No More Libertarians?

Mike Treder writes a piece pointing out his concerns with the Libertarian political movement on Institute for Ethics & Emerging Technologies. He makes some interesting points, a few of which:

Many people, including some of us who identify as left-wing progressives, can see the appeal of a political approach that combines fiscal conservatism with liberalism on social issues. It would be quite nice if we lived in a world where individuals would have full freedom in their private lives and be protected in their civil rights, and where governments could closely restrain spending, keeping taxes low.

Unfortunately, we don’t live in that place. Passionate, concerted effort is still required to help others gain and maintain basic human rights, both here in the West and especially in the developing world. Monumental challenges like global warming, widespread malnutrition, and the threat of pandemic disease can best be addressed through the blend of a mixed economy alongside representative governance.

Conditions simply don’t exist today in which classic libertarianism either makes good sense or can attain broad popularity. Perhaps they never will.

It's one of the reasons I've struggled with believing in the smaller government aspect on a federal basis and supporting liberalism on social issues as well as firmly believing that our federal government was not supposed to have the power it does over states. It's why though I am on paper a Democrat, I consider myself a "liberal libertarian" from a philosophical standpoint where neither the current Libertarian Party or the Republican Party is one I am fully comfortable with. On local and state issues, I support more Democrats because of they share a similar ideology...

Party invitation sayings...

When you look at a Halloween Invitation did you ever wonder who wrote it? There are people who's job is to create the graphics and sayings for Halloween Party invitations, who spend a good part of their day writing Halloween invitations and for other holidays. Then of course there are those looking for invitation Halloween perfection who want something designed just for them, companies like Holiday-Invitations.com will do that as well as add any picture or logo you want.

Wes Benedict new executive director of National Libertarian Party

I thought this would make more news than it did, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised, from the Daily Texan:

Austin political activist Wes Benedict will take over as the executive director for the National Libertarian Party today.

Benedict previously served as the director for the Libertarian Party of Texas from 2004 to 2008 and has run for Austin City Council three times.

He makes the move to Washington following Libertarian Bob Barr’s presidential campaign in which Barr garnered 523,686 votes, according to the Federal Election Commission. The result was the second-most by a third-party candidate in the 2008 election as well as a Libertarian Party record.

Although this accounted for only 0.4 percent of the vote, it was seen as a success by third-party voters who hope that taking votes from the two major parties will force people to consider their issues, said Rock Howard, the Travis County Libertarian Party chair.

Of Ponds and pond scum...

I've always wanted a pond, which of course won't be possible in the yard of our house unless it's more like a small fish pond/water garden but even one that small would need some type of pond aerators to keep the pond scum to a minimum and if you wanted to have fish, keep them healthy. That would be the one downside to a smaller water garden, it would be very hard to keep the fish alive during the winter. So, I'd have to opt for water lilies or other water plants, or I could settle for a rain garden since they are also good for the environment, or perhaps both...I've been dreaming about an Asian themed garden area for the back yard, a small water garden with a fountain would be the perfect place to relax and unwind.

After Circuit City now what?

I didn't often buy things online from Circuit City but we used to go to the store here in Toledo because at times if we needed things in a hurry, like our last internet router, they were cheaper than any of the other stores in town. Now, of course they are gone, and it's smarter to try to wait and buy things online because if you are not careful some of the stores charge more at the store than they do online. I've discovered this several times and when you point it out, they will match the price, but only if you point it out. It's one reason why you should always check online...

Two Chu's and a Libertarian

I couldn't help wonder if there was any voter confusion considering both the Democrat and the Republican had the same last name when I read this Ballot Access News piece:

On July 14, California held a special election to fill the vacant U.S. House seat, 32nd district. The results: Democrat Judy Chu 61.67%; Republican Betty Chu 33.12%; Libertarian Christopher Agrella 5.21%.

This is the first time this district has had a contest between a Democrat and a Republican since 2002. In 2002, the vote had been: Democratic 68.79%, Republican 27.46%, Libertarian 3.74%. The district is centered in the Los Angeles County towns of El Monte and Covina.

Before you replace think about upgrading...

Unless you find a really great deal on a computer, sometimes you can make a huge difference in your computer's performance by upgrading your system memory rather than buying a new pc. There are also a huge number of things you can purchase, such as an external harddrive that can not only back up your present computer but can allow you to remove files that you no longer need and free up computer space. It's why I always advise people to look at what their system is and how much it would cost to upgrade it before they decide to buy new...

The digital revolution makes sharing information easier

Back when I first started blogging years ago it was more difficult and expensive to buy the kind of equipment that was needed to be able to record press conferences and other events. Now, thanks to digital cameras and digital camcorders I can easily go record an entire press conference in full, come home and depending on how quickly YouTube wants to cooperate with me, have the video online within hours, sometimes even sooner. Why this becomes important is typically the media only shows you a few moments with a few soundbites from a press conference and there are times when much more is said that if you were not there? You don't know about...

Libertarians: Theft Makes a Poor Memorial

This release was sent out by the The Center for Libertarian Press Information:

Libertarians call on the U.S. Government to forgo the threatened seizure of hundreds of acres of privately owned land for a memorial in western Pennsylvania near Shanksville, where Flight 93 crashed in 2001. They further ask the Park Service to reconsider spending tens of millions of taxpayer dollars on an extensive memorial, and to instead finance any memorial completely through volunteer contributions.

"The Park Service has had nearly a decade to work with local landowners, and NOW they decide that it's imperative to get the land within the next week," said Rachel Hawkridge, representative to the Libertarian Party's National Committee. "Besides the fact that there can be no 'fair market value' in a forced transaction, we have the underlying issue that ALL of the tax money spent on the memorial has been taken by force or the threat of force. If folks want a memorial, they will be happy to contribute to one - and it will be the exact size that people want it to be. The idea that the Park Service can propose commemorating the self-sacrifice of 40 individuals with the forced sacrifice of the efforts of other individuals indicates to me that the terrorists have, in some small way, won part of the battle already."

Libertarians also decry the purchase of nearly 1,000 acres of land from a coal-mining company, with proceeds to be (according to the Park Service) "placed in a trust fund to operate and maintain in perpetuity the treatment of mine water from a sediment pond on a reclaimed surface mine." To Lee Wrights, representative to the Libertarian Party's National Committee, "this seems like a not-very-subtle way of getting the taxpayers to pay for post-mining remediation. A great deal for PBS Coals; a terrible deal for Americans who have more pressing personal financial needs than bailing out big businesses."

This July has been cold....

I'm not going to start yelling global warming, but it has been cooler this July so far in my part of the country than last year. In a way I really don't mind because our house doesn't have air conditioning and I'm certain the warmer weather will eventually come. It has however made the idea of going to Florida a bit more appealing, which of course would have been more appealing had JetAmerica not did away with their flights that were $9.00...But...it still is rather inexpensive to fly to Florida when compared to other places. Who knows I could hire a Fort Myers photographer to take some professional shots that I can tease others with this winter when the snow is piling up.

:-)

Libertarians say: Government (Regulation) Kills!

The following media release was sent out by the The Center for Libertarian Press Information:

The old adage “the operation was a success, but the patient died” is never more true than when government gets into the healthcare business. The restrictions on midwives were and remain an excellent example.

Ever since the first licensing laws were passed well over a century ago, healthcare in America has not been part of a free market. Those laws were passed with pressure from one group of medical professionals to give them protection from competition. The laws had little to do with protecting patients' health, and nothing to do with protecting their freedom to choose among medical practitioners.

Licensing laws were successful in killing the competition from midwives, but at the same time they harmed new mothers and their babies. Minority communities were especially affected, because they were denied the choice of alternative, less expensive, healthcare providers who were forced from business by the new regulations.

In his book “Born in the USA”, author Marsden Wagner, MD, MS, notes that Scandinavia and the Western Europe countries where midwives handle births have a lower rate of maternal and infant mortality than the more highly-regulated United States.

Washington State Libertarian and former gubernatorial candidate Ruth Bennett notes “Midwifery has started to make a comeback, but many states still restrict certain types of midwives. Women are still denied a choice and the results show up in the death statistics. Midwives also have lower rates of unnecessary procedures and Caesarian births. Opening the market to midwives can save lives as well as dollars”.

Speciality lawyers...

Our system of government and courts has become so complicated that there are a variety of areas where lawyers specialize in. This goes far beyond what you might think of when you think of lawyers that specialize in accidents or injuries, where specific diseases have created enough lawsuits that there are firms that specialize on one or more of these areas. Mesothelioma lawyers is just one example that over a decade ago you probably would not have heard about.

Libertarian Party Founder David F. Nolan letter...

An Open Letter to the Libertarian National Committee - I recommend all of it but a few selected parts I found particularly of merit:

And there is an important lesson to be learned from the success of the Paul campaign and the C4L. That lesson is that it pays to be bold. Notice that the grassroots uprising sparked by the Ron Paul campaign calls itself the Ron Paul REVOLUTION. Not the "Ron Paul gradual reform movement." They're calling for ending the Federal personal income tax, not just mouthing empty platitudes about "lower taxes" or "more freedom." (Compared to what? What we have now? Obama's proposals?) And they are gaining adherents far more rapidly than the Libertarian Party is; the C4L currently has five to ten times as many members as we do!

As I see it, the Libertarian Party has gone far astray from its original mission. Somewhere along the way, our commitment to being The Party of Principle was replaced by a shallow, opportunistic goal of "winning elections now" -- any election, anywhere. Principles be damned, according to the proponents of this vision. We should back off from "scary" positions, tone down our rhetoric, find out "what voters want," and tailor our message to what they want to hear.

Most of us are not John Thain....

When it comes to buying office furniture most of us are not like Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain who in 2008 spent 1.2 million dollars to have his office re-furbished. One of the many pricey items was a $87,000 area rug. When his purchases came to light he claimed he was going to reimburse Merrill Lynch but one really wonders had this not come to light would he have? If he was using his own money the first time would he have spent so much? Those are the questions that have no answers, but for those of us who's house may not be worth as much as his area rug? We wonder...

Could we put government on a diet?

Government in many ways is similar to people, when there is fat you need to figure out how to get rid of it, and no matter how much exercise you do, it comes down to making good decisions. You can try to find the best diet pills but similar to cutting government fat, there are no quick and easy solutions. A sensible diet is also needed, you can't take in 4,000 calories a day and not exercise and expect to lose weight. The Government can't take in $4,000 and spend $8,000 without it eventually catching up to them...Perhaps part of the reason so many people have difficulty with both is because they don't want to make choices. While you can have your cake and diet too, you have to have smaller portions...not the whole cake...

Why some Libertarians took issue with Sotomayor...

There is one main reason that some Libertarian groups actively opposed the appointment of Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, her stance on guns and self defense.

Though it doesn't appear any of these concerns expressed mattered, they are worth pointing out:

WASHINGTON — America’s third largest party reiterated its opposition Wednesday to the Supreme Court nomination of federal judge Sonia Sotomayor after the nominee refused to give a firm answer on whether individuals have the right of self-defense.

“Is there a constitutional right to self-defense?” Sotomayor asked when questioned by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) whether or not the Constitution guaranteed him the right of self-defense. “ I can’t think of one. I could be wrong.”

“Whether you agree with her position or not, Judge Sotomayor has had no problem stating that things not directly found in the Constitution are ‘settled law.’ That’s why it’s troubling that when confronted with a constitutionally-enshrined principle she disagrees with, the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of one’s rights, things are suddenly muddled and up for debate,” said Donny Ferguson, Libertarian National Committee Communications Director.

“The Libertarian Party is the only party that never compromises in its defense of our Second Amendment-guaranteed rights. That’s why we have opposed Judge Sotomayor’s nomination from the moment we reviewed her troubling anti-gun record. Judge Sotomayor’s answers Wednesday further show she believes the law should flow from her own personal biases and not the literal wording of the Constitution,” said Ferguson.

Examiner Libertarian 101

I came across this article posted recently in the Cleveland Examiner, from the Denver Examiner Libertarian 101: What is the libertarian position on taxes? that I found was an interesting read. Barry Ritchey II also links to Harry Browne's 2000 piece Great Libertarian Offer part of which is something that makes me lean libertarian when it comes to the federal government, there is not really that huge of a difference between a Democratic Congress and a Republican Congress.

If you grow tired of the excuses, they try to scare you by saying their opponents would be even worse. In truth, the differences between the two old parties are so negligible that we'd probably never notice if they swapped names.

Apart from the scandals, how different was the Reagan or Bush administration from the Clinton administration? During the Republican presidential administrations of 1981-1992, the federal government grew by 6.3% per year, while it grew by 3.3% yearly during the Clinton administration of 1993-2000.

How different was the Democratic Congress from the Republican Congress? During the first five years of the Republican Congress, government has grown by 3.2% yearly; during the final five years of the Democratic Congress, government grew by 3.9% yearly.

How different are the Republican Supreme Court nominees from the Democratic ones? The current Supreme Court judges were nominated by Presidents of both parties — and regardless of party, most of the judges were approved overwhelmingly by Senators from both parties. On the really important matters concerning the role of government, they all agree that the federal government is more important than the Constitution.

Customize...

Not everything is one size fits all, especially when it comes to businesses and their particular need for software. Most places don't have an inhouse person that can design custom software for that particular company. Realistically it's more cost effective if you don't need custom software on a regular basis to take advantage of one of the firms out there that specialize in it. I've tried to write software, I learned very quickly that it was above my level of expertise...

Where's the real stimulus bill?

I think it's a bit early, since the impact of the stimulus bill wouldn't be immediate anyway, but some of you will find this article in the Libertarian Examiner to be an interesting one. Part of the recommended article:

Where is the bill that will allow libertarians to liberate?

Government can’t create jobs, it can only create busy-work. Government can’t even create money. Not real money. It can print big president heads on paper and stamp birds and buffaloes on metal but if there is nothing to buy because farmers haven’t farmed and manufacturers haven’t manufactured and businesses haven’t busied, the stuff that government calls money is just paper and metal.

You can’t build a house of paper or make a meal of metal.

In fact, without loggers and truckers and paper mills and ink makers and miners and smelters and engravers and an entire society of industrious people to feed and clothe and house those workers and transportation systems to move those raw materials government can’t even make their fake money.

But politicians don’t want you to know that. They don’t want you to understand that they are 100% overhead. They produce nothing. Their total existence depends on coercively taking what productive people produce.

Politicians and bureaucrats want you to think that they are the producers. They want you to believe that they are the god of the machine magically appearing to solve all problems.

Politics is nothing more nor less than the process of manipulating people. And the people-manipulators can no more restrain themselves from manipulating people than a hungry hyena can force itself to stop eating carrion.

I can't disagree that there is some truth to it, despite not agreeing it's not yet time to declare the stimulus package dead.

If only there was a magic pill for common sense...

One of the most frustrating things about trying to get people to reasonably discuss politics is the reality that some are only interested in throwing poo and trying to be unreasonable. It's their nature. They are there to disrupt and to make sure that nothing positive or civil can happen, well if they had anything to say about it. It made me wish that there was a magical common sense pill that you could recommend, that there could be reviews similar to diet pill reviews for special products to help fatheads...

:-)

Best is up to interpretation

The word "best" is used often when it comes to marketing, with of course the goal being to suggest that whatever product is being talked about that it is better than all of the others, which depending on the product could mean best price, best end result, best tasting, etc., etc., some of these areas could be subject to individual opinion, especially when determining best taste. The best diet pill could be the best working, the best price or the best when compared to others. What is for certain is that the word "best" is one of the "best" used words for a variety of products...

:-)

The many flavors of libertarianism

I came across this video:



There was also a list of examples provided:

Some examples of some of the factions mentioned:

Libertarian Anarchists - Murray Rothbard, Karl Hess

Non-libertarian anarchists - Max Stirner, Kropotkin

Minarchists - Ron Paul, Ludwig Von Mises

Apolitical Libertarians - Samuel Konkin, Brad Spangler

Utilitarian Libertarians - David Friedman, Bryan Caplan

Left-libertarians - Roderick Long, Kevin Carson

Right-libertarians - Hans Hoppe, Gary North

Post-Objectivist Libertarians - Stefan Molyneux, Geoffery Allan Plauche

Libertarian Socialists - Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn

Individualist Anarchists - Benjamin Tucker, Lysander Spooner

In some areas tech jobs still growing

In some parts of the country there are still quite a few jobs open related to technology, especially those that require training such as programmer jobs. Even here in Toledo where the unemployment rate is higher than the rest of the state, there are still openings on many of the free job boards for positions where programming experience is required. It's why many people are opting to return to school to take additional classes to be able to find employment.

The lessening access to needed care...

A friend called me this morning looking for some type of detox or drug rehab program for a relative. The problem that they faced is one that many currently face, no health insurance. We can debate if this is something that should be provided by government; federal, state or local, but the reality is there will always be those in our society who need help that are not able to pay for it. Some sort of organized assistance needs to exist, either through voluntary charitable aid or as it is now. Unfortunately with some of the budgetary cuts states are facing, people are having a more difficult time finding programs including addiction help that they can afford.

The real danger of right-wing extremists

I can't say I agree with all of what is written by David Kupelian, but he does make a valid point that I wanted to share in his recent article before the murder of Dr. George Tiller:

If you think Obama has moved quickly since Inauguration Day to implement his European-socialist agenda for America, you ain't seen nothin' yet. If angry, would-be "patriots" engage in violence against the U.S. government such as occurred in Oklahoma City, the changes will make your head spin, as government suppresses freedom of speech, of the press, of the right to keep and bear arms, of the right to assemble, and more, all "for the protection of the people and the state."

It's a very real temptation. Think of it: As government excesses and corruption become ever more brazen, with "hate crimes" laws effectively criminalizing the Bible and kindergartners brainwashed with radical "gay rights" propaganda, with America's currency being continually devalued and entire industries taken over by the federal government, pretty soon some group may decide it can't take it anymore. Its members might become so enraged that they conclude it's time to start the next armed revolution. Seeing their nation being raped and envisioning no solution other than violence, they delude themselves that they're the modern counterparts of America's revolutionary founders. Making explosives and conspiring in secret – all the while quoting Jefferson to each other about "watering the tree of liberty" from time to time with "the blood of patriots and tyrants" – they murder some federal judges or blow up a government office building in an attempt to fight back. In reality, all they succeed in doing is murdering and maiming a bunch of their fellow Americans (or, as McVeigh did in Oklahoma City, massacring a room full of toddlers in daycare – which he later coldly termed "collateral damage").

And what would follow? A massive official crackdown on "domestic terrorists" and a severe assault on freedom in America.

Amazing what hatred can accomplish, isn't it? Exactly the opposite of what was supposedly intended. The "dark side of the force" is very clever.

Since it's clear that those who are committing the violence don't seem to realize all they are doing is actually hurting more than they are helping, perhaps the solution is one that is not mentioned in this article. Right wing groups who don't want to be associated with this type of action should do more to make sure they are not assisting in any way and reporting those that they suspect are going to commit acts of violence. They can take more responsibility in making sure it's very clear that they don't support or advocate violence before something happens rather than afterwards making some type of statement disavowing the action.

Some attempting to connect Scott Roeder to Libertarianism

It's a bit of a far stretch, but it's being done as can be seen in this blog post titled, "Prominent abortion provider murdered (suspected killer may be a libertarian.)

The Libertarian Party platform on abortion is clear:

U.S. Libertarian Party position

The U.S. Libertarian Party political platform (2008)[5] states: that "Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration."

There are a good number of Libertarians who have expressed a pro-choice sentiment, and trying to connect those on the fringe, such as Freeman's is just another scenario where the attempt is to give Libertarianism a bad name. It's just as silly as blaming religion as a whole for people like Roeder...It happens enough for this to be one of the top myths about Libertarianism:

Libertarians believe in violence against government.

Wrong! Media stories about people like the Ruby Ridge victims, the Freeman in Montana, and Timothy McVeigh, often mistakenly call these people "Libertarians". Libertarians (with a capital L) are members of the Libertarian Party, and to be such must have signed a pledge against the initiation of force. The Libertarian Party is the only party that expressly advocates honest negotiations to settle business dealings and differences and not forcing people to associate with others against their will, and that expressly forbids the use of force except in self defence against physical attack.

Burning bibles...

The truth can be difficult to find out and this story is a prime example of that. Earlier this month Al Jazeera took a video clip of American soldiers in Bagram stated to have been recorded almost a year ago by some sources, and used it to present what their viewpoint, which was that US troops urged to share faith in Afghanistan. Though if you watch the video clip it's clear that Sgt. James Watts states that the bibles were sent to him from his church back home.

Now this story is in the news again because it's been confirmed that the bibles were destroyed. A more recent article on Al Jazeera reports also that the Bibles were burned:

The US army in Afghanistan has burned Bibles printed in local languages, a US colonel in Afghanistan has said, amid concerns they could have been used to try to convert Afghans.

"My understanding is that the [military] leadership confiscated these Bibles so that they could not be distributed around Afghanistan," Colonel Greg Julian told Al Jazeera on Wednesday.

"It was their best judgement at the time, that the best way to deal with it, was to destroy them and I understand that they were burnt."

It's also pointed out by a few media sources that this was not an official military action but was related to one soldier, Sgt. Watts, who was not aware that he could not hand out the Bibles. Fox news as one example.

The controversy doesn't end there though, now there some claiming Mikey Weinstein demanded the chaplain in the video be court-martialed (which I haven't found beyond him suggesting something similar 2006) and those who have created petitions claiming that the rights of the religious are being attacked by domestic enemies of religious liberty.

This isn't about our soldiers not having the right to worship God while they are in the military, it isn't about our country stopping them from having access to religious material. It's about respecting the laws in other countries, even if you don't agree with them, it is against the law in Afghanistan to try to convert Muslims to another faith. As pointed out during the case of Abdul Rahman:

Afghanistan's 2004 constitution states that "no law can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam" (Article 3) thus affirming that apostasy from Islam is punishable by death. On the other hand, the constitution's preamble affirms that the people of Afghanistan will respect the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which in Article 18 guarantees the freedom to change one's religion.

Non-Muslim Afghans who have never been Muslims have a measure of freedom in that they are permitted to "exercise their faith and perform their religious rites within the limits of the provisions of the law" (Article 2). This applies to Afghan Hindus, Sikhs and the one remaining member of Afghanistan's Jewish community. But it does not apply to Afghan Christians (or other non-Muslims) who have chosen to convert from Islam.

Making it appear that the US military sanctions these laws to be broken is wrong, but it's also just as wrong to use what happened as a way to further a personal agenda here in the US and there are some on both sides of this issue not acting very different when it comes to skewing what happened and a lack of honesty.

(cross posted at Liberal Common Sense)

Ma what?

I saw the word, ma huang and at first I had no idea what it was, beyond guessing it was some type of an oriental herb. I then discovered Ma huang (Ephedra sinica) is a cone-bearing shrub, 30 to 50 cm in height, which is native to China but now found also in the Mediterranean region, India, Persia, and the western portion of South America.

Ten species of Ephedra are known to exist in North America, and many were popular in folk medicine and as a daily beverage. After the Mormons had arrived in Utah, the native tribe introduced them to a species of Ephedra, and they used the stems as a substitute for coffee and tea. However, this was considered to be a bitter-tasting tonic beverage. In the Old West, the same species used by the Mormons gained a reputation as a cure for syphilis and gonorrhea, though there doesn't seem to be any evidence that it worked to cure those...

It'd be funnier if it wasn't true...

A version of a popular joke with a Libertarian twist:

Three colleagues, a Democrat, a Republican, and a Libertarian went out to dinner. And the Libertarian, against his normal instincts, allowed the others to talk him into splitting the dinner tab equally. Doing his part to help keep the bill down, the Libertarian ordered the $9.99 dinner special and a sparkling water. The Republican had a Scotch on the rocks and the Democrat had a vodka and tonic before dinner, and the Republican ordered the $29.99 sirloin steak while the Democrat had the $34.99 lobster dinner. Then both the Democrat and Republican had an after-dinner liqueur at $5.99 each, while the Libertarian had a cup of coffee. The check came to over $100 — over $125 with tax and tip.

However, to add insult to injury, about the time the waiter brought the check, the Democrat got a call on his cellphone and had to step outside to talk. And the Republican looked at his watch, said he was late for an appointment, excused himself, and hurriedly left.

When the Libertarian protested at being left to pay the entire bill, which he had to put on his credit card to cover, the Republican said: "But I saved you money by spending five dollars less than the Democrat." And the Democrat said: "You can't blame me for the high bill, because the Republican spent over $40 all on his own!"

Which probably makes the Libertarian hope that the other two don't use a colon cleanser so perhaps the Libertarian will live longer and healthier, or at least be around longer to pay off the credit card debt from the other two.

:-)

Questioning Rick Perry's patriotism...

Some of the blogs out there have really been doing some major name calling when it comes to Texas Governor Rick Perry and his recent statements regarding Texas and the topic of secession. I don't want Texas to secede, but I also don't believe our government holds the right to keep a state that wants to leave the union. What's really at issue when you read the press release from Rick Perry it's not so much secession but state's rights. No one can deny that our present form of government is the way it was designed to exist and states have basically lost many of the rights they had when it came to determining what they wanted for their own citizens.

If this topic interests you? An additional FAQ page, one of the points:

Q: Doesn't the Texas Constitution reserve the right of Texas to secede?
A:

No such provision is found in the current Texas Constitution[1](adopted in 1876) or the terms of annexation.[2] However, it does state (in Article 1, Section 1) that "Texas is a free and independent State, subject only to the Constitution of the United States..." (note that it does not state "...subject to the President of the United States..." or "...subject to the Congress of the United States..." or "...subject to the collective will of one or more of the other States...")

Neither the Texas Constitution, nor the Constitution of the united States, explicitly or implicitly disallows the secession of Texas (or any other "free and independent State") from the United States. Joining the "Union" was ever and always voluntary, rendering voluntary withdrawal an equally lawful and viable option (regardless of what any self-appointed academic, media, or government "experts"—including Abraham Lincoln himself—may have ever said).

Both the original (1836) and the current (1876) Texas Constitutions also state that "All political power is inherent in the people ... they have at all times the inalienable right to alter their government in such manner as they might think proper."

I support the concept of State's rights, just as I am against the practice of unfunded or underfunded federal mandates, believing that if the Federal Government is going to tell a State it "has" to do something? It should provide the full funding or it should be voluntary.

Strong fences make good neighbors

While thinking of summer, it was also hard to ignore that we are going to have to replace one part of our fence, well technically our neighbor should but since it's clear he's not going to, we offered to take care of the fence installation of one new section of privacy fencing since he no longer has a dog and we have two. Not just to keep the doggies safe, but because of the below referenced pool, too many accidents happen when children can easily gain access to a pool that's not in a fenced in yard.

It's hard to not think of summer..

Today was a beautiful day here in Northwestern Ohio, it made me almost want to shuck typing from my upstairs "office" location and use the laptop with the wireless connection on the back deck. The weather inspired my husband to clean out the garage and to start eyeing the small above the ground pool that we have to get it ready for the hotter days that will eventually come. This made me wish that my laptop was waterproof, as I could imagine using one of those pool floats lounges and live blogging from my pool. Alas, that will have to remain a dream, though live blogging from the deck is a sure certainty....

Stark-raving-mad Libertarian?

That's supposedly how Jack Spirko describes himself, while I can't describe my libertarian leanings from my upbringing in that manner, one of my relatives shares some of the same thoughts as Spirko when it comes to libertarianism and survivalism as penned in this Charleston Gazette article. A small taste:

Spirko, an Army veteran and self-described "stark-raving-mad Libertarian," is part of a growing movement of people who are preparing for a disaster natural, economic or man-made. Referred to as "modern survivalists" or "preppers," they are taking steps to protect and provide for their families should something bad happen.

Theirs is a different breed of survivalist, far from the militants or religious extremists who hole up in bunkers, live off the land and wait for the apocalypse.

Preppers are regular people with regular jobs who decided after Sept. 11, after Hurricane Katrina or when their 401(k)s tanked that they can't rely on someone else to help them if something goes awry.

Libertarians rising?

Probably one of the better articles I've read on the concept of the tea-parties and why so many people felt they wanted to participate. The reality for those who followed this was that the Republican Party wasn't behind organizing this, though it's clear that some tried to coattail on to the events by appearing to speak.

Part of the recommended piece Libertarians rising, Republicans riding, Liberals receding:

Libertarians were soaring and leading the charge at the tea parties despite the relatively small percentage of people who consider themselves to be Libertarian. Hopping on to ride on their coat-tails were many Republicans, who seemed to suddenly remember that they were the party of Reagan, who himself stood for lower taxes, smaller government and fiscal responsibility. Of course it was hard for contemporary Republicans to achieve strong credibility on those issues because of their inability and/or unwillingness to reign in government spending or reduce the size and scope of the government when they controlled the presidency and both houses of Congress. There are not many Reagan-like figures left in the party that he once led so brilliantly.

I'd also have to agree that some of the Democrats who tried to either scorn or try to make the tea parties appear to be Republican ideas was disheartening.

How to save money on car repairs

The easiest way is to learn to do some of the basics yourself, though many of the repairs you probably could do with a repair manual on your car and some patience, would be aided by the use of a hydraulic floor jack. We don't have one, but luckily my son does so when we need one, all we have to do is borrow his. Recently we changed the starter on a car we have, it would have been much more difficult without that type of a jack, it could have been done, but you'd need ramps or more than one jack and you always need something to use as a safety, all too often people are injured when a jack let's loose...

Milton Friedman on Libertarianism...

This is part one of the four part video, it's one I recommend watching, especially the first one since there seems to be so much discussion as to what is an actual Libertarian. The other three are good too, and are found on YouTube, but I like this one the best.

Do pets need supplements?

I have cats and dogs, all of which are very well fed animals, but one of mine is getting a bit older and he's not eating as much as he should. According to my vet, if you feed your pets a high quality pet food, if they are elderly or if they are a finicky eater, then pet supplements can be helpful. I do recommend researching the product, just as you would for something you'd purchase for your own use...

A lesson in the free market...

One of my bunch recently bought one of the weight loss pills sold on the internet, she told me it would be perfectly fine because the site offered a guarantee, I suggested she check the fine print because some places have a shipping and handling charge where not all of it is refunded. She didn't listen...the product didn't work for her and the shipping and handling was not refundable, which meant she paid $14.95 for the product which probably nets the company more than enough to cover their product minus her refund. Do yourself a favor, do some research as to what are the best weight loss pills out there and read the fine print...

Nice video on Libertarian Party

I'm wayyyy behind in blogging here but I came across this video and I thought it'd be a nice one to share. It's a ten minute look at the history of the Libertarian Party from 1971 to 2006.

Taboo topics now ads...

Have you ever stopped to wonder about how you can see how much our culture has changed by what is now acceptable to advertise versus what years ago would have been taboo? It's at times a bit hypocritical, but stop and think about this for a moment. Now on television and the internet everything from a yogurt that makes your digestive track work better, to drugs to help men with erectile issues to feminine products even going as far as advertisements designed to address vaginal dryness are out there.

Cigarettes and types of alcohol are no longer allowed to advertise in some places, but we can run disclaimers at the bottom of ads warning men to look out for erections that last more than 8 hours. This then leads to the irony that those little magic pills for men are covered under almost all prescription plans but not birth control...

Fat Cats if only...

I saw this cartoon and it caught my attention because of the concept of "fat cats" and how they are portrayed in cartoons. Most of us when we hear that phrase don't think of the real feline variety, we think about greed and an obsession for more. It'd be nice to think there was some type of magic diet pills that would address this type of "fat" but when you look at how long that word has been used, it's actually been used as a term since the 1920's and it appears to be here to stay.

Nice resource for libertarianish news

If you have never stopped by SmallGovTimes.com it's a source I try to read on a regular basis. While most of you who are regular readers know I battle between the liberal part of me and my libertarian up bringing, I typically find quite a few articles of interest there that you won't read in the traditional media.

One recent piece that is very thought provoking is Individualism and Self Defense. I highly recommend it as it will make you stop and think about what you perceive you have a right to as a citizen versus the realities of what the constitution states.

A new country?

An interesting article is linked at the title that reports on the progress of a group who is attempting to make their own country, not on land but on sea. It caught my interest when I heard about it some time ago, so it was interesting to read the coverage (ironically from the UK and not here). Some selected parts of the article:

A utopian project part-funded by a dotcom tycoon aims to build a giant platform off the coast of San Francisco where people can live free of government regulation.

It sounds like the plot of a pre-Daniel Craig Bond film: an internet tycoon invests part of his vast fortune to fund a fiefdom afloat in international waters. He is joined by the libertarian grandson of one the world’s most famous economic thinkers and advertises for like-minded citizens “who are dissatisfied with our current civilisation” to join him aboard his brave new world.

However, this is not fiction. It is happening now and the group, called the Seasteading Institute, has just released the first detailed plans of what its utopian water world will look like. The first architectural stage is being financed by a $500,000 (£362,000) donation from Peter Thiel, billionaire co-founder of PayPal, the online payments system that was sold to eBay for $1.5 billion in 2002. More funding will follow, and the group hopes to start building a small-scale version off the coast of San Francisco this year.

If this inspires you to want to learn more, there are some pictures:



You can also read quite a bit more about this by visiting The Seasteading Institute where they have more information, a blog and are even using Twitter now.

The greening of the economy

While parts of our economy are not faring well, one area that seems to be doing at least fairly well from a public relations/marketing stand point is green products. Go to any grocery store and chances are you'll see an array of "green" cleaning products, the same can be said for laundry detergent. When it comes to home lighting, more and more people are selecting led light fixtures or using other types of energy efficient, long lasting lights.

Reclaiming the Libertarian Party

Recommended piece by David F. Nolan on why he thinks it's time for the Libertarian Party to stand up for their principles and not be "just a pale, slightly-more-tolerant version of the GOP." He's formed The December 11 Group and is urging those interested to blog about it, visit the site and to get involved with their efforts.

The blog site is fairly new, and at this point the three listed as contributors are - "The Instigators" David F. Nolan, Jack Dean and Less Antman. They don't appear to be accepting comments but they do have an email address for those interested in more information. Or, you can bookmark their blogsite and see how this develops...

More cat word associations...

Yes, it could be said I'm feeling "catty" today, but more cat word associations. Most of you, especially those of you without felines in your home may conjur up another visual when thinking of bathroom vanities, not here. Here, images of cats, especially one cat in particular who likes to sleep in our bathroom sink comes to mind. The picture is not our cat, it is one who looks eerily like him and also apparently likes to sleep in the sink. Our cat is clever enough that when he sees you come with a camera, he leaps down...

Word associations with cats...

There are times I realize we have too many pets, because certain words make me think of one of the pets as opposed to what most people would think of. Take the word, tuxedos as an example, most of you might think of the suit, or perhaps even a penguin, but for me? I think of cats. We've had tuxedo cats in the past and still have one now, one that shouldn't be living here, but she is.

My ex-husband got the cat (Yoko) for my youngest daughter against my wishes. Said cat was supposed to reside at his home, when he moved from this area, he without even asking brought the cat to my house and left it on my front porch taped in a box. He realized that since it was my daughter's cat he could abdicate responsibility and stick me with the drama of either disposing of the cat or keeping it. Yes, you can see a good example of why he's an ex-husband (smile). The other cats who live here are older, all belong to my other children who as they have moved out have not been able to find or afford places that allow pets. That explains the two dogs too, but the other cats hate Yoko and she being younger, terrorizes them to the point one is afraid to use the litter box because of her bullying behavior. So every time I find a pile of poo where it should not be, I think fondly of the man who created quite a bit of poo for me...and I think of cats when I hear the word "tuxedo."

Ron Paul and the Birch Society...

The way it's done is you always try to dismiss a person by finding people that are considered by some to be "extreme" and then try to make the implication that no matter how small the association that person is therefore one of the "extreme." We watched the attempt to link Barack Obama with several people who could be in this "extreme" category, it obviously didn't work. It was supposedly bemoaned by many as not being fair. Yet, the same thing is being done to Ron Paul, it started some time ago, with one example from 2008 and it still continues today with articles like this one Yes, Ron Paul is a Bircher.

When asked in 2007 about the Birch Society, Paul stated:

“Oh, my goodness, the John Birch Society!” he said in mock horror. “Is that bad? I have a lot of friends in the John Birch Society. They’re generally well educated, and they understand the Constitution. I don’t know how many positions they would have that I don’t agree with. Because they’re real strict constitutionalists, they don’t like the war, they’re hard-money people. . . . ”

As someone who is personally more liberal but is interested in libertarian principles since that is the political party of my upbringing, I'd question if Paul believes some of the positions now, as opposed to some stated in the past, as an example, I don't believe:

Liberals are secret communist traitors who provide the cover for the gradual process of collectivism, with the ultimate goal of replacing the nations of western civilization with one-world socialist government.

Sad to say, though I do know people who do feel that way, and I don't think all of them are John Birch Society Members.

I ventured over to the John Birch Society website expecting to see a bunch of extreme positions. None that I noticed, in fact it was much more laid back than some of the "Focus on Family" type material that I've seen out there. I really don't think speaking with people who are members of this group is anything "bad" and if we are going to follow the whole "if it's wrong, it's wrong" theory, then if people are not supposed to worry about some of the closer relationships our current President had? Ron Paul's Birch connection is not one to worry about...

How my refrigerator became a campaign slogan

When my youngest daughter was 11, she decided she wanted to volunteer for a local city council candidate. She did this on her own, with the exception of us having to arrange for transportation, with her zeal for her favorite candidate demonstrated on our refrigerator. He had magnets created for his campaign and she had slews of them. Enough that at one point in time it was difficult to see what color the actual refrigerator was...Even after the campaign was over, and her favorite candidate had won, it took quite some time before she'd let us remove the magnets. Two of which still remain on the fridge almost three years later.

:-)

Speciality employment sites

There are the larger sites that people turn to online when job hunting, but at times it can be a frustrating adventure depending on how organized the search ability is. That's why there have been niche sites set up that specialize in a variety of different employment areas, like admin careers, where that particular field is focused on.

It helps the employer seeking an employee because people coming there are looking for that particular type of job, and it helps the employee since it makes the process easier for them to connect with employers.

California Libertarians Say Today's Budget Deal is a 'Travesty'

Recommended article on MSNBC about some of the reaction to the latest California Budget. California is in such bad financial straights that they are not giving people their state income tax refunds, it's been put on hold with it being stated they might have to issue IOU's.

Part of the statement released today:

Libertarian Party of California Chair Kevin Takenaga issued the follow statement today regarding the budget deal agreed to this morning by the California legislature:

"The budget package passed by the California legislature this morning is an absolute travesty. It shows just how little concern the Democrats and Republicans in Sacramento have for ordinary, hard-working individuals and businesses in California.

"And make no mistake, even those Republicans who voted against it today share the blame. The state's fiscal mess didn't just happen overnight. It took years of arrogance, neglect, ignorance and willful disregard for taxpayers by both major parties to reach this point. The state's $40 billion deficit was utterly predictable. Both parties were copartners in crime in approving ever larger spending plans that far outstripped the state's rising revenues. Despite a slowing economy, the state still separated taxpayers from a record amount of their money last year.

Critiques of Libertarianism, more like elementary taunts

This was kind of funny that Libertarianism was seen as such a threat that there is an actual website out there to give you the talking points to "deal" with the arguments from "Libertarian Evangelists" at first I thought it might have some informational value, until I got to this part:

The Libertarian Party: America's third largest political party.

Wow, third! That sounds impressive until you realize that the Libertarian Party is about one percent of the size of the other two. Funny how they don't mention that in their slogan. I guess they should get a new slogan. Let's have a new slogan contest for the Libertarian Party!

* A party a lot smaller than the Communists used to be?
* The party that can't get as many votes as any one-shot third party?
* The party that's elected fewer to national office than the Socialists?
* The party whose symbol is a big government statue.
* The party with the oxymoronic name?
* The party of Pat Paulson, uh, I mean Don Imus, uh, I mean Howard Stern!
* America's Third Most Comical Political Party?
* Preschool for hyperactive Republicans?

Evidently some have taken Mike Huben seriously enough to write a response to him. Which rather than make Huben think, probably created him awarding another Libertarian Loser of the week. Which maybe it's just me, but I believe in freedom of thought, when you can't offer a real argument but your response is immaturity? It's hard to take the critique seriously and if what Huben said is true and the numbers of Libertarians are small enough to mock, then why expend so much effort?

Of Bias and belief...

You often hear the phrase asking for people to "keep an open mind" when considering a variety of topics, some related to politics some not. The reality is I have found less people who actually are willing to attempt this than I have those who carry their own personal biases and beliefs with them like heavy luggage on their backs. While at times it's frustrating, it's also understandable, we as human beings base many parts of our beliefs on what we feel to be true. If we begin to question some of those core values/beliefs that that creates the frightening proposition that if we are wrong or mistaken on one area, what about the others?

It's much easier to shut out the voices of those who you don't agree with based merely on the fact that you don't agree with them rather than it is to challenge your own beliefs to see with the information shared, how does that impact your belief on any particular issue...

Ron Paul piece asks, "What if?"

I don't pretend to agree with everything that Ron Paul states, that said, I think that many of the questions he raises and the topics that he tries to broach as a way of creating discussion/getting people to think should be out there more. All too often people try to explain away/ignore some valid questions. With that? Comes this piece written last week:

What if we wake up one day and realize that the terrorist threat is a predictable consequence of our meddling in the affairs of others?

What if propping up repressive regimes in the Middle East endangers both the United States and Israel?

What if occupying countries like Iraq and Afghanistan – and bombing Pakistan – is directly related to the hatred directed toward us and has nothing to do with being free and prosperous?

What if someday it dawns on us that losing over 5,000 American military personnel in the Middle East since 9/11 is not a fair trade-off for the loss of nearly 3,000 American citizens, no matter how many Iraqi, Pakistani, and Afghan people are killed or displaced?

What if we finally decide that torture, even if called “enhanced interrogation techniques,” is self-destructive and produces no useful information – and that contracting it out to a third world nation is just as evil?

What if it is finally realized that war and military spending is always destructive to the economy?

What if all wartime spending is paid for through the deceitful and evil process of inflating and borrowing?

What if we finally see that wartime conditions always undermine personal liberty?

What if conservatives, who preach small government, wake up and realize that our interventionist foreign policy provides the greatest incentive to expand the government?

What if conservatives understood once again that their only logical position is to reject military intervention and managing an empire throughout the world?

What if the American people woke up and understood that the official reasons for going to war are almost always based on lies and promoted by war propaganda in order to serve special interests?

What if we as a nation came to realize that the quest for empire eventually destroys all great nations?

What if Obama has no intention of leaving Iraq?

What if a military draft is being planned for the wars that will spread if our foreign policy is not changed?

What if the American people learn the truth: that our foreign policy has nothing to do with national security and that it never changes from one administration to the next?

What if war and preparation for war is a racket serving the special interests?

What if President Obama is completely wrong about Afghanistan and it turns out worse than Iraq and Vietnam put together?

What if Christianity actually teaches peace and not preventive wars of aggression?

What if diplomacy is found to be superior to bombs and bribes in protecting America?

What happens if my concerns are completely unfounded – nothing!

What happens if my concerns are justified and ignored – nothing good!

Of man and machine...

There are times when I wonder about the future and what will take place as far as "tinkering" with man. It's been the topic of many a science fiction type movie/book, where "unwanted" behaviors or characteristics are eliminated or enhanced in man just as easy as one would change auto performance parts for a machine. In some ways we have already done this when it comes to genetics, which created the never ending dilemma of how much in man could be changed without impacting what makes us unique, our human spirit...

Ron Paul's thoughts on the Stimulus Bill...

Ron Paul notes that only 5 hard copies of the bill were available to read, some of it handwritten, that he feels this is part of the process that for him was an issue, that he almost got more information from the media on what this bill was going to contain than those who were in office. He said this is an atrocious way to legislate.

No matter how you feel on the stimulus bill, it should be disturbing to everyone that all too often, these bills are not fully read before they are voted on.

Spotlight on a Libertarian Mayoral candidate

I came across the title linked article and I thought it was an interesting one to share for a variety of reasons, including that local government is probably where the Libertarian Party has it's best chance at making inroads. It also demonstrates that even when you don't win? Many are committed to continue trying to run for office. A small part of the recommended piece:

At its most basic, libertarian philosophy says government shouldn't do much more than provide police to keep people from hurting each other.

Libertarian mayoral candidate Robb Cunningham says that may be going a bit too far. But he does advocate privatizing MetroLink. And of course he favors curbing what he calls eminent domain abuse.

As a Libertarian candidate for an executive position, rather than a legislative position, Cunningham said he would be relatively more liberal.

He favors promoting wind and solar power and creating green jobs for the city's unemployed. He also would push harder to remove lead from buildings.

While he might oppose the idea of the federal government's economic stimulus plan, he would seek to bring as much money as possible from the plan to St. Louis once it's approved.

Lose your job? Perhaps it's time to open your own business...

One of the most popular advice suggestions for those who have lost a job is to look at this as a chance to start their own business, that if they had dreamed about doing this "some time" then perhaps now would be the time. One way many people do this is by taking advantage of a franchise opportunity to start their own business.

Many times this is less expensive and less of a risk than starting a business of your own from scratch. You may think of franchises as being related primarily to the food industry, but that is very far from the case. From Automotive to franchises that specialize in services for Women, there are thousands of different franchise opportunities out there.

If I could find one for political blogging? I'd be ready.

:-)

Commentary: Libertarian ideas to stimulate economy

CNN doesn't often provide commentary from what is stated to be a Libertarian point of view, so I was a bit surprised to see a commentary by Jeffrey A. Miron on their website the other day. Considering I balance between leaning Libertarian when it comes to fiscal issues yet still being liberal when it comes to social issues, at times it can create some internal conflict. Some of the suggestions by Miron create that conflict for me, though I do understand and appreciate where his point of view is coming from.

I recommend reading the article in full, the list by title:

Repeal the Corporate Income Tax
Increase Carbon Taxes While Lowering Marginal Tax Rates
Moderate the Growth of Entitlements
Eliminate Wasteful Spending
Withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan
Limit Union Power
Renew the U.S. Commitment to Free Trade
Expand Legal Immigration
Stop Bailing out Businesses that Took on Too Much Risk

Word associations from my past...

I grew up a motor head, in a family where one of the males was a very outspoken Libertarian and the other leaned Libertarian when it came to a variety of social issues, especially gun control. With the fascination with cars starting at an early age and being the daughter assigned to be the mechanic's helper, to me hearing the three letters, "POS" described a car that was not a very good one, infact it would be close to a junker, a piece of...I'm sure you can fill in the third word.

Once I started blogging and started learning about a variety of different business practices, I learned what a POS system was, that it was a "Point of Sale" system. Though I admit every time I come across those three letters, I think back to my father loudly proclaiming that one of his friends was driving a POS compared to whatever his car of the moment was...

So what's Bob Barr up to?

The former presidential candidate has not faded into that good night, he's still out there sharing what he thinks on a variety of topics on his personal website, www.bobbarr.org. Like this recent recommended piece on Guantanamo, Torture, and Tribunals. Part of the thoughts he shared:

Barr, long a critic of steps taken by the former administration of George W. Bush to undermine civil liberties guaranteed in the Bill of Rights by, among other things, conducting electronic surveillance of U.S. citizens in their own country without court order and without any evidence of wrongdoing, said he "hopes these steps taken by the new president will be followed by further actions reestablishing the rule of law and respect for our Constitution that has been dramatically and unnecessarily eroded over the past seven years of the preceding administration." For example, Barr said, "I hope President Obama will seek legislation curtailing the dramatic expansion of federal wiretapping power signed into law last July when former President Bush signed legislation expanding the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) that now makes every international phone call or e-mail by or to any person in the United States subject to warrantless surveillance."

Barr also noted that arguments by supporters of these controversial powers that closing the prison at Guantanamo will increase dangers to America are unfounded, insofar as "any detainees against whom the government has evidence of terrorist acts, can try them or detain them in maximum security prisons, in military brigs, or in US military facilities overseas if necessary." Moreover, Barr said, "the government has more than sufficient intelligence, military and law enforcement tools that are consistent with constitutional guarantees in the Bill of Rights, to provide robust and essential security for our country."

So then I wondered, could you build a car from online

Just about anything can be found online these days, so I wondered when I saw a place that sells Ferrari parts if you could actually buy parts online to make your own car. I discovered you could, that there are quite a few websites out there that sell a variety of kits where you can pick from selected parts to the materials needed to make your own car. It's not just the roadways that you can do this with, people can actually buy kits to make ultralight flying machines and boats.

It's really pretty amazing when you think about it, that anything from how to build an igloo to how to build a car can be done right from your computer...

Thinking about rubber stamping...

Sometimes when I see an ad or a webpage on something, it makes me start wondering. This happened earlier related to seeing a site that can make a custom rubber stamp. I started thinking about the term itself to figure out where it came from. It seems that historically it came from the practice of subordinate employees or officials being deputized and given the authority to sign the name of their superior or employer. I used to do this when I was an administrative assistant, but I would sign my initials so that it was known I had signed it on his behalf.

Then in some cases a literal rubber stamp of the signature was created, this also happens frequently with elected officials, they don't sit there and sign the many documents and letters, they or someone in their office "rubber stamps" it. There's a deeper meaning of the term "rubber stamping" though where it's meant to suggest an endorsement took place without careful thought.

Then in comparison...

When you look at what a short time it took our nation to develop technology as pointed out in the below post, one can't help but wonder why with the huge advancements we have in computers and other science why haven't we been able to solve more of our problems. Why have we not been able to come up with viable alternative energy solutions, or cures for diseases or even figure out how to fight fat. Granted there are a huge variety of products out there like Leptovox that are "fat burners" but when you look at what we accomplished so quickly years ago, at times I wonder why we have not been able to accomplish more...

Looking back at energy...

A really interesting website is the Department of Energy's timeline it begins in 1939 and goes all the way to 2004. I have no idea why it stopped at 2004, but it is a very interesting read to go back from then to now. You'll discover things like how quickly the United States developed and used technology when it comes to war:

January 19, 1942
President Roosevelt approves production of the atomic bomb following receipt of a National Academy of Sciences report determining that a bomb is feasible.

June 17, 1942
President Roosevelt instructs the Army to take responsibility for construction of atomic weapons complex. The Army delegates the task to the Corps of Engineers, which establishes the Manhattan Engineer District.

September 19, 1942
Brigadier General Leslie R. Groves, head of the Manhattan Engineer District, selects Oak Ridge, Tennessee, site for facilities to produce nuclear materials. Isotope separation of uranium235 takes place in the gaseous diffusion plant built in the K-25 area of the site, in the electromagnetic plant in the Y-12 area, and in the liquid thermal diffusion plant. A pilot pile (reactor) and plutonium separation facility are built and operated at the X-10 area.

November 25, 1942
Groves selects Los Alamos, New Mexico, as site for separate scientific laboratory to design an atomic bomb.

December 2, 1942
Metallurgical Laboratory scientists led by Enrico Fermi achieve the first self-sustained nuclear chain reaction in pile constructed under the west grandstand at Stagg field in Chicago.

January 16, 1943
Groves selects Hanford, Washington, as site for full-scale plutonium production and separation facilities. Three reactors--B, D, and F--are built.

April 12, 1945
President Roosevelt dies. Harry S. Truman becomes President.

May 7, 1945
Germany surrenders.

July 16, 1945
Trinity device being readied Los Alamos scientists successfully test a plutonium implosion bomb in the Trinity shot at Alamogordo, New Mexico.

August 6, 1945
The gun model uranium bomb, called Little Boy, is dropped on Hiroshima, Japan.

August 9, 1945
The implosion model plutonium bomb, called Fat Man, is dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. Five days later, Japan surrenders.

It definitely sounds Latin...

I knew first it was some type of a medical term when I came across the word, Plantar Fasciitis, and I assumed it had something to do with feet, given the Latin word planta, 'sole of the foot' but what I didn't know is this particular condition has been called "flip-flop disease." No, not because of anything related to politics but because it happens frequently to people who were open backed shoes with no supports, or in other words, flip-flops.

So see? Another reason to leave summer shoe wear to the summer, yes, this would also apply to several of my bunch that wear their flip-flops even in the winter. You know they even have socks designed for people with flip-flop fetishes...

Freedom to be flealess...

That may sound funny, but when you have pets and some of them are pets that go outdoors, such as dogs, even if you keep your cats as totally indoor pets fleas happen. Even with some of the expensive medications designed to prevent them. That's why when we moved into this home, since we opted to not have carpet. In a few rooms of the house like our bedroom, we use area rugs but the majority of our home is the refinished wood flooring that it originally was built with.

While it does seem to take more work when it comes to mopping, it really isn't when you consider there is no need to vacuum and it makes a huge difference when it comes to keeping the flea population down.

Fantasty versus reality...

One of the greatest delusions in the world is the hope that the evils in this world are to be cured by legislation. – Thomas B. Reed (1886)

It shouldn't surprise anyone that something said that long ago is still true today, what is surprising at times is that the number of people who believe that legislating something can really get rid of evil has grown.

Many believe that by making things a law, it will automatically create common sense or protect people from facing harm. Take one small example, motorcycle helmet laws. Anyone who rides a motorcycle should be aware of the fact that they are not protected by any type of metal frame or airbags or any of the other safety requirements laws have created for cars to have. It also doesn't take a great deal of common sense to figure out that if something happens as far as an accident and you don't wear protective clothing and/or a helmet, you will face the possibility of more injury than with a helmet/protective clothing.

The rider makes a choice, though in many states, that rider is now required by law to wear a helmet. Which means the rider still does have a choice, but now the choice is to violate the law or not...

There are lots of other examples that could be used, but the bottom line is we can't legislate common sense, and we can't legislate morality...

Some tv's will become nothing more than paper weights...

One local television station has the daily countdown to when those who don't have cable or one of the converter boxes will no longer be able to access what used to be ability to have free television stations. The system of handing out coupons is a joke, as an example, we never got ours but the website claims we did when I tried to request two, so we could very well not be able to access television when this happens. It will create more room on the tv stand in the living room, unless I decide to leave it there to pretend we actually have a television in that room...

Should your credit rating matter?

One of the things that has always made me wonder when it comes to auto insurance quotes is the reliance on your credit history score as a factor. Using someone's driving record is completely understandable, but the idea that your credit score somehow should be a factor in the price that you pay to insure your home or your car has always been puzzling. Those who are poor have not been statistically proven to be worse drivers than those who are rich, it's one of those strange things that if we as consumers were not forced to purchase insurance as we are in some states, we might have a better ability to create change.

A Tale of another Kennedy...

For some reason this moment is not getting much media face time given the most recent Kennedy expressing they should be automatically considered for office, I came across it when I was searching for background on a quote:

Back in 2001, the ninth son of Robert and Ethel Kennedy, Max Kennedy, flirted with the idea of running for political office. A story in the New York Times Magazine recounted his ill-fated attempt at a stump speech riddled with trite one-liners like these: "I want to fight for all of you. I'll commit myself heart and soul to be the kind of congressman who cares about you. I'll dedicate myself to fighting for working families to have a fair chance. I make you this one pledge: I will always be there for you."

Kennedy's handler pressed him repeatedly for a "take-away message," something of substance that his audience would remember. "What do you want people to take away from it?" he asked several different ways. The would-be candidate stammered and couldn't think of much other than "I'm a nice guy," until finally he admitted, "I don't know. Whatever it has to be."

Las Vegas has a reputation of freedom...

One of the things you hear often about Las Vegas is "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" but there is an interesting side note to the City that many might not know as they book into that las vegas hotel and walk out on the strip.

Judges have consistently ruled that the walkway under the Fremont Street Experience is a public forum, meaning the First Amendment applies there. On the strip, the courts stated that such activities as handing out pamphlets, even ones that advertise the services of escorts or other "personal" services are protected there as well.

Quotes...

I was searching quotes and came across this one:

Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide. – John Adams (1814)

It's surprising how often that quote is used, and the many times it has been debated. In searching for more information on the actual quote, I came across this post that you may find very interesting, Democracy = Death that was written in 2004. The part pertaining to this quote:

WE MUST ATTACK AND DEFEAT DEMOCRACY!

That is the summation of Founder theory on the matter of democracy. Alexander Hamilton: “Our real disease - which is democracy.” John Adams: “Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” Fisher Ames: “The known propensity of a democracy is to licentiousness which the ambitious call, and ignorant believe to be liberty.” Albert Gallatin: “The Bill (of Rights)…establishes some rights of the individual unalienable and which consequently, no majority has a right to deprive them of.” James Madison: “A pure democracy…can admit no cure to the mischiefs of faction.” Gouverneur Morris: “We have seen the tumult of democracies…everywhere terminated, in despotism.” John Quincy Adams: “of all human governments, democracy was the most unstable, fluctuating and short lived.” John Whitherspoon: “Democracy cannot subsist long…it is subject to the madness of popular rage.” Benjamin Rush: “A simple democracy…is one of the greatest evils.” Noah Webster: “(Democracy) is one of the most tyrannical governments on earth.”

Some might find that offensive but the reality is, the United States was not designed to be a "true" Democracy, we are a Republic. It's always always amazed me the number of people that don't realize there is a difference...

I thought of a clothing designer...

As I was searching and came across the name,Patek Philippe, I first thought he had to be some type of clothing designer. I discovered it's actually the name of a Swiss watch company that is known for making watches for not only the rich and famous but for others as well. It was interesting to discover the most expensive watch ever sold at a Sotheby's auction was designed by the Pate Philippe company, selling for $1.49 million dollars.

It was a tourbillon watch, which I learned meant that it was designed to negate the effect of gravity that at one time was felt to have an affect on time keeping pieces.

Mistaking Libertarianism for "right wing" doctrine

I came across this piece and wanted to share it since I think it addresses some of the misconceptions out there that some hold when it comes to especially the social issue aspect of what most Libertarians believe:

Libertarianism is often thought of as “right-wing” doctrine. This, however, is mistaken for at least two reasons. First, on social—rather than economic—issues, libertarianism tends to be “left-wing”. It opposes laws that restrict consensual and private sexual relationships between adults (e.g., gay sex, non-marital sex, and deviant sex), laws that restrict drug use, laws that impose religious views or practices on individuals, and compulsory military service. Second, in addition to the better-known version of libertarianism, right-libertarianism, there is also a version known as “left-libertarianism”. Both endorse full self-ownership, but they differ with respect to the powers agents have to appropriate unappropriated natural resources (land, air, water, etc.). Right-libertarianism holds that typically such resources may be appropriated by the first person who discovers them, mixes her labor with them, or merely claims them—without the consent of others, and with little or no payment to them. Left-libertarianism, by contrast, holds that unappropriated natural resources belong to everyone in some egalitarian manner. It can, for example, require those who claim rights over natural resources to make a payment to others for the value of those rights. This can provide the basis for a kind of egalitarian redistribution.

Small businesses still the future...

With all of the focus on bailouts and millions if not billions of dollars spent on these larger industries. At times I think our government forgets that one of the main creators of jobs in the United States is the small business. Despite the economic downturn, there are still quite a few different types of small business opportunity scenarios out there that could be of interest. While it's always crucial to research any business opportunity, there are a industries where now might just be the time if you've dreamed of owning your own small business.

Key words designed to catch your attention...

Part of marketing is to use key words to get your attention, which is especially true when it comes to credit card offers. It stands to reason when you see something like, 0 apr 15 months it's going to catch your interest. While I always recommend reading the fine print, the whole goal of marketing is to first draw your attention to the major selling point of the product.

T-shirts with humor and at times not always funny...

I have quite a few t-shirts with sayings that I don't always wear but are almost like a collection, normally I prefer funny t shirts though I have quite a few from a variety of political campaigns. One that strikes me as becoming more and more of how I feel but is designed to be in humor is this saying:



There's quite a bit of temptation in that motto for 2009...

Libertarians want there to be no Government?

The headline of this opinion piece caught my attention, How America's Greatest Libertarian Experiment failed; but as I sat down to read it, I have to say I did not agree with a great deal of what was stated. What I thought might be an interesting post turned out to be one that was not only not correct but was an anti-libertarian piece:

As an example:

One way to view them is this: Libertarians are to Government as Atheists are to Religion. Atheists want there to be no God. Libertarians want there to be no Government.

Atheists don't believe there is a God, therefore it's not a matter of them "wanting" there to be no God, that would imply they believed he existed. Nor do Libertarians want there to be no Government. They want a more limited government, one that is more true to the functions of the Constitution and one where personal freedom is not overly impacted by Government.

This article though is a good example of the misconceptions out there that exist about what Libertarianism is.

The latest on the weight loss product world

In the past few years there have been a variety of products that have hit the internet and store shelves designed to help people loose weight. From different types of berries or fruits to different chemical compounds the diet industry has grown to be a multi-billion dollar one. The most recent product to get quite a bit of attention is alli which has not only been advertised online and on television but there was a huge display with information and the product at several local grocery stores in town. It's interesting to watch which products go mainstream and which ones remain an internet focus.

Will the toaster make it through security...

My oldest daughter is home visiting and she has decided that she wants to take her toaster back with her when she goes back to California. My husband is convinced that if she tries to take it in her luggage as a carry on that it will never pass through screening, that she'd be lucky to have it pass through as a checked bag.

He's offered to ship it to her, but the reality is since it was an inexpensive toaster it would realistically almost be cheaper to buy a new one there than it would be to ship it. How will this end? I'll keep you updated as to the next episode of "As the Toaster Travels".

A Libertarian Defense of Social Conservatism

I'm not sure I agree with everything that Randall Hoven wrote about liberals, but his piece A Libertarian Defense of Social Conservatism makes some points that are worth not only reading but discussing. A small bit of what he shared:

Who are the true liberty killers?

The most obvious point to me is that it is the do-gooding liberals who are telling us all what we can and can't do. The religious right usually just wants to be left alone, either to home school, pray in public or not get their children vaccinated with who-knows-what. Inasmuch as the "religious right" wants some things outlawed, they have failed miserably for at least the last 50 years. Abortion, sodomy, and pornography are now all Constitutional rights. However, praying in public school is outlawed, based on that same Constitution.

Just think for a moment about the things you are actually forced to do or are prevented from doing. Seat belts. Motorcycle helmets. Bicycle helmets. Smoking. Gun purchase and ownership restrictions. Mandatory vaccines for your children. Car emissions inspections. Campaign ad and contribution restrictions. Saying a prayer at a public school graduation or football game. Trash separation and recycling. Keeping the money you earned. Gas tax. Telephone tax. Income tax. FICA withholding. Fill in this form. Provide ID.

For the most part, the list just cited is post-1960. Neither Pat Robertson nor James Dobson ever forced any of that on us.

Fat burners make me think about the other fat

Whenever I see commercials or websites about fat burners I can't help think about what if there was a magic cure that could make fat disappear from more than just people. What if there could be a quick and painless way to cut fat from a budget, or a company or an educational system. Of course there isn't just as even with some of the fat burning products out there it always requires a bit more than just taking a product, it requires following a reasonable eating plan and exercise...

Would a Republican return to "morality" help the Libertarian Party?

This comment that was left on my other blog made me think...It was on the topic of the Ohio Republican party being split on should their focus be on social issues and morality or fiscal conservative/small government. There appears to be a split where some from the part of the party that supports the social issue/morality aspect wanting to have the candidate for the new director of the Ohio GOP not be selected:

I think myself that the Republican Party needs to be the party of "morality". We already have a party that looks after least government: the Libertarian Party. The Republican Party has been whoring after the "Religious Right", and now is thoroughly associated with it. If I want to vote for a party whose only interests is fiscal responsibility I think Libertarian, not Republican. Hopefully, the Republican Party will split between the "moralists" and "fiscal conservatives". It looks like we'll be seeing a new tripolar political system in the next election.

Credit and car insurance...

The reality is the insurance industry is in existence to make a profit, else they would not exist, what I've always found interesting about car insurance is the fact that it's not just your driving record in some places that affect what your rates will be, your credit history can also have an impact. It's as if the implication is being made that if you have bad credit you will somehow be a bad driver. Ironically most of the bad drivers I know, have enough money that the fear of increased rates doesn't seem to affect their ability to change their driving habits...

What if Bob Barr had won?

I came across this article that was written on November 4th that takes a look at what would have happened had Bob Barr won on election night. Of course we know with the way the media and the political process is set up to keep us attached to the two party system what a long shot this would be, but rather than take a serious look at what Barr could have accomplished? We have pieces like this one that are mocking:

JULY 4, 2009

Standing outside of Faneuil Hall in Boston, Barr delivers an Independence Day speech denouncing "tyranny in all its forms," citing especially Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and cookbooks. "Who is Irma Rombauer to tell you how to braise that coq au vin?" he tells a confused crowd. Gourmet magazine achieves political awareness.

DEC. 17, 2009

Prostitution is officially decriminalized. Eliot Spitzer high-fives an imaginary friend and returns to begging for change.

Is it any wonder few take the National Post serious?