Reading how Los Angeles wants to spend their stimulus money and the rest brought out my inner Republican. Watching the videos featuring CNBC reporter Rick Santelli (link, link) brought out my inner Democrat. They're now fighting each other as my id watches from the sidelines.

I actually couldn't watch more than a minute of either video before closing the window, because frankly he disgusts me. There's certainly an argument to be made against massive deficits, greatly increasing the money supply, massive patronage, massive waste, and all the rest. Unfortunately, some people aren't making those arguments or those arguments are only a cover for their "greed is good/I've got mine, Jack" philosophy. The fact that many people who bought homes weren't qualified and should have known it is a valid point, but that doesn't mean that all those affected are in that same group. As with many other things, many fail to make that distinction. And, it's also attracted the "taxation is theft" crowd or those close to it (legalinsurrection.blogspot.com/2009/02/revolt-of-kulaks-has-begun.html, linked by Glenn Reynolds). The anti-stimulus movement is marginalizing themselves by being associated with those whose views are representative of only a very small number of Americans.

The effective way to oppose these bailouts is a more moderate approach that attempts to reach out to as many people as possible, that looks into who's getting rich on the stimulus, that doesn't call those who were indeed victimized by shady practices "evildoers", and that stresses fiscal responsibility rather than a "tea party".