Obama Speech Shocker: “Keynesianism, Malthusianism Have Compromised My Presidency” (Credits IHS seminars for his intellectual turnaround)

It was supposed to be a speech about government engineering for job growth, including giving America another dose of “green jobs.”

What it turned out to be was the greatest surprise in the history of presidential speechmaking. And it began with a wildcat phone call to the White House last spring by Marty Zupan, the president of the Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University, inviting Obama to listen in at one or more of their summer seminars on the ideas and ideals of a free society. The most powerful man in the world actually did so…. in secret.

“‘Sleep less, think more’. That intrigued me,” said Obama after his address calling for deregulating the tax code by eliminating special provisions across-the-board; privatizing an estimated $1.5 trillion in federal assets over the next four years  to transition away from New Deal/Great Society welfarism; and establish a commission to explore the separation of government and money and banking, among other mega-initiatives.

“I owe a lot of this to Marty and the Institute.”

IHS Summer Program

Here is IHS’s description of its summer program, two of which were viewed remotely by Obama.

Explore ideas that shaped the modern world—ideas that helped end slavery, introduce religious freedom, and inspire the women’s suffrage movement. Discuss the fundamental, yet-still-contested idea that individual rights precede governments. From breakfast ‘til the evening reception, debate the ideas of liberty with peers from around the world and exceptional professors. 

The seminars teach students about classical liberalism (really libertarianism in today’s political vernacular). Ideas such as individual rights and free markets are applied to topics in economics, history, philosophy, law, and political science. Austrian School economics is very prominent.

Seminars explore natural rights; the establishment and purpose of private property rights; limited government; peace and foreign policy; free trade; the morality of business and free enterprise.

(Obama shown watching IHS seminar remotely) 

Obama picked from 12 seminars introducing the ideas of liberty. Like the program advertised, I deepened my understanding of ideas that allow humans to flourish and prosper.”

Keynesianism Reconsidered

“I started with Henry Hazlitt’s Economics in One Lesson, and then brought in my Ph.D. economics team to consider Hazlitt’s The Failure of the ‘New’ Economics, Obama allowed.

“One Lesson was understandable and made me realize that government job creation, our visible jobs, was  illusory when opportunity cost–the less visible or invisible jobs–was taken into account.”

“My advisors really went back to school with Hazlitt’s Failure book. My gosh, they said the missed the basics of the logical structure of economics in graduate school. They are getting into Mises’ Human Action now. A study guide by a guy who has been hassling Paul Krugman for a debate, is aiding us. And some of the Milton Friedman they missed too.”

Malthusianism Reconsidered

“John Holdren, as you know, has been advising me on sustainable development issues. Green jobs and the rest of it.”

“Late one night we were sipping on some libations and very relaxed in the Oval Office. I said: ‘John, what about that billion death forecast by 2020. I know you said could and not would happen, but what do you really think’.” And John smiled and said, ‘that was a long time ago….’ and started talking about fishing, his favorite hobby. I digress, but he uses the best electronic gear to see where the fish are. Conspicuous consumption you know, sort of like Al Gore.”

“But I started reading some books, ones by the late Julian Simon in particular, and Bjorn Lomborg’s Skeptical Environmentalist, ten years old this month. I started to relax a little bit … chill. That guy Simon actually started out as a Malthusian but changed his mind. That got me to thinking about keeping an open mind.”

“And I am starting to read the blogs… different from the usual stuff my advisors send to me from time to time…. Ken Green of the American Enterprise Institute goes from the science to policy in a nice way. Jerry Taylor at Cato takes contrarian positions within the libertarian camp.

“And that Marlo Lewis–my gosh, he knows his stuff. I would much rather have a beer with Marlo than, say, Joe Romm over at Climate Progress. Joe was mad at me even before my big speech.”

“And that New Mexico gal, Marita Noon, a new voice, she has some ideas about job growth in the energy sector.”

Conclusion

“Anyway, all this is a good start. I am starting to think for myself. My advisors, including Lisa Jackson over at EPA, are beside themselves with my new understanding and policy orientation, but maybe the IHS folks will have room next summer for them too.”

Read more at Master Resource