So it’s now official: Barack Obama is set to create the true Mickey Mouse economy. Don’t worry about the millions of jobs lost since I’ve been president, or our 14 million or so unemployed. We’re going to put them all back to work — but not building pipelines from Canada, or running oil refineries, or any of those hamburger-flipper–type jobs.
No, instead they will cavort with Mickey Mouse and Tinkerbell costumes at Disney World in front of hordes of tourists from China and Brazil — not to mention handing out parking stickers and picking up the trash in Yellowstone Park. Tourism is now the Obama answer to America’s economic ills — that, and easing the visa process for those Chinese and Brazilian tour groups who yearn to spend their yuans and reals at our national parks and historic sites. This is Obama’s economic thinking at its shrewdest and most incisive, and completes our transition to a European-style no-growth economy. Why build or produce anything when you can hang around and wait for the next tourist season to begin? Concentrating on the Chinese, however, is the smartest move of all — especially after dissing the Canadians by cancelling the XL Pipeline (who needs neighbors, anyway?). With Obama’s new quick-as-lightning visa process, all those People’s Liberation Army boys and girls on furlough will finally have somewhere to go, especially the ones from military intelligence. But don’t think they’ll just be satisfied with Williamsburg and the Duck Decoy Museum in Havre de Grace, Md. Why not open up Fort Nellis Air Force Base and the North American Aerospace Command Center in Colorado Springs to the Chinese tourist boom? I’m sure they’ll find plenty to amuse themselves with there, as well.
Brilliant. Now, he's not only the Food Stamp President, he's the Mickey Mouse President.
This is how we fight back, with images and guts. Change the narrative.
The Mickey Mouse President with Goofy at his side!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOne of the GOP candidates last night offered up streamlined tourist visas as one of the ways to increase employment but I'm damned if I can remember which one...obviously he didn't read the memo.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseObama's "tourist" jobs plan is inane. But this little mind dump by Arthur L. Herman exceeds that inanity by an order of magnitude.
The U.S. is already flooded with Asian import technologists who were hired by Crony Capitalists to displace American workers. A huge percentage of them are Chinese. Whatever horse of Chinese espionage threat there is, has already left the barn and is long gone. Hang wringing rumination about Chinese tourists at Disney World and Las Vegas is completely idiotic.
BTW, a Mitt Romney policy plank is to open the floodgates totally to foreign technologist immigration with the unintended (or maybe intended) consequence of driving American students out of those disciplines all together. What's Arthur (and NRO) have to say about that?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIsn't it amazing how your average Ronulan has:
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse1) Absolutely no understanding of how an economy works.
2) Substitutes huge conspiracies to cover up this ignorance.
The average Chinese tourist spends more than $6000 per visit to the USA. Do you want that money or not? Now Obama can't even get credit for trying to speed the tourist visa process? Posts like this do nothing more than illuminate your hatred for all things Obama, even small but potentially meaningful efforts that would be the second coming if launched by a Republican President.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Why not open up Fort Nellis Air Force Base and the North American Aerospace Command Center in Colorado Springs to the Chinese tourist boom? I’m sure they’ll find plenty to amuse themselves with there, as well."
Don't worry. That'll happen. In fact, we're already doing it. Islamists in Chicago were given tours of FBI headquarters.
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Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTourism instead of an economy has worked out great for the Greeks. Hasn't it?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAgree 100% with what you're saying, Arthur. But, "Fort" Nellis Air Force Base? That whiff deserves a big DUDE!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseConsider tourism. Generally, what do tourists want to see and do?
1. See, or engage in recreation within, natural resources that were not put there by human ingenuity. Yes, I understand that the recreational facilities (stables, renting kayaks, whatever) are made by humans; but they would not exist if it were not for the natural resource.
2. Gasp in awe at palaces, cathedrals, tombs, and works or art that were created by humans who are long since deceased. n this regards, the current humans who maintain those exhibits are often not the descendants of the creators.
3. Spend a lot more money than is necessary to eat, drink, and watch a show. This is the only category that is truly created by current humans. But can a large society be run on this basis? Case in point: A couple of months ago, a very high end airline had a raffle for free tickets to its headquarters city. This airline caters to big spender business travelers, because the city in question is one of those new-rich oil-wealth places where not much else is going on. Few persons - and the raffle was being held at an upscale location - took advantage of entering the raffle. Quite apart from the fact that the prize, worth a few housand dollars, would be taxable; the main point is that at the destination city, there was nothing to do but stay in a fancy highrise hotel, eat very expensive meals, and maybe play golf (but all of that would be at your own expense).
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseFood for thought:
Obama has stated publicly that he doesn't support SOPA and PIPA.
Disney, as a company, is one of the greatest benefactors of various IP and Copyright laws, including the extension of said copyrights into near-perpetuity.
Disney is also the owner of the various Disney-places, like World and Land, of which The Magic Kingdom is part of.
Discuss.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePlease tell me this is a joke and Mr. Herman is not that stupid. No more tourism! yeah, that'll show those Obama-loving socialists--er, Floridian citizens!
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