Now that he has the link...

Let's at least be fair to Richter, okay?

I have always recognized in him the very understandable tendency to to lean towards positions and attitudes that we are comfortable with, that we understand and recognize. We have all done it (yes, even Ryan) at some point in our political past... held on to a position based on nothing more than our "gut feeling".

The tough part of real objective political analysis and review is the first word... "objective".

I am not a proponent of an unregulated free-market society (practical capitalism, in other words), because I recognize (as does Jambo, I am sure) that Big Business will never have MY best interests as THEIR bottom line. This does not mean, however, that I don't see the inherent truths in conservative calls allow the market to dictate the price (and thus, the value) of such commodities as gold, crude oil, and corn... all vital elements of our national economy.

I am a proponent of lower taxes because I understand the inherent truths of such economic theories as the "Laffer Curve", but this does not negate the fact that I see some value in the theories and policies put forth by Keynes, as well... especially as they apply to vital "national security" needs like crude oil.

All four of us (the "full-ticket" Bund members) have, to one degree or another, come understand and appreciate the real and applicable value of a historical perspective when it comes to politics and political policy. For whatever reason, we have developed that perspective... but isn't it a bit much to expect the entire rest of the world to have done the same?

I am excited about the prospect of Richter posting here for numerous reasons (foremost though... he DID have a damn good sense of humor!). Lately, we have focused much of our attention to the election, a topic in which none of us disagree. However, if we harken back to the heady days before the "blog", when the Bund was a mailing-list (still painful to think of all those lost posts!), we can recall HUNDREDS of instances where we disagreed to the point of rage and fury.

Given my propensity for playing "devil's advocate", Jambo's latent "New Deal" fetish, Ryan's hatred of all things "Democrat" and Baddboy's ability to throw wrenches into the works at a moments notice... Richter should bring some much needed relief to our recent spat of "agreement" here at the Bund!