I'm tired, ER.

I'm tired of having to spend fifteen posts on every thread just trying to get a simple idea across. I'm talking economics here.

Go to your average American today, and see how many agree with the following ideas:

I think the profits of corporations should be restricted, and the remainder much more heavily taxed.

I think the government should do something to narrow the income gap in America.

I think gasoline prices/heating oil prices/you name the commodity prices should be held down by the government.

I think everybody should have free health care from the government.

I think there should be a maximum wage for wealthy CEOs.

I think college education should be free for those who want one.

I think the government should further subsidize mortgages, cap interest rates, and put tighter controls on loan providers.

I think there should be government restrictions on all activities that produce, or might produce, greenhouse gases.

I think the minimum wage should be drastically raised.

I think the use of private cars should be penalized by the government, and people encouraged to use public transportation.

This is just off the cuff. I could come up with more given time.

Every one of these is an example of a form of collectivist economics in action. My point: This is about economics. People are not in bread lines in Venezuela because Chavez tried to make himself President for Life. They are not in bread lines because he is suppressing free media and political opposition.

They are in bread lines because he did things to the economy that are not much different than things that are being pushed here. This is a cautionary tale, and a view of the end of a curve. The curve goes further than Venezuela, but I'm having trouble enough with this one.