Reinke Faces Life

http://reinkefj.newsvine.com/_news/2006/12/24/
494600-reviewjournalcom-opinion-vin-suprynowicz
-a-mission-for-further-economic-ruin?threadId=63373

http://tinyurl.com/yk9mqm

VIN SUPRYNOWICZ: A mission for further economic ruin

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How do we know the dollar supply is going up at 10 percent a year? We can’t be positive — Mr. Bernanke’s gang decided last February that we peasants no longer need to see this number, known as the “M-3 monetary aggregate.” But 10 percent is a reasonable extrapolation from other numbers still reported, and from what the Fed was doing 10 months ago — with even more furious printing activity likely to follow, as the proud authors of the Washington Fiscal Death Spiral seek to inflate their way out of the actuarial bankruptcy of Medicare and Social Security.

***End Quote***

Of the three things we need — honest money, private schools, and ending the dole — this article address the dishonest money we are currently using. At 10% inflation, we can’t keep anything. No wonder that real estate, stocks, collectibles, and commodities are off the chart!

http://www.mises.org/story/2419

http://tinyurl.com/wl2cy

Is High School Football a Public Good?
By Jim Fedako
Posted on 12/21/2006

Jim Fedako, a former professional cyclist who lives in Lewis Center, OH, is a member of the Olentangy Local School District and maintains a blog.

***Begin Quote***

The problem with the concept of public goods is that it misdirects the debate. In modern society, every action I take has a perceived positive or a perceived negative external effect on other members of society, and most of the time there are perceived positive and negative external effects occurring simultaneously. When I mow my lawn, one neighbor perceives the noise as a negative — reducing calm and tranquility — while another neighbor perceives my well-kept lawn as a benefit — invoking calm and tranquility.

I use the qualifier “perceive” because the whole public goods argument for coerced funding of football teams is based on the perception of the observer. The parents of the football player, the player himself, as well as local high school football fans, perceive the team and games as a positive for the community. Some say that it benefits the kids, while others say it strengthens the community. Both views see tax-funded sports, football in particular, as a winner for the community.

Yet the parent struggling to make ends meet each month, the retiree living on an inflation-robbed pension, the lover of freedom, etc., see their ever-increasing tax bill as a negative. For the parent, a child’s dental appointment goes wanting for the sake of the football team; for the retiree, the higher tax bill comes at the cost of a colder house in the winter; for lovers of freedom, additional money lifted from their wallets is another slap in the face by collectivists.

***End Quote***

This is (imho) an excellent indictment of “public skools” and their “teams”.

When everyone is forced by threat of violence, and that’s what taxes are, people have to scrimp on things they would rather do. The fact that they get the short end of the stick doesn’t make it any less painful. Like Basat’s “broken glass” fallacy, where everyone can see the beneficial economic activity in repairing a broken window, few if any see the thing that were precluded.

High School Football also creates a peer pressure. Don’t dare gripe about having to pay for it because those who want it will dump on you.

The essence of a free marketplace is that two people can make an exchange because they each perceive that they are better off after the exchange.

In the example of High School Football, where I am forced to exchange my money for the “benefit” of the team, is of little comfort if I don’t have enough food for my children to eat. It doesn’t matter if it is pennies. Let the High School Football team “tin cup” around the community and beg for funds. The alternative is there are armed thugs (the tax collectors, as bad as in the movie Robin Hood) will rob you a gun point for them. Suppose that the High School Football tax is what I need to send my child to art class, pay my magazine subscription, or contribute to my favorite charity. It really does NOT matter what I choose to do with what I would pay in the High School Football tax, it’s MY choice. Not yours!

Here in NuJerzee, we are driving people out of the state with socialism and its taxes. I’m sure that when I become a senior citizen I’ll be leaving as well. And it won’t be the weather that drives me away, it’ll will be socialism, its taxes, and its rules.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1975161,00.html

All-time high for homegrown as pot becomes top cash crop in US
Dan Glaister in Los Angeles
Tuesday December 19, 2006
The Guardian

*** begin quote ***

Marijuana is now the biggest cash crop grown in the US, exceeding traditional harvests such as wheat, corn and soy beans, says a new report.

The study shows that 10,000 tonnes of marijuana worth $35.8bn (£18.4bn) is grown each year; the street value would be even higher. This dwarfs the $23bn-worth of corn grown, $17.6bn-worth of soybeans and $12.2bn-worth of hay. Marijuana is the biggest cash crop in 12 states, with the value of pot grown outstripping peanuts in Georgia and tobacco in North and South Carolina. In California, the biggest producer, it is worth $13.8bn.

*** end quote ***

Only in America could we figure out how to make a weed the most important crop. What a joke! Yup, that “war” on drugs is really working.

Perhaps, if we really want the nation to be drug free, then we should direct Governments at all levels to try to require us to be drug addicts. In a decade, we’d be drug free. All thanks to, what I will call, “The Gooferment can’t do anything right” Law. Rule of thumb. Safe bet.

Can you answer the best question I ever heard from the boys over at Free Talk Live —- name a government program that works?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0%2C%2C2089-2508262%2C00.html

http://tinyurl.com/y97scb

The Sunday Times December 17, 2006
Tsunami survivors given the lash
Michael Sheridan and Dewi Loveard, Banda Aceh
Disaster donations help Islamic vigilante force impose punishments on women

***Begin Quote***

International aid workers and Indonesian women’s organisations are now expressing dismay that the flow of foreign cash for reconstruction has allowed the government to spend scarce money on a new bureaucracy and religious police to enforce puritan laws, such as the compulsory wearing of headscarves.

***End Quote***

So here we have donations for the victims of a natural disaster perverted into oppressing the people.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/reese/reese328.html

http://tinyurl.com/v3eyj

Put No Faith in the United Nations
by Charley Reese

***Begin Quote***

My first choice is and always has been to abrogate the treaty and withdraw from the U.N. completely. If it were merely a worthless organization, that wouldn’t be so bad, but it is a very expensive organization, which has great capacity to cause trouble.

***End Quote***

An excellent opinion, The UN is ineffective, inefficient, expensive, permits leaders to misbehave, and screws up NYC. Nuke ’em.

You have to wonder about any organization that allows murderers to be in charge of “human rights”.

Withdraw now. Stop paying. Boot ’em out.

It’s a “club” we shouldn’t be in!

http://www.steve-olson.com/how-the-public-school-system-crushes-souls/

http://tinyurl.com/yxfj6f

How the Public School System Crushes Souls
December 12th, 2006 by Steve

***Begin Quote***

When you read about the problems with American education, you usually read a bunch statistics about literacy and dropout rates. But those statistics don’t do the subject justice because the problem with American education is a human story. Every dropout is a human being, every illiterate teenager is an individual, every teen that commits suicide was somebody’s baby, and every kid that’s doing 20 to life is a real breathing person – full of potential.

***End Quote***

This is a terrible story. At the root of it, one has to recognize that the country has made a terrible mistake. Education is too important to be left to this governmental abuse.

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/WalterEWilliams/
2006/12/13/the_fairtax_book

http://tinyurl.com/ylnrks

The FairTax Book
By Walter E. Williams
Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Dr. Williams serves on the faculty of George Mason University as John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics and is the author of More Liberty Means Less Government: Our Founders Knew This Well.

***Begin Quote***

You say, “What’s Williams’ solution?” My solution is an amendment limiting federal spending to a fixed percentage, say, 10 percent of the gross domestic product. You say, “Why 10 percent?” If 10 percent is good enough for the Baptist Church, it certainly ought to be good enough for Congress.

***End Quote***

Well, I have to disagree with Professor Williams again.

Why should anyone accept being a ten percent slave?

At least, he was quick enough to detect that this abomination would give us BOTH a “Fair Tax” and eventually an income tax.

The government is force. And force is anathema to libertarians. There’s no rationale that would allow me to agree to make me and my fellow citizens slaves by any percentage.

If the government, which more rightly should be called gubamint or gooferment, has worthwhile services to offer than it should offer them in a free market.

The free market is the ultimate expression of the will of the people. All buyers and sellers freely exchange based on their own internal assessment of value. Unlike an election where there are winners and losers, the marketplace allows everyone to “win”.

Other significant objections to the Fair Tax that Professor Williams didn’t cite was:

* the prebate of zero bracket amount (i.e, the refund to poor people of taxes paid) makes everyone into a “welfare queen” and trains them to get a month check (or eft) from the government. In the marketplace, it is only by satisfying the needs of another that we “get a check”.

* the States and businesses become tax collectors for the Federal government. True the get paid to do it, but States are sovereign. And, business shouldn’t be placed in the position of robbing their customers.

* while it eliminates he social security / medicare tax, it doesn’t kill the programs or even restructure them.

* it does nothing to limit the size or growth of the Federal Government.

* we don’t have honest money so all economic calculations are using a flawed yardstick.

* It doesn’t do anything about State income taxes. (Although one could assume that repealing the 16th would make the state income taxes unconstitutional. Since the 10th is a dead letter after the 14th, the States would have to conform. Maybe?)

* The 20 -23 – 30 percent rate is dubious at best.

* It just renames the IRS.

* It hides the tax that we pay.

* It’s progressive. (That’s socialism!)

and on, and on, and on …

FROM MY LUDDITE FRIEND WHO CAN’T COMMENT:

***Begin Quote***

Hmmm….

—– Forwarded by JF/CHarrlotte on 12/11/2006 11:01 AM —–

Subject: Taxes

What Happened?

Be sure to read all the way to the end!

Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table
At which he’s fed.

Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.

Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.

Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.

Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries, then
Tax his tears.

Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass

Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won’t be done
Till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers,
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He’s good and sore.

Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he’s laid.

Put these words
Upon his tomb,
“Taxes drove me
To my doom…”

When he’s gone,
Do not relax,Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax,
Fuel permit tax
Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Interest expense
Inventory tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax) Liquor Tax Luxury Taxes Marriage License Tax Medicare Tax Property Tax Real Estate Tax Service charge taxes Social Security Tax Road usage taxes Sales Tax Recreational Vehicle Tax School Tax State Income Tax State Unemployment Tax (SUTA) Telephone federal excise tax Telephone federal universal service fee tax Telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges tax Telephone state and local tax Telephone usage charge tax Utility Taxes Vehicle License Registration Tax Vehicle Sales Tax Watercraft registration Tax Well Permit Tax Workers Compensation Tax

COMMENTS: Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, And our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What happened?

And I still have to “press 1” for English!

***End Quote***

Hey don’t gripe at me! I’m a libertarian. I’ve been telling you for eons that taxes are theft.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/molyneux/molyneux29.html

http://tinyurl.com/ylo93e

The Gun in the Room
by Stefan Molyneux

***Begin Quote***

I was recently involved in a debate with a woman about public schools. Naturally, she came up with reason after reason as to why public schools were beneficial, how wonderful they were for underprivileged children, how essential they were for social stability etc etc. Each of these points – and many more – could have consumed hour upon hour of back and forth, and would have required extensive research and complicated philosophical reasoning. But there was really no need for any of that – all I had to do was keep saying:

“The issue is not whether public schools are good or bad, but rather whether I am allowed to disagree with you without getting shot.”

Most political debates really are that simple. People don’t get into violent debates about which restaurant is best because the state doesn’t impose one restaurant on everyone – and shoot those trying to set up competing restaurants. The truth is that I couldn’t care less about this woman’s views on education – just as she couldn’t care less about my views – but we are forced to debate because we are not allowed to hold opposing views without one of us getting shot. That was the essence of our debate, and as long as it remained unacknowledged, we weren’t going to get anywhere.

***End Quote***

Libertarian have to keep pushing the concept that “governments are force; free markets are the ultimate expression of liberty”.

If I disagree with you about something in the government paradigm, one of us gets punished — financially, physically, or killed. In the case of financially, if the gubamint takes a portion of my past (i.e., my savings), my current (i.e., my time, my money, my earnings), or my future (i.e., prevents me from pursuing my dreams; makes me dependent upon the dole; restricts my thinking like the baby elephant so I can’t conceive of freedom), then I’m a slave to a greater or lesser degree. All we are discussing is degree. If the gubmaint doesn’t like my “side” of our disagreement, then it can send me to prison, or worse impoverish me. And, like David Koresh found out, being an enemy of the gubamint can get you very dead.

Contrast that to a free market:

If you and I disagree, they we can each “buy” our own custom solution. Peacefully and, in no way, infringing upon your choices. The marketplace uses that incredible complex calculus to compute what resources are applied to satisfy which needs. Eventually all markets clear supply and demand. (Rather quickly imho!) Everyone is satisfied at a price they are will to pay. The best use of scarce resources are “fairly” allocated to the most “urgent” use of them. So we get money by satisfying the needs of others and then we use that money to satisfy our own needs. The marketplace makes us free and harnesses our energy to the “right” problem. No one can drive us better than “greed”.

In some ways, one can blame poverty on gubamint, because it’s taxes and intrusions makes us “poorer”! Look at the countries in Africa for true government induced poverty.

So, in the cited example of “public education”, some are forced pay for what other’s want. With a goodly handling fee for the gubamint and all the squealing pigs involved. And, it delivers a terrible product. If public education was a car maker, no one would buy it.

If I was a poor inner-city minority, then I’d call this like Walter Williams said. “If the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan set out to destroy black academic excellence in Philadelphia, I doubt whether he could achieve as much damage.”

Why do we tolerate this non-sense?

Government forces us to!

http://www.lewrockwell.com/nicholas/nicholas21.html

The Peasant Who Stood Up to Hitler
by Justine Nicholas

***Begin Quote***

When a leader allows himself to break the rules of humanity, it is the duty of every citizen to break the leader’s rules.

So wrote Franz Jagerstatter.

***End Quote***

Never heard this story. If true, it’s powerful heady stuff. It adds a new silver bullet to my arsenal … the “Jagerstatter Principle”.