On Politics: Democrat Cynicism vs. Republican Ineptitude

 by Ray Keating

The Keating Files – April 3, 2021

 

When it comes to advancing one’s agenda via cynical political manipulation, Democrats take a back seat to no one. Certainly not to Republicans – a political party that seems bent on perfecting the self-inflicted wound.

Consider what’s going on with Georgia’s new voting law. Democrats and the Left have presented it as a Republican effort to suppress the black vote. But as a variety of sober assessments have made clear, this is largely a measure that expands early voting, and cleans up the process so that local election officials are better able to manage the process. (For example, see Henry Olsen’s Washington Post piece, and a rundown on the law by Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB).) 

 

One can, and of course, should, debate the measure, but classifying this as some kind of Jim Crow law is simply dead wrong. President Biden actually asserted, “It’s sick … deciding that you’re going to end voting at five o’clock when working people are just getting off work.” It’s not clear who would benefit from having polls closing at 5 p.m., but I guess Biden has some ideas? However, it doesn’t matter anyway because that’s not what the law says. In fact,  it’s quite the opposite, as noted by GPB: “One of the biggest changes in the bill would expand early voting access for most counties, adding an additional mandatory Saturday and formally codifying Sunday voting hours as optional. Counties can have early voting open as long as 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at minimum.” (Emphasis added.) Hey, Joe, the polls don’t close at five, instead, they have to stay open until at least five.

 

Well, why then the widespread backlash against this law, including, for example, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred announcing that the All-Star Game would be moved out of Georgia?

 

Most obvious, people don’t do their own research on issues; they take their cues from certain groups or voices; and then they assert their own expertise and make decisions accordingly. That is, they serve as fertile ground for political manipulation. This is increasingly the case across the political party spectrum and our nation.

 

Second, the Left and the Democrats have seized on an issue to work to their own advantage, from ginning up their base to pressuring individuals, groups and organizations to get in line. 

 

Meanwhile, Republicans made it easier for Democrats to do so. How? With so many Republican politicians, officials and rank-and-file members backing Donald Trump’s lunacy and lies about a stolen election, it’s pretty easy for Democrats to raise all kinds of questions about Republican intentions when it comes to voting laws.

 

Never mind that Republican leaders in the state of Georgia followed state law, as opposed to what Trump pressured them to do, during this past presidential election. Democrats have decided, for their own political advantage, to paint with a broad brush, hurling baseless accusations and trying to cover all Republicans in Georgia with the taint of Trump. Republicans simply made it far easier to do so because they refuse to wash off the Trump grime and muck.

 

Republicans will catch on. Well, not really. They’ll probably double-down for Trump, thereby, making it even easier for Democrats to launch both legitimate and baseless attacks. And America’s divide of distrust will persist.

 

Republican political dimness is not a new problem, but the party seems to have sunk deeper into political ignorance. Thinking that a cranky, narrow, victim-centric, anger-driven, fear-embracing populism was, and still is, a foundation upon which to sustain a political party rates as a model of political ineptitude.

 

I recall a moment in time when Republicans were pretty smart, that is, when they got on board with an optimistic, freedom-loving, free-enterprise-embracing, confident conservative named Ronald Reagan, and followed him to victory and influence beyond his years. But that is not today’s GOP, and I certainly have no idea what tomorrow’s GOP will look like, or if it will even exist. Indeed, the most that the Republican Party has going for it now is that a significant chunk of Americans reject the Democrats’ ongoing journey leftward, and some are still able to spot and oppose the Left’s cynicism.

 

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Ray Keating is a columnist, novelist, economist, podcaster and entrepreneur.  Keating has two new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13ththriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

You also can order his book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  from Amazon or signed books  at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know. 

 

One of the best ways to enjoy Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries is to join the Pastor Stephen Grant Fellowship! For the BEST VALUE, consider the Book of the Month Club.  Check it all out at https://www.patreon.com/pastorstephengrantfellowship

 

Also, tune in to Ray Keating’s podcasts – the PRESS CLUB C Podcast  and the Free Enterprise in Three Minutes Podcast  

 

Check out Ray Keating’s Disney news and entertainment site at www.DisneyBizJournal.com.

PRESS CLUB C Podcast with Ray Keating – Episode #33: Do the People Who Run and Cover Baseball Actually Hate the Game?

Ray Keating looks at the Big 4 controversies in baseball today – more teams in the playoffs, starting a runner on second during extra innings, seven-inning doubleheaders, and the universal designated hitter. Keating argues that if you love baseball – real baseball – then you should be in favor of one of these ideas, and vehemently opposed to the others.

The Ills of Labor Unions, Part I: Baseball

by Ray Keating

The Keating Files – June 10, 2020

Confession is good for the soul. So, here goes: This free market economist was once a card-carry member of the Teamsters Union.  Wow, I feel better getting that off my chest.

Anyway, some might ask: What’s the problem with labor unions? Plenty, and assorted current events – including squabbling over a plan to bring back baseball – expose the ills of labor unions.

First, it’s important to understand the basic economics of labor unions. That is, labor unions overwhelmingly are about seeking to maximize the compensation of union members and to monopolize employment in an industry or business under a union, while also pushing to minimize the work being performed by those union members. Hmmm, and how does that work out? Of course, it’s a recipe for reduced competitiveness, lost business, lower profits, less investment in unionized businesses, and lost opportunities and jobs for union members over the long run.

Indeed, keep in mind that labor union membership in the early 1950s stood at about 33 percent of employed U.S. workers, and that tumbled to 10.3 percent in 2019. Even more striking has been the decline into irrelevance for unions in the private sector, with private sector union membership falling from 21.2 percent in 1979 to 6.2 percent in 2019.

As investment moves away from unionized businesses, productivity is reduced, which means less earnings for workers and lost profits for owners. Labor unions operate under the mistaken Marxist assumption that workers and business owners are at odds. But in reality, workers and owners rise and fall together. 

For example, investments made by owners in facilities, tools, technology and other innovations enhance productivity, which boosts both workers earnings and business profits. In addition, when owners and workers are focused on providing excellent products and customer service, both owners and workers benefit.

This is all Economic 101 and Business 101. But labor unions specialize in ignoring such basic lessons.

On the baseball front, Major League Baseball’s team owners and the Major League Baseball Players Association are working at odds – rather than together – to bring baseball back this season. 

Golly, what a surprise. Baseball’s owners and the union have been less than friendly over the years. So, with NASCAR back, the PGA Tour restarting this weekend, the NBA moving ahead with its plan to complete its season in Walt Disney World starting in late July, and the NHL trying to get back on the ice, baseball owners and players publicly bicker. 

What’s the beef? Naturally, the MLBPA is trying to squeeze every last cent out of an abbreviated season for its members in the face of grim financial circumstances.

The owners also are at fault for not being able to see early on in this pandemic shutdown that they might be playing without fans this season, and the resulting financial hit. But after the owners woke up to this harsh economic reality, the MLBPA has exhibited no interest in giving a damn, unwilling to revisit a March agreement for fully prorated salaries. Proposals go back and forth – with CBS Sports reporting that the MLBPA tossed out the latest plan for an 89-game season and expanded playoffs – but strife reigns. 

Meanwhile, baseball fans suffer, and so does the baseball brand and its goodwill – and that, of course, is bad for baseball and the players. This coronavirus pandemic presented an opportunity for the MLBPA to put aside its archaic union thinking, and do what’s right for fans, for the game, for the business of baseball, and for the long-run well-being of its members. But, no. 

It’s a strange thing that one can make the case that the strongest private sector union left in America is the MLBPA – a union representing wealthy athletes that play baseball for a living. Well, if anyone needs a union it would be men playing a children’s game for lots of money – right?

By the way, MLB can implement a season of its own choosing, and there have been rumblings about less than 50 games. That wouldn’t be a big hit with fans – though many would take anything – and the owners would risk further angering the vaunted MLBPA with the current collective bargaining agreement expiring in December 2021.

Team owners and players still have an opportunity to recognize that their fates are tied together. They could step forward in unity to bring back baseball at a time when the country needs it, and by doing so, while taking a short-term financial hit, improve the brand of baseball for the benefit of the game, its customers (the fans), the owners, and the players. It would be smart business, but labor unions have nothing to do with smart business.

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Ray Keating is a columnist, economist, podcaster and entrepreneur.  You can order his new book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York from Amazon or signed books at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know. Keating also is a novelist. His latest novels are  The Traitor: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel, which is the 12^th book in the series, and the second edition of Root of All Evil? A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel with a new Author Introduction. The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

Also, tune in to Ray Keating’s podcasts – the PRESS CLUB C Podcast and the Free Enterprise in Three Minutes Podcast 

PRESS CLUB C Podcast with Ray Keating – Episode #5: Interview with Thom Brennaman – TV Play-by-Play for the Cincinnati Reds & FOX NFL

Ray Keating once again upgrades the podcast with a great guest. Thom Brennaman, Cincinnati Reds play-by-play TV announcer and play-by-play announcer for the NFL on FOX, is that special guest. 

Thom and Ray talk about Brennaman’s broadcast experience and some of his fellow Reds announcers; the NFL’s noteworthy accomplishments with this year’s draft; NASCAR getting out front on re-opening among major sports; what lies ahead for baseball; and what the Reds were up to in the offseason and what the team promises to look like whenever the first pitch is tossed out for MLB season. Thom also plays “Tell Me Your Favorites” and talks about some matters beyond sports. Despite being a ridiculous Reds fan, Ray manages to act professionally. Enjoy the conversation!

Click here or on the graphic above.