Obama's Economic Succubus

The Christian Science Monitor this morning offers a calm, measured analysis of the Economic Disaster Plan. It notes that the immediate effect is the tax credit boosting the average weekly pay check by $13, and...

"The hope is that taxpayers will react to the new cash, however small it is, by temporarily adjusting their opinions of how much money they make, and spending accordingly."

There it is. My  income is not a datum. It is an opinion. Or sort of, y'know, like a feeling or a vibe. So off to this singles bar I know; sidle up to the two hottest chicks in  the joint. "What color cars you girls want?"

Well, Suntory IS pretty good

Poor old Shoichi Nakagawa showed up stinko at a news conference and was forced to resign at Japan's finance minister.

Seems a bit unfair. As P. J. O'Rourke remarked in a similar situation, "We let Ted Kennedy vote in the Senate all the time."

Milestone

“We’ve passed the most comprehensive sweeping legislation as it relates to economic activity, ever, in a three-week period of time,” White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel told reporters ... (Bloomberg).

And that statist (&^)()&*^^&%) said it as though it was a good thing.

The Cost of Freedom

The Sioux Falls show is a big one.  For what it's worth:

--The $2,000 price range for issue 1911s and A1s is bringing them out of the safes. Saw more at this show than any I can recall for years.  So-so examples are offered around $1800 very nice ones around $2,000 up to one good 1911 at $3,000.

--The actual value of an M1Carbine is anyone's guess. Today's range was $750-$1250 with no apparent correlation of maker, condition, etc. to price.

--WW2 webbing is going out of sight --pistol belts $30 and more. .45 pouches $10 plus. A humdrum-shape canteen with cup and cover at $55.

--Mossberg .22s are drawing a little collector interest at last. One two-table dealer specializes in them. 

--All the Winchester 22s from the 1930s-50s seem to be gaining a little value. 

--Otherwise we didn't notice much gun-price movement compared to early 2008. Economic problems are apparently outweighing the Obama-driven rush to buy.

--EDIT: The comment just above ignores whatever might be happening to EBR prices. We just don't pay much attention to them.