by the staff of those facilities...I only visited my brother 3 times while he was in...And to have to battle the anymosity from members of my family and the scrutiny from the prison staff, ended up being a very low point in my life...

I leave that arena, to those I do not have much to say to anymore...

Its basically like the old addage...

“If you don’t use it you lose it...”

You are correct WE are th government to a certain extent, but we elect representatives to do just that, represent...

You are budgeted “X”...But spend only “Y”...In most cases through normal budgetary negociations most agencies are docked in the next cycle if they don’t spend all the money they are alloted...The Bureau of Prisons is just a little different...

Remember the recent story about Federal workers being paid “more” than the governors of those states they work in???

Sure, ever penny you can save on the dollar of operations, food, clothing, facility maintenance, guard pay...etc etc etc...The biggest one being food...

The excess goes to bonuses to the administrators of those facilities...And I have never seen a budget cut given to the B.O.P. in recent history...They may try to gloss over some of this during these times of economic depression to just hide a sore spot like this...

Its one of the few agencies whre you just don’t get a lot of sympathy for those who are guests of that system...

Don’t get me wrong, my brother was stupid, he got caught, he did not fight the charges, and he did his time standing up...He is free and clear of that debt, and other than his record he has re-integrated into society...But he will always be under scrutiny, as will his family, including me...Because of the crime he committed...

But we all got an education in how the system works, and it is safe to operate in that manner, because who is going to give any credibility to a convict or his family???

are budgeted “X”...But spend only “Y”...In most cases through normal budgetary negociations most agencies are docked in the next cycle if they don’t spend all the money they are alloted...

I know this one. This is one policy I think is wrong. In most govt agencies it encourages waste. People/programs spend on unnecessary supplies/services so that their next year budget won't be cut. There needs to be a better way.

Thanks for clarifying. I thought you meant that the fed govt was the one making money on it.

But he will always be under scrutiny, as will his family, including me...Because of the crime he committed...

Sorry that it happened to your family.
This would make a good article/book. People who commit crimes need to know they are not the only ones who pay the price. I feel for the families of those rampage shooters (even ones who commit suicide after) (think Columbine, Gifford's shooter) - not only have they lost a family member but that person has committed a heinous crime that will live on forever and they will associated with it.

It has an impact, and I believe my brother is remorseful for what he did...That part of his life is over...I think he’s straightened out since then...

What was funny is the DEA agent that arrested my brother that day came up to me at the sentencing trial, and without introductions he said, “Your XYZ’s brother aren’t you?”

I had never been interviewed, called or otherwise asked anything about my brother’s activities...So there’s the net they cast far and wide to see if any other “family” member was involved...Didn’t even know if we were being investigated...

What soothed the situation was the DEA agent was pretty cool about it, said my brother, in over 30 years of law enforcement, was one of the nicest, most polite and cooperative guys he ever arrested...hehehe

Overall it was just a mess, and getting the inside story on how the prison system works was illuminating...

I stumbled upon this thread due to a Google search. The reason for my search will shortly become clear.

Ransom's first and second commentaries are in response to what appears to be a Townhall sock-puppet troll. The handle "Melech Ha Olam" is typically translated from Hebrew as "King of the Universe." This from a self-described liberal and progressive? Given that the progressives have always been about gradually gaining power, surely the label is fitting. But few progressives are so bold to admit it -- hence the impetus for my thinking he's not for real.

And here is the comment to this article Culture of death silences opposition in New Yorkthat got me searching for the troll and which brought me to this post.

Melech Ha Olam Wrote: 19 hours ago (11:08 PM)

Hello there, Jimmy Jab. You must be one of those few elite who make over 250,000 dollars a year. Naturally, you would repeat the regurgitated garbage that comes out of the right-wing machine.
But if you are not that wealthy, like the millions of conservative supporters of the very rich, then you are doubly a fool, because you support a political machine that works every day against your financial well being. That of course, is your choice. You wouldn't be the first or the last fool to think that, by supporting the rich, you somehow will gain a chance to rise to their level.
Progressives and liberals are at least equally patriotic, hardworking, family loving Americans as anyone who proclaims conservative values. The vast majority of progressives and conservatives in this country have similar, if not the same values and aspirations. You are welcome to come to my neighborhood in Manhattan and see for yourself how hard working we are, how we are anything but victims and how we DO NOT kill anyone for convenience. We don't even have the guns that are so abundant in your neighborhood, and make it so easy to kill anyone. You talk about high cerebral stuff, as if knowledge and competence are something to be ashamed of.
Take a good look at the people you consider as leaders or good examples or politicians. People like Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich, and ask yourself, who they really care for, and how their actions would benefit you or your family. I am talking about positive actions, and not the usual attacks against Obama, or liberals or "welfare queens" or minorities. Don't worry. By using your brain a bit more, you do not run the danger of becoming a "high level cerebral" elite.

Among the problems with this sockpuppet, if indeed that is what he is, is that his stances, Marxist, pro-abort, contemptuousness, can promote anti-jewish sentiment.

I've long looked at Salem broadcasting, which became townhall's owner some time ago, with a skeptical eye. Their employing trolls like this to provoke discussion on their blogs is not unheard of in talk radio. So it is my guess that they would have even less compunction about using sockpuppets to promote controversy on their blogs. This one I find to be particularly vile.

Almost everything he projected upon conservatives in that quote I presented I've spoken of at length as part of the tactics of the Leftist avarte garde who aid the Statist advance to power. Here's an example of how I did that only yesterday at Bourgeosie = Middle Class.

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