GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Gooferment, Crony Capitalism, and Big Agra

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

http://tomwoods.com/podcast/ep-628-the-war-on-food-and-drink-freedom-and-one-group-thats-fighting-back/

Ep. 628 The War on Food and Drink Freedom, and One Group That’s Fighting Back
29th March 2016
Tom Woods

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The Gooferment allows: chicken raised and frozen in the USA; transported to China; butchered and refrozen; transported back to the USA for sale — without any labeling.

AND, it’s cheaper than chicken that never leaves the country?

Also, all the embedded protectionism in the State and Federal Gooferment and Big Agra.

Argh!

The little guys and “We, The Sheeple” can’t win. We are at the mercy of the Gooferment!

# – # – # – # – #  2016-Mar-30 @ 10:19   


VETERANS: VA back in the news — not for a good reason

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/30/us/report-finds-sharp-increase-in-veterans-denied-va-benefits.html?_r=0

Report Finds Sharp Increase in Veterans Denied V.A. Benefits
By DAVE PHILIPPSMARCH 30, 2016

*** begin quote ***

The rising proportion of ineligible veterans is largely due to the military’s increasing reliance on other-than-honorable discharges, which have been used as a quick way to dismiss troubled men and women who might otherwise qualify for time-consuming and expensive medical discharges.

The G. I. Bill instructed the veterans agency to care for veterans if their service was “other than dishonorable.” The agency interpreted this as excluding “other than honorable” discharges.

*** end quote ***

Three things jump off the page at me:

(1) Isn’t it convenient that they interpret the law to reduce the “veterans” expense!

(2) Once a vet is in the fight and gets hurt, why are they excluded from care? If they’d have been left home, then they might not have had that bad experience.

(3) Isn’t it all about money?

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INTERESTING: Flaws from “The Walking Dead” last night

Monday, April 4, 2016

https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/the-walking-dead-season-6-finale-negan-kills-spoilers-episode-16-1201744464/

‘The Walking Dead’ Finale: Negan Makes His Mark in Bloody Debut (SPOILERS)
 News Editor Laura Prudom News Editor @lauinla 
APRIL 3, 2016 | 07:35PM PT 

*** begin quote ***

Negan then proceeded to play his sadistic game, but the final moments of the episode switched to the perspective of his victim, showing Negan bringing down Lucille on someone’s head. As the casualty’s vision blurred and ears began to ring, blood dripped down the camera before the screen cut to black, even as the audio kept playing the sounds of impact and the rest of the survivors’ screams. Ouch.

*** end quote ***

Sorry, but you don’t go blundering around “looking” for trouble.

Guess none of the survivors ever had any military training or even read any of the many field manuals.

Argh!

A sniper could have wiped out any of the ambushes. 

Wouldn’t you put scouts out ahead of your advance?

How about NOT driving blindly down a road with high banks on either side of the narrow road and then act surprised that there’s an ambush?

Argh!

I have read a lot and even written in the genre “Post Apocalyptic World Fiction” aka PAW. This is lame! If it was presented to the “survivalist” community, then it’d be laughed off the bulletin board.

IMHO if this is “successful” PAW, even if it is on the off brand AMC cable channel, then the viewers are very uncritical or uncaring.

Argh!

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POLITICAL: NATO — an idea who’s time has past

Monday, April 4, 2016

http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2016/03/trump-is-rightdump-nato-now.html

MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2016
Trump Is Right—–Dump NATO Now
By David Stockman

*** begin quote ***

If you want to know why we have a $19 trillion national debt and a fiscal structure that will take that already staggering figure to $35 trillion and 140% of GDP within a decade, just consider the latest campaign fracas. That is, the shrieks of disbelief in response to Donald Trump’s sensible suggestion that the Europeans pay for their own defense.

*** end quote ***

For everything bad “they” say about Trump, dumping NATO and all the costs associated with it would save a very pretty penny!

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POLITICAL: What Difference Does It Make? Can you spell genocide!

Sunday, April 3, 2016

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/03/robert-ringer/capitalism-communism/

Capitalism or Communism? What Difference Does It Make?
By Robert Ringer
RobertRinger.com
March 29, 2016

*** begin quote ***

Sorry, Barackus, but communism and capitalism are at opposite ends of the liberty-tyranny spectrum. Communism is literal slavery for the masses and thus specifically prevents people from bettering their lives. Capitalism, on the other hand, is the epitome of freedom and provides unlimited opportunity for all. Other than this minor distinction, you don’t have to worry about whether something fits into socialist theory or capitalist theory.

*** end quote ***

This item was not widely reported.

I read a lot of global “news” thanks to Al Gore’s internet.

When I read this, I was blown away.

How stupid can you be?

Like those who wear the Che t-shirts — I have been know to reprimand those I see with those one — like the crazy old fart I am.

Communism / Marxism / Socialism / Fascism all lead to genocidal maniacs in charge.

How utterly ignorant of the cause and effect chain.

Argh!

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POLITICAL: Legalization is the cure for Heroin

Saturday, April 2, 2016

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/03/mark-thornton/curing-heroin-epidemic/

The Legalization Cure for the Heroin Epidemic
By Mark Thornton
Mises.org
March 29, 2016

*** begin quote ***

The problem of the epidemic rests with two causes. The first is the War on Drugs which creates profit incentives in the black market for the distribution of the most dangerous drugs. The second is the pharmaceutical-medical-FDA complex, or Big Pharma, which profits from treating pain with dangerous pharmaceutical drugs.

*** and ***

Third, in a free market, drugs like heroin would be produced and sold on a commercial basis. It would be a standardized product(s) and companies that sold dangerous and addictive products would do so under several legal constraints, such as liability and negligence law.

*** and ***

With drug legalization, the number of overdose deaths would plummet and tens of thousands of families would not have their lives ruined every year.

*** end quote ***

I’d add that the “(pseudo) War on (some) Drugs” incentivizes the Gooferment to keep the current status quo. 

The “forfeiture laws” provide a huge incentive to the police. And let’s not forget all the profits and employment in the justice / prison industry.

Argh!

It’s a medical problem that can be addressed by letting Walmart become the nation’s “drug dealer”.

Let see a drug ring make a profit competing with Walmart. Hasn’t happened yet to Sears, Kmart, Target, Pennys, or any number of small Mom and Pop stores.

Since Walmart doesn’t sell porn or even cigarettes or booze to youngsters, we can be sure that they won’t sell “drugs” to children. And, I bet it’ll be like eyeglasses, they’ll offer medical services to addict to kick the habits. 

Can you see how “un-cool” drugs will become if they are available fro Walmart? Kids wouldn’t be caught by their peers with them. Might as well wear Walmart jeans to the Gooferment Skrule!

It’s a medical problem that the free market will demolish in no time.

Sigh!

Then the Gooferment can focus on the real criminals — politicians and bureaucrats!

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RANT: Libertarians For Trump

Friday, April 1, 2016

2016-Apr-01

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/03/walter-e-block/whats-libertarians-trump/

Libertarians For Trump

*** begin quote ***

First, in the words of my friend and mentor Ralph Raico (who writes to refute the notion that only the uneducated can support Mr. Trump, and who soon afterward joined me and Dr. Miller as the third founding member of LFT): “My friend Walter Block, who has a Columbia doctorate and is a college professor, has started a support group, Libertarians for Donald Trump. I’m a Chicago Ph.D. and retired college prof, and I’ve joined Walter’s cabal of the intellectually deficient. We are happy to join with legions of our fellow Americans who aren’t university educated but–isn’t it obvious?–are still capable of displaying common sense. Personally, my main reason for endorsing Trump and praying for his victory is his opponent. The Queen of Chaos would be the most dangerous person ever to fill the office of president. Quite aside from the colossal corruption of the Clinton crime family, I believe she would push Putin to a nuclear confrontation.”

*** end quote ***

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/libertarians-for-trump

# – # – #

As I have said before and write on this blog, maybe Trump can give us a saner foreign policy.

ALL of the “establishment candidates” won’t.

So what do we have to lose.

Maybe I’m an “April Fool”, but seems worth a try?

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ECONOMICS: “Income Mobility” is another liberal scam

Thursday, March 31, 2016

http://contrakrugman.com/ep-28-income-mobility-really-does-exist-paul-krugman/

Ep. 28 Income Mobility Really Does Exist, Paul Krugman
26 March 2016
Tom Woods

*** begin quote ***

We managed to dig out some economics from yet another standard Krugman attack on the Republican Party. This time it’s his skepticism about the existence of very much income mobility in America. We’ll say this: if government programs had the record of success in this area that the (hampered) market economy has, Krugman would never let us hear the end of it.

*** end quote ***

Krugman Column “On Invincible Ignorance” (March 21, 2016)

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/21/opinion/on-invincible-ignorance.html?_r=1

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Bernie, and to a lesser extent, Hillary beat this “drum” often.

But in this podcast, the team — Bob Murphy and Tom Woods — destroy the whole argument.

Obviously, by deliberately not tracking individuals, the Left gets a great talking point that is totally wrong.

I especially like the “rags to riches and riches to rags” stories. 

Makes sense.

And, how do immigrants, who arrive with virtually nothing, survive and succeed with that starting point?

Conflicts with the narrative that the Leftists want to push.

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MONEY: Trump Dollar?

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

LDN Announces the Trump Dollar
March 30. 2016
 

Dear Liberty Dollar Supporters:

As you may recall, in 2008 the LibertyDollar.org issued the Ron Paul Dollar that was wildly successful and ruled non-counterfeit in my criminal counterfeit case. This gave rise to a group of highly spirited Americans who have created the Trump Dollar to honor Donald J. Trump, the first private citizen to campaign for the US Presidency in over 100 years!

I am pleased to announce that forces way beyond my humble control has created the Trump Dollar. A masterpiece in many ways, the Trump Dollar is the work of many of the finest craftsmen in the country including Wayne Takazono, Hawaii portrait artist; Luigi Badia, national merit sculptor and William LaMere, mintmaster at the North American Mint. I am deeply indebted to them and many more people who have made the Trump Dollar a reality. 

I invite you to “Trump the Government”TM with free political speech that is actually worth something! And get a Trump Dollar today!


Fed up with the political class? Fed up with money that loses its value? Show how you feel with the “2016 Trump Dollar” – a silver-dollar size commemorative coin made of one ounce of .999 fine silver!

The “2016 Trump Dollar” expresses the anger of the American people who distrust politicians and the badly broken U.S. political process. A portrait of Donald Trump and the words TRUMP THE GOVERNMENT are featured on the obverse and reinforced with VOTE NON POLITICIAN on the reverse of the commemorative political coin.

Those sentiments are echoed by Forbes magazine editor-in-chief Steve Forbes, himself a two-time presidential candidate, about the current political environment: “What it demonstrates is the intense, deep voter dissatisfaction with where the country is, and fears about the future… so people are looking for an outsider for a fresh perspective.” 

The “2016 Trump Dollar” – to commemorate Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and give voice to the voters dissatisfaction who are fed up with the political class – is available by pre-order. Shipment of all orders will commence – in the order received – after the First Day of Issue reception on April 27 at the Trump Tower in New York City. 

The “2016 Trump Dollar” – a clear call for freedom of political speech and expression of distrust of the entrenched political class – was designed by Bernard von NotHaus, the monetary architect of the Liberty Dollar, to recognize Mr. Trump’s heroic presidential candidacy and popularize it with collectors and sound-money supporters.

The commemorative coin with one full ounce of pure 999 fine silver in Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition is available at the MSRP of $25 featured on the reverse. The one-ounce copper BU Trump Dollar is $5. Single Proofs of the Copper and Silver Trump Dollars are also available in addition to a special three coin Gold Proof Dougle Split Piedfort Set – with a $2000 MSRP proof gold, $25 silver and $5 copper – is available for $2450 in an engraved wood presentation case with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity. Additional info and orders may be placed at TrumpDollar.US or call 888.542.3655

The special “First Day of Issue” of the Trump Dollar – with a hand stamped hallmark on a Brilliant Uncirculated Silver Trump Dollar is available for only $35 by pre-order or at the First Day of Issue Reception at the Trump Tower in New York City on April 27. Please RSVP for $29 at TrumpDollar.US. 

5% of all net sales will be donated to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which provides assistance to severely wounded and hospitalized special operations personnel. 

Please join me to “Trump the Government” with a non-politician. 

Many thanks for your assistance and support of the Liberty Dollar!

Bernard von NotHaus
Monetary Architect

— 30 —


GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Stop wrong-way crashes!

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/03/27/2-iowa-police-officers-killed-in-wrong-way-crash-on-highway.html?intcmp=hplnws

IOWA
2 Iowa police officers killed in wrong-way crash on highway
Published March 27, 2016  Associated Press

# – # – #

So sad. 

But why can’t we have the same technology that parking lots use on the entrance ramps?

Seems so simple to me?

Kinda hard to drive the wrong way with four flats.

It’s couldn’t possibly cost that much to save many lives and a lot of near misses.

Argh!

If a parking lot can afford it, surely “we” can too?

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RANT: Nabisco recently announced that Oreo was moving 600 jobs from the Chicago

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

http://keywestlou.com/women-you-have-to-treat-them-like-shit/

Posted on March 24, 2016 by keywestlou

*** begin quote ***

Oreo cookies! America loves Oreos! It appears Oreos does not love America as much.

Oreos has four plants in the U.S. The main plant is in Chicago. Been there for 100 years turning out Oreos.

Nabisco owns Oreos. The corporate conglomerate owning Nabisco is called Mondelez.

Nabisco recently announced that Oreo was moving 600 jobs from the Chicago plant to a new one in Mexico. Some jobs would remain in Chicago.

Reasons given include it would be cheaper to build a new plant in Mexico than remodel the Chicago plant at a cost of $130 million. The other reason is taxes. Corporate taxes are too high in the U.S.

The tax argument fails.

Although the corporate tax rate is 35 percent, Mondolez paid only 13.5 percent in 2014. 2013 was even better. They only paid 2.5 percent.

Six hundred men and women will be out of jobs. The corporation bullshits the public with the tax issue. No one challenges the corporation. The 1 percent wins again.

*** end quote ***

So, why have the politicians and bureaucrats fixed the corporate tax rate.

Only, correct rate is zero!

“Corporations are merely tax collectors; not taxpayers. They merely pass their costs along.” Lawrence Alan “Larry” Kudlow is an American economist, television personality, and newspaper columnist. August 26, 2014 0830 on WMAL Mornings on the Mall Brian Wilson and Larry O’Connor

Argh!

That’s just stupid.

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B) Get Fewer Prescription Bottles:
If you have a maintenance prescription for an ongoing health issue, such as asthma, acid reflux or blood pressure, talk with your doctor, insurance company and pharmacy about the possibility of 90-day (three-month) prescriptions. Not only will this cut down on the rate that the prescription bottles pile up, it could potentially save you some fuel costs in trips to the pharmacy or reduce them altogether if they prescriptions are shipped directly to you.

If you use a smaller local pharmacy, talk with your pharmacist; they may let you bring your prescription bottles back to the pharmacy and actually refill them when you refill your prescription.[9] This saves them money and reduces the number of bottles you have to deal with.


FINANCIAL: When does a wife become a widow?

Monday, March 28, 2016

http://www.edelmanfinancial.com/radio/march-19-2016#ep-nav

Why the Amount of Life Insurance You Have Could Be Misleading

# – # – # – # – # 

In this episode, Ric gives husbands a slap in the face. And wives a kick in the <synonym for donkey>!

When, at what age, does a wife become a widow?

On average?

Cue the final jeopardy themes … …

… … (don’t rush; we’ll wait; this is important.) … …

Ok? Pens down.

60!

To quote Ric: “aaaaaaaaaacccccccccccckkkkkkkkk!”

Half at least that 60 and half after 60.

How much life insurance does a family need?

And, another great Ric-ism, “In this decision, husbands don’t get to vote because they will be dead!”

Rick gives the rule of thumb: Take the about of life insurance, half it, and drop a zero. (For the not mathematically challenged, that’s a 5% withdrawal rate.)

500,000$ = 25k$ / year

1,000,000$ = 50k$ / year

2,000,000$ = 100k$ / year

Not very much. 

Rick good news is that life insurance is cheap.

My life’s lesson is that husbands need to insure their wives. Every try to hire a nanny; housekeeper; even a baby sitter? Wives are economically very expensive to replace!

My maternal grandmother used to say: “A man who, dies without life insurance, doesn’t leave his family; he abandons them”.

A word to the wise.

Great advice from Ric.

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  • Why the Amount of Life Insurance You Have Could Be Misleading

HEALTH: How Not to Die

Sunday, March 27, 2016

https://youtu.be/7rNY7xKyGCQ

Published on Feb 11, 2016
Dr. Greger visited Google NYC to discuss his new book – How Not to Die.

The vast majority of premature deaths can be prevented through simple changes in diet and lifestyle. In How Not to Die, Dr. Michael Greger, the internationally-recognized lecturer, physician, and founder of NutritionFacts.org, examines the fifteen top causes of death in America—heart disease, various cancers, diabetes, Parkinson’s, high blood pressure, and more—and explains how nutritional and lifestyle interventions can sometimes trump prescription pills and other pharmaceutical and surgical approaches, freeing us to live healthier lives.

The simple truth is that most doctors are good at treating acute illnesses but bad at preventing chronic disease. The 15 leading causes of death claim the lives of 1.6 million Americans annually. This doesn’t have to be the case. By following Dr. Greger’s advice, all of it backed up by peer-reviewed scientific evidence, you will learn which foods to eat and which lifestyle changes to make to live longer.

History of prostate cancer in your family? Put down that glass of milk and add flaxseed to your diet. Have high blood pressure? Hibiscus tea can work better than a leading hypertensive drug—and without the side effects. What about liver disease? Drinking coffee can reduce liver inflammation. Battling breast cancer? Consuming soy is associated with prolonged survival. Worried about heart disease (our #1 killer)? Switch to a whole-food, plant-based diet, which has been repeatedly shown not just to help prevent the disease, but arrest and even reverse it.

In addition to showing what to eat to help prevent the top 15 causes of death, How Not to Die includes Dr. Greger’s Daily Dozen—a checklist of the foods we should try to consume every day. Full of practical, actionable advice and surprising, cutting edge nutritional science, these doctor’s orders are just what we need to live longer, healthier lives.

# – # – #

I attempt to follow all of his advice. Sometimes I even succeed. I hope that even that little effort will make a difference. Of course, I wear my seatbelt, ignore my cell phone, and look both ways if ever cross a street. So, I’ll probably get hit by lightening!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: IRS is a corrupt criminal organization

Saturday, March 26, 2016

http://tomwoods.com/podcast/ep-621-the-irs-is-about-to-terrify-organizations-into-shutting-up/

Ep. 621 The IRS Is About to Terrify Organizations into Shutting Up
18th March 2016
Tom Woods

*** begin quote ***

Wait until you hear the new rules the IRS is set to impose on a wide variety of organizations in September 2016 if all goes as planned. For example, forbidden “electioneering” will include so much as the mention of a candidate’s name on a website. We get into the details in this episode.

*** end quote ***

https://taxrevolution.us/

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The IRS is a corrupt criminal organization that’s greedy for power over “We, The Sheeple”.

Remember Lois Lerner. You should you’re maying her ever month for “her service”. 

Who she was working for is in doubt, but one thing is for sure is that it was NOT the Taxpayer.

Argh!

Here Tom exposes another over reach!

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Ep. 621 The IRS Is About to Terrify Organizations into Shutting Up


POLITICAL: New meaning for “No justice; no peace”

Friday, March 25, 2016

http://nypost.com/2016/03/20/will-hillary-get-charged-or-what/

Will Hillary get charged, or what?
By Charles Gasparino
March 20, 2016 | 8:00pm 

*** begin quote ***

FBI sources say he has no backing from President Obama and Attorney General Loretta Lynch to recommend charges against the former secretary, since a Clinton presidency may be the best chance to preserve the Obama legacy.

That leaves Comey in a bind: Does he do what is politically expedient and deny the reality that Clinton’s email server activities violated the law, or follow the evidence to wherever it takes him?

Here’s hoping he uses the same standards against Clinton as he used against Stewart and Quattrone.

*** end quote ***

If she is not charged, then this is the end of the USA. It would strip away the illusion of equal justice under the law. “No justice; no peace” would take on a new meaning.

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MONEY: Negative real rate of return for the LAST FORTY YEARS!

Thursday, March 24, 2016

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/03/no_author/german-response-negative-interest-rates/

German Response to Negative Interest Rates: Safe Deposit Boxes
By Paul-Martin Foss 
Carl Menger Center
March 19, 2016

*** begin quote ***

The Japanese response to negative interest rates was to buy personal safes. The German response is to pull money out of bank accounts and stick it in safe deposit boxes. Both are perfectly understandable reactions to the prospect of having to pay interest to a bank for holding deposits.

It is particularly interesting in Germany, where the Bundesbank a few years ago admitted that the average real rate of return on savings deposits has been negative for nearly the past 40 years.

Now that nominal rates have turned negative too, the facade of savings accounts as a safe place to park money to earn a little bit of income has finally been ripped away.

*** end quote ***

Wow, I stumbled across this when I was reading. What an admission!

I “know” that the FED (The Federal Reserve Bank is a misnomer. IT ain’t “federal”. It reserves nothing. And, it ain’t a “bank”. It is a private cartel of the elite banks run for their benefit and that of the entrenched politicians.) runs the printing press and adds electronic digits as it “needs” to. That continually robs “We, The Sheeple” of their purchasing power.

Now with “nominal interest rates” near zero, I would think that people would be waking up to the scam.

This statement really rubs everyone’s nose in it. And, like <synonym for excrement>, it’s a very unpleasant experience.

So what is Joe Sixpack to do?

Clearly “savings” are being silently, quietly, and invisibly taxed aka stolen away.

You can’t even calculate how much of Joe Sixpack’s earnings are being stolen.

The sadder part is that Joe doesn’t even realize that he’s been robbed.

Argh!

Even most sad about the whole thing is that all the Joe Sixpacks are suffering from the same lack of realization.

Argh!

Buy assets, bullion, or even bullets. Anything to preserve value.

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RANT: Ask the governor by the website

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Can a homeless person use a post office box for their “home address” for their driver’s license?

# – # – #

Thank you for contacting me.

As Governor, I welcome input from those throughout the Garden State and beyond who are eager to share with me their thoughts, concerns, questions, and ideas. My staff and I will endeavor to be as responsive as possible to the many people using this electronic means of communication, as well as to those who, through letters and phone calls, contact my office.

Again, I appreciate your taking the time to write to me.

Sincerely yours,
Chris Christie
Governor

NOTE: You can also contact Governor Christie by writing to the Office of the Governor, P.O. Box 001, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0001, or by calling (609) 777-2500.

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GOLDBUG: A universal gram based gold currency is what the world needs

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

http://www.321gold.com/editorials/moriarty/moriarty031516.html

Reviewing The New Case for Gold
Bob Moriarty
Mar 15, 2016

*** begin quote ***

… … what we need is for all countries to accept a gram based gold currency unit instead of gold being tied to anything. The financial problems of the world today are caused by fake money and the solution is not another fiat currency that no one understands but real money that you can touch and feel and hold. Gold fills the bill, SDRs do not.

*** end quote ***

Imagine how easy it would be for commerce and travelers.

And, no more controversy about exchange rates, “currency manipulation”, and “racing to devalue”.

The Tower of Babel says that humanity was cursed with different languages. Maybe we were cursed with different currencies and that is really the thing that keeps us separate. And, under the proverbial thumb of the Bankers.

Of course, that will never happen.

“Honest money” is the friend of the poor, senior citizens on fixed incomes, and anyone trying to save! For retirements, a house, a child’s education.

Remember that “Cross of Gold” speech? How much better of would be those Farmers if their “wealth” hadn’t been stolen by the Gooferment with it’s inflation, “price supports”, and regulations?

While there’s no way to know for sure, it couldn’t be as bad as the “hidden tax” of the inflation of the US dollar. It has lost 99% of its value in the last 40 years.

Argh!

And, don’t forget the the current 18T+ national debt and the guesstimated 200T+ in unfunded liabilities that our posterity will have to deal with!!!

Gold is the standard.

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GUN: It’s obvious that law-abiding contributing members of society live matter more

Monday, March 21, 2016

http://bearingarms.com/family-laments-shooting-death-teen-burglar-homeowner/

Family Laments Shooting Death of Teen Burglar By Homeowner
Posted by Bob Owens on March 15, 2016 at 12:33 pm

*** begin quote ***

For our civil society to remain intact, we must resist attempts by opportunistic politicians and activist groups to insist that criminals be treated as the most important members of society, instead of the drain on civil culture that they clearly are and have been. If we allow criminals to assume that their lives matter more than that of law-abiding, contributing members of society, then our entire culture and way of life if at risk.

*** end quote ***

I’m a pro-life pro-choice little L libertarian.

It’s never “right” to initiate force against anyone.

The right to property is a fundamental right. Our property represents how we have spent our time and the choices we’ve made.

This criminal was just that. Someone, who just stole, with out regard to “rights” or what was “Right”.

I agree that the tactical decision made by the shooter was “dumb” and could have turned out badly.

But, we need to think clearly who are the “victims” of “violence”.

It’s not the criminals.

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RANT: Is an Amazon “oversold” like an Airline “bump”?

Sunday, March 20, 2016

This morning I was thinking about my fiancée’s recent experience with an Amazon purchase.

Background, she ordered a “new” (antique!) Blackberry phone. All well and good. It “disappeared”. Even though USPS reported it as delivered to her door.

Yeah, I know all about “porch pirates”. And, was perfectly fine until this morning.

Then, when safely under my tin foil hat, my Conspiracy Theorist bent came to the forefront and began asking questions.

Interesting that when she ordered it, Amazon said they had five for sale. When she called to complain about the missing delivery, the representative offered a refund OR A REPLACEMENT. She was told to wait until the follow ing Monday to make it official. When she did, “Amazon is no longer selling these”. (a polite FU! imho)

So as a certifiable Conspiracy Theorist, perhaps like the airlines who “bump” flights that they deliberately “overbook”, I suspected that maybe Amazon “oversold” this items.

Now, I’m an Amazon Prime-er, and I order lots of stuff. (18 items alone in 2016!) And, I have NEVER fallen prey to a “porch pirate”. That day, I got a delivery that USPS put in a locker. The next day, Sunday, I got a USPS delivery to the door.

Argh!

Now, maybe Amazon oversold it, realized that, and decided “who do we screw”?

Maybe Amazon has a label to the USPS that says “Lose this package”. And, USPS plays along. 

Why would USPS do that? Collision with Amazon; lest Amazon decide to bribe Congress that it want to deliver mail. Perhaps, even Amazon pays more for the “lose this package” service?

Argh!

I urged her to grip to Amazon a lot louder, the USPS, and any Gooferment entity that would listen.

Isn’t interesting that the same phone is available at Blackberry for 100$ more — no problem.

So why didn’t Amazon just buy one there and send to her to keep the Customer happy? Yeah, now it’s all about money!

I wonder if other people have had similar experiences.

Argh!

You’re right. I don’t trust ANYONE or ANY Crony Capitalist corporation. 

I’m sure the US Gooferment is going to rush to investigate itself.

Argh!

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INSPIRATIONAL: Climate Scientists don’t really understand the mechanics of what happens

Saturday, March 19, 2016

http://tomwoods.com/podcast/ep-613-climate-change-what-does-science-really-say/

Ep. 613 Climate Change: What Does Science Really Say?
9th March 2016
Tom Woods

To call any aspect of the climate change orthodoxy into question is to risk being condemned as “anti-science.” But are the arguments and computer models of the so-called mainstream really so rock solid?

About the GuestChip Knappenberger is assistant director of the Center for the Study of Science at the Cato Institute. He has over 20 years of experience in climate research and public outreach, and has published numerous papers in the major atmospheric science journals on global warming, hurricanes, precipitation changes, weather and mortality, and Greenland ice melt, among many other areas.

Articles Mentioned
“The Case against a Carbon Tax,” by Chip Knappenberger, Robert Murphy, and Patrick J. Michaels
“Climate Models and Climate Reality: A Closer Look at a Lukewarming World,” by Patrick J. Michaels and Chip Knappenberger

Guest’s Links
Center for the Study of Science, Cato Institute
Chip’s Cato page (with his writings)

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What I found interesting was the following points:

  • Politicians and bureaucrats want a crisis; even if it’s not understood.
  • Media hypes the outrageous “solutions” aka “it bleeds, it leads”.
  • It’s a good possibility that the activities of man influences local weather. Maybe even global climate.
  • Warming maybe a good thing for humanity (i.e., wine grapes in England; farms in Greenland; a thriving Roman Empire).
  • It may be a 100 years before the sea level rises 18 inches. Humanity adapts to all sorts of “stuff”.
  • Can’t do much to deprive poor people of electricity which is carbon based.
  • Maybe radical “solutions” aren’t needed.
  • Climate Scientists don’t really understand the mechanics of what happens.

What I found inspirational was the quiet reasoned discourse about a controversial subject without rancor. I found that I could accept this. Probably because it was reasonable and reasoned. 

YMMV.

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GUNS: Murder for defense of his Mom?

Friday, March 18, 2016

http://bearingarms.com/son-charged-murder-killing-moms-attacker-virginia/

Son Charged With Murder For Killing His Mom’s Attacker
Posted by Jenn Jacques on March 10, 2016 at 2:13 pm

*** begin quote ***

“At that point, the 15-year-old son went to a place in the home where he knew there was a firearm,” Spotsylvania Sheriff’s spokesman Capt. Jeff Pearce said .”[He] took a semiautomatic firearm from a nearby location in the room and fired several shots at Conroy, striking him multiple times.”

*** end quote ***

He should be given a medal and sent home. Period.

Argh!

He saved the taxpayers a bunch of buxs.

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SOFTWARE: Add emergency-contact info to your iPhone lock screen

Thursday, March 17, 2016

http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-add-emergency-contact-info-to-your-iphone-lock-screen/

Add emergency-contact info to your iPhone lock screen
A simple tweak to your existing wallpaper might just save your life — or at least help recover a lost phone.
by Rick Broida  @cheapskateblog / December 17, 20149:07 AM PST

*** begin quote ***

The reason we password-protect our phones is simple: If it gets stolen, the thief can’t access all our data. But there’s a flipside: If your phone is lost, or you’ve been injured and someone is trying to call your family, there’s no way to access your ICE (In Case of Emergency) info.

*** end quote ***

Thumb IMG 1915 1024

I did it to mine. What about you?

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: NYS vehicle charging stations

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

FROM MY EZPASS STATEMENT

NY’s 1st high-speed electric vehicle charging stations are open on the NYS Thruway. High-speed stations power in 30 minutes, 10x-20x faster than standard chargers. Northbound locations: Plattekill & Malden Service Areas between exits 17 & 21. Southbound locations: Ulster & Modena Service Areas between exits 20 & 17.For more information, visit: http://www.thruway.ny.gov/travelers/travelplazas/

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Does anyone think this is DUMB!

30 minutes to “fill up” your electric car?

Think of the “gas lines” in the summer!

Only in the Pepuls Republic of Nu Jerk!!!

Argh!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Overpriced Drugs?

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/03/joseph-mercola/medical-cover-ups/

Hospital-Acquired Infections, Dangerous Tests and Other Medical Cover-Ups
By Joseph Mercola Mercola.com
March 9, 2016

*** begin quote ***

Drug Companies Siphon Tax Dollars for Dangerous, Useless, Overpriced Drugs

As if it wasn’t enough that you pay with your health for the drug industry’s lackadaisical approach to side effects — both by their downplaying the risk of death or serious injury in their ads, and by their filing adverse event reports that are useless for predicting risk to other patients — you also pay for their crimes with your tax dollars.

Sovaldi, a hepatitis C drug made by Gilead was under investigation for 18 months by the Senate Finance Committee. In the end, the Committee decided that the price of the drug — $1,000 per pill, or $84,000 per treatment — “did not reflect the cost of research and development and that Gilead cared about ‘revenue’ not ‘affordability and accessibility,’” the Epoch Times writes.

In 2014 alone, Medicare and Medicaid shelled out more than $5 BILLION for Sovaldi and another hepatitis C drug called Harvoni.

Writing for the New York Times, columnist Nicholas Kristof notes that in the year 2015, the drug industry “spent $272,000 in campaign donations per member of Congress … to bar the government from bargaining for drug prices in Medicare. That amounts to a $50 billion annual gift to pharmaceutical companies.”

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Sorry but this is what you get when the Gooferment picks winners and losers.

Unfortunately, when folks pay for their own medical care. it may hurt in the pocketbook, but the bills get careful scrutiny.

Waste, fraud, and abuse are REGULARLY reported in Gooferment “programs”. None more wasteful than “medicine”. I remember reading an article that asserted a huge percentage of “medical spending” in Florida was due to FRAUD.

Sigh!

The only way to cure that is to incentivize the patients to spend wisely. How can we do that? Make them pay 1%. Ever seen seniors look at an early bird special dinner check? Vultures would admire their attention to detail. 

Argh!

Doubt it will ever happen. Seniors vote!

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LIBERTARIAN: Tom Woods #608 Nullification

Monday, March 14, 2016

http://tomwoods.com/podcast/ep-608-nullification-and-the-withdrawal-of-consent/

*** begin quote ***

Here’s a talk I gave in Kansas City in 2011 about state nullification, a topic I’d written a whole book about the previous year. The audience had a good many Tea Party people in it, so listen and see how I bring them over to the idea of really breaking with the Establishment and entertaining unconventional thoughts and strategies.

*** end quote ***

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“Who would be free themselves must strike the blow”
Lord Byron quotes (English Romantic poet and satirist, 1788-1824)

With nullification, we have that tool.

Just like speed limits are “nullified” every day on the nation’s highways, we too can “nullify”.

Argh!

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