Monthly Archives: May 2009

Pentecost sunday.

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p1010726
It is both Queens’s birthday weekend and Pentecost Sunday. In my view, winter runs in the South from Queen’s birthday until the beginning of Term IV (which is in September), and it at times does not feel warm until after Labour Day (October 25). There is an icy blast coming through and spectacular clouds.

The first pentecost lead to people thinking this cult was full of people who were drunk. Christians are often called foolish, or worse. From the Pentecost reading:

Acts 2:1-21

1When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs-in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

One of the Anglican Online comments around this date is worth printing in full.

Hallo again to all on this day of Pentecost.

It’s just possible that this is the most dangerous sentence Christians can utter: Come, Holy Spirit.

Do we really know what we’re praying for when we intentionally utter, in whatever language, that plea? We wonder. It’s so easy to domesticate Our Lord the Holy Spirit — and we mean no irreverence when we write that. Since that first Pentecost, the Spirit has always ‘been there’ and we presume that It is ever near us, hovering, guiding, chiding, strengthening. And so It is. But yet there are times when we see fit to invoke, quite solemnly and intentionally, the Holy Ghost to come down upon us and guide our councils, conventions, and committees.

Lightning over MartiniqueSo what are we doing when we call out? If the Holy Spirit is always ‘here’, why the need to summon It? Perhaps because the third person of the Trinity isn’t pushy and only comes when invited. The power and the presence are always with us, indeed, but unless we call upon and cooperate with the Spirit, the graces and the gifts may remain as potentialities only. We’re told that the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth, but we need to initiate that call to be led. And that can be an awesome and aweful invitation, to open ourselves, our churches, our councils, our lives, to the inrush of the Spirit, Which will take us to places we may rather not go. Exhilarating and frightening and uncontrollable.

Just like that first Fiftieth Day. It’s considered an antitype to the story of the Tower of Babel. Our ancestors undertook that tower’s construction and, as well-trained architectural subcontractors, we spoke in one tongue, understood and efficient. But, for all the classic reasons, we failed in our building and descended into a babble of language, from then on to be understood only by those in our immediate neighbourhood. Tribal societies indeed.

Fast forward from that tower to the city of Jerusalem on that great feast of Pentecost. That same ethnic and regional babbling all round, just like a corridor in a busy international airport. Then that mighty wind stirring. And, all of a sudden, that linguistic fragmentation is not merely reversed, but rather that knot of verbs, adjectives, gestures, nouns, dangling participles made all clear. Heard. Understood. Babel Made Better. What an astonishing day. But fear and awe were surely part of the astonishment.

Perhaps we need to do more invoking of the Holy Spirit in these fractious days in our Anglican Communion. The babble of irate bishops, the hissing of blogs, the GAFCONS and Lambeths, the acronyms and the interest groups . . . may the pieces and shards of our divisions be, God willing, regathered and remade through the guidance of Our Lord the Spirit.

Come Holy Spirit. We are aware you are not to be domesticated by us: you are to instead to change us

Quotes for the day.

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From chairman Ann:

“Empathy,” in Liberalspeak, is nothing but raw political power

David Frum argues that the value of Liberal Arts degree is declining. I like this comment:

The entire American education establishment needs reform.

Maybe tough high school exit exams would serve the needs of employers who currently insist on a BA not for its own sake but as proof that a student was not too lazy or aimless to get one. Indeed, it could be that when the job market attaches less value to a piece of parchment, universities will at last lay aside their often ugly political preoccupations and rediscover their true mission: the pursuit of knowledge as a good in itself.

In NZ, we are told that we cannot afford no more tax cuts. The Prickly one instantly blogged

Well you don’t get any, but here in Hong Kong this week we have just been told that our $HK6,000 tax cut announced earlier this year has stimulused into $HK8,000.

Bernard Hickey comments.

New Zealand kept its AA+ credit rating, but the government has sailed very close to the wind by continuing to spend heavily. It could and probably should have been tougher. Its decision to use government spending to bolster the economy rather than tax cuts could prove self-defeating if mortgage rates rise sharply and the economy remains stuck in the mud of a recession because of a lack of tax cuts.

That’s because the picture painted in this budget is distinctly ugly, particularly over the longer term. The idea that the budget will be in deficit for another decade is astonishing. Our government will be borrowing upwards of NZ$50 billion over the next 5 years. To put that in context, New Zealanders built up their savings in bank accounts to around NZ$90 billion over the last 50 years.

This heavy borrowing will push up longer term interest rates, that will filter through in higher mortgage rates.

Unless there is a massive improvement in economic growth rates in the coming decade, New Zealanders can give up on the prospect of tax cuts and may not have enough money in the New Zealand Super Fund kitty to support reasonable pensions by 2020. There will have to be significantly stronger growth to see that happen.

If the economic outlook worsens, there may even need to be tax increases to avoid a credit rating downgrade and to fund the retirement of baby-boomers after 2025.

And then, to annoy the remaining one reader, Roger Douglas weighs in on the budget.

The best thing I can say about this Budget is that it’s as good as any of the nine that Labour’s Michael Cullen delivered. Then again, that’s hardly the standard any decent Finance Minister should hold themselves to.

After all, during Cullen’s term, total Government spending increased in real terms by over $5,500 for every person in New Zealand. That’s how much could have been left in your pocket every year had he not ramped up Government spending.

For a family of four that’s $400 a week.

And what did you get for Cullen’s spending?

Some of it was wasted on the bureaucratic health, education, and welfare empires.

Some of it was taken off you and then used to turn most New Zealand families into welfare beneficiaries under the Working for Families programme.
Mr English has continued in this vein, increasing health spending by over a billion dollars – an increase of around 6 percent.

And what happened to Bill English’s line by line review, which was meant to cut Government waste?

Well, he managed to find $301 million. Let’s put that in context. $301 million is just 0.4 percent of total Government spending. Was that seriously all he was able to find after Cullen increased Government spending by $18 billion?

National missed an opportunity to cut Government waste by scrapping some Government departments completely. The Families Commission, the Ministry of Economic Development, and the Charities Commission are obvious candidates for immediate abolition.

But what has Labour’s response been to modest cutbacks? Outrage.
To Labour, every area of Government is underfunded.
Having spent up large for nine years, it believes it can always find new projects to waste money on. I worry that Labour might be right.
When Labour say it would not cut spending, what it’s really saying is it wants higher taxes.

Over nine years Labour tried to tax the nation to prosperity. The only effect was to slash productivity growth, helping us slip further behind the other nations on the OECD ladder.

Our productivity growth under Labour was a third of what it was after the reforms implemented by the fourth Labour Government.
The difference to the average New Zealander is that they receive 25 percent lower wages today than they would have if productivity growth had been maintained.

I agree with Bernard and Roger. National has taken the politically expedient path. They want to remain in power. However, the correct thing to do would have been to cut harder, now. I’ve made some comments on this over at whale oil, where one of the resident trolls accused me of letting people starve.

For what it is worth, I consider any ad hominem attacks as a self admission that one has no argument, it is a corrollary of Gresham’s law.

New Zealand has been living beyond its means. One of the roles of recessionary cycles to to allow an examination of the budget cycle. We cannot blow this: we cannot afford Peronist populism, for it will bankrupt the future of our children. We have to cold bloodedly ask if we can keep the sacred idol of a paternalistic state with no barrier to entitlements. Historically, we cannot do this.

Note to warmists: Snow, rain and gales bring winter chill

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Ah yes, everyone is moaning. We expect a clod snap aorund now but then we want cold bright frosty days and to see the son. Not miserable gray chilly coldness.

And ii is cold. Full winter cold. Too early.

Philip Duncan, of Weatherwatch, said the wild weather was caused by the return of the low front that brought cold temperatures last week.

“Cold snaps are not unusual but for it to stick with us so long is strange,” he said. “We had such a warm April but we’ve been robbed of autumn. We’re having July weather in the middle of May, when the coldest time of this year is still to come.”

MetService figures show temperatures are only slightly cooler than last year. In Auckland, the mean temperature for May so far is 11.9 degrees, compared to last year’s average of 13.6.

Comparisons for the other main centres showed similar decreases.

“These temperatures are typical of late May to early June so they’ve occurred two weeks earlier than normal,” said MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt.

“We’ll probably have the temperatures we’ve got right through into June.”

via Snow, rain and gales bring winter chill – National – NZ Herald News.

I’m not a believer in CO2 as a major factor: I think water and sunspot / solar cycles have more to do with this. If Gore is right, can everyone fire up their V*s and open a few more coal fired stations, because we are two degrees down, and that matters.

Of course the Goreists would argue two degrees up proved their point. If that is the case, does this disprove it?

Hebrews 4

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The intercessor we have works from a position of gentleness, because he understands what it is like to be vulnerable, lonely, hurt, rejected, angry, and tempted.

Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not presume to take this honour, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; 6as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”

via PC(USA) – Devotions.

How to be an opposition.

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Hat tip to Power Line. THis is what leadership looks like. Gov. Pawlenty and the minority Republicans have stopped the Peronistas. Cold. Dead. For two years.

Today is the last day of the legislative session here in Minnesota. The action has been furious over the past couple of weeks, with the Democrats, who control both houses of the legislature, enacting a billion dollar tax increase along with spending bills that contain explosive increases.

Governor Tim Pawlenty has played the role of Horatius at the Bridge, and so far he is winning hands down. He vetoed the Democrats’ giant tax increase, and yesterday his veto was sustained in the House, with two Democrats joining all Republicans. Also, the Democrats made a grave tactical error by sending Pawlenty spending bills ready for his signature. But, with a constitutional requirement of a balanced budget and the Dems’ tax increase vetoed, cuts will have to be made. In the present posture, Minnesota law allows Pawlenty, in effect, to write the state’s budget for the next two years. He can use a combination of line item vetoes and “unallotment” to direct spending where he thinks it needs to go, while maintaining a balanced budget. The whole situation, which right now looks great for Republicans and for the people of Minnesota, is a testament to Pawlenty’s political skill and to the determination of a rock-solid Republican caucus in the House, under the leadership of Marty Seifert.

But the Democrats haven’t given up. The session lasts until midnight tonight, and they are likely to propose a different package of tax increases, seek further overrides, etc. Thus, at 5:30 this afternoon there will be a “Storm the Capitol” rally on the Capitol steps. The purpose is to oppose veto overrides, increased taxes, and last-minute deals that will result in wasteful spending. It also should be a victory party of sorts, as Minnesota conservatives have shown how much can be achieved, even against apparently daunting odds.

via Power Line – Hold the Line on Taxes and Spending.

This seems to show a couple of things. Firstly, most of the left are economically ignorant. They cannot see the results of history, for the progressive doctrine they espouse indicates that we should repeat what is a failed experiment. The US idea of separation of powers in part was designed to protect the republic from the populace voting bread, circuses and bankruptcy.

Now if the other 49 states will emulate this…

Trainwreck continues

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The owner of theBuffalo Sabres pro football team. did the math.

And moved.

As I said yesterday, the US is a natural experiment that has proved, in the last decade, that Peronist economics does not work.

Politicians like to talk about incentives — for businesses to relocate, for example, or to get folks to buy local. After reviewing the new budget, I have identified the most compelling incentive of all: a major tax break immedi ately available to all New Yorkers. To be eligible, you need do only one thing: move out of New York state.

Last week I spent 90 minutes doing a couple of simple things — registering to vote, changing my driver’s license, filling out a domicile certificate and signing a homestead certificate — in Florida. Combined with spending 184 days a year outside New York, these simple procedures will save me over $5 million in New York taxes annually.

By moving to Florida, I can spend that $5 million on worthy causes, like better hospitals, improving education or the Clinton Global Initiative. Or maybe I’ll continue to invest it in fighting the status quo in Albany. One thing’s certain: That money won’t continue to fund Albany’s bloated bureaucracy, corrupt politicians and regular special-interest handouts.

via ADIOS, NEW YORK – New York Post.

The scientific method in action.

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California has been run by Peronists for a while. The government works for the unions and the legislators. There is an effluvium of populism and sloganeering.

However, the budget is bloated. Taxes are soooo high that firms and people are leaving. This demonstrates,  almost perfectly, that tax and spend policies are economically disastrous.

It is a perfect experiment: 300 people who can move through 50 states with no restrictions: firms that can also move in a similar manner. The consequence is that Calif. is going to tank. Or be rescued, which will mean that the federal government will have more toxic debt that it can swallow.

I agree with Megan McArdle…

So what about California? A reader asks. Ummm, that’s a tough one. No, wait, it’s not: California is completely, totally, irreparably hosed. And not a little garden hose. More like this. Their outflow is bigger than their inflow. You can blame Republicans who won’t pass a budget, or Democrats who spend every single cent of tax money that comes in during the booms, borrow some more, and then act all surprised when revenues, in a totally unprecedented, inexplicable, and unforeseaable chain of events, fall during a recession. You can blame the initiative process, and the uneducated voters who try to vote themselves rich by picking their own pockets. Whoever is to blame, the state was bound to go broke one day, and hey, today’s that day!

There is a surprisingly sizeable blogger contingent arguing that we have to bail them out because however regrettable the events that lead here, we now have no choice. But actually, we do have a choice: we could let them go bankrupt. And we probably should.

I am not under the illusion that this will be fun. For starters, the rest of you sitting smugly out there in your snug homes, preparing to enjoy the spectacle, should prepare to enjoy the higher taxes you’re going to pay as a result. Your states and municipalities will pay higher interest on their bonds if California is allowed to default. Also, the default is going to result in a great deal of personal misery, more than a little of which is going to end up on the books of Federal unemployment insurance and other such programs.

Then there are the actual people involved. Whatever you think of, say, children who decided to be born poor, right now they are dependent on government programs, and will be put in danger if those programs are interrupted.

On the other hand, I don’t really see another way out of it. If Uncle Sugar bails out California, California will not fix its problems

via Is California Too Big to Fail? – Megan McArdle.

But there is one fly in the ointment. The Obamaborg owes Pelosi. Pelosi was infected with Peronism a long, long time ago. This could be the beginning of the USA slide towards being, like Argentina, a banana republic.

I TImothy 4.

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This is from today’s lectionary. It notes that fa;se teaching leads to asceticism. Indeed, there is a belief that no believer can have fun or enjoy the everyday goodness in creation.

1Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will renounce the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving; 5for it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.

via PCUSA – Devotions.

Paul, of course, argues that this is not a proof text for unlawfulness. It does state that pleasure is not a sin: the ancient church had both feasts and fasts. The new twist on this is the hedonist asthete: who cheerfully drinks and fornicates, while living on a restricted idet and punishes their body with excessive exercise.

Trainwreck on the way.

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I like Bloomberg. Like most financial papers, it has to give figures. Businesses need ‘em. From today.

President Barack Obama, calling current deficit spending “unsustainable,” warned of skyrocketing interest rates for consumers if the U.S. continues to finance government by borrowing from other countries.

“We can’t keep on just borrowing from China,” Obama said at a town-hall meeting in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, outside Albuquerque. “We have to pay interest on that debt, and that means we are mortgaging our children’s future with more and more debt.”

Holders of U.S. debt will eventually “get tired” of buying it, causing interest rates on everything from auto loans to home mortgages to increase, Obama said. “It will have a dampening effect on our economy.”

Mate, It’s happening. I cashed up three years ago to fund a new house and gaining adequate care for my children after my marriage broke up. If and when I have cash again, I want it to be in a country with a strong currency (not the US) rule of law (not the US under the current administration) and where there will be social mobility (not the US, where there is now a functional nomenkultura)

The president pledged to work with Congress to shore up entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare and said he was confident that the House and Senate would pass health-care overhaul bills by August.

“Most of what is driving us into debt is health care, so we have to drive down costs,” he said.

If you cut health care you will either non fund the rare and costly –  or not fund the new. If you don’t fund innovation you will NOT get new cures. People will die and they will protest. It is very hard to deal with a cute kid who is dying becuase you won’t dunf a new drug… and this happens. In New Zealand, where there is a monopoly drug purchaser run by suits who only care about getting under budget, it happens frequently. If you don’t beleive the NZ experience, I suggest you look at the good Dr Crippen, who documents how the UK NHS is now run by a bunch of retarded monkeys.

The trainwreck is coming. But printing money and calling it a stimulus just greases the tracks. The US desperately needs a few people who will think this through advising a president who is grossly inexperienced, if not frankly dumb.

via Obama Says U.S. Long-Term Debt Load ‘Unsustainable’ (Update1) – Bloomberg.com.