1. There is no doubt that government spending stimulates things until it no longer does. I find the outrage over Walmart to be particularly funny since over tim

1. There is no doubt that government spending stimulates things until it no longer does. I find the outrage over Walmart to be particularly funny since over time it has evolved to maximize its benefit from government spending. Walmart is one of the largest supports of food stamps and other welfare programs because in some states it captures half of all money the government hands out. I find it to be a gross distortion of the market that will only grow larger over time. Highways similarly distorted the markets and we will be living with those effects for some time. One primary distortion was the destruction of passenger railroads. It may have been the right thing to do but for every tamper we get right more are gotten wrong. 2. I can't do anything but shake my head. 3. Pre Civil War politics frequently involved guns over the issue of slavery on both sides. Post civil war for decades also involved lots of guns. 4. All financial crises (monetary or otherwise) stem from overextending credit to people that should not have it. Its the same whether its tulips, railroads, stocks, internet companies or mortgages. Rises and crashes are the natural ebb and flow of the business cycle and should be embraced. Downturns are a way of correcting mistakes. I don't see how they can be fixed with taxation. The real issue is interest rates.