WMOX Agenda - Wednesday October 27, 2010

I will be coming over from the 'burbs of Brandon in the am to join the Morning Show crew. As usual we have a full agenda which no doubt will change by the morning or during the show. Here are some of the things on the agenda for the morning:

• We have a guest during the 7:20 am segment. Ray Griggs director of the film, I Want Your Money will join us. (see review posted earlier)
• Thoughts on the election next week. What will it say for 2012 and beyond? How does the Tea Party factor in?
• Are we heading towards a double dip recession? Latest thoughts on the economic recovery including the truck index, the unemployment rate and the first look at 3rd quarter GDP.
• What is driving the foreclosure paperwork process? More importantly what are the long term impacts of this?
• Why is business especially small business not hiring? What does it take to create jobs?
  Is there any value in another stimulus (i.e. job creation program? What are the results of the stimulus?
• Why are so many of Obama's team leaving the White House early?
• The coming tax increases in 2011 due to the expiration of the Bush tax cuts.
• Liberals lack understanding of basic economics. Surprise?!
• What is behind the explosion of interest in Hayek's Road to Serfdom and similar works
  Book picks, Karl Rove's Courage and Consequences, Niall Ferguson's The Ascent of Money and Warren Kozak biography of General LeMay, LeMay.
• What ever listeners which to talk about.

WMOX now has streaming video and audio so tune in online if outside the airwaves of Meridian. I have link on my website if you want to log on and join the discussion. We start at 6:15 am cdt and run till just before 10 am cdt. We also have some show archives there.

Looking forward to talking to the folks in Meridian

- The Professor

Review - "I Want Your Money"

Last Friday something unusual happen in the entertainment industry, a documentary with a conservative tilt premiered at over five hundred theaters. Not only that "I Want Your Money" deals with a topic one would not normally expect to see on the big screen, runaway government spending and debt.

At its core, the film discusses one of the fundamental issues that all societies face. That is do we want a decentralized government where the citizens are free to choose their own course or do we want a centralized society where everything is planned until it runs out of some else's money.

To illustrate this, the film shows dramatic differences between the views of President Ronald Reagan and President Barrack Obama. The film traces the rise of the entitlement state starting with President Franklin Roosevelt and his successors Presidents Lydon Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Jimmy Clinton and Barack Obama. This philosophy is contrasted with that of President Reagan who advocated limited government, free markets and individual liberty. To illustrate this debate, the film features an animated Reagan and Obama discussing these issues. Also included are an animated Palin, both Bushs, both Clintons, Carter and Nixon. Not only is "I Want Your Money" critical of Obama and the Democrats, it also points out the Republicans and President George W. Bush shoulder a share of the blame.

One of the highlights is Professor Reagan illustrating to his class the impact on socialism on grades. This well known parable shows us what happens when everyone gets the same grade in class. The poor students love and the achievers stop working as hard. Eventually, everyone fails since the achievers do not see any point in working hard. In addition, to the animation the film has interviews with many conservative economic heavyweights such as Newt Gingrich, Mike Huckabee, Stephen Moore among others.

The film accomplishes two goals. One, it is a good primer about the perils of runaway government spending and the dangers of centralized control. Two, it reminds those of us who were politically aware in the 1980s the genius of President Reagan. For those who were not politically aware or unborn it serves as powerful introduction to his wisdom and leadership.

If you find this film of interest be sure to tune into WMOX, Wednesday October 27. During the 7:20 am cdt segment the director of the film, Ray Griggs will join us to discuss it. Until then watch for re-watch the trailer below which has gone viral with over two million hits or visit the film's website.

Be sure catch in the theater so you can think about the stakes in the next several election cycles. Better still take friends and family and plan to discuss it afterwards.

- The Professor

Quote - Winston Churchill

"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy. Its inherent trait is the equal sharing of misery" -- Winston Churchill.

Quote - Theodore Roosevelt

Those in the political fight and the market place of ideas should remember this quote from Theodore Roosevelt especially when the going gets tough:

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt, April 23, 1910. (for full text)

- The Professor

PS - One of Nixon's post presidency books was entitled In the Arena.

Show Followup - 10/15/10, Book on End of WWII in the Pacific

Yesterday on WMOX, we discussed a book on the end of the World War II on the Pacific front. The name of the book is Retribution: The Battle for Japan 1944-45 by Max Hastings. This book not only discussed the American involvement on the front but brings in other perspectives.

It includes the China and Burma fronts, the Japanese homefront and plants and the wild card, the involvement of the Soviet Union. Another missing piece discussed was the unsuccessful coup attempt against the Emperor of Japan following the dropping of the two atomic bombs. In addition, it discusses the plans for invasion of Japan, Operation Downfall and it huge cost in men and material. The book discusses how plans were laid to use the atomic bombs as tactical weapon and the possibility of that poison gas would have been used.

Many historians point out that how wars end is at least as important as how wars start. After reading Retribution is not hard to envision a different world if the Pacific War had not ended in August 1945.

- The Professor

WMOX Agenda - Thursday October 14, 2010

I will be coming over from the 'burbs of Brandon in the am to join the Morning Show crew. As usual we have a full agenda which no doubt will change by the morning or during the show. Here are some of the things on the agenda for the morning:

• The National Bureau of Economic Research declared the recession ended in June 2009. What does this analysis tells or just as importantly what does it.
• Are we heading towards a double dip recession? Latest thoughts on the economic recovery including the truck index, the unemployment rate and the second look at GDP for 2nd quarter.
• What is driving the foreclosure paperwork process? More importantly what are the long term impacts of this?
• Why is business especially small business not hiring? What does it take to create jobs?
• Is there any value in another stimulus (i.e. job creation program? What are the results of the stimulus?
• Why are so many of Obama's team leaving the White House early?
• The coming tax increases in 2011 due to the expiration of the Bush tax cuts.
• Liberals lack understanding of basic economics. Surprise?!
• What do the primary results tells us about the November mid-term elections? Is this a seeking new blood or a ideological purge?
• What is behind the explosion of interest in Hayek's Road to Serfdom and similar works
• How is that interest feeding the Tea Party movement and events like the Beck rally.
• New book picks, Matt Hastings' Retribution on the end of World War Two in the Pacific, Karl Rove's Courage and Consequences, Niall Ferguson's The Ascent of Money and Warren Kozak biography of General LeMay, LeMay.
• What ever listeners which to talk about.

WMOX now has streaming video and audio so tune in online if outside the airwaves of Meridian. I have link on my website if you want to log on and join the discussion. We start at 6:15 am cdt and run till just before 10 am cdt. We also have some show archives there.

Looking forward to talking to the folks in Meridian

- The Professor

Flying WIth a True Hero - A Fallen Soilder

Today, flying can be a hassle with delays due to variety of causes, weather, mechanical problems or just plain old crowded airlines where we are all jammed in like sardines. In addition, there is the necessary security where we have to remove our shoes, belts and unpack our laptops etc.

This week I took a flight and experience the standard headaches as well as having my toothpaste detained by the TSA since it was one ounce too large. Once I ran that gauntlet, I got to my gate to find that the flight was delayed for thirty minutes. While waiting I noticed several young men in full dress military uniforms but thought nothing of it.

When we boarded the plane, most of us worried about being able to make our connections since they were in doubt. In addition, to standard safety briefing the Captain came on and informed us that this flight had a special passenger, a fallen soldier. All of sudden the day to day problems of flying seemed insignificant compared to sacrifice of this young warrior and his family. The Captain also requested that the passengers stay in their seats until he, (a veteran) and this young hero's military escort (who was allowed to fly first class) saw the hero's casket removed from the plane..

Throughout the flight, I could not get this off of my mind. Episodes like this bring home the bravery and sacrifice that those of us who do not have friends or relatives in combat can not appreciate. When we arrived in Atlanta, the Captain repeated his request to honor this hero and everyone respectively waited and forgot the things that hour ago seemed so important like missed connections.

While taking the long journey from one end of the airport to the other, I reflected on our special passenger and was not overly concerned whether I made my flight or not. As I was leaving the tram, I walked past a soldier in battle fatigues. I stopped, shook his hand and thanked him for his service. My gesture brought a eye to eye smile to this road weary warrior. Not only did it make my day, I am sure it made his.

As I write this I wonder you this hero was? What is is home town and his dreams and aspirations. I can not imagine the pain and sacrifice of the family of this true in their time of grief. I also wonder if they and him know that a nation is indebted to them forever.

While we will never know the story of this fallen hero and others we should remember to thank a soldier when we cross paths. This simple gesture will warm your heart, but more importantly let them know we are grateful nation appreciate their service. Give it a try next time you see a member of the armed forces. If you do it once you will do it every time.

- The Professor

PS - I am writing this around midnight after a long day of travel. It may be rough but I wanted to captured the emotions before they slip away.