Theil says New Zealand is a utopia

Libertarian Peter Thiel, famous for making billions off Facebok, said he finally found "utopia" – New Zealand.

Thiel has been investing heavily in the country. According to the San Francisco Chronicle:

He's already made two noteworthy venture investments there in the space of a few months. In October 2010, he invested $3 million in online accounting firm Xero, which is based (and publicly traded) in New Zealand. Then he invested $4 million in Pacific Fiber, an ambitious company that is building a fiber-optic cable from Australia to New Zealand to the US and is raising $300-400 million more to do so.

These investments aren't just one-offs. Thiel has set up a local venture firm called Valar Ventures. Valar Ventures LP was registered in New Zealand in July 2009, more than a year before Thiel's first known New Zealand investment, and is managed by Valar Capital Management LLC, based in San Francisco, according to official records. Valar Ventures LP's offices are at prominent New Zealand law firm Bell Gully, which suggests it doesn't have full time staff yet. Peter Thiel founded two other companies in New Zealand: Second Star Limited, where he is sole shareholder, and Silverarc Advisors.

Perhaps there will be accounting jobs galore in New Zealand. :-)

Libertarianism, the New Anti-Americanism?

Apparently so, according to this The Market Oracle piece. Part of:

Why should you or I celebrate less an improvement in the welfare of a South Korean than we celebrate a comparable improvement in the welfare of a South Carolinian?

That's it. So finally we have it: after years of telling us that libertarian economics -- deregulate this, deregulate that, believe that the free market is always right -- is best for America, they admit that, in the end, they just don't care.

This philosophy has the perverse virtue of perfect logical consistency: if you don't care about what's good for Americans, why not have free trade? I must grant -- and the reader should, too -- that the entire policy of free trade makes perfect sense if one adopts this premise.

The idea of caring equally about the well-being of people all over the world sounds, of course, like a very sweet and humanitarian philosophy. And in a perfect world, maybe it would be. But there are two very big realities that get in the way:

1) We live in a world of ruthless economic rivalry, so if Americans aren't willing to stand up for the economic interests of Americans, we just get rolled by multinational corporations and foreign powers that lack such delicate qualms.

2) Libertarianism, for all its pretensions of universalist humanitarianism, is in fact a notoriously selfish philosophy. Someone once defined a libertarian as "an anarchist with a credit card;" they were onto something.

Open ended questions

When you come across a website that asks an open ended question like, does apidexin work? The answer to the question is almost always, "yes" -- which is logical. If the product did not work for someone out there, word of mouth alone would have killed it. However, as most of the websites state, the results experienced by some are not the same results everyone gets. There is no one magic cure that's a one sized fits all.

Tea Party story making media rounds

This article on the Tea Party movement has been making it's rounds since it was released by AP -- this NPR link is one example. Libertarians are still being linked with the Tea Party, some will agree with that, some will not.

One part of the AP piece:

Some tea party activists — part of a loose-knit, libertarian-tinged network advocating small government and less federal spending — already are dismayed to see their new lawmakers plunge into familiar patterns of raising political cash, hiring former lobbyists and stopping short of the often-heard vow to "change the way Washington works."

I'll say 'I told you so' later -- if you don't change the system but only change the players? Nothing ever changes ...

Research reviews

Almost every diet, health or skin care product out there has reviews on their website or another website is created to provide reviews. Take ephedra reviews as an example, it's designed to give you reviews on a product. Don't rely on just one website to give you the answers you are seeking when it comes to any product, be wary of sites that have no negative reviews since these products do not work for everyone and don't forget to talk to your health care professional first. No matter how great a product sounds, they don't know your medical history.

Truck loads of products

If I kept every different skin product or acne lotions that my four daughters have tried and found either not strong enough, too strong, or not just right, I'd probably need several trucks to haul it away in. However, it shows how marketing works. Had the products not been marketed in a way that one of them thought would work? They would not have bought it. Perhaps they have a future as a product testing company -- they have the experience.

:-)

Libertarian chair "sort of" commends Obama's Cuba decision

WASHINGTON - Mark Hinkle, Chairman of the Libertarian Party, sort of commends President Obama for his decision to just barely ease travel restrictions and restrictions on sending private financial assistance to the people suffering under the socialist government of Cuba.

Hinkle said, "The president has shown less-than-tremendous courage here. I suppose it's a tiny positive step that our government will permit Americans to send $500 to a Cuban every three months. And churches will be allowed to arrange trips to Cuba, as long as they jump through a lot of bureaucratic hoops first.

"However, it's such a small improvement in such an awful policy, that I'm not sure the president really deserves a compliment.

"It's absurd that the U.S. government prohibits travel and trade with Cuba. In addition to being an unjust violation of Americans' rights, it's bone-headed policy. If the goal was to topple the Castro regime, then the policy has been a spectacular failure. The embargo has probably strengthened, not weakened, the Castro dictatorship.

"Libertarians call for unrestricted access to travel to Cuba and complete freedom for Americans to engage in economic activity there.

"Unrestricted access to the world markets will help Cubans lift themselves out of their disastrous socialist economy. Libertarians know that free trade and free travel are a fast-track ticket to prosperity.

"Next time, Mr. President, try to do something a little more impressive."

The Libertarian Party platform says the following on free trade and migration:

3.4 Free Trade and Migration

We support the removal of governmental impediments to free trade. Political freedom and escape from tyranny demand that individuals not be unreasonably constrained by government in the crossing of political boundaries. Economic freedom demands the unrestricted movement of human as well as financial capital across national borders. However, we support control over the entry into our country of foreign nationals who pose a credible threat to security, health or property.

Going LCD

We have not replaced any of our television sets with a lg lcd screen, in part because we watch very little television. We have however replaced all of our monitors for our computers. Gone are the monster clunker monitors that would take up a huge amount of space replaced by slimmer ones that are not only larger in screen size, but much better in resolution. Some of the LCD's can be a monitor for your computer and also a television, which gives you even more options.

Beam's piece has unintended consequences

Another item out there in response to the Beam article referenced a post or so down is this one from American Culture where it's claimed Beam's piece has positive unintended consequences:

In all, I appreciate Beam’s article above all for an unintended consequence: It highlights what makes the libertarian/classical liberal position so important, relevant, and appealing — today more than ever.

The stone of your birth

I've always been a fan of birthstone jewelry, not necessarily my birthstone though, my second engagement/wedding set was the birthstone of that particular husband instead of a diamond. In part because the size of the stone was much cheaper in an amethyst than a diamond, but also because it seemed like a romantic thing to do at the time. My birthstone is the aquamarine, thankfully I'm a fan of blue, one of my daughters hates green, as luck of the month would have it, her birthstone is a green gem. However, for those who love the stone of their birth, there are many different jewelry creations you can show it off in.

Libertarian debate from NY post article

A piece written earlier this month by Christopher Beam is causing some reaction on the internet. One example is this American Conservative article.

It's been interesting to follow. Beam states things like this:

For all the talk about casting off government shackles, libertarianism is still considered the crazy uncle of American politics: loud and cocky and occasionally profound but always a bit unhinged. And Rand Paul’s dad is the craziest uncle of all. Ron Paul wants to “end the Fed,” as the title of his book proclaims, and return the country to the gold standard—stances that have made him a tea-party icon. Now, as incoming chairman of the subcommittee that oversees the Fed, he’ll have an even bigger platform. Paul Sr. says there’s not much daylight between him and his son. “I can’t think of anything we grossly disagree on,” he says.

James Banks this:

Movements like these aren’t “crazy,” “impossible” or “utopian.” They seek to implement policies which are not so far beyond the pale of what an average American would be willing to live with. But the lengths to which libertarian activists go seem out of proportion from the perspective of the general public; why move to New Hampshire or a seastead in the ocean when the average citizen’s most intimate, obnoxious interaction with government occurs only once a year (in mid-April) and he is still free to express his opinion at the ballot box? For this reason, some politicians and voters will always channel their inner-libertarian (when organizations like TSA exist to hate)–but being fully possessed by that inner-libertarian is as rare as channeling him is common.

Green & Libertarian in PA

Interesting Ballot Access article on the increases of Green and Libertarian candidates:

The Green Party nominee for State House, 194th district, Hugh Giordano, received 18.50% of the vote in a race that also included a Democrat and a Republican. Giordano almost outpolled the Republican, Timothy Downey, who got 19.77%. The district is partly in Montgomery County and partly in Philadelphia County. Giordano is a 26-year-old organizer for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). He won the endorsement of one of the Democrats who had sought the Democratic nomination for this seat. Giordano’s share of the vote is the highest for any Green Party nominee (who was not simultaneously the nominee of the Democratic Party) for Pennsylvania legislative races. The previous Green Party best percentage for a Pennsylvania legislative race had been 17.43% in 2006, but that was a race with only one major party nominee.

The Libertarian Party nominee for State House, 120th district, Tim Mullen, received 14.91% of the vote in a race that also included a Democrat and a Republican. The district is in Luzerne County, which contains Wilkes-Barre. Mullen is a health care professional and a veteran of both Iraq wars. He knocked on the doors of a majority of the voters in the district. He was endorsed by the Luzerne County Controller, as well as the Republican nominee for the 120th district from the 2006 election. He is the only Libertarian for Pennsylvania legislature (running against opponents from both major parties) who has ever exceeded 8.81% of the vote.

I'd inhale

Cigars are still popular with some of those I know, including several friends who are women. Yet as a decade long cigarette smoker, the few times I've tried a cigar I've found it difficult to resist the years of the inhaling reflex. Even something as smooth as a camacho triple maduro is not meant to be inhaled. Though ironically some of those I know who smoke cigars used to smoke cigarettes and managed to give those up, yet still enjoy an occasional cigar. Perhaps it would take more time and a bit more practice.

:-)

Father and son reunion

It's more of a fluff story than one related to Libertarian politics, but the Houston Chronicle recently reported that Ron Paul and his son Rand will be sharing a condo in Washington, D.C. The story also states that while the two men will be sharing a home and share some similar political philosophies, it's not expected for Rand to be too much like his father.

Political analysts say it would be a mistake, however, to say that Rand Paul is a carbon copy of his father.
"In his two presidential campaigns, Ron Paul ran to educate," said John Samples of the libertarian Cato Institute. "Rand Paul is more about holding power and making changes, pushing the agenda to libertarianism."
Occasionally, Rand Paul may push in directions his father won't go. But the junior Paul promises it'll never get personal.
"We don't really have heated disagreements," he said of his relationship with his father. "Neither of us are yellers. I do joke that I don't criticize my dad on TV or I might get kicked (out) from the adult table."

On labeling

Most times labeling is not something that is supported in our society, yet when it comes to paying attention to clothing lines, that is an area where some in our society place a high value -- an example those who cherish blac label clothing -- The virtues of placing importance on clothing labels is also one that creates discussion. Yet no matter your opinion on it, it is a part of a free market society and marketing strategies are designed to try to enhance the desire related to owning a particular label.

Will 2012 be the year of the libertarian?

That's the premise behind this National Review piece that I recommend reading. One small part:

If Gary Johnson were president, he would immediately cut all federal spending — entitlements, defense, education, everything — by 43 percent to rectify our fiscal blunders. And he’d just be getting started. In a recent interview with National Review Online, the former governor of New Mexico — and a rumored presidential candidate — outlined his governing philosophy and some of its practical applications.

What is that philosophy? In two words: limited government. From 1995 to 2003, Johnson served as governor of the Land of Enchantment, where Democrats outnumber Republicans two-to-one. During his tenure, he vetoed more bills than the other 49 governors combined — 750 in total, one third of which had been introduced by Republican legislators. Johnson also used his line-item-veto power thousands of times. He credits his heavy veto pen for eliminating New Mexico’s budget deficit and cutting the growth rate of New Mexico’s government in half.