“Government interference — not the threat of the ‘fiscal cliff’ that has mesmerized markets — is the biggest threat to entrepreneurship, Internet pioneer Marc Andreessen told CNBC on Wednesday, arguing that going over the cliff was preferable to more federal involvement in the U.S. economy,” Javier David reports for CNBC.
The Netscape co-founder “told CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box’ that Silicon Valley investors are more preoccupied with an ‘activist’ federal government than the threat of higher taxes and government spending,” David reports. “‘The presumption is that we want the government to do things. I’m pro-gridlock,’ Andreessen said. ‘It doesn’t bother me in the least if government is all ground to a halt.'”
David reports, “Although going over the cliff poses challenges in the short-term, Andreessen argued that it was preferable to the alternative, which is more government involvement in the economy. ‘When the government does things, it usually doesn’t end well,’ he said.”
Read more in the full article here.
“U.S. stocks fell, extending yesterday’s drop, as a slump in Apple Inc. and budget talk concerns overshadowed a rise in industrial production and data showing China’s manufacturing may expand at a faster pace,” Rita Nazareth reports for Bloomberg News. “‘The chances of some type of grand bargain in Washington are significantly diminishing as time passes,’ said Eric Teal, chief investment officer at First Citizens Bancshares Inc., which manages $4.5 billion in Raleigh, North Carolina. ‘On a company level, investors are looking at the competitive landscape for Apple and they see threats.'”
“Seven out 10 industries in the S&P 500 retreated as technology, the biggest group, led the losses,” Nazareth reports. “President Barack Obama and Republican House Speaker John Boehner remained deadlocked yesterday during their third White House meeting on next year’s budget.”
Nazareth reports, “The S&P 500 has dropped 0.2 percent this month, paring the measure’s rally for 2012 to 12 percent. Its average increase for December is 1.5 percent, the most of any month except July, according to data dating back to 1928 (SPX) compiled by Bloomberg.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews readers too numerous to mention individually for the heads up.]
Gridlock is exactly what the U.S. voters voted for in the last election.
Check and balances. Thank God for the wisdom of our founding fathers!
Here’s Captain Gridlock
“Wisdom of the founding fathers”.
Tell that to the 20+ kids cut down at the age of 6 today.
Are you for real?
If so, you’re too far gone with which to bother.
Hey, didn’t you know? Ben Franklin rose from the dead and pulled the trigger.
Bob Costas-like non-thinking idiots never fail to amuse.
I have a very strict gun control policy: if there’s a gun around, I want to be in control of it. – Clint Eastwood
It’s not a gun control problem; it’s a cultural control problem. – Bob Barr
>^,,^< meeeooowww.
The rights of gun owners are worth less than the lives of those who die by guns.
It may sound callous Luke, but you are wrong. It is difficult for some to comprehend. You must observe history and really understand the meaning of *freedom*.
There is only one currency that truly buys freedom in a society. It is lives. We pay for our freedom in lives everyday. You will often hear it stated in this way. “This is the cost of a free society.”
One of the reasons this country remains stronger than most, socially, economically, and culturally is that we do not allow any single authority to dominate us. Not the Federal, State, Local, or municipal governments.
Unfortunately we are losing our freedom and handing more and more of it over to these entities as time goes on. The primary control any government has over its citizens is through criminalizing their behavior. In order to gain more power over citizens, a government simply passes more laws to make more of them criminals.
For example, many people do not have health insurance. They cannot afford it. After the health care bill goes through, they will still not be able to afford it. There is a difference though. Not having it is now a Federal crime for which you will be penalized $700 on your Federal taxes.
As our freedoms diminish, the character of who we are as a nation is diminished. Our individual rights are being swept away, and we are being turned into criminals and slaves.
Based on your statement, I’m sure you’re one of those who feels that taxing the rich is a good way to solve fiscal problems. You’re perfectly happy to vote for a President who turns one sector of society against another. If Joe the CEO makes $100 million dollars a year, in your opinion that’s too much. We should take 50%. Wait. That leaves him 50% and that’s still $50 million dollars. Who really needs that much money. Let’s take 60%, 70%, hell, let’s be like the French socialists and take 90%. He still has 10 million dollars. That’s more than enough for Joe. The majority have confiscated the wealth of Joe, and given it “back” to the people. Hip hip hurrah.
Morally such actions should be reprehensible in a free society. If we take 50% of Joe’s income. that means that 50% of his working life is done essentially in SLAVERY to the government.
I pay at least 50% of my income in taxes when I count every fee, levy, and tax I pay, not to mention fines, etc. That means from January to the end of June, I’m a slave, and should I say no, that behavior is criminalized and I can go to jail.
So yes, the rights of gun owners as a whole in this country, the sheer sanctity of the constitution, is more valuable than your life, my life, or the lives of the children who were murdered yesterday.
Those rights, protected by the constitution, remain one of the last places the government cannot aggressively control us. I am willing to die to protect those rights. I am willing to die to preserve freedom for Americans to come because I believe that America is the last and best hope for this world.
Is anything that important to you, “Luke?”
So the deaths of those children has made your liberty safer? I pity your world.
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
Assuming you are a gun owner, when is the last time you reported to your militia unit for training? I mean the real militia, with the officers commissioned by Congress, not the old boys out in the woods.
Hi mate, I’m actually Australian.
Three members of my family – two of them children aged 3 and 6 – were killed in the Port Arthur massacre. After that event we got strict gun control laws followed by an amnesty both introduced and actioned by a conservative government. We are a better country for it.
Thanks for the lecture on ‘murica anyway. Enjoy that cliff.
I gather you didn’t have a kid in that elementary school, did you? At least have the shame to keep quiet at a time like this. You do sound callous. Freedom my ass.
Maybe 200 years ago, the idea of an armed populace bought freedom. In this day and age, it’s pure fantasy. I’m sorry, it just is. We don’t live in the same world as the founding fathers. Their concerns are not ours anymore.
Thelonius, well put.
While we all are saddened by the Connecticut tragedy, it would be far worse to surrender our freedoms, which would result ultimately in the suffering of not only Americans but the entire world for centuries to come.
Both sides of the issue have a point. It is a difficult topic. However, I have a question. I understand why is there so much outcry over 20 precious children gunned down in cold blood, we want to prevent that, we want safety for our kids.
But my question is why is there so little outcry over the 3,288 (1.2 million per year) precious unborn babies that are killed in cold blooded abortion each and every day in the United States? Why such an atrocity? Why such horrible behavior?
Why is there no outcry over the leading cause of death among children between 0-14 years old. Which is vehicle accidents. Car accidents cause more deaths of children each year than all of the shooting atrocities that have ever occurred. Do we ban cars? etc. etc.
I am not trying to be insensitive, I mourn with the families who lost their children last Friday. It was horrible, I would not want to go through the same. But I am against a knee jerk reaction which will actually do little to help keep children safe. There are better places to put your concern and outrage to actually help the safety of children.
May you snarky little Reich wingers be shopping in the mall when you come face to face with someone who believes in your philosophy and is willing to take you with them on their search for a Higher Being!
Go crawling back to your hole pussy
They don’t call fools like you “kneejerkers” for nothing.
In your haste to lash out, you condemn the wrong things.
You mean 22 children. So I guess we need to ban and regulate cutlery!
http://www.courant.com/sns-rt-us-china-stabbingsbre8bd065-20121213,0,5592318.story
There is only one purpose to owning a gun, TO KILL. Cutlery has another purpose, unless you use a gun to cut your steak.
Excuse me, you twerp. Guns and knives dont kill people, people kill people. You’re right, cutlery not only kills but carves the dead. Guns are not only deadly, such as cars and a bunch of other things, but they are used for protection and defense, and they help feed families. Bottom line, it’s a tool.
I don’t know when last I heard of someone buying a car to kill people, I’m sure cars have other functions than killing people. The problem isn’t with guns themselves but the ease of access to firearms. America has the highest gun ownership per capita than any other country and the highest per capita gun murder rate than any developed country. Clearly there’s a correlation between the two.
Actually a gun has two purposes, offense and defense. I have no control over the thoughts and actions of an irrational individual; however, I can defend myself against an illegal action. If people like you were to prevail, that basic right of self defense would be taken away.
The shooting sports cover all manner of recreational shooting, from paper targets and metal silhouettes to shotgun clays. Not all firearms are manufactured or intended to kill either people or animals. But this fact has nothing to do with the right of the people to arm and protect themselves. You need to educate yourself on the facts about our Constitutional right to bear arms and the realities of governments today and in past history. The tragic loss of those children has no connection to all of the law abiding and gun owning citizens of this country. Emotional knee-jerk reactions to this type of event are why so many people in other countries are denied the basic right of self defense.
What “well regulated militia” unit do you belong to?
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
If you are trying to imply that only a government entity such as the military or national guard are entitled to bear arms you are sorely mistaken. The Founding Fathers weren’t about to throw off the yoke of one tyrant just to allow others to take his place. Read what they and others actually said and there is no doubt about what they meant. Trying to twist the facts and rewrite history is the only way people like you can present an argument.
So you think they meant to say ““A well regulated Militia, IS PROBABLY necessary to the security of a free State. THAT ISSUE ASIDE, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
I think they were a bunch of smart guys who were capable of saying just what they meant. It is one sentence because it is one thought.
OBTW, others will judge you status as “Patriot”. It is not a self-designated accolade.
This out of control spending will spell doom to our country.
Spending? The spending has come from two unpaid for wars and a stimulus that was needed to prevent/lessen the worst financial disaster since the great depression.
Other than that, name the great “new” spending spree that has occurred under our current administration.
I’m all for less government. I get pissed off about regulations and inefficiency, but lets be realistic. Blaming our current government problems on our current administration is like blaming New Jersey for hurricane Sandy.
Wait… it will only take a few minutes for someone to call me a socialist commie… Because you right wingers are so good at explaining your point of view.
You’re a socialist commie. Is obummer a leader? He can end wars. You libtard Dems voted 98% for those wars. . It was more than weapons of mass destruction. Saddam violated every 17 UN resolutions. Could have avoided war at any time. Of course you libtards forget that while you voted for his removal. Loser Obama would not be president if Romney (coke vs Pepsi) could articulate such things. So now it’s socialism on the march. Prepare for shared misery. It’s dog eat dog in the real world. Just know people will eat your kids. So much for fair share. Hahahahahah tasty.. Good luck sucker. You don’t realize what you lost…. Hahahahahah.
When did big govt become cool??
When did paying more taxes become cool??? Liberal? Voted FOR???
When did giving up liberty become cool???
The only place that 60s liberalism found a home was big govt.
Didn’t we spend the last 50 years fighting socialist communist creep?
It’s the enemy within. Just like you we’re always told.
Ask yourself with everything. Does this take away my liberty?
Any little bit? Watch it add up. We just lost so much. Obama’s mission. Bet? Dispute it? We’ll see. Hahahahahaha. Suckers.
Thank you – I feel vindicated…
The lack of any understanding of basic economics by any conservatives will spell doom for this country.
The lack of any understanding of basic math by liberals will spell doom for this country.
+1
Why don’t you read page 411 of the “Economic Report of the President” for 2012. Under President Obama
You can look it up.
Tax revenues went up under Bush and a record in 2007.
Yes spending went up under Pelosi Congress and Bush.
Yeah, Government activity is a bitch, like the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, right Marc? You ever going to compensate the taxpayers for the intellectual property you used as the technical foundation for Netscape? Or should we just write it off as a welfare payment?
Man is not free unless government is limited. – Ronald Reagan
Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives. – Ronald Reagan
The problem is not that people are taxed too little, the problem is that government spends too much. – Ronald Reagan
Reagan raised taxes several times during his administration and the budget deficit still increased.
Reagan is dead. Move on…
You are correct…
…and your point is….?
Those who ignore history are bound the repeat it. That’s why we’re currently stuck with Carter II malaise for 8 years.
Yes, Arf, please do move on.
Ronald Ragan and Steve Jobs are both dead. Everybody needs to move along.
I’d take Regan any day over the current right wing nut jobs controlling the republican party. Shit, at least he was willing to raise taxes if it was necessary.
Who do you think Reagan was the poster boy for?
Two ideas that show this guy lost it after Mosaic? HTML Frames and, much much worse, HTML Layers.
I haven’t cared about Marc Andreessen for the past 16 years, why pray would I all of a sudden care about him today? And why, when I tune in to MacDailyNews, am I all of a sudden being subjected to AndreeessenHourlyNews?
If I have to pay $2000 more in taxes and the 1% have to pay $250,000 in more taxes, let’s go over the cliff together. But, the 1% will pay lawyers and accountants $248,000 and so they only pay $2000 in taxes.
By the way, Obama had nothing to do with some F’ing coward who went into the school and shot defenseless children b/c he had a issue with his Brother and Mother. You know what, neither did Republicans or the NRA or Wal-Mart where he could have bought the M16 he used. F’ing Coward. Bless those hurt today by the hatred in one coward’s heart.
The rich paying more will not hurt that much, but the increases on the middle class will reduce aggregate demand over time. Pass a bill that reduces taxes on everyone making less than 500K. We also need is a single, simple formula that calculates tax rates (rather than brackets). Oh yeah, and transfer some of that military spending to domestic infrastructure projects.
+10
Sounds good to me. But, that would be sensible. Neither party will go for it…
The simple tax reform we need is already available, has been studied for many years, and is supported by dozens in Congress/Senate and many economists:
fairtax.org
This country has been in a downward spiral for decades. The fate of the nation was sealed when the courts ruled corporations are people.
entrepreneurship and all corporations have to be controlled somehow!
Those kind of folks will only look after their own profit and totally neglect what people have to endure with their “collateral damages”…
Staying well and alive is more important than becomming billionaires on a rotten planet with money not worth anything at the end.
Marc is really a sad case. He is concerned about government (which is all of us working together) getting involved.
“When the government does things, it usually doesn’t end well.”
Actually, government works quite well:
Army
Navy
Air Force
Marines
The VA Hospital system
Five National Laboratories
Social Security (never missed a check since it started)
Medicare ( more efficient than private insurance)
Local fire departments
Local police departments
The Library of Congress
NASA manned mission to the moon
NASA multiple robotic missions to all the planets, multiple rovers on Mars, orbited a probe around Vesta and other accomplishments.
etc.
As opposed to private industry. How well have they done?
BP blow out that devastated the Gulf of Mexico
Exxon Valdez oil spill
Enron debacle that ruined thousands of lives.
Savings and Loan debacle
Not to mention the most recent mortgage banking crisis that nearly crashed the whole economy in which the banks were bailed out by the government.
etc.
You’re funny. Enjoy your delusion.
Not to mention the most recent mortgage banking crisis that nearly crashed the whole economy…
Which was caused by President Bill Clinton.
At President Clinton’s direction, no fewer than 10 federal agencies issued a chilling ultimatum to banks and mortgage lenders to ease credit for lower-income minorities or face investigations for lending discrimination and suffer the related adverse publicity. They also were threatened with denial of access to the all-important secondary mortgage market and stiff fines, along with other penalties.
The threat was codified in a 20-page “Policy Statement on Discrimination in Lending” and entered into the Federal Register on April 15, 1994, by the Interagency Task Force on Fair Lending. Clinton set up the little-known body to coordinate an unprecedented crackdown on alleged bank redlining.
The edict — completely overlooked by the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission and the mainstream media — was signed by then-HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros, Attorney General Janet Reno, Comptroller of the Currency Eugene Ludwig and Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, along with the heads of six other financial regulatory agencies.
“The agencies will not tolerate lending discrimination in any form,” the document warned financial institutions.
So this is where it all started. In 1994. When the government pressured lenders to qualify the unqualified. To put people into houses they couldn’t afford. Or else.
Let’s get our terminology straight:
‘When the government does things, it usually doesn’t end well,’ he said.”
Translation: When our CORPORATE OLIGARCHY (who puppet our government) does things, it typically doesn’t end well.
Meanwhile, we know perfectly well that the government is capable of being beneficial to its citizens. The problem is that we DON’T HAVE a citizen beneficial government. Instead we have a gang of goons hanging from strings manipulated by deadly stupid, abusive parasites who have nothing but malevolence toward citizens. Don’t ever call them capitalists. Actual capitalists I like.
This beautiful shooting has nothing to do with the zombie killing video games that kids are obsessed with and the drugs that kids take.
Now is time to disarm the American public. Only then I can bring Kenyan Communist Paradise.
It will at first feel like shit, but once all the criminal white racist opposition is eliminated or gathered in concentration camps, it will be Communist Paradize, like Cuba.
I will put Harry Belafonte in charge.
Oh I am so happy today!