WSJ: Saying income inequality is too high encouraged Putin to take Crimea

[muriel_volestrangler]

Last edited Fri Mar 21, 2014, 02:50 PM - Edit history (1)

No, really, that's what their Deputy Editorial Page Director argues (via http://alicublog.blogspot.com/2014/03/propagandists-in-hurry.html):

Vladimir Putin re-proves that sometimes a bad person gains control of the instruments of national power. Their populations do nothing or can't, because they are disarmed by thugs with overwhelming firepower. Or, as on Russian TV now, they are marinated in anti-U.S. propaganda. Today even second-rate megalomaniacs gain access to high-tech weaponry, including missiles and nuclear bombs.

Running alongside these old realities is a new phenomenon, surely noticed by Mr. Putin: The nations of the civilized world have decided their most pressing concern is income inequality. Barack Obama says so, as does the International Monetary Fund. Western Europe amid the Ukraine crisis is a case study of nations redistributing themselves and perhaps NATO into impotence.

Because no modern Democrat can be credible on this, some Republican presidential candidate will have to explain the high price of America's fatigue. Fatigue will allow global disorder to displace 60 years of democratic order. If the U.S. doesn't lead, the strongmen win because for them it's easier. They don't lead people; they coerce them. Ask the millions free for now in the old countries of the Iron Curtain.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303802104579449393620644098

So, as well as publishing arguments that saying inequality is bad makes us Nazis, at the same time, the Wall Street Journal thinks that saying inequality is bad makes us Neville Chamberlain! Double reverse Godwin!

I'm waiting for their op-ed blaming the loss of MH370 on the call for the increase of the US minimum wage ...

On edit: and just after I wrote that last sentence, what does alicublog find next, in another Murdoch paper?

John Podhoretz at the New York Post:

Even the haunting confusion over the missing Malaysian aircraft, for which no rational person could hold our president responsible, is surely contributing to a general sense that the world is coming unglued — and that the president is hunting around under his desk for a glue stick he hopes one of his predecessors might have left there for him.

http://alicublog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/you-wish.html

[woo me with science]

1. LOL.

Great post.

[PowerToThePeople]

2. BS.

Wall
Street
Jackasses

[CBGLuthier]

3. On the other more sensible hand

If we would stay out of these damned messes maybe their own citizens would rise to the occasion and overthrow their undesirable leaders. In rather that than spend billions and sacrifice american lives to keep free a populace unwilling to make the effort themselves.

As for the alleged good influence of america the last 60 years. Puh leeeze. Ask the children of Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Afghanistan, iraq and all the other places we have waged our little fucking wars.

[upaloopa]

4. I don't get the link between a more just distribution

of wealth and weakness.
I would think a strong country would be one where everyone thrives.

[Scootaloo]

7. There isn't one

This is just the WSJ catering to its wealthy and conservative readership, by agreeing that wealth = power and equality = weakness, while tying it up in current events. I'm surprised they didn't do this for Sandy Hook or something

[reformist2]

5. They're worried the American people are starting to see what's wrong with capitalism...

[JVS]

6. LOL!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. Translation: If we give the money to the poor and not the MIC the Bogeyman will get us.

[sinkingfeeling]

9. Yeah right, guess there's no income inequality in Russia and the haves didn't

put Putin in power.

"Russia Sees Staggering Income Inequality" - http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=233472082

"Russia Has Highest Level Of Wealth Inequality " - http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-billionaire-wealth-inequality/25132471.html

[GeorgeGist]

10. They're not even pretending to be smart any more.