Why does the Left pretend their intellectual debate is with Rush Limbaugh?

Question

Is it because they realize they can't touch anything Hayek or Friedman said?

We economic conservatives are on this board ripping not only Lou Dobbs but Paul Krugman, John Kenneth Galbraith, even historical wrong-thinkers like Marx, Malthus, Veblen and Keynes, apart almost daily.

We don't sit here and find something stupid that a radio personality like Al Franken said and rip that to try to sound superior - we know we're superior because we routinely show the problems inherent in the ideas themselves - - we go right to the source and show why collectivism is a failure and why it's the opposite of what it holds itself out to be.

No Leftist on this board has ever even endeavored to take on Smith, Ricardo, Schumpeter, Say.

Is that because our friends on the Left are intellectual wussies?

Peace, the word "conservative" didn't mean then what it means today. The word "liberal" in the 1940s still meant what Libertarian means today.

Read "The Road to Serfdom" - doesn't sound very liberal.

W. Hill I'll post economics in the economics section only when the Leftis stop posting wrong economics in the politics section - - crap like minimum wage magically lifts people's wages or the exodus of households out of the middle class has been down rather than up.

Aslan I agree that in a perfect world there wouldn't be a central bank - but right now even after the rate hikes and in light of Bush's spending, I don't think the Fed is being overly restrictive. They probably overshot by 25-50 bps relative to the present circumstances but I also think it means they're not going to raise rates further - that extra 25-50 bps gives them some dry powder. We're always going to have a central bank, but this guy Bernanke seems like he wants Fed policy to be neutral. I understand that one person never has all the information and that a central bank by definition is not neutral, believe me I've read all that and agree with it, but we're not going to get a market-determined currency and we're not going to go back to gold so it is what it is and I think Bernanke will be a lot better than Greenspan who, ironically, cut his teeth among the Austrians.

Answer 1

You are the only one who pretends that.

Answer 2

Because the media uses Rush to promote conservative ideas and the economic conservatives do not have a spokesperson with as much media appeal? I'm not a leftist, but that's just a thought. I have not seen any of these economic questions, so I may be in the wrong forum. I do recognize all the names you mentioned except Veblen. Your question sounds like you are distinguishing yourself as an economic conservative as opposite to a conservative on all issues. Your question also presupposes that leftists are all alike, which is an annoyingly common attitude here. I have conservative and liberal opinions. A truly thoughtful person determines his or her position on an issue by issue basis and does not make sweeping "one size fits all" characterizations. Are you a truly thoughtful person or have you found a "party line" that you just parrot? That's the worst trait of both the liberals and conservatives. You really weakened your position with the "intellectual wussies" statement. I have 3 post graduate degrees. Don't be so harsh to judge those you do not know.

Answer 3

True economist theory and Rush Limbaugh are not on the same page. Rush is easy to go after because he has done and said so many absurd things in the past.

I listened to Friedman speak a few months ago and he could go up against anything Rosie or Franken or any other far left SP and dominate them with calm, concise, and documented conclusions.

That would be entertaining.

Answer 4

You use intellectual and Rush Limbaugh in the same sentence? That is certainly an oxymoron.

Unfortunately we see too many jingoists who seem to think anyone who is not walking in lockstep with their fearless leader is somehow inferior or unpatriotic.

Some of the statements made by posters on this board are very obviously from conservative hate radio and Fox news. It is nearly verbatum. People who don't cite their charges or rants are suspect because they have no evidence to back up what they are saying. If one would only say "I heard from Rusty Limpbra that Hillary Clinton had a baby by a space alien" or something like that we could quickly dismiss the lie and move on to something else. But people on both sides love to bait one another. Not DEbate but bait, just to try and rile someone. It is a childish game some play. Apparently they get their kicks from it.

By the way I have a masters degree, does that make me an intellectual wuss just because I won't roll in the mud with pigs?

Those who use the words and ideas of the hate radio folks would seem more like intillectual wussies than anyone else.

My two cents worth. You aren't likely to listen anyway but that is it.

Answer 5

They maximum probably are not worried as they already confident that they are precise and there is quite little all of us can do to modify there minds about some thing having to do with a deity...extremely the dogmatic internet atheist crowd. yet judging by technique of the remark string the following and in basic terms about each WLC hate nook of the internet...i ought to assert they're extra than likely butthurt. You do comprehend the internet is a hotbed for anti-theistic communion precise? you received't going get an uncomplicated, truly considered or properly concept out answer...in basic terms indignant, nasty intellectually insulting claims about WLC's stupidity and meant lack of awareness of cosmology, organic technological understanding and reason. (all of which, i'm positive you realize are a strategies from the truth)

Answer 6

I take it you think supply side theory is correct, production will create its own demand.
I thought, however, that the free flow of capital was vital to this thoery. Isn't the FOMC's tightening of the money supply counterproductive to the tax cuts put in place to increase production?
Is there really a danger in inflation if the percentage of growth and income increase is greater than the inflation rate?
I hate to throw a lot of questions at you here, but you seem to be the only person on this board who has a grasp on economic theory.

Answer 7

It's because so many of your fellow right-wingers come on here spouting talking points FROM Rush Limbaugh - like the "Clinton fired 93" nonsense...(ignoring the fact that all recent Presidents have fired the Justices department attorneys at the start of their terms)
No need to bring any deep thought to those questions, eh?

Answer 8

HAYEK WAS A LIBERAL!
Try again!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Hayek


Hayek wrote an essay entitled Why I Am Not a Conservative[7], (included as an appendix to The Constitution of Liberty) in which he disparaged conservatism for its inability to adapt to changing human realities or to offer a positive political program. His criticism was aimed primarily at European-style conservatism, which has often opposed capitalism as a threat to social stability and traditional values. Hayek identified himself as a classical liberal, but noted that in the United States it had become almost impossible to use "liberal" in the older sense that he gave to the term. In the U.S., Hayek is often described as a “libertarian”, but his preference was for “Old Whig” (a phrase borrowed from Edmund Burke).

Answer 9

Come, Come... Intellectual and Rush is an Oxymoron.

Plus, isn't Limbaugh a drug addict?


EDIT: Peace Lo…, no need to educate those that parrot a talking head. My man sounds like he has never read an academic book and understand it.

Answer 10

The same reason people on the right pretend their debate is with Rosie O'Donnell. They cant argue with the likes of Noam Chomsky, so they attack the easiest target.

Answer 11

Because he has so many listeners, and, because, lots of people here post the Limbaugh issue du jour following his program, as, if it was their own idea or position. Ditto, you're a good american. LOL.