Flutterby™! : A use for executive privilege

Next unread comment / Catchup all unread comments User Account Info | Logout | XML/Pilot/etc versions | Long version (with comments) | Weblog archives | Site Map | | Browse Topics

A use for executive privilege

2009-04-07 15:59:10.267617+00 by Dan Lyke 8 comments

It seems like the basic problem with this economic crisis is that the finance guys are all telling us that there's a crisis, but none of them really seem to be taking it seriously. They're leaving it to the politicians, who are just throwing money at the finance guys. Obviously, there's nothing personal at stake here.

There's a scene in one of the episodes of "Firefly", "The Train Job", in which the Firefly crew are backing out of a deal. They have the bad guys tied up, there's a hatch opened, the engines are running outside. Captain Mal starts this long speech: "Now, this is all the money Niska gave us in advance. You bring it back to him. Tell him the job didn't work out. We're not thieves. But we are thieves. Point is, we're not takin' what's his. Now we'll stay out of his way as best we can from here on in. You explain that's best for everyone, okay?"

Bad guy #1 defiantly replies "Keep the money. Use it to buy a funeral. It doesn't matter where you go or how far you fly. I will hunt you down, and the last thing you see will be my blade."

Mal shrugs, says "Darn", extends a foot and pushes the bad guy out the hatch where he's sucked into the engine intake. Mal turns to bad guy #2 and starts the same speech: "Now, this is all the money Niska gave us in advance..."

Bad guy #2 interrupts with "Oh, I get it! I'm good. Best thing for everyone. I'm right there with ya."

If Obama wants to live up to the campaign rhetoric, I think a similar scenario involving Marine One and the various muckety-mucks in the Treasury Department would do wonders for his approval ratings. I'm a big fan of the justice system and all, but the previous President softened me up to the notion Executive Privilege; you know, sometimes the leader just has to be the deciderer.

[ related topics: Politics Machinery Economics Joss Whedon - Serenity / Firefly ]

comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):

#Comment Re: made: 2009-04-07 16:37:57.36442+00 by: meuon

Wonderful visuals and analogies.

#Comment Re: made: 2009-04-07 17:38:22.899508+00 by: andylyke

Speakin' of Marine 1 - I think I heard a report this morning in which it was stated that the project for the replacements for Marine 1 was approaching something like US$14 Bn. (10^9!) I know it's more than 1 helicopter, but J**** C*****!

#Comment Re: made: 2009-04-07 18:13:23.143995+00 by: Larry Burton

They are purchasing them from Stringfellow Hawke. These replacements are able to outgun and outfly jet fighters.

#Comment Re: made: 2009-04-07 21:42:23.684396+00 by: ebradway

The report I heard said that the replacement for Marine 1 was canceled in Gates' military budget. I thought it was being designed by Stark Industries!

And I think I have to agree - Obama needs to step out of the way of the pitchforks for a little while. At least under Bush, Kenneth Lay had the good sense to die before sentencing.

#Comment Re: made: 2009-04-07 21:51:29.699286+00 by: Dan Lyke

Woot! That'd be another reason to think highly of Gates. So far his military budget seems to be pissing off all the right people.

#Comment Re: made: 2009-04-07 22:50:42.446359+00 by: andylyke

Speaking of transport that outguns an F-22:

I recall the days when you could pull up under the portico of the Whitehouse unchallenged!

We've come a long way. down.

#Comment Re: made: 2009-04-08 10:29:19.957671+00 by: radix

I read your note and thought of this article. Wanted to be sure you had read it: http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200905/imf-advice

#Comment Re: made: 2009-04-08 13:52:34.370576+00 by: Dan Lyke

radix, thanks. That triggered a few neurons on both this notion that an industry that's focused primarily on leeching money from productive transactions could possibly grow to consume that much of the economy, and on the notion of currency supply.

My mom recently mentioned RSF Social Finance. I'm not sure I'm inline with the sources of the organization, but this notion that we need to decouple financing systems from the banking and Wall Street system seems like it might be ready for a bit of cultural play. I'm not terribly optimistic, but I'm already using a credit union for basic banking, maybe there's room for non-profits which stay conservative to do a lot more banking. Perhaps there could be a class of investors looking for long-term stable returns who could band together to form a non-profit that doesn't expect to make huge payback, that funds conservative mortgages and business loans without getting all speculative. It'd take some restraint on the part of those with their money in such an endeavor, but maybe it's possible. I think I read somewhere about a bank which serves Amish communities which sounds somewhat like that, and some of the Muslim lending institutions sound similar.