The strange case of McCain and the baffled biologist

While the creature's front appears elephant-like, its rear presents a puzzle. The dazed biologist lowers her binoculars.

Sen. John McCain tosses around wealth envy and junk science as freely as any liberal. He wants to go after poorly performing companies that present stockholders with losses while handsomely paying their executives. He seeks caps on "greenhouse gas" emissions to "address global warming."

Penalizing high earners helps no one. The 1998/99 research, which kick-started the global warming brouhaha, was proved a hoax. Humans' "greenhouse emissions" do diddly to global climate. And handcuffing industry will wreck our economy. Does all this count for nothing?

The liberal sighs, "Ideology and doctored data are my friends."

Take executive pay. McCain wants to "shine a light" on it - make sure it's "reasonable." Isn't it socialistic for government to limit what someone earns? The senator embraces liberal guiding Principle 4, Application 4g: Declare wealth evil.

A Reuters story complains that the contrast between executive earnings and shareholder losses "comes at a time when the ripple effects of the home mortgage crisis are leading to financial ruin for some middle- and lower-income families..."

Was there no disparity, and now one suddenly "comes" at a bad time?

"You broke your arm? You shouldn't have pet that chartreuse dog this morning." The cause-and-effect is clear.

Lest we doubt that McCain's motives are grounded firmly in liberal doctrine, consider his musing that, "If there's ways we can motivate shareholders and boards of directors to punish these (executives) we should do it."

One of my liberal friends, an expert on the Constitution, tells me that the government-must-nail-big-wigs clause appears in the section following the put-aside-the-alienation-and-get-on-with-the-alien-nation clause.

This is especially juicy now, as millions of homeowners default on loans they knew they couldn't afford. The senator joins other liberals in courting this "poor me, I shouldn't be held accountable for my judgment" crowd. Principle 4, Application 4a: Grow the government cocoon to discourage personal responsibility.

Seeing rich guys slapped around won't turn irresponsible people responsible. It won't discourage them from reaching for more than they can handle and crying when they obtain it. Sure, they'll derive pleasure from watching rich folks get roughed up, but change their ways?

McCain has elite company.

In 2007 Sen. Barack Obama introduced his "say on pay" bill. Hillary supports it. Unions love it because it would give shareholders "a voice in the process of determining executive compensation." Hmm, would the senators allow us a say on their pay? Should the bill pass, will folks then demand a popular vote on tax rates? Imagine couch potatoes directly voting how much of other people's money they get to collect after the IRS grabs it. Which way would McCain go on this?

The biologist raises her binoculars. The creature certainly looks like an elephant. But out flails the donkey tail again, swatting flies. This beastie has been spotted all over America. Now that she's seen it for herself, the biologist knows the rumors are true.

She knows.

Chuck Rogér is a former Intel executive who has lived in Ahwatukee Foothills with his wife since 1995. He can be reached at chuckroger@cox.net.