Vladimir Putin for President of the United States

February 10, 7:11 PMDC Republican ExaminerBill Dupray

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          Even the Commies know the Democrats are fools
(AP Photo/Michel Euler)

KGB Vlad has done his homework. He has read his history. He has learned his lessons.

He would be a better president than Barack Obama.

If I didn't tell you this speech was given by Russian President Vladimir Putin last month, could you have guessed it?

Full transcript at The Silver Bear Cafe.

Esteemed colleagues, one is sorely tempted to make simple and popular decisions in times of crisis. However, we could face far greater complications if we merely treat the symptoms of the disease.

Naturally, all national governments and business leaders must take resolute actions. Nevertheless, it is important to avoid making decisions, even in such force majeure circumstances, that we will regret in the future.

This is why I would first like to mention specific measures which should be avoided and which will not be implemented by Russia.

We must not revert to isolationism and unrestrained economic egotism. The leaders of the world's largest economies agreed during the November 2008 G20 summit not to create barriers hindering global trade and capital flows. Russia shares these principles.

Although additional protectionism will prove inevitable during the crisis, all of us must display a sense of proportion.

Excessive intervention in economic activity and blind faith in the state's omnipotence is another possible mistake.

True, the state's increased role in times of crisis is a natural reaction to market setbacks. Instead of streamlining market mechanisms, some are tempted to expand state economic intervention to the greatest possible extent.

The concentration of surplus assets in the hands of the state is a negative aspect of anti-crisis measures in virtually every nation.

In the 20th century, the Soviet Union made the state's role absolute. In the long run, this made the Soviet economy totally uncompetitive. This lesson cost us dearly. I am sure nobody wants to see it repeated.

Nor should we turn a blind eye to the fact that the spirit of free enterprise, including the principle of personal responsibility of businesspeople, investors and shareholders for their decisions, is being eroded in the last few months. There is no reason to believe that we can achieve better results by shifting responsibility onto the state.

And one more point: anti-crisis measures should not escalate into financial populism and a refusal to implement responsible macroeconomic policies. The unjustified swelling of the budgetary deficit and the accumulation of public debts are just as destructive as adventurous stock-jobbing.

The Soviet Union was destroyed by its reliance on a command, government-run economy. It was defeated by a robust, capitalist economy in the United States, where individuals had the freedom to make their own personal and business decisions, and the government stayed largely out of the way.

We have arrived at the point in history where America is controlled by unapologetic Socialists, who intend to, starting with the nearly $1 trillion Pork Bill passed by the United States Senate today, largely on party lines, insert government into nearly every facet of the banking, health care, auto manufacturing, energy, and many other areas of the private sector. They are creating new government bureaucracies and make-work government jobs which add nothing to the economy, except new debt.

And the worst thing about it is that even a Communist knows this, but the American president does not.

How's that for Change?