LIBERTY: Repudiate

Monday, November 1, 2010

<Broken Link>

Obstructionism reaps its reward

Posted: October 28, 2010 by Patrick J. Buchanan

*** begin quote ***

Tuesday’s election, too, will be no embrace of the GOP, but rather a repudiation of what Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi have come to represent. All are seen as power-hungry politicians of an out-of-touch regime that is seizing control of private wealth and private lives as it fails in its duty to win our wars, balance our budgets and secure our borders.

Republicans will be the beneficiaries of this repudiation, as Republicans are, almost everywhere, the only alternative on the ballot, and because they are seen correctly as having opposed the Obama agenda with near-drill-team solidarity.

Every Republican in the Senate but Arlen Specter and the ladies from Maine voted against Obama’s stimulus bill. Every Republican in the House, save eight, voted no on cap-and-trade. Every Republican on Capitol Hill voted no on Obamacare. More GOP senators opposed Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan than opposed any Supreme Court nominee in memory.

Tuesday, obstructionism reaps its reward.

*** end quote ***

It’s not like the R’s have been the great defenders of liberty. It’s just that people have zero choice. The only remedy is secession.

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LIBERTY: GPS is unreasonable search

Sunday, September 19, 2010

http://www.wxpnews.com/LEM1E6/100913-gpstracking

*** begin quote ***

Did you think government agents needed a warrant to put a GPS tracking device on your car and monitor where you go? Nope – at least not if you leave in the western United States. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that sneaking onto your property and planting such a device doesn’t require a search warrant and doesn’t violate your fourth amendment rights.

*** end quote ***

Any reasonable person would say that this is a violation. Does this make you blood boil? It’s another loss of our liberty.

What are YOU going to DO about it?

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INSPIRATIONAL: Budwiser’s 911 spot

Saturday, September 11, 2010

http://www.flixxy.com/9-11-budweiser-tribute.htm

*** begin quote ***

This is the commercial spot Budweiser produced after 9-11. They only aired it once so as not to benefit financially from it – they just wanted to acknowledge the tragic event. Wow.

*** end quote ***

I think of how I was in that very spot the day before for a job interview; it could have been me there the next day. I think of the 100+ fellow alumni and their family members who died that day. I think of the 3,000 who died that day — horribly; some driven to jump. (It was truly a miracle it wasn’t more.)

I think of the Ground Zero Mosque controversy and how everyone has forgotten Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. (It was tiny. Three pews. Twenty people was a crowd.)

I think of the outrage we should be feeling at our Gooferment that (1) The Towers are NOT rebuilt by now. With a third one, taller in the middle. As a message to our friends and enemies. (Think Rodney Dangerfield pissed off in “Back To School”.) (2) We still haven’t secured the borders. The TSA is your typical Gooferment joke. And, they think we are amused by their ineptitude. AND (3) The responders and victims haven’t been taken care of; neither have our returning Wounded Warriors.

I wonder what in the Creator’s name are people thinking.

Are we waiting for a nuke in Las Vegas?

Let’s hold our Gooferment accountable. If it’s not there to protect us, then what are we paying for? Some type of variety show in the District of Corruption and the fifty other venues. Featuring highly paid corrupt clowns pretending to to be “self sacrificing public servants”. I’m not amused.

I DEMAND:

  1. End the personal and corporate dole;
  2. Dismiss gooferment public education;
  3. Stop the various wars — foreign and domestic;
  4. Repatriate ALL the troops home;
  5. End the drug war; pardon all non-violent drug offenders;
  6. Downsize ALL gooferments; AND
  7. Eliminate all taxes but tariffs and excise.

The Gooferment won’t protect us, won’t protect our rights, and won’t do things right. So the Declaration of Independence says we can abolish it. Lets do just that … for the children. Let each State go its own way.

Secession.

It worked for the USSR. It can work for us.

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LIBERTY: The Gooferment can’t do anything right!

Monday, August 16, 2010

http://reason.com/archives/2010/08/05/private-enterprise-does-it-bet

Private Enterprise Does It Better
Why freedom and responsibility triumph over regulation and central planning
John Stossel | August 5, 2010

*** begin quote ***

In Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity, I bet my readers $1,000 that they couldn’t name one thing that government does better than the private sector.

I am yet to pay.

Free enterprise does everything better.

Why? Because if private companies don’t do things efficiently, they lose money and die. Unlike government, they cannot compel payment through the power to tax.

Even when a private company operates a public facility under contract to government, it must perform. If it doesn’t, it will be “fired”—its contract won’t be renewed. Government is never fired.

*** end quote ***

I can’t think of a single thing it does well?

Even if I could think of something it accomplishes, then we have to examine that “accomplishment” under the dual lens of effectiveness and efficiency.

I think the Gooferment is sadly lacking. Whatever it attempt to do, it screws it up.

It’s all rooted in the concept that it can initiate force in our name on others. Once that mistake is made, all it’s efforts are poisoned.

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LIBERTY: The Gooferment is the new plantation owner for all of us

Saturday, August 14, 2010

http://dumpdc.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/abolishing-slavery/

Abolishing Slavery by Patrick Samuels, author of: “Memories of a Former American”

*** begin quote ***

Our society no longer operates under a system of economic liberty. We live under a system of collectivism in which all property is owned by the society as a whole, the collective, the state. Call it socialism, call it communism, but don’t call it capitalism. Consider all your significant property. You don’t own your house even if the mortgage is paid. If you don’t pay your property taxes, your house reverts to the ownership of the state. You merely rent it. You only have use of your car at the behest of the state. If you don’t pay the necessary fees, that car cannot leave the driveway. The paycheck your receive is the property of the state first and after they have “deducted” their portion, your receive your allowance. The harder you work, the smaller, percentage wise, is your allowance. Even your allowance is spent according to the dictates of the “master”. He now requires you to buy health insurance and scolds or prohibits you from buying things he deems dangerous or risky. You have little privacy as all medical records and financial transactions are now at his fingertips. We have been fooled into thinking we are free because we have a thousand channels on our televisions and a hundred different cell phone plans; just bread and circuses. How different are we than the black slave working at Jefferson’s Monticello? He lived in a hut not his own, couldn’t travel without permission, ate what he was told, was dependent on his master for any health care and until he died, never received anything close to the value of his labor.

Today, our masters are not the aristocracy, the plantation owners, the rich. In our republic, our masters are the mob and the politicians who manipulate them for power.

*** end quote ***

Gooferment steals our wealth for services, that we may or may not want, performed badly and at prices we can’t afford or don’t want to pay.

How is that “liberty”?

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LIBERTY: The pseudo “War” on (SOME) drugs

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

http://freekeene.com/2010/08/03/keenes-latest-drug-war-victims/

Keene’s Latest Drug War Victims
August 3, 2010 by Ian Freeman

*** begin quote ***

If there were no War on Drugs, drugs could be sold legally anywhere. People could go to the corner store, for instance, to buy their marijuana and other drugs. They would be manufactured safely and distributed with usage recommendations, just like aspirin. They’d also be cheap because in the regular market competition brings prices down when the distributors aren’t jacking their rates due to risk of arrest.

Since unfortunately there IS a War on Drugs, criminal thugs are frequently the only way to acquire the drugs that people are looking for. This is because criminals are the ones most willing to risk arrest to do business. Since people are going to do drugs regardless of their legal status, this puts a lot of buyers in serious danger of being ripped off, or worse. The Keene Sentinel reports on the “or worse” part of drug prohibition. When was the last time the clerk at Walgreens beat the shit out of a customer trying to buy some aspirin?

*** end quote ***

This sparks my continued opposition to the PWOSD (“Pseudo War On Some Drugs”).

As usual, I’ll trot out my big three points: It’s immoral, ineffective, and inefficient. As with all Gooferment efforts as well as anything based on other than voluntary agreement between two or more people, it just doesn’t achieve the stated aims.

IMMORAL

Do you own your own body? If so, then NO ONE has the right to tell you what you can or can not put in your body.

A gangs of costumed people kill and maim in our name. Funded by wealth stolen from us. All under the guise of “savings us from the scourge of drugs”.

Prisons a full of minorities. Full of non-violent offenders. And, the inner cities are destroyed by the PWOSD.

INEFFECTIVE

The addiction rates have been constant over eons. How can they claim the PWOSD has any effect.

Children die from drugs cut with rat poison or drugs with unknown potency. “Illegal” drugs kill. There’s no second chance form that mistake. Legalization would put “clean” “safe” drugs out there.

Drug Lords and Terrorists are empowered by the money funneled to them by “illegal” drugs. Let WalMart put them in the poor house.

Doing “illegal” drugs has the allure of the forbidden. “Legalizing” eliminates the attraction.

INEFFICIENT

Prohibition didn’t work for alcohol; it CAN NOT work for some drugs.

The militarized police are running roughshod over the citizens’ rights.

Graft subverts the police, politicians and bureaucrats.

“Illegal” drugs should cost should be comparable to aspirin. At those prices, it should be able to hold a job while being an addict.

Money spent of punishment could be spent on rehabilitation.

AND IT JUST DOESN’T WORK

Can anyone think it does? Children tell me it’s easier for them to get pot than alcohol. How can that be? It just doesn’t work. Put WalMart, Walgreens, Duane Reade, CVS, … in charge of selling them and I’m sure they can do a great job of keeping it out of the hands of children. Prohibition doesn’t work. Ever see kids with cigarettes?

Argh!

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LIBERTY: Stefan Molyneux

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

http://freekeene.com/2010/08/05/important-video-the-sunset-of-the-state/

Stefan Molyneux (born September 24, 1966) is a Canadian blogger, essayist, author, and host of the Freedomain Radio[2] series of podcasts, living in Mississauga, Southern Ontario.

# – # – #

He may be the most powerful Libertarian thinker in my time. TO envision a world without Gooferment is either loony or insightful. Either way, here’s a challenging 10 minute video that challenges the assumption of Gooferment.

Makes you think about evolution and revolution.

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RANT: Hospitals catching the “indentification” disease

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick is becoming a police state.

Today we have new “rules”!

Argh!

First is that everyone has to “sign in”. Now that’s not too bad for the casual visitor; regulars have to wait in line. Argh! Shades of the TSA at the airport.

# # # # #

REWRITTEN

BUT, in concept it’s a bad policy. 10AM ensures that you’ll miss any of the doctors on their morning rounds. (I usually am their between 7 and 8 to catch them as they roll thru.) 9PM ensures that you’ll miss any of the stuff that goes on at night. (I recently sat with Frau until 3AM after they started a transfusion and gave her a sleeping pill.) Sorry but “one size” doesn’t recognize that my spouse has a complicated medical problem and the hospital is just not trustworthy enough to operate without supervision. Everyone tries hard, but it’s complicated and confusing with lots of different “hands”. American medicine doesn’t have a holistic approach where one person is the “quarterback”. The patient and their “advocates” have to be on top of everything.

BUT, more than anything, it’s about the “we’re going to tell you what to do”! Maybe they can get away with it. I’ll know tomorrow when I tell them that they are not meeting my and my patient’s needs. None of the “leadership” was available at 11PM when my wife was transferred out of MICU and a nurse informed me of the visiting hours. It’s demeaning and just one more loss of liberty. AND, it’s immoral, ineffective, and inefficient.

  • Immoral in that you are unilaterally enforcing rules that have not been agreed to in a voluntary fashion.
      
  • Ineffective because you have uneven enforcement and undocumented exceptions.
  • Inefficient in that it’s over reaching the need (i.e., secure the hospital from strangers by keeping out most “civilians”).

And, it’s not like you have a lot of choice. Saint Peters University Hospital has the same “identification requirement”. The Gooferment has limited the number of hospitals and they can’t be run like a McDonalds. So you have no choice. Like the Credit Card companies, politicians and bureaucrats make their problem yours. (Why don’t we have pictures on credit cards?)

So, why not “triage” visitors by the patient’s medical condition, patient’s mental condition, who the visitor is (e.g., spouse), and why would a sensible policy be. Why not have a more automated system? Why not badge relatives for chronic patients differently? Why not open visiting for caregivers? Why the police state?

Sorry, but it’s just wrong. No one wants food delivery people floating around the hospital at strange hours. And, in some cases, that policy might be appropriate. I’m not looking for a confrontation or a fight, but it may come to that. I bet they have exceptions already. Are parents of new borns restricted? Pediatrics? CCU and MIC may have a more liberal policy? Now if my wife was in for a bunion removal, I’d probably be a little less cranked up. But maybe not.

Are they running a hospital or a jail?

And, once they take Gooferment money and operate under Gooferment diktats, they become an agent of the Gooferment. Hence, everyone has their Constitutional rights. So what gives them the right to keep certain folks out? They can’t claim it’s private property.

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POLITICAL: An unholy attempt to fix the Constitution in a back room! Cui bono? (Updated!)

Sunday, August 1, 2010

MY ORIGINAL JULY POSTING

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/07/mass_may_join_e.html

Mass. may join effort to bypass Electoral College
By Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

*** begin quote ***

Supporters are waging a state-by-state campaign to try to get such bills enacted. Once states possessing a majority of the electoral votes (or 270 of 538) have enacted the laws, the candidate winning the most votes nationally would be assured a majority of the Electoral College votes, no matter how the other states vote and how their electoral votes are distributed.

*** end quote ***

The political elite are seeking to rewrite the Constitution via backroom deals and open conspiracy to disenfranchise the “small states”.

When will we learn NOT to mess with the wisdom of the Dead Old White Guys. They were possible the smartest men ever assembled in one lucky place at the right time in history. We can go thru the Amendments passed, and one unpassed, as a litany to pure collective stupidity.

The Political Effete and the Party Powerbrokers would love nothing better than to have to win the popular vote in California, Chicago, New York, and host of other corrupt places to be assured of a national win. Ballot box stuffing and recounts on a National basis would become the norm. Argh!

The Electoral College was put in to protect the small states. The Constitution would have never been adopted without that design. I don’t know if they intended it, but it does firewall ballot box stuffing. Go ahead and stuff all you want in Massachusetts, you’ll only get 12 Electoral votes. Now if this change was adopted, that stuffing could determine the national election. Ever read any stories where there were more votes than registered voters (Say “hi” to Al Franken) or a large “graveyard vote” (Sam Rayburn and LBJ) or “voting machine breakdowns” in the non-machine party’s precincts? How about “keep counting until you get the answer you want then stop”?No, that could never happen in America!

And who is to tabulate and certify that grand total that all the conspiratorial states will use to determine their votes?

Argh! How stupid can we be!

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UPDATE 01 August 2010

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/08/01/massachusetts_for_palin

Massachusetts for Palin?
By Jeff Jacoby
Globe Columnist / August 1, 2010

*** begin quote ***

IT IS Election Night, 2012. The polls have closed. State by state, the votes are being counted, and gradually it becomes clear, to the bottomless horror of some voters and the unbridled delight of others, that Sarah Palin, the Republican presidential nominee, has bested President Barack Obama in the popular vote nationwide.

In Massachusetts, where Obama crushed Palin in a 79 percent landslide — the most lopsidedly anti-Palin vote of any state — “bottomless horror’’ doesn’t begin to describe the political reaction. For in 2010, Massachusetts joined the National Popular Vote compact, making a commitment to cast all of its electoral votes for the presidential candidate receiving the most votes nationally, regardless of the results in Massachusetts. The compact took effect in December 2011, when California became the 15th state to join, thereby uniting enough states to control a majority of the Electoral College. Now Massachusetts, the bluest of the blue states, must award its presidential electors to a candidate Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly opposed.

*** end quote ***

ROFL!

Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution passed by the Republicans, to prevent a repeat of FDR’s four terms, term limited Ike. And, has dramatically altered the political landscape by making the President a “lame duck” in his second term.

That’s the best example of political stupidity.

The above Palin scenario would be absolutely hysterical.

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RANT: Who speaks for all women?

Sunday, August 1, 2010

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Newest-Vatican-document-is-last-straw-for-women-99538714.html

Newest Vatican document is last straw for women
By DANIEL O’CARROLL, IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Thursday, July 29, 2010, 8:14 AM

*** begin quote ***In a strongly worded article in today’s Irish Times, Dr Mary Condren of the Centre for Gender and Women’s Studies in Trinity College Dublin, the Republic of Ireland’s foremost university, said that such “misogynist” attitudes by the Church were legitimizing violence and discrimination worldwide and called for an end to the Church’s use of Gospel to justify discrimination, as she saw it.

*** end quote ***

Isn’t it a bit presumptuous for the male writer to presume to speak for all woman?

And, further, maybe there are some women who like the status quo?

I’m a little L libertarian and I suggest that we leave “women” alone to figure out what they want and then they can do it. Frankly, if women are that upset and leave the Church in significant numbers, then it will pinch them in their pocketbook. That might end the old boys club.

As for me, I don’t think that they have to end it.

Just leave well enough alone.

Not everything has to conform to the new political correctness.

As a private organization, “they”, who ever “they” are, can set the rules how ever “they” want. Unlike the Gooferment, “they” can’t use force to compel anything.

Now, I DO think that a society that puts half its population in head to toe sacks is depriving itself of half its creative energy. Just as I think the society that puts the largest number of people in the world in cages deprives itself of a huge pool of “human resources”.

1. Restore us to “honest” commodity money;

2. End the personal and corporate dole;

3. Stop the various wars — foreign and domestic — repatriate the troops home;

4. End the drug war; pardon all non-violent drug offenders;

5. Transition out of gooferment public education;

6. Downsize ALL gooferments;

7. Eliminate all taxes but tariffs and excise.

We don’t have a lot of time and energy to waste. We have to rescue ourselves form all the tragic and horrible mistakes that we and our forefathers have made.

We have to restore the American Dream.

It all starts with the use of force to compel people to do things. Anything. The Government’s sole role is to protect We, The People from force or fraud. That’s it. Once it goes beyond that it becomes the Gooferment

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RANT: Gooferment swimming pools?

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

http://wcbstv.com/topstories/pool.armed.guards.2.1799352.html

Jul 13, 2010 6:40 am US/Eastern
Armed Guards At Pools After Lifeguard Attack

*** begin quote ***

BUFFALO, N.Y. (CBS/AP) ―

Armed security guards have been posted at public pools in Buffalo after a lifeguard was pulled into the water by rowdy teenagers and other unruly behavior prompted safety concerns for parks employees.

*** end quote ***

Why is the Gooferment running a swimming pool? Why does the Gooferment try to operate anything? Why do we have the modern day equivalent of the Roman “Bread and Circuses”?

Argh!

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LIBERTY: Gooferment should get out of the “marriage” business

Monday, July 12, 2010

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/07/judge_declares_3.html

Judge declares US gay-marriage ban is unconstitutional
July 8, 2010 06:55 PM
By Michael Levenson, Globe Staff

*** begin quote ***

A federal district court judge in Boston today struck down the 1996 federal law that defines marriage as a union exclusively between a man and a woman. Judge Joseph L. Tauro ruled that the federal Defense of Marriage law violates the Constitutional right of married same-sex couples to equal protection under the law and upends the federal government’s long history of allowing states to set their own marriage laws.

*** and ***

Today, a Justice Department spokeswoman, Tracy Schmaler, declined to comment on Tauro’s ruling, saying in a statement, “We’re reviewing the decision.”

*** end quote ***

Interesting how the Obama administration is “studying” this one. Studying how it can let it stand. Since it aligns with their identity politics. Isn’t Kagan the Solicitor General? Doesn’t she have to appeal that. Talk about a conflict!

As a little L libertarian, it’s always been my assertion that the Gooferment has no business in the definition of “marriage”. Churches do marriage; not Gooferment. Remember the purposes of “marriage licenses” was, in the South, to keep black men from marrying white women.

The tax code confers benefits to “marriages” that are inexcusable. The Gooferment already has “corporations”. That it favors with tax breaks and stuff. Perhaps it can just extend “corporate status” to individuals. Like a subschapter S.

Or me could just remove the tax favored status of marriage and simplify the tax code.

See, bottom line, it’s really the right of the people to be left alone and to make their choices without the Gooferment trying to influence those choices by picking winners and losers. Or, the things it “likes” better than other things. Gooferment fails at everything; so why is this any different.

It’s always about force. In this case, forcing people to do what the people in chage of the levers of Gooferment want them to do.

A recipe for disaster.

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RANT: Janeane Garofalo, suitable for ostracism

Thursday, July 8, 2010

*** begin quote ***

Janeane Garofalo to take on ‘Criminal Minds’ role

Wednesday, June 30, 2010, 7:01 AM

Janeane Garofalo is considering a deal to join a CBS “Criminal Minds” crime drama spin-off. The actress-comedienne has starred iin “24,” though she’s most well know for her stand-up comedy and her roles in films such as “The Truth about Cats and Dogs.”

*** end quote ***

While everyone has First Amendment right, we have rights too.

She is such a loon. And, I have heard her make disgusting editorials.

So I am exercising my rights to shun her.

So should you!

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RANT: It’s always about the “something else”

Monday, July 5, 2010

http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/106887-health-law-risks-turning-away-sick

Health law risks turning away sick
By Julian Pecquet – 07/01/10 07:13 PM ET

*** begin quote ***

The Obama administration has not ruled out turning sick people away from an insurance program created by the new healthcare law to provide coverage for the uninsured.

Critics of the $5 billion high-risk pool program insist it will run out of money before Jan. 1, 2014. That’s when the program sunsets and health plans can no longer discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions.

*** and ***

“Along with that, we can work with the states to adjust their benefit structure, the deductibles, the co-pays, the overall plan structure to address some of those cost drivers, again to help the plan make it to 2014, when it will no longer be needed.”

In addition, Popper said, many people won’t be able to afford to participate in the program since premiums will range between about $140 and $900 a month, depending on applicants’ age and where they live. HHS estimates that at least 200,000 people will be in the program at any one time. To be eligible, applicants have to be citizens or nationals of the United States or be lawfully present; have a pre-existing medical condition; and have been uninsured for at least six months before applying for the high-risk pool plan.

*** and ***

If it looks like too many people are signing up — states will get monthly updates on how many people they can cover with the money they have left — there’s always the option of turning people down.

The bill “does give the secretary authority to limit enrollment in the plan … nationally or on a state-by-state basis,” Popper said. “So that is present, but at this point, we’re starting with no one in the plan as of today … so we don’t see that happening anytime soon.”

*** end quote ***

One giant criticism of BHO44 and his Obamacare is that it had muddled objectives. Was it about “health”, “health care”, “health care insurance”, or something else. Us, tin foil hats, believe it’s the “something else”.

By not being specific about their objectives, they don’t have to be specific about their results. We, The People have allowed our elected representatives to get away with this muddled thinking. And, as such, we once again find ourselves faced with a confused mess. Argh!

I believe this is all about “control”. By centralizing one seventh of the economy, the politicians and bureaucrats are in control of our lives. By controlling “health care” and “health care insurance”, they control us.

Remember the three “laws” of political motivation: (1) reward your friends; (2) punish your enemies; and (3) feather your own nest. Clearly, this wins on all three fronts.

By controlling “health care” and “health care insurance”, they create a voting block. Look what Social Security and Medicare has done to create a “senior citizen” voting block for the Democratic Party. Look at Florida. Created by Social Security. That’s the power to reward yor friends — the incumbent politicians. Never mind the endless opportunities for graft, corruption and outright theft for the .

By controlling “health care” and “health care insurance”, they have won a war with the Catholic Church and Right To Life groups over abortion. The “sacrament” of the modern liberal feminist, enshrined by Roe v Wade, will now be fully funded to the abhorrence of Right To Life taxpaying advocates. That’s punishing your enemy — the Religious Right.

By controlling “health care” and “health care insurance”, they have created endless bureaucratic positions. Of course, to be filled by “them”, their friends ‘n’ family, and their supporters. And, created countless opportunities for lobbyists to fill their pockets as they create loopholes, exceptions, and prohibitions. That’s feathering, with some pretty comfortable feathers.

Silly Taxpayer, you didn’t think this was about anything as trivial as helping sick people now did you?

By pulling the Sheeple’s own wool over the Sheeple’s eyes, they are able to sheer the Sheeple some more.

See if the objective was “health”, “health care”, or “health care insurance”, then it would be relatively easy and cheap to address the issue. For “health”, address the root cause of poor health — we have to make it a national priority to find out what that was. (I’d say “gooferment skrules”, but that’s another story.) If it was “health care”, then perhaps better records, uniform forms, or — shocked hush — eliminating medical licensing. If it is was “health care insurance” slash cost, then we could change the tax law to make everyone their own subchapter S copr and make cost of earning a living deductible to all. If it is was “health care insurance” slash cost, then the gooferment could just buy poor people health insurance as part of the federal health insurance system. (Whoopi Goldberg had it right: “What the hell! I just want what you <Congressmen> got. <for health insurance>. Way to nail the issue, Whoopster!)

See it’s always about something else!

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LIBERTARIAN: DoI’s “an inalienable right to life” when, and under what circumstances?

Friday, June 25, 2010

http://www.tidewaternews.com/news/2010/jun/12/extremist-libertarianism/

Extremist libertarianism By Steve Stewart | Tidewater News Published Saturday, June 12, 2010 Steve Stewart is publisher of The Tidewater News. His e-mail address is steve.stewart@tidewaternews.com

*** begin quote ***

If an adult chooses not to wear a life jacket — or a seat belt or a motorcycle helmet — that’s one thing. He is old enough to weigh the risks and make a decision. It’s his life. An 8-year-old kid isn’t equipped to make that decision. When a reckless parent doesn’t see fit to take a simple step that will save a kid from drowning, I have no problem with the state saying he must.

Libertarian instincts aside, I disagree with Pollard. The collective wisdom of society does occasionally trump the not-so-common sense of an individual. In such cases, there oughta be a law.

*** end quote ***

The death of child is tragic. The unnecessary death is even more so.

That being said, we don’t worry about the preventable deaths of children in war, collateral damage, boycotts, embargoes, aboortion, the war against (some) drugs, poverty, swimming pools, car accidents, DWI, bathtubs, and … the ultimate killers … pais of water in the home!

(Before you say I’m absurd, please look up the most frequent cause of accidental drownings.)

SO what we have here is the political class saying they know better how to raise your child. We’ve already established that there is no EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE of a problem, no evidence that this law will solve more problems than it corrects, nor any evidence that the “law” would have any practical impact at all.

Now I understand that in the Declaration of Independence, “we”, (as if there was such a thing as “we”), assert that there is “an inalienable right to life”. (Isn’t it amusing when you quote their own documents back to the Statists and Socialists?) We have never agreed on when those “inalienable rights” inure to the “person”.

Is the legislator trying to state an answer to that question by preempting parental decision making?

The busybody politicians and bureaucrats are trying to run everything. With the fatal conceit. What did Thomas Sowell call it. “Conceit of the Anointed” Or Walter Williams. “The bottom line is that the idea that government bureaucrats have enough knowledge to manage an economy well is the height of conceit — what Nobel Laureate Friedrich Hayek called the “fatal conceit.” I’d call it the “conceit of the elite” that they would know better how to run your life than you do. With all their fancy “laws” (not like natural Laws), rules, regulations, diktats, or no-nos. And stuff still happens,

When you try to force someone to do something, even something that they would have wanted to do if left alone, they rebel. Because, instinctively, in their DNA, they “know” where that leads to: being a slave, mistreatment, and eventually the death camps. That’s why calling someone a Nazi is such a powerful slur. Like racist. Because you can IMMEDIATELY associate a picture with a label. And, we all know where it ends.

So, this politician tries to mandate “life jackets” for kids and we can trace it to its logical conclusion killing children in Auschwitz. May sound far fetched, but to me it’s as logical an outcome as any chemical reaction, the drips that cause stalactites and stalagmites. (Tites are tight to the ceiling) Or ants building a mound.

Drip, drip, drip. We lose out freedom. As Guliver is tied down thread by thread. No single drip, no single thread, no single “law” is enough to fight about. Like a parasite in a host, slowly eating it to death.

So the answer to every new intrusion, must be a firm “No”. “Never”. “Buzz off”.

“but it’s for the children”?

Well how about all these other “for the children” items that you don’t seem to care about.

Argh!

Take your gooferment off our liberty!

“I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.” — Robert A. Heinlein

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LIBERTY: The USA has been overthrown; by professional politicians and bureaucrats

Thursday, June 24, 2010

http://www.keywestlou.com/2010/06/i-slept-late.html

My Life in Key West
Thursday, June 24, 2010
I slept late.

*** begin quote ***

President Obama did the right thing yesterday in the General saga. He was correct to replace McCrystal. The chain of command has to be followed. Civilian control of the military has to be respected.

I dislike a professional army. And we have one. There is always the danger of a military take over. Trust my concern. That is how revolutions occur in many countries. And with all the crazy factions out there today, it is a possibility.

I have spoken of this concern on the radio show and in this blog in the past. Just beware. Ever cautious.

The solution to the possible danger is simple. Return to the draft. Or perhaps one or two years of compulsory service starting at 18. If such occurred, our military would be less a possible danger to democracy. It would also result in less wars. Politicians would be less inclined to get us involved if their contstituent’s children would definitely have to serve.

*** end quote ***

>I dislike a professional army. And we have one.

Interesting that the Dead Old White Guys felt the same way. The Army was supposed to be disbanded after two years. And yet we have one? Navy was OK Constitutionally.

AND, don’t over look what the Dead Old White Guys may have found inconceivable. FBI, DEA, and all such bureaucrats with guns. Do not forget the KGB! Err, I mean Homeland Security and the TSA.

We should be afraid. Very afraid. You’d have thought that Obama coming form the Left side of the aisle, the side supposedly for Civil Liberties, would have dismantled some of these “Bush” or right wing intrusions. But, NO! Demonstrating that both sides of the aisle (supposedly separate and distinct “hate each other” political parties) merely want to take power over others. They are all alike: reward their friends, punish their enemies, and feather their own nests.

>There is always the danger of a military take over.

I’d suggest that we have been “taken over”. Not by the military, but by a class of professional politicians. They don’t follow the Constitution. (Lysander Spooner was right!) And, they do what they want and loot the public treasury at will. (If you think not, explain the so called “health care” vote. Most don’t want it. It wasn’t about “health”, “health care”, or even “health care insurance”. It WAS about seizing the power to control people by restricting their “heath care”. Just like any totalitarian.) No we need a “French Revolution” where these new aristocrats are removed from power.

>Just beware. Ever cautious.

I think the time for “awareness” is long over. If we are to have ANY hope of liberty, the Tea Parties must succeed in turning Congress into a revolving door. One term and your gone. Reduce the size of gooferment by a half or two thirds. Renege on the debt; end the Fed; and return to honest money. Stop the drug war and empty the prisons of non-violent offenders.

>The solution to the possible danger is simple. Return to the draft.

Oh, how could you advocate a return to slavery? Have you forgotten the lessons of the VietNam war? Remember Bush in the National Guard? Sure, the elite’s children will never go to war. And, like anyone cared about killing their constituents’ kids!

> Or perhaps one or two years of compulsory service starting at 18.

Slavery! My personal bias is that only combat vets should vote. Like Heinlein wrote. http://tinyurl.com/p4n8e

“Interestingly, Heinlein also received some complaints about the lack of conscription in Starship Troopers (the military draft was the law in the United States when he wrote the novel).[50] Heinlein was always vehemently opposed to the idea of conscription (calling conscripts “slave soldiers” and arguing that a nation which was not able to find volunteers to fight for it did not deserve to endure).’

Or how about this?

“No man or group of men—including any group of men calling themselves “the government”—is morally entitled to initiate (that is, to start) the use of physical force, the threat of force, or any substitute for force (such as fraud) against any other man or group of men.” The Market for Liberty” Linda & Morris Tannehill 1970

May I suggest a short less than ten minute video? “An Animated Introduction to the Philosophy of Liberty” http://www.isil.org/resources/introduction.swf

It is a simple yet intelligent introduction to libertarian ideas.

Perhaps, it might change your thinking?

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LIBERTY: What is this thing called “government”; the Gooferment

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

“No man or group of men—including any group of men calling themselves “the government”—is morally entitled to initiate (that is, to start) the use of physical force, the threat of force, or any substitute for force (such as fraud) against any other man or group of men.”

“The Market for Liberty” Linda & Morris Tannehill (1970)

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RANT: Independence Day?

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

A fellow alumni shared his thoughts for the Fourth. I’m not sure if I agree with his “patriotic” take on the day, the vet, and patriotism. I tapped out a response. Maybe it is harsh. But it’s authentic.

>considering some of the problems we Veterans have had in displaying things, I

The flag limitations are outrageous.

>Happy 4th of July!….

It’s Independence Day. But with the Gooferment taking an obscene percentage of our income and wealth (it’s incalcuable with taxes and fees hidden everywhere) and the large prison population (by number and percentage) and the 52/48 split between welfare / work and the huge number of gooferment “employees” and the national debt and the unfunded liabilities, it’s hard to say “independence” with a straight face.

Since 1970, the dollar has lost 98% of it’s value. The Constitution says only gold and silver are money. The income tax has been a disaster of special interest meddling. The death tax has destroyed more family farms and small business than can be counted. The debt and unfunded liabilities make us serfs. Corporate taxes bury taxes in both every day items and the capital cost of everything that makes stuff. And don’t get me started on welfare with its four generations of “welfare farmers”, corporatism, and the disabling of America. Or the psuedo war on (some) drug and how that impacts our “freedom”.

>I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE

The Pledge is un-American. Written by an American Nazi flag salesman. TO indoctrinate school children. The whole American education system is designed to create dummies. Cannon fodder for the Army and the factories. Designed to be led by the Elite! Argh!

>For all of our other military personnel, where ever they may be.

We need to bring the troops home. And, engage in George Washington’s dictum “trade will all; no entangling alliances”. We need to be the Swiss porcupine.

>Support all of the troops defending our Country.

In case we don’t notice, the borders are being over run and the troops are NOT “defending”. At least, not “defending” us.

>our Military who are protecting our Country for our Freedom.

Ditto. With all the gooferment intrusions into civil society, we’ve lost our freedom. Have you noticed: “free speech zones”, “the surveillance society”, traveled through an airport, tried to carry a gun, or plan your finances with what the gooferment leaves you? Freedom, liberty?

>Thanks to them, and their sacrifices, we can celebrate the 4th of July.

They’ve been duped as have we. Doesn’t make them, and their sacrifices, any less noble.

>We must never forget who gets the credit for the freedoms we have,

Dead Old White Guys?

>of which we should be eternally grateful.

The unique American experiment in liberty. Never occurred anywhere else. Lost to the tyranny of “free lunch” socialism.

>I looked at him in uniform;

And was … … sad. Look at how we treat the wounded warriors. It’s a national disgrace.

>had fallen through the years.

In wars made by deceptive stupid politicians. Did I mention I like Heinlein’s idea that “only combat vets can vote and be allowed to hold public office”? Certainly would make for a lot less “wars”. And, all “wars” should be Constitutionally declared; not fought by tacit agreement. Last “war” that was fought was WW2.

>How many died on foreign soil;

Inexcusable!

>how many mothers’ tears?

Absolutely inexcusable!!

>No, freedom isn’t free.

No, it’s been sold in the halls of Congress and we are made serfs by their perfidy and treason!

>When a flag had draped a coffin of a brother or a friend.

Is brought home in the dead of night, hidden by the media when the right flavor of politician is in office, and wasted by these venial corrupt men and women. Where’s the outrage? I think the President, the Senators of that State, and the Congressional Rep, the Govenor, State reps, and mayor should “welcome” every body home and attend EVERY funeral. If that’s all they did, that would be fine. Maybe then they’d get the “message”?

>Enjoy Your Freedom

I don’t feel very “free”!

>God Bless Our Troops.

With enlightenment.

>say a prayer for our servicemen.

Every night. That they get home safe. Now!

>I HOPE THERE ISN’T ANYONE ON MY E-MAIL LIST THAT WON’T KEEP THIS GOING

I hope that everyone practices “intelligent patriotism.

I hope this comes across as I intended it.

250px-Gadsden_flag_large

Let’s get back to the Dead Old White Guys’ design.

Betsy-Ross-flag-icon

Hope this gets passed around as well. Are you feeling “free”? With Obamacare coming soon?

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RANT: Perp walks for kids?

Thursday, June 17, 2010

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/views/os-mike-thomas-juvenile-arrest-06151020100615,0,4905741.column

Handling of ‘abduction’ case involving teen has been absurd
Mike Thomas
COMMENTARY
June 15 2010

*** begin quote ***

I know that in this paranoid world, you never approach a small child who is by herself, take her by the hand and walk out of a store with her in search of mommy.

*** end quote ***

Now I sent this to a budding little L libertarian who thinks highly of the cops.

*** begin quote ***

From: little L libertarian fat old white guy injineer
Subject: Handling of ‘abduction’ case involving teen has been absurd
To: budding little L libertarian
Date: Wednesday, June 16, 2010, 2:22 AM

Cops over reacting and then violating their own rules, laws, and the accused ‘s rights. Argh! And, you like these guys?

*** end quote ***

And the response was:

*** begin quote ***

You have really become over-biased….I read the entire article and there is absolutely nothing wrong here.

*** end quote ***

To which I responded:

*** begin quote ***

Doing a perp walk on a 14 year old?

That’s against the FL “law”, their own regs, and human decency.

For a mistake?

And, at the time if they didn’t know! (No fault there.) But they had a legal and moral obligation to protect BOTH children until the facts were sorted out.

They were so swelled with their own ego. I’m surprised they didn’t have flogging or worse right there. I’m upset by the fact that you see nothing wrong!

*** end quote ***

Argh!

The police are out of control bureaucrats in funny costumes designed to impress us and bluff us in to subservience!

Argh squared!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Automatic DUI check for all accidents?

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

http://www.suntimes.com/2354708,thanksgiving-day-crash-charges-dropped-060410.article

*** begin quote ***

Prosecutors made two attempts to prove that Ardelean did. After the two-vehicle fatal crash Nov. 22 in Roscoe Village, Ardelean was charged with misdemeanor DUI — later upgraded to a felony. But those charges were dismissed when Cook County Judge Don Panarese ruled there was “no indication” Ardelean, who was off-duty at the time, was drunk. Prosecutors reinstated charges after saying they had a lengthy surveillance videotape showing Ardelean drinking five shots and other drinks at a North Side bar shortly before the crash.

Prosecutors also suggested in pretrial hearings that police the night of the crash turned a blind eye to Ardelean’s intoxication. Among other things, he wasn’t arrested or given a Breathalyzer until seven hours after the crash. But Gainer ruled in April that the supervising officer who ultimately made the arrest didn’t have strong enough evidence to do so. Gainer’s ruling also suppressed key blood-alcohol evidence.

*** end quote ***

You’d think that ANY police involved accident would have an immediate blood test. Or, they are fired! Caesar’s wife must be above reproach. Ditto for ANY politician or bureaucrat!

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LIBERTY: Markets allow peaceful cooperation

Sunday, June 13, 2010

http://freekeene.com/free-audiobook/

“The Market for Liberty”
Linda & Morris Tannehill (1970)

*** begin quote ***

Government: An Unnecessary Evil

There was once a time when it was widely believed the world was flat and the sun revolved around the earth. Now we know better and most reasonable people have rejected these ideas. Similarly, most people have rejected the once widely accepted idea of slavery, and rightfully so. If you’re like most people, your government high school history classes probably taught you that slavery was abolished years ago. Government people wouldn’t lie to you, would they?

The book you are about to listen to explodes the myths of government. Its message is simple:

“Government is an unnecessary evil and freedom is the best and most practical way of life.” Spread this idea, and we can change the world. That is why I’ve taken the time to create this audio book. These days, many people do not have time to read and it would be a shame to allow such a brilliant work to continue to gather dust on the shelves of history.

*** end quote ***

Gooferment is the meme that kills.

It’s hard to imagine a person, killing millions, without the assistance of a “government” to help him.

Genocides, Purges, Killing Fields, and such are only possible by gooferment. Even religious wars can’t match the numbers.

Liberty and Free Markets allow humans to peacefully cooperate with each other.

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LIBERTY: Dr. Mary Ruwart’s “Healing Our World”

Monday, June 7, 2010

http://freekeene.com/2010/05/19/world-exclusive-healing-our-world-now-in-kindle-and-epub-formats/

FK EXCLUSIVE: “Healing Our World” Now In Kindle and Epub Formats!

May 19, 2010 by Ian Freeman

*** begin quote ***

Thanks to Keeniac and liberty activist Abbie, we are proud to announce the world exclusives of Dr. Mary Ruwart’s awesome book, “Healing Our World” (90s edition) in Epub (.epub) and Kindle (.azw) formats! Just click your preferred format to download.

Plus, we still have the .PDF of “Healing” http://freekeene.com/files/Healing_Our_World.pdf and some other books like “The Market for Liberty” and “Complete Liberty” free in audio format as well as .PDF on our Free Books page!

*** end quote ***

Absolutely worth a read!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: You can’t record Maryland cops; even if they are abusing you

Saturday, May 29, 2010

http://reason.com/blog/2010/05/29/maryland-cops-say-its-illegal

In Spite of State Law, Maryland Law Enforcement Officials Still Arresting, Charging People for Recording Cops
Radley Balko | May 29, 2010

*** begin quote ***

Graber’s case is starting to spur some local and national media discussion of the state’s wiretapping law. As I mentioned in my column last month, his arrest came at about the same time the Jack McKenna case broke nationally. McKenna, a student at the University of Maryland, was given an unprovoked beating by police during student celebrations after a basketball game last February. McKenna would probably still be facing criminal charges and the cops who beat him would likely still be on the beat were it not for several cell phone videos that captured his beating. According to Cassily’s interpretation of the law, if any of those cell phones were close enough to record audio of the beating, the people who shot the videos are felons.

*** and ***

Whatever their motivation, their legal justification is dubious. The McKenna case is a strong argument in favor of more citizen monitoring of on-duty police. The police not only beat the kid, they then lied about it in police reports. The security camera footage of McKenna’s beating, which is controlled by University of Maryland Campus Police, mysteriously disappeared. The officer in charge of the camera system is married to one of the officers involved in the beating. Does anyone really think the charges against McKenna would have been dropped—and the officers who beat him suspended—if it weren’t for the cell phone videos?

*** end quote ***

Video recording police abuse should be applauded; not prosecuted.

It would appear that “wiretap” laws need a Federal preemption that: (1) Permits recording any interaction with a gooferment official performing their duties. (2) Permits recording any situation where there is no expectation of privacy. (3) Guarantees any citizen being taped must have suitable controls to prevent it’s “accidental” deletion when the cops don’t like what it shows.

The cops have dash cams; why not the citizens?

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INSPIRATIONAL: Liberty needs a leader

Sunday, April 25, 2010

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/04/25/
despite_forecasts_freedom_takes_more_than_technology

Despite forecasts, freedom takes more than technology
Jeff Jacoby
The Boston Globe

*** begin quote ***

It is always inspiring to encounter individuals who jeopardize their safety and freedom to speak truth to power, and the dissidents gathered on the campus of Southern Methodist University were no exception. Ahed al-Hendi, a young antigovernment activist seized by the Syrian mukhabarat — the secret police — as he was blogging in a Damascus Internet café, spent 34 days in a 2-by-3-foot jail cell. The Russian dissident Oleg Kozlovsky (who was grounded in Europe and joined the conference via Skype) has been repeatedly arrested and was even drafted by the Russian army in 2007 in order to thwart his prodemocracy activities. As former President Bush put it in opening the conference, these “are people who refuse to take the lack of freedom for granted.’’

*** end quote ***

Sorry, but I don’t see the MLK who will change this country.

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LIBERTY: EFF protecting our liberties

Monday, April 19, 2010

http://www.eff.org/

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LIBERTY: Natural law applies to economics as surely as gravity applies to ripe apples

Monday, March 8, 2010

“How is wealth destroyed and where does wealth come from?”.

http://distributedresearch.net/blog/2008/10/11/how-is-wealth-destroyed-and-where-does-wealth-come-from

Author: Ignacio Couce

*** begin quote ***

There is one and only one way of increasing wealth. Wealth increases as production increases per unit of investment per capita, be that unit of investment time spent stumbling through a forest and picking berries, or engaging in arduous labor ,or investing in capital equipment.

For example, if I spend 24 hours fishing with a hook and line, and in that time period I catch X number of fish to feed Y number of people, we can calculate my return on my investment of time and energy, and the wealth in that society represented by the availability of fish per person. Conversely, if I use the same materials, but apply 23 hours to making a net, then spend one hour fishing with that net and now catch 2X fish, the standard of living has increased for that same Y number of people (they can now enjoy twice as many fish to eat), or the population can increase while maintaining the same standard of living enjoyed by the original X number of people.

The key is the production of goods and services people actually want and value.

The signals that determine what people actually want and value are price, profit and loss. In there absence, there is no way of determining what people actually want and value — socialist societies in which these signals are not allowed to operate have proved this fact over and over again; from the USSR and Cuba to Venezuela, Greece and China, there can be no doubt that these principles cannot be denied by government edict; that in fact these principles operate weather or not the economic system is based on “the private ownership of capital.”

Natural law applies to economics as surely as gravity applies to ripe apples.

*** end quote ***

An excellent observation.

Economics is the dismal science. It’s all about scarcity. Capitalism, aka greed, is good. It satisfies human needs. Almost ruthless. Order from chaos. As everyone seeks their own best interest as they see it. Liberty!

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