Bonus outrage

One thing that characterizes the bonus outrage is ignorance. No one knows who gets the bonuses or anything about AIG's obligation to pay them -- no one but insiders. That doesn't prevent people from going ballistic about the bonuses. Everyone has an opinion, even if they're ignorant.

Ignorance doesn't stop people writing to the LAT, nor the LAT publishing their letters. A case in point: An ignoramus named Braverman wrote recently in the LAT about the Jon Stewart/Jim Cramer confrontation and made the following idiotic points:

-- CNBC "missed" the "financial tsunami."

-- Most people believe what they see on television.

-- "Corporate-owned CNBC's only real goal is" to make money.

-- CNBC allows "experts" to say anything they want.

-- "We" really need to "reign these guys in."

LAT intervenes for Planned Parenthood

On the editorial page today, the LAT blasts Orange County supervisors for cutting off funding to Planned Parenthood, which had a contract with the County to counsel and educate pregnant teens until one of the supervisors learned they offer abortion services. The LAT says the supervisors "should know that this attack on Planned Parenthood fails every test of logic, reason and responsible public policy." How so?

LAT takes on CNBC

LAT writer Matea Gold ridicules CNBC and "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer today over Cramer's appearance on Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show." The only thing interesting about Gold's piece is why she would write it and why the LAT would publish it.

Gold takes sides, saluting Stewart for disrespecting Cramer. Both are entertainers trying to raise their ratings. If Stewart got a boost at Cramer's expense good for Stewart, bad for Cramer. But neither is the good guy and the other bad.

But Gold also takes a swipe at CNBC. Apparently it covers Wall Street too well or too often or too fervently. Or she hates CNBC because she hates Wall Street. It makes you wonder about Matea Gold and the LAT.

The Economist tilts left

The Economist this week is chock full of praise for Obama, and denial. Obama is working wonders in foreign policy and with the economy, The Economist argues. Give him time, they plead.

Obama isn't trying to do too much and isn't advocating European-style socialism, the magazine argues. It's just that the mean old Republicans are distorting Obama's policies. Blame Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and the "firebrand" Mike Pence. Obama could learn from Europeans, The Economist argues.

What he's likely to learn from Europeans isn't likely to appeal to Americans.

Reliance on government

Despite government's track record, liberal,socialists and communists consistently argue for greater governmental control of institutions and people. A case in point: SEC regulators have been criticized for failing to stop Madoff from ripping off investors for $50 million. Liberals argue that could have been prevented by more regulation. But regulations and regulators will never be perfect. Often regulators are careless, lazy and unmotivated -- like the people you see at the DMV, the Post Office and Social Security offices. Or, the regulators at SEC.

What we need: Judges without judgment

That's the argument a guy from Glendora makes in a letter to the LAT, published today. The letter's closing sentence: "Cases should instead be reviewed individually, without any personal inclination or judgment."

The letter protests Clarence Thomas' consistent holdings supporting states' rights. Apparently, the letter writer is unfamiliar with the Tenth Amendment to our federal constitution, which states: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people."

Kerry exhibits his poor judgment, again

Senator John F. Kerry, known for idiotic remarks like "reporting for duty," once again displays his lack of judgment in a piece on Bloomberg published March 6th. At a time when Americans learn daily that the economy is in trouble and the stock market is crashing, Kerry thinks it's necessary to tell his readers how bad things are. When Americans need to be told something positive in order to raise their spirits, Kerry tells the banks that "Animal House parties" are a thing of the past and introduces legislation to penalize banks who entertain customers and potential investors. Kerry says "huge swaths of our banking system are insolvent." Thanks, Americans needed to hear that from John Kerry. Federal regulators ought to be able to remove bank management Kerry says. Right, let the bureaucrats decide. If a bank has assets of uncertain value, write then down to zero, Kerry says, unconcerned about the effects. Mark-to-market accounting is fool proof, Kerry seems to believe. Kerry is a fool.