A world of Liberty

I'm (not) with Her !

2019-10-11T08:22:00.002-07:00

October 4th Mrs. Clinton Posted a tweet quoting Barbara Jordan from 1974......"If the impeachment provision in the Constitution of the United States will not reach the offenses charged here, then perhaps that eighteenth century Constitution should be abandoned to a twentieth century paper shredder." In Effect as Mrs. Clinton beliefs that the electoral college should be abandoned, now she opines that the Constitution itself should be abandoned. This same constitution that had the same impeachment clause when her Husband was President facing similar circumstances for none other than lying under oath, she presumes that we should abandon this constitution for its weakness. Then let us look at this Document and she what it is she would like to destroy.

Massachusetts, opposed the document, as it failed to reserve undelegated powers to the states and lacked constitutional protection of basic political rights, such as freedom of speech, religion and the press. The roots of the Bill of Rights lie deep in Anglo-American history. In 1215 England’s King John, under pressure from rebellious barons, put his seal to the Magna Carta, which protected subjects against royal abuses of power. Among the Magna Carta’s more important provisions are its requirement that proceedings and prosecutions be according to “the law of the land”–the forerunner of “due process of law”–and a ban on the sale, denial, or delay of justice.

The idea of written documents protecting individual liberties took early root in England’s American colonies. Colonial charters (such as the 1606 Charter for Virginia) declared that those who migrated to the New World should enjoy the same “privileges, franchises, and immunities” as if they lived in England. The Bill of Rights, as symbol and substance, lies at the heart of American conceptions of individual liberty, limited government, and the rule of law. These concepts such as Individual Liberty are what are protected by this Constitution and that any modern American Politician or citizen would consider abolishing this document should make us all suspect. What possible motive could there be for abolishing a document that protects our natural right to life,liberty, or property ? What possible gain could be had by abolishing this document to codify our rights to property, or to life, or religion ? I have yet to see Mrs. Clinton offer such documentation, further more I have seen no serious offer to follow proper protocol and call for a constitutional convention.

That she would publicly post such a statement from Barbara Jordan based on a speech made in 1974 which had nothing but praise for the constitution and admired the sobriety of the founders in its creation leads one to conclude that Mrs. Clinton likes this constitution when it suits her, however when this same constitution is used to impeach her husband, or limits the power of her party she is not so fond of it. She loves the American institutions when they win her office, however when those same institutions deny her an office she is seeking well, then we must change these institutions. Is this not why we have a constitution in the first place ? To temper with whims of power and lust for power ? Is not the Bill of Rights in place to remind government that our rights precede its existence ?

I am always in favor of change, so long as that change exists to enhance our natural freedom. If we seek to enhance the liberty of the human species and codify that liberty so we as a free people can pursue our happiness than I for one look forward to a process that makes that a legitimate effort. However any one who seeks to devalue, diminish or abolish those liberties, should be fought, and stubbornly refused at all costs. We had a King on this Land once, and that was enough, it is the American experience to be free. And it shall always be. So no.....I am not with her. I am with those who seek a World of Liberty.

Why Dave Bing Should Have Mattered

2013-04-21T08:45:00.000-07:00

Born in 1943 Dave Bing has led a life that has been filled with challenges. Having been poked in the eye as a child and being blind in one eye at a time when there was not the Social Services available today he grew up vowing not to labor as his father had, and became a professional basketball player who became a Hall of Fane player and successful business owner Dave Bing has never been a quitter, nor has he been one who has shirked from a challenge, on the contrary having spent his entire life facing challenges his persona is to overcome obstacles, and to achieve success.........and then he became a Mayor of a City on the verge of bankruptcy, dysfunctional, and unwilling to accept changes of the world around it, clinging to an ideology outdated, and bypassed long ago, Dave Bing believed that change would be slow, cumbersome even, but change would happen inherently believing that enough interested parties in the City of Detroit wanted that change as well, but as has been the historical trend a minority of thought, a minority of interests have clung to a harbored past that has attached itself to a history that has long since gone and faded away else where in the world, except here in Detroit, in the believe that if you fight long enough and hard enough the opposition will give in to your demands, to meet you most of the way they wish to go........ignoring that in a digital world where money can be transferred in a blink of an eye, that people who have become more mobile and less dependent on a status quo and have become more resilient and adaptable to change. Unfortunately Detroit has not, and Dave Bing has not been able to persuade the people at large, or the City Council or the Union's of the importance of change. That may not be a reflection of personal failure, however it is a reflection of leadership, and that is where Dave should have mattered the most. However the record will show quite the opposite.

                                                                         It would be fair to say that there are circumstances well beyond his control. It would be absolutely justified to point out that Dave Bing was in an environment that was unable or unwilling to adapt to the surrounding changes, it would be completely fair on his behalf to show how a City Council and a Legal Department had set out from the day he assumed office to not just circumvent his authority, but blatantly went out of it's way to prevent success in this city in his name. He was targeted as an outsider who was out of touch, ( even though he had to win an election to maintain his presence in office ) he was labeled as too old, he has been accused of not caring about " the people " of Detroit, and only interested in keeping an outside establishment happy at the expense of the working class, and the Unions of the municipal employee's; a shrill if you will for the interests only out to bust up the Union's. Thus Dave Bing has been defined by his detractors, and in a media rich world has been defined by the people as a failure. At this point he has not announced his bid to run for re-election, but if Dave wants some wise advise,.......don't because you do not have a chance to win, that you can take to the bank.

                                                                        It's in the streets, at the local groceries, on the bus stops all over the city. It's noticeable on the local radio stations, the ones that target an urban...audience rather than a metropolitan audience, the discontent is everywhere, and if one where an ardent student of media, there is a subtle hint as well there ......Dave's got to go.........it is kind of like the local drama involving the appointment of an EFM, every one knew it was coming, the Governor made no pretense on what he expected, and would do.......yet the players at the local level all acted like nothing was going to change, that there is no way a Republican Governor would dare challenge the City of Detroit, and yet he did; that is the sense on the streets about Dave Bing, his time has come and gone, and the sooner the change, the better.

                                                                          It is sad however, Dave has been a successful individual all his life, hand has proven himself in many different theatres. He is a Democrat, but has proven that he can adapt to realities, and is capable of being pragmatic. He can bring to office integrity, and as well the fortitude to make tough decisions. Understanding finances, and more importantly...... financing   is something that was desperately needed in Detroit and Dave could have brought that rich experience with him. However in the end what the City of Detroit needed, and what it accepted in the richness of his experience are two very completely different things. That is indeed very sad, not for a political career, but for the very people who pay for the City Government, the citizens of Detroit, who no longer have a vote that matters, a Police Force that is completely demoralized, a Fire Department that has to beg for toilet paper, and a citizenry who cannot rely on the very Transportation that they pay for out of their own pocket. All of this could have been avoided, yet it was not. If more attention had been paid to necessary changes, Dave would have mattered, but in the end he was not. He was ignored, challenged, refuted, dismissed, disobeyed, a retaliated against. His time in office should have been a heroic story of insurmountable obstacles that were overcome, and obliterated. Instead what history will most likely write about Dave Bing as Mayor is an ineffectual business man trying to work the magic of the market into the policies of government. Finding out that government only works when collaboration and consent are used rather than dictates and facts. Dave Bing should have made a difference, instead he will be seen as a joke. That really is sad, for Dave Bing, his life, has been anything but a joke. Leadership is never easy, even dictators have to bring supporters along with them in order to accomplish goals, no matter how insane they may be, Dave Bing is not insane, he was just the wrong leader for the wrong cause. That's too bad, he should have mattered,......he should have made a difference.

A Fathers Promise

2012-10-30T16:34:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I had to cash a check, and of course it was a Sunday so the only place open very early in the morning was a local check cashing place. When I walked in a young man was standing in front of me with his young daughter in a small basket of sorts with a large handle. He could not be more than 22 or 23 years of age, and as I stood watching his transaction his conversation filled the whole room, which consisted of myself, the teller he and his daughter. It was not a loud or over bearing presence, nor was it a commanding presence. The young man stood confident, proud, assured. That was what made me stand and pay close attention. In this confidence was a weariness, which looking at the toddler sitting next to his feet was my guess the cause of the fatigue.

                                                                            The teller walked away from the counter for a moment and he turned to look at me.....I asked ......did she keep you up all night ? He smiled, and looked down with pride, no....she has slept soundly the last few nights, so it hasn't been that bad. Ya know he says to me as if we were long time friends, it's bad enough I have to pay these crazy fee's to cash a check, but then the TAXES taken out is enough to drive you crazy. Now clearly here was an opening of a conversation I could sink my teeth into, but I just wanted my money, and get the heck out of this place. there were people waiting on me to get this taken care of so we could take care of our business. So in an unusual fashion I simply say these taxes pay for services, and people depend on those services...........had he really known me it would have registered that this was pure sarcasm, however since he did not know me, it comes across as accepting the situation with some form of gratitude. The teller by now is approaching the window, but the answer I gave actually lit a fire........services ? what freakin services ? you mean like subsidizing farms ? or paying for a Congressman's hair cut ? or hey how about research into the mating habits of pond scum ?

                                                              So with a smile and a small chuckle I nod and say ..........look in all honesty you are preaching to the choir, in fact I am willing to bet that I would be more libertine in my opinions than you are.......I have been following this stuff for quite a long time, for example we are both here cashing a check but it is not real money. With that a toothy smile and a nod and this young man says you know you should read Ron Paul and his thoughts on this. I smiled ......and asked I have actually met Dr. Paul, are you aware of the foundations for his thoughts on money ? No I do not he replied, what are the foundations ? Mises I tell him Ludvig Von Mises, Dr. Paul is a big proponent of Austrian Economics. Wow ! he says......... that's really cool stuff, hey can I get your email address or something ? I would like to talk about this stuff some more if you don't mind. So I hand him a business card and tell him its alright and to call or email any time. I would be glad to go over this information any time.
                                                                    So he conducts the rest of his business with the teller gets his money, thanks her and apologizes for taking up too much of her time, and then he turns half way as if to speak to both of us and he says When my daughter was born, a apologized for bring her into such a screwed up world............and then I made her a promise....... that I would do everything in my power to make it a better one so she would not have to suffer.............

                                                                     That conversation has stuck with me for a few weeks now, not just for the devotion of a father to his child, which is quite admirable in and of itself; and not for the desire of a father to create a better place for his child which most parents want for there offspring, what really got to my heart was a father dedicating LIBERTY to an infant and proclaiming a lifetime of service for her chance to have it, and to know that there is still that dedication to the concept in the birthplace of liberty in a generation that will be here long after my life is gone. To see that and to experience a moment like that in person let's a person know that the IDEA of liberty is well worth fighting for and passing on. I hope there are more fathers like that out there somewhere.

First Impressions

2012-09-12T06:06:00.002-07:00

Sometimes life will give us an opportunity that at the moment it happens may not seem like much, but after it's over the depth and meaning of it has a far greater impact than the surface will allow at the moment. Let me share.
                                                             I was in a parking lot yesterday afternoon of a major retailer, and in the back corner of this parking lot is a transit center. Of course at all various times of the day next to the other retailer's people are milling around going about their business. Coming and going, back and forth....... and of course waiting. For me at times like this especially early in the morning I spend time reflecting.......how else would I come up with the nonsense I do ????? Sitting in front of me is a young lady, on the ground staring at.....what else but an iPhone.........so far nothing unusual, after all this is the 21st Century. Of course I am a man,........and this is a young women, so.................. I notice she is sitting on newspapers on an asphalt parking lot.........rather unusual..........so as she is sitting with her knees up around her chin, and gazing at the iPhone she looks up and smiles........I tried not to pay any attention to this and turn my head. I look over her, and around her, but all the while studying. Okay, details. Small, long black hair, very slight build, the shirt is way to short, exposing the back and along with the ill fit jeans exposing just way to much of other stuff, blue baseball hat, and sneakers. Let's see......a folder, plastic bag with frozen food.......makes some sense, but the manners are not what we would call local. So far so good. Two people in a parking lot on a beautiful late afternoon. She looks across the parking lot and smiles at another man sitting on a bench. Let's see two guys.... two smiles........ what ?......you got to be kidding me...........here ???????????

                                                              I continue to passivley ignore here, but then I wonder.....visiting ? or living ? mmmmmmm I am leaning toward a visitor, but the manners are to comfortable for that, so I start to conclude lives here.....student, and mom has no idea where she is............and then she stands up. To my utter amazment starts to sweep the parking lot underneath her. I see know...... rocks....... ya that would hurt makes sense. She looks at me and starts laughing, I want to bust out because the whole thing looks ridiculous. She keeps clearing the rocks, and then just stands. She took a few steps toward a gargage can.....the first word in my mind is " manners " how refreshing, there goes the idea of her living here, because all the papers would be left to blow around the parking lot........... yep visiitor. So I start to think, wow how thoughtful a visitor who has manners for the surrounding she is in..........conclusion: has not been here long.

                                                                    She takes a few steps toward the garbage can with the papers in her hand, and now I see this long lost look of puzzlement. Searching all around, and I think, oh noooo....... nutjob.........out of her head........ had an encounter like this in San Franciso once........ WARNING ! WARNING !........... and then two steps toward me..........shit................
                  Excuse me sir ? Ya...... I answered ..........Do you know where the Henry Ford is ? I smile .. Yes.......it is in Dearborn. Yes I know how do I get there on a bus ? ............it clicks.......no schedules posted, tourist, lost.......... no way to get the information........... ohh ... I say......... tahe the 275 north, get of at Michigan Avenue, and then wait for a bus marked 200 going east........ it will drop you off at the entrance, you can walk right in...........Can I get there from here tomorrow ? she politley asks........... sure........ anytime after say 6 a.m.
                                               Thank You............and I reply your welcome. Then comes the look.............................. another question is coming I know it. Do you know how to get to ..........ahhh my English not good.......... she writes C O R K T O W N....do you know where this is ? By Bus   ? I ask       ........yes please.......... well take the 125 from here to downtown and take the People Mover to Corktown.........she frowns ......I try the people mover yesterday it confuses me............ I smile ....me too and I live here.......... but I get confused for a different reason..........she tilts her head because she is confused........... I smile .......never mind it would take to long to explain. Where are you from I think Japan. NO...............CHINA! and right off the bat I think huh?????? here ? what a trip! So I proceed..........where in China are you from ? Near Hong Kong.......do you know Hong Kong ? I start laughing........why yes I have been there many times........ at least 6 I think or something like that......... but that was under British Rule............ you probably do not remember that..........she looked puzzled....... no I do not know that.........I was too young........ ohh I say no bother..... I still have coins with the queen on them..... but they are no good any more.........

                                                            So I proceed...... proud of myself .......and my knowledge..........Hong Kong is an autonomous region now is it not......... ? One China two systems ???????? is that correct ? mmmmmmmm Hong Kong is...........ohhh I do not know English word.......ahhh......... it's okay I say........ I understand....... and I am right............ do you know Hebei Province ? ..........I have clients that are from there...... they make fences, and have an office where I work..........do you know that province.......nooooo I do not......... where is it ? It is north of Bejing a few hundred miles northwest I believe......... there is also a city Named Hebei...... that is where there factory is.......... but they are not familiar with Hong Kong, because I mentioned it when I first meet them......... but China is a big country Yes ??????????

                                                            China is a very big country....... you should come back to Hong Kong..... you will like it............I frown.....no I do not think so ...........my experince there was not bad......... but not all that good......Americans were not very welcome........eveyone loved the British.....but that was a long time ago..........you know I keep up with the news in China I read the Peoples Daily about 4 times a week........ In English of course.......... she smiles ..........really ?????????? why ? I say........ well to keep up with the news there, especially concerning the riots in the outer regions, especially in Tibet...... are you aware of this ? .......no I do not she says, but I do not worry about that ...... I want to make money. i laughed so hard I almost cried...... so do I ........ so do I ...... well I have to go....... you have fun and be careful okay ? Yes...... okay she nods ........ thank you very much..........No problem...............

                                              I walked away.

                                                     In the end here is what strikes me, we in this country are visited every day with visitors from other countries, and cities from around the world, and it will always be our first impressions that will mark what people think of us in this country, of course that is what Tocqueville was all about in his journey. The difference today is information is immediate. One snapshot, one tweet.....and instantly available around the world to anyone..........is a real life perception of who we are and what we are all about. We have an internal contradiction of the mixed economy with limited freedom, versus the desire to be as free as possible. The end result of that is the loss of innovation, prosperity, and respect from not only within our own borders, but from those who visit us from abroad. My hope is that we settle that internal conflict and resolve as Americans, that we will adhere to the principles of liberty, for rest assured wether we are looking at ourselves or not, the rest of the world clearly has their eyes on us.

It's time to let the fat lady sing........

2012-07-10T05:26:00.000-07:00

A once proud industrial giant is ready to fall. This process has been going on since the 1950's, but it has been a slow evolutionary process. Year after year, decade after decade slowly but surely the city of Detroit was crumbling to pieces. To assign blame at this point is absolutely ridiculous.What has happened, has happened, or to repeat a phrase now hated: It is what it is. For further amusement; the current Corporate Council for the city of Detroit is endeavoring to tell the State of Michigan who is trying to keep what little of what's left of the city alive, that they cannot enter into a contract with the city because the STATE owes the city money. Money only the corporate council, and right along with her members; of the city council believe the state owes the city, which in their particular point of view would end the deficit, and make null and void the current consent agreement that was put in place without the objection of the city council, or the corporate council.
                                                                                      If the anti conceptual stubbornness were not so serious it would be amusing, in fact it would be entertaining to encourage such behaviour. There is nothing more amusing than to watch non productive behaviour from the political class wasting time on nuance and formality, demonstrating procedural courage and standing up to the forces of fashionable wrong doing while the rest of us toil, and sweat, and compete in the global marketplace, assuring that brave class of politics that we their subjects will assure them a paycheck, and a seat at the table of power. That amusement however lasts only so long as we the hard working subjects are assured a great deal of prosperity in the process, and that is why the proverbial fat lady has been walking up to and demanding a place at the stage. She has had many years to warm up, and the vocal chords are primed. The City of Detroit, whether the council, and it's corporate lawyers want to admit it or not is broke. Flat out, face down cotton pickin broke. There is no way around it, and only the corporate council herself believes the city is owned money by the State of Michigan. No one else can find a bill, or an invoice for " services rendered".
                                                                                 How any elected official can drive down Grand River say from Lahser Road and 7 mile towards downtown, or travel Gratiot Ave. from Roseville and not be shocked by what they see, how any sitting Governor traveling down these same roads would not be immediate to declare that the National Guard needs to be put out on the streets and order restored is beyond comprehension. We are not talking about a downturn in the economy, or slightly depressed neighborhoods due to economic circumstances, we are talking about absolute destruction, and devastation. A kind of devastation that no previous generation of American has ever entertained to allow to exist, is now the norm for the city of Detroit, with those in power elected to protect the citizens fighting turf wars, and wasting valuable scarce resources trying to show how they are still in charge and calling the shots. Murder and destruction are ancillary to the political class right now, what is important is maintaining power at all costs. Local power, and only local power. No outsider dare intervene in local decision making, or inability to make a decision. If we decide to take a vote, in order to take a vote, well then by golly you stand by and watch us do that, because it's in our power to do just that !
                                                                                 There is an adage: he who has the gold makes the rules. There is some pretty compelling reasons that adage is true. We may not like it, we may want to fight it, we may even from time to time try to put our heads in the sand and try to ignore it, but try as we all might, the guy that's got all the coins in his pocket, tends to be the one that sets the tone for how things are going to be. It is one of life's little absolutes. Well the city of Detroit ran out of gold a long time ago, and now that it cannot borrow any more, it is no longer in a position to make any rules. It is time for the city to follow the rules. The first rule that it must follow is: you can only spend the money that you have. Start there, and the rest will begin to fall in place. Seeing that the current class of politicians don't want to follow that rule; reality needs to step in and force them. No one pays them any more, no one let's them borrow any more. Broke. Flat out, nothing in the pockets, broke. Declare bankruptcy, end all current contracts, dissolve the council, appoint a financial manager, and start all over again. The priorities should be police, fire, water, and garbage. All else is negotiable. Seeing that the police do not have a contract, and are afraid they will not get paid, the Governor should call in the National Guard to protect the citizens of the city, and maintain the fire houses. Let those entities sort out a salary the city can afford on today's budgeting, and let the free market perform it's magic.
                                      But before all of that can happen, the proverbial lady, with all her grace and glory needs to take center stage, grab the microphone, and just sing.

Principles

2012-07-04T11:43:00.000-07:00

It was just a year ago that A World of Liberty was created. The purpose was intended to create a blog based solely on the perspective of the Liberty of the Sovereign individual, and it does not matter whether you believe your rights come to you from God, or from nature, both explain the premise quite well. And as our nation celebrates our Declaration of Independence today from Great Britain based on the idea that man being created from God, has inherent rights, and those rights do not come from permission from an organized body, but rather from the fact that God created all Man as equal, I believe we would all be well reminded of what that Declaration was intended to create.

Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of the day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period, and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers (adminstrators) too plainly proves a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing us to slavery
Thomas Jefferson

Liberty is a unique concept. The audacity to declare that you as an individual are your own master in society is so unique that it's conception is completely foreign to most of the created collections for governance formed by human beings . In fact the historical trend is that the individual is subservient to either the tribe, or an individual leader who plans for you what your fate is to be. Ownership of property, the most important, being your own body, is completely unacceptable to most ideas of forming organized groups of people. The absolute mandate that those who govern are the ones who have limits on their power is one of the most profound ideas the Declaration makes in it's assertion.

Principles are what brings us to the table of liberty. Without the arguments for those principles then we as Americans are nothing more than serfs to the State just as those before us have always been. Life, Liberty, and Property are the basis of those principles. Those tenants proclaim that your life is your own, it belongs to no one else, and since that right is unalienable, your life cannot be proclaimed for the State. There is no recourse for the state to your life. It is not a power granted any government by an act of God. Unconditionally your life belongs to you, and no one else. When the creator made man in his image, it was not to serve any government, but to serve God and his will. That an institution created by man feels that it can usurp its authority and dictate the context of your life and property is a violation of the nature of existence and should be rejected at every step.

We have become a nation dependent on permission, as well as dictates. Our Supreme Court in it's latest decision on health care has taken the voluntary society, and transformed in into the requirement society, which given the course of our country over the last 80 plus years it is no surprise. Decisions made in Congress, signed by Presidents, and upheld by the Supreme Court are designed to uphold the sovereignty of government, rather than an individual. Our Social Programs have become institutions created for there own sake, and life blood at the expense of individual liberty, whose sacrifice has been laid waste at the alter of collective power of the greatest minority in any society, the individual. Done so with the permission and acceptance of the American people. We have abandoned our principles of individual sovereignty, and replaced them with the Socialist concept of collective security, falsely and blindly believing that it is the inherent good.

On this 4th of July let us again beg to be governed as if we are indeed creatures of the almighty, sovereign, and free. Let us move forward for the benefit of future generations to live in a country where rulers fear the people, and can live lives that are free. A country that adheres strictly to the principles of Life, Liberty, and Property so that those natural tendencies that all humans have, to live a life of peace, and pursue happiness can once again be the example to the world, and may those principles be on the tongues of every citizen to be repeated time after time so that when the forces of tyranny rise their head, we the American people are ready to defeat them in order to maintain a world of liberty .

More Than One way to skin a Cat......

2012-03-24T08:05:00.000-07:00

As the saying goes........there is more than one way to skin a cat.............to illustrate a point. What freedom and prosperity means, but more importantly how does a society achieve freedom and prosperity ? In our time, despite the rich history of the foundations of the United States, and following the models of more controlled societies, it is presumed that intervention, and regulation is the way to prosperity. China has achieved remarkable growth in the last 30 years, yet despite having a billion people, and the companies of the Western nations clamoring for a share of the market there, their economy has only managed to attain a GDP of 5 trillion dollars, as compared to the United States having 300 million people and achieving a GDP level of 14 trillion dollars. On paper.........to borrow another phrase, it would seem that the Chinese would far out produce the Americans, a fear that tends to creep into the American psyche, but as much as the majesty of the Chinese population commands, the important inherent difference between the two societies is that one version rests on imitation. The other rests on innovation. The other stark difference is that the Chinese system relies on control, whereas the American system at it's design was conceived on chaos, which is the mark of a free market system.
From a standpoint of prosperity, markets can only achieve full prosperity under two conditions primarily. One would be allowing for the consumer to have the freedom to seek what ever product or service they desire in an open market. The other condition is having the flexibility for the price mechanism to fluctuate to meet the needs of those products and services as the demands of the consumer dictates. In China the goal of their system has been to focus on production alone, without regard to the demand side of the equation. It is the classic misunderstanding of the interventionist mind set, premised on the perception that inequality exists in the capital order of things. Individuals or more to the point HUMAN BEINGS given the opportunity, will change their mind constantly. It is a universal truth, just as all of us need a heart beat in order to stay alive.
Given our election cycle, and daily anecdotal conversations with people at random, I have noticed a trend for Americans IN GENERAL to reach a conclusion that our prosperity lies in a plan.....a plan for our economy, a plan for our energy needs, a plan for manufacturing, there seems to be a need for a plan for our entire way of life. Planning is the way that government's control their people, which in the case of the Chinese system is necessary for a small self proclaimed elite to control a large population, however here in the United States I would encourage all to do away with the control mind set and seek the way of chaos. In other words let us vow as AMERICANS, to seek our economic roots in freedom. There is more than one way to skin an economic cat......but there is only one way to seek freedom and economy, and that would be to throw off all the shackles of planners, and regulators in our economy, and return this country to A WORLD OF LIBERTY......

A Word of Advice

2012-01-22T09:20:00.000-08:00

It has been rather amusing............ no strike that. It has been rather sad and disappointing to me in our current political discourse. As an advocate of Liberty, there can be no mistaking that the battle that exists is one of the free individual versus the advocates of tyranny. Although those that advocate the interventionist state of affairs clearly are not able to see the mistakes they have made in their desire to alleviate those who are more misfortunate, what becomes more pathetic is the reliance on an argument that rests solely on anti conceptual statements that offer neither ideas or solutions. Statements such as the Orwellian occupiers " we are the 99 % " reminds me of Animal Farm and the resolution that " Four Legs good, Two legs Bad" ...........actually has intrinsic meaning at some level. Neither statement in and of themselves means anything, neither statement conceptualizes anything more than base, collectivists group think. A mass exodus into blind obedience into the following of one tribe, one group, one race type thinking that has no more validity in logic than the observation that " wet toilet paper does not fly " Ahhhh thank you, ........you are so insightful.

                                                                                    For my own amusement, and to offer a lending hand I will offer a few solutions that hopefully will give our Collectivist antagonist some ideas that will at least give them the pretense of intelligence. Which is another reason I have given this so much thought, for once upon a time the Socialists actually envisioned themselves as the intellects of Society. The creators of ideas, the activists who solved social problems. What has become of this presumed leadership is a vacuum of ideas and action. In fact the only thing left in there arsenal is confiscation. The transfer of wealth in the global society. Destruction of creative ability has become the only tool left for the Socialist. Devoid of intellectual capital, and with the rise of awareness that politically the State can only transfer wealth that can be created ( thus forcing the creators to move that wealth ) the Socialist are literally on there last intellectual leg. The solutions around the globe of the socialist movement has been consistent, that is: form more trade unions, demand higher wages and benefits, and use the tyranny of government to enforce massive redistribution programs for those damaged economically by these absurd and devoid policies. Here then are my contributing ideas on how to be a good Socialist, as I have learned, that in order to defeat one's opponent one must know how their opponent thinks, and since I feel I have a good grasp on the current group think, I personally have concluded that without some outside help, the embarrassment will continue. If I were viewing the Socialist from a military point of view it would be best to allow them to continue on their present intellectual course, so that they could implode on the ignorance of their own ideals. However the people who espouse many of these ideas truly believe in what they are trying to accomplish, and the ends of these desired accomplishments are indeed meant to benefit mankind for the good.

                                                                               So in the spirit of cooperation let's all be good Socialists :

1) Cash for clunkers;     One of the largest mistakes made with this program is it takes old cars off the road to encourage purchases of new ones. The subsidy gives auto manufacturers the ability to ignore the market conditions for production of vehicles, and causes misallocation of resources for raw materials for parts on older, and even fairly new vehicles. The other problem is it takes vehicles that are in reasonably good working order straight to the scrap yard. The person that is left out; are those in society of limited and meager means. They are a segment of society that are not able to purchase a vehicle for transportation, and become dependent (that is once again dependent ) on public transportation. In fact one of the greatest crimes to the poor is that to get, or continue to receive public assistance your transportation must be done primarily on the public system. It creates a double dependency. Furthermore, when Welfare to Work programs are advocated, one of the largest inhibitors for success is transportation. So rather than the government(s) creating and subsidizing ever more programs why not solve a multitude of problems with one subsidy. That is continue the cash for clunkers idea, but reform it so that the older fleet goes directly to the poor when a new vehicle is purchased. The purchaser of the new vehicle gets a subsidy say in the order of $ 10,000 to $12,000 dollars toward the purchase. The older vehicle then gets to become property of the State. Then you title that vehicle to an individual that is on public assistance, the insurance will be pooled under the vehicles owned by the State ( i.e. such as the State Police, the Federal Government, or even County Government ) with this idea we then alleviate the need for large public transportation projects that do not get the full ridership that they are built for, the savings can go to the insurance pools, and the rest.......... can go back to the taxpayer. Everybody wins, every ones need is meet. And no one is left being dependent on archaic and outmoded thinking.

2) Farm Subsidies;      One of the greatest mistakes we make is to pay farmers to grow crops and then to plow them under. It makes no sense what so ever to have people anywhere in the world go hungry when the farmers of developed nations alone of the world can feed the entire population of this planet many times over. If there is going to be a subsidy for growing, again an invitation to misallocate

3) Fresh Water;    The market has provided fresh clean ( Spring ) water to the extent that a case of good clean bottled water is less than $ 6.00 a case. This water is available everywhere. With a relatively small subsidy governments the world over could encourage a slight overproduction of this resource, and ensure a steady, and safe clean drinking water supply for everyone on the planet. Western Nations have been able to not only provide local water supplies via a public system, but the market has also been able to allocate more than adequate supplies of bottled water for consumption at very relatively cheap prices, the low price is in fact the indicator that there is an ample supply, however once there becomes a direct allowance to those in poorer conditions and it is deemed to be free ( which since it is by design a giveaway) there will be a greater misallocation of the resource because of the greater demand placed on the system by the government allocation. Again by a voucher system in defined quantities the overproduction can be calculated by the amount of subsidy that will be granted by the governments allocating the resource. This gives the producers the proper signal for the amount needed to meet the needs of the poor, and also allows for the proper monetary resources necessary for production.


                                                                             By addressing Human basics in a way that meets market efficiencies, and the profit motive the modern Socialist could accomplish the goals they often seek to alleviate, the largest failure as Hayek, and Mises demonstrated time and again was the failure to understand the importance of the price indicator within the economy. Subsidies by their nature cause overproduction, that overproduction can be utilized for the benefit of those of meager means. It can also be done for the benefit of the producer, the real problem is that these " benefits " are often short lived. The free economy is by far the most successful way to solve the needs of individuals in a society, but since the socialist is not interested in the free economy, and actually tends to conclude that a command and control economy " a planned economy " is the path to meeting the needs of all in society at the very least what should be addressed from that perspective is the waste that is always incurred through the bureaucratic process, particularly in the United States where political processes create enormous waste of natural resources and capital. Then again at least in this country it is not about creating greater benefit for the citizens, but rather a process intent on creating a power broker structure, a structure that benefits the power brokers rather than the people....... then again as Ayn Rand once pointed out in her book " For The New Intellectual " anyone who speaks to you about slaves and masters........ intends to be the Master. The power brokers who speak of redistributing wealth in this nation have one purpose in mind, and that is to be the ones that are wealthy........ but that has been the goal of Socialists Since the creation of the Socialist movement. Okay then ......... along the way; let's at least pretend that we know how to take care of those in need, rather than perpetuate the continued suffering, and bastardize those that are really meeting the needs of society. The slogans are getting old, and rather boring, and in the mean time real human beings are still suffering it's appalling, and unnecessary........ and if collectively we are going to all be socialists....... let's at least pretend to be good at it.............

Why Occupation Will Fail

2011-11-11T06:09:00.000-08:00

Occupy Wall Street....... has become a movement that has attempted to reach global proportions, with the aim of ending income disparity within the United States, under the auspice that only 1 % of the population controls more wealth than a combined 99 % of the citizens of this country. There are other grievances, to be sure..... and to try to define a global endeavour of change premised on one point of view may be narrow but the mainstay appears to be wealth, or rather the notion that far too few has far too much of it. It is impressive to me that this would be contentious in this country. We have an unalienable right to private property. It is written in our Constitution. The American Republic would most likely not exist without this right. So it puzzles me that a nation founded on the right of private property would have a protest against the ownership of private property. We have a mindset that now defines the quantity of your rights. You have the freedom of religion but ONLY if you worship for two hours on Sunday, because we the religious movement feel that that is enough practice of faith and all that is necessary, but you have the right and are free to practice whatever faith you want. Does that sound like freedom of religion to you ?

The problem with the occupation movement as it exists rests on the notion that our current problems of economy and wealth can be resolved by antagonistic remedies. What the movement purports to do is to take the property of one segment of society, and hand it over to another. This purported method of fairness is nothing more than a direct redistribution of property. It is the method the movement is giving the world as an answer to their perceived notion of injustice. Taking the property of one individual and giving it by force to another, that quaint Marxist program which was conceived in the late 1800's, a method of deprivation, an ideal premised on envy, hatred, and jealousy. This method has been tried and has failed miserably. It is a method of redress that is a complete contradiction, that is to render justice by using an unjust manner for resolution. Consider that when Marx and Engels were attempting to be scientific as they saw it, about the failures as they defined them of the capital system, what they seriously never resolved in an intellectual capacity was the importance of two factors. One is the price mechanism in an economy, and the absolute necessity of private property. along with the need for a judicial system that by design is required for rational disagreements. These factors are the basis of wealth creation, and more importantly capital formation. The tenant of private property, that is ownership, use, and disposal is the primary key for success in a free society, and that private ownership is not designed for the good of society as a whole, but rather for the good of an individual, but that individual good is what benefits society as a whole.

What the occupy movement is wanting is the " equitable " distribution of wealth based on the standard of " how much " an individual has. To proclaim then that the legitimate function of any government is to use it's monopoly of force and require by law how much wealth one can have, or rather not have is to predetermine how much property is " enough " and also to determine " too much" by subjective standards. Those standards will change as the whims of the society changes, which then take an absolute right of ownership, and turn it into a privilege. This privilege is the privilege of benevolent servitude. Call it what you will, an indentured servant is just that, a servant. A benevolent dictator is still just that, a dictator. this Occupation, is an occupation designed to enslave those who have, to those who have not. It may be a benevolent attempt to alleviate need, but in order for it to be put into practice, force and the need of conscription will be the only way that it can exist. And trust me when you read this, there will always be someone in need, thus there will always need to be the need for servitude. That would turn our Republic into a state that exists not for the individual for the pursuit of happiness, but rather a state in pursuit of property, to literally give to others. A state of enslavement. A benevolent dictator......, that is benevolence to those receiving the confiscated property, for those whom their property is being taken, there will be no recompense. There will be nothing of value that can be given in return of equal value. It will be a system of dehumanization, and your only purpose as a producer, will be to produce even more. That cycle will never end.

If poverty is the problem, then wealth is the cure. The way to create wealth is to encourage capital formation, and have an unbounded respect for private property. Property ownership starts with your body, that is to say that you own yourself, and no other entity can lay claim to you. Your land, your labor, and your money are yours as well. To deny any individual the absolute right to earn and keep whatever they can legally obtain thru their own effort based on the notion that someone has " more" than some one else is to deny the natural law of existence. We are all born equal. Naked and without title. There is no moral justification for stripping away a natural right of ownership, and any legislation, movement, or philosophy that denies that natural right is an immoral philosophy and needs to be rejected and ridiculed. It is precisely because the Occupation movement is immoral, it is precisely because the natural tendency is for humans to pursue freedom, and because it is precisely the nature of a human being to want to live free that the Occupation movement will fail. As the rejection of the movement increases, the Occupy tactics will become more violent. In fact violence will be the tool the movement will ultimately rely on for it's success. It will be the only tool left in it's arsenal, as more and more free individuals reject their ideas and methods. Violence has been the tool used throughout history for any movement that losses support of free people. Since persuasion will lose it's luster, the Occupation movement will deem it necessary to force it's idea's on to the public, since after all we will fail to see the importance and necessity of their ideas. Just look at where the movement started. Zuccotti Park. The park is private property, and is being occupied against the wishes of the owners. So much for peaceable demonstrations.

Forgiveness

2011-10-19T17:02:00.000-07:00

My day started this morning with a number of text messages from my younger sister, who having the capacity, and willingness to listen to my burdens from time to time was sending me passages of scripture which she thought would be instructive for me to contemplate. At the time I understood what she was attempting to do, however I didn't think she could appreciate how hard it was to try to read, and then type a text message particularly at 6:00 a.m. in the morning, so I called her while trying to dress and tie my shoes. Imagine me actually walking and chewing gum at the same time.Using the speaker on the phone made it much more practical, after all I was in a hurry to get out the door. I was glad on the other hand to have the conversation it started me thinking of essentially the point she was trying to make, which was to have the capacity to forgive.
                                                                         Now this is not something recently new to me, as a matter of fact one of the reasons she thought of this was a disagreement we had had a few years ago, and despite how upset I was, eventually I had the ability to forgive the transgression and move forward. We have made an attempt from that point to speak to each other at least once a week, and having that communication has created a special bond between us. It is our moment to share our lives, and our thoughts.Even if we do not agree...... it is still a time to take a moment or two to connect with family, and it has been very special.

                                                                         Of course as is quite typical for me I cannot just take a conversation at face value. In those spare moments driving down the road, or while working on a project at work, I let my mind drift into the nuance of a conversation. You will find that a person will say a phrase, or use a gesture that has significance at the time that may slip away at the moment, but later has a much more deeper meaning and reflection than at first was recognized. I was spending some drive time thinking about forgiveness, and how as a concept it has became a part of the Human conscience. It also began to occur to me that forgiveness seems to become more important to people as they get older. Not necessarily old, but older. I wondered was it because of life, and experiences teach you that you are not indestructible ? Is it just a biological reaction to a change in hormones in the body as you get older ? What about the importance to being spiritual, not necessarily religious ( although in regards to the conversation with my sister and I we focused exclusively on the importance of God in a persons life ) but having a deeper sense of soul in regards to the fragility of life, is that a great motivator in ones life for the capacity for forgiveness ?
                                                                          All of these thoughts at what was by now 6:20 a.m. in the morning, and I was quite pleased with the conversation even more, what a great gift that was bestowed upon me first thing in the morning. A deep loving conversation all meant to steer an older brother on a path of virtue. Upon deeper reflection I began to realize that I needed to make an act of forgiveness myself, that it was imperative that I put into practice what I had been blessed to discover so early in the morning, so the following is my forgiveness to those whom I perceive have committed wrong............

                                                                            I forgive a political class who have taken the property of productive individuals and given it to others without compensation in return, nor even gratitude. The political class cannot be held accountable for their actions, for after all it is we the people who must hold them responsible for their conduct, and thus far we have done a poor job of that. After all if a group of individuals continually put you in a position of authority year after year, and your behaviour was deplorable, yet no one was going to hold you accountable, well why not ? It is not the fault of the elite political class that we the people do not end their reckless behaviour. On the contrary it is the responsibility of the people to elect good representatives, on the other hand it is also our responsibility to keep irresponsible people out of office. So on my part I forgive you.
                                                                         I forgive any Bank Executive that makes a bad loan. After all the Federal Reserve exists to keep the banks in liquidity, and if a particular institution fails that is a bad thing, but when an entire industry fails knowing that it has over extended itself, that is not a failure of a banking system, but rather a failure on the part of the people who ........again elect irresponsible people into office who pass laws creating a monetary system that encourages loaning money that you know will not be repaid. How can I or any one else condemn an executive for doing what has been created for him to do, and will back those ill advised decisions with a bail out ? The very system exists for taking such risks, despite the dangers of doing so. Again on my part I forgive you.

                                                                         I forgive a President that has done everything in his power to ruin the worlds most productive people, and it's economy. After all candidate Obama was very forthright with what his goals were. Of course he sounded convincing that he was about change, precisely because it was his intent to create change. Many were not listening to the change he had in mind, they just wanted something different, and by our vote we got it. You cannot blame the President for thinking we wanted his brand of change, after all, this was a man who was connected to people in a way that no other candidate ever dreamed of, with the talent and foresight to access text messaging, and email, and the Internet, it must have been an intoxicating feeling that the vision he had, was what the American people were looking for. For that mistake of judgement on his part, I am more than willing to forgive him.

                                                                                 The essence of forgiveness is to cease to demand retribution, or punishment. I have no interest in seeking any form of punishment or retribution. However I do wish to seek a restoration to the idea of liberty. Free people engaging, or not engaging,...... going about there lives fulfilling there desires and dreams, seeking there fortune and happiness, to exist with others in a society where the idea of freedom is at the forefront of laws, and legislation. A restoration to an idea that a person has the right.......... to live their live......... for there own sake. I recognize that such an idea takes away the power that the political class currently has over our lives and relegates them to nothing more than servants, and this would destroy the status they currently enjoy. It would be a transformation creating a rather uncomfortable arrangement in power in our society, and would thus reduce there status to that of nothing more than a citizen in a place of trust, no longer a place of privilege and exemption, but rather a short term occupancy for the whims of the people. When this transformation takes place it is my desire that those who have held office for the power and exemption can have the capacity for forgiveness as well, and have the capacity to refrain from a bitterness toward a people who want the Republic as it was founded well over two centuries ago.

                                                                       After all as the saying goes " to err is human, but to forgive is Divine " and in the spirit of forgiveness, let's change from the past and reclaim the heritage of liberty.

The Precipice

2011-10-12T17:33:00.000-07:00

      I am quite taken by how many people in general are now making comments on the state of affairs in the country lately. Individuals who would not ordinarily involve them self's in comments or concerns are now piping in with two cents worth of opinion. Not much of it is good. In fact it has all been bad. This level of dissatisfaction in the country has not reared it's head in probably 30 years. If you live on main street, what you see are " Foreclosed " signs, window fronts with signs that say " For Sale or Lease " .... call........... homes vacant, or even boarded up. Whole neighborhoods that with the exception of a few small individuals are completely vacant, neighborhoods in decent communities that were once thriving with children and families now show signs of some decay, and empty homes. No one is immune in this country. It is taking it's toll on the psyche of the nation. It will continue for some time in the future. The issue here is not so much a reverberation of what has happened, or why it happened as much as it is about where we are going, and the direction we collectively choose to find ourselves. It will define the success or failure of the nation for a long time to come. It will also define the limits of freedom, for a very long time to come. There is an axiom that power corrupts, I think it is safe to say we all know that axiom, there is another one. Emergency is the plea of the tyrant. As a nation should we choose the direction of continued direction from Washington for economic affairs, and capitalization to be provided by the Federal Reserve than it will be axiomatic that Americans for the first time in the history of this nation will find itself living a lower standard of living, and with that will come a lower level of safety and security. This will become a nation that will cease to nationalize, but rather to localize, for security and protection and service. I do not mean that in a sense that is good either, for what I believe will happen that if government exists at any effective level in the local sense it will be to preserve it's own existence. Think of a triage of police, judges, and prosecutors all working to maintain there existence within a system that is for the most part sterile. I would suggest at some level it has already begun. The knowledge of it's existence will soon enough show it's ugly head, to the extent that is common parlance.
                                                                             Locally here in the Detroit area there were headlines from one of the local newspapers telling how DTE ( Detroit Edison ) was taking streetlights " down " and capping off the power to the poles, and taking the metal poles to the local scrap yards for the cash price for the metal. There was no longer going to be street lighting provided to the municipality because the were not paying the electric bills. Store owners, and what was left of homeowners were paying there electric bills, and keeping there taxes up, however the municipality did not take the money it needed to pay the bills from its operating budget and pay the electric company, but rather continued to pay the officials and employees of the city, and provide for their pensions and benefits. While DTE was taking the poles down, there was no increase in police protection to offset that damage, however Police officers " offered " to those with means to ensure the safety of their property, for a fee of course which is above what is already being paid by the property owner thru the extortion of taxation.
                                                                                 While indeed Atlas Shrugged is a work of fiction, the slow decay that began to creep around the country as the Strike progressed also invited a corruption of pull. If you knew someone who was of any importance than you became very close friends with that person for the use of their influence and ability to get ahead in society. There will always be a sense of that in any structure organization, have the ability to connect with people is a mainstay of any business or organized effort, to rely on that for your existence and as the sole means to keep your existence is to deny a just society. Most of us know and understand this but what I often see missing is the " How " part of that discussion and that brings me to where I have been heading.

                                                                                      The current administration is trying to rally support for more public spending for projects deemed necessary for infrastructure and also spur growth in the economy, which is laughable 400 billion in a 17 trillion dollar economy is barely enough money to spend on the planning of the multitude of some of those projects, let alone pay for all the labor, raw material, and engineering that would be required to make those projects come to fruition. Our system is a " Capital " system, given that there is no incentive on the part of those who own that capital to invest on projects and receive what they themselves deem an equitable return, money is sitting by becoming unproductive, and without the need for productivity labor is then sitting by idle doing absolutely nothing. With out the stimulation of the global equity now available to create wealth, and wealth creation we are seeing the steady decline not just in our economy, but in our safety and security. There are two sides to every coin, and it is time we as a people flip that coin and let the chips fall where they may. There are those that still adhere to private property, and free enterprise, then again there is a complete opposite point of view which is for a large transfer of wealth, to be used for public welfare and benefits provided by a central authority. The latter solution is a complete failure and will always be a failure, because it does not adhere to or obey the necessary adjustment of the price mechanism in the market place, and that failure creates distortions that are not able to self correct. The largest of institutions of that particular failure is the Federal Reserve Bank. It is an institution that distorts the economy by sending the incorrect signals for higher order projects in the economy, think buying a plant or a building, with cheap capital investment in such things appears to be attractive, the only problem is that capital then gets taken away for short term consumer goods. It is the tug of war for those two principles that decide where labor and material are most needed, and without the proper signals someone is going to make huge miscalculations on what is needed in the economy.
                                                                             Government too is in quite a pickle in this scenario, it is borrowing money on what it deems is " cheap " money and does so with the expectation that it can pay this back without any real threat but then when the excess's are more than can be met with the current tax take from the citizenry, there is no longer any choice but to borrow and tax, creating a scenario where capital will hide for shelter, thus creating more unemployment, and a desire to borrow more money. What then do we do ? The answer lies again, limit the role government plays in the economy, including the regulation process, and allow freedom to take hold. It is the unhampered market that creates wealth. There is no government on this planet that can offer anyone a job without first taking wealth away from an individual or group of individuals. Just cut out the middle man then. Do you need to have some one interfere with the wage structure in the economy ? A wage is a price. somewhere in free exchange buyer and seller will meet and agree. It is a voluntary exchange that has existed for a long, long time. A free person is more than capable of deciding if they are worth more or less than what someone is offering them. A free person is more than capable of deciding the meat, or milk, or cheese they wish to buy is safe for themselves or their family. There is nothing that stops a person for going to court to seek redress for an exchange or service, in a free society there are options available to pursue happiness. We would be wise to embrace that freedom again in this country, and there are examples the world over even today that freedom works.
                                                                                 Take for example North Korea and South Korea from anecdotal knowledge whom do you think has the most freedom ? Who then also has the greatest prosperity ? If planning an economy is the key to success then North Koreans should be the fattest happiest people on the planet. Even in China, the highest standard of living and wealth is where ? Hong Kong. third largest trade center in the world, and it's wealth is greater than any on the mainland, but also so is it's level of freedom. There are examples in the America's, and Africa. There are unlimited examples of this in history. All we need to do is be more vigilant in the continuing access to that freedom, and ensure it is the reign of order for our society. To choose other wise we will as a nation perish. The decline we are witnessing now CAN get worse. Much worse. There is just now signs of the collective discontent on both sides of the ideological divide, with such diverse views of how we should structure ourselves as a nation as well as the lack of ability to pay for the progressive view of what this nation should be, there needs to be a separation. A physical separation, where one side rules one way, and one side rules another. To do other wise is to increase the discontent to the point where violence becomes the accepted means of expressing that discontent. Then no one wins.Everyone will lose, including their liberty, which is what the governments are created to protect in the first place.

                                                By the way I have been thinking about the separation for some time, but the first person I have seen right about it was Walter Williams when he out right suggested that would be the best thing for this country. Pat Buchanan once suggested that the United States would become " Balkanized " but the reasons were pretty much the same. We have become a contradiction as "One Nation" and contradictions cannot exist.

and .........Justice For All ?

2011-09-22T13:12:00.000-07:00

                                         Justice: the maintenance or administration of that which is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims

                                                                So just what is justice ? To answer that, one must answer what is just which by definition is acting on what is morally good. So what is morally good ? Is there a multitude of definitions of good ? Are there a multitude of types of justice ? I can think of quite a few types of justice. Economic Justice, Social Justice, there is blind justice, Global justice, environmental justice, there is racial justice, and I suppose if we searched long and hard we could continue with even more ideas of justice. For a moment or two I want to look at a couple ideas or types of justice.

                                                    Social Justice. A principle generally thought to mean equality and solidarity, the main tenant being that there is a respect for human dignity. It generally tends to coincide as well with economic justice, in essence that the dignity of workers, and laborers are paramount to the establishment of law, including laws regarding the workplace, and conduct of how a business conducts itself. A major tenant of the social justice school of though is a living wage, the idea that a defined minimum is the standard by which a worker shall be paid in order to have basic necessities, that meaning food, and shelter.
                                                     Economic Justice. Often seen in tandem with social justice, By definition touches individuals because it defines the social order of our economic institutions. It defines how we enter into contracts, exchange goods and services, as well as how we engage in our sustenance. The provision of our material production can be found in what is termed as economic justice, again including standards for work regulations, as well as minimum pay for the labor force.
                                                    Environmental Justice. Defined by the EPA of the United States as " the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people of the enforcement of environmental laws " using the natural resources as a means to ensure that any individual regardless of race, creed, or national origin of equal treatment in terms of quality of air, water, and land resources. The application of the environment as a means to ensure access to all citizens regardless of an individuals status in life of clean water, and air based on standards set by law.

                                                           The thought of justice is prompted by the Execution of Troy Davis. He had maintained his innocence right to the moment of his execution. There were many individuals who fought very hard to have his execution stopped. Amnesty International was at the forefront fighting to have his death by execution stopped. In the end after 22 years, and a hearing at the Supreme Court, Mr. Davis was executed for a murder, he had claimed right to the very moment of his death he did not commit. On the same day in the State of Texas a white supremacist was executed for the death of a man. He had tied him to the back of a pick up truck, drug him for over a mile, peeled his skin to the bone by this method until this man had died.
                                                        Is it just, or more importantly are we living in a just society, when in either situation there is a loss of life to two different individuals on the same day ? Please do not understand me too quickly, in the case of the execution in Texas, in my opinion we as a people were to kind, in fact I will bet that the skin of this man was swabbed with alcohol before the injection. Why ? Was this kind of mercy shown to his victim before he drug him like a piece of garbage on a dirt road ? You better believe he did not. But in our twisted sense of a macabre justice, we as a society do this anyway, that is ........ to make the preparation of injection as sterile as possible, and for what the individual will die within minutes anyway, are we afraid of post mortem infection ? In the case of Mr. Davis, I will not pretend I know enough about his case to even comment, and if indeed he is an innocent man ( I find it interesting that after 22 years he is not able to prove that ) then his execution was a complete injustice. I know this, we are human, we are not perfect, and we will never have perfection. With reason we can do all we as humans can to avoid damaging the rights of the innocent in our society, and we should. Examination of our process will be a continual thing, and that is all right. As for me, to know that the brutal murder of James Byrd was met with the death of the animal that took his life, I am quite alright with that. There are times in my opinion when that sort of careless lack of respect for another persons life, should be met with the same lack of respect, in other words that to me is a just punishment, I feel that way about rape as well, for such brutality should be met with an equal if not greater brutality, it says to those who engage in that type of behaviour, that we as a society believe not in Just US....... but justice.
                                                                   With Liberty and Justice for all.......... the conclusion of the Pledge of Allegiance, Liberty, Justice can have different meanings to different people. We all have our common experiences. We all have our unique experiences, but our freedom, and ability to pursue it needs protection from those that would deprive us of it, is that not one of the foundations of established government ? I suppose given our different points of view we may not agree on how to make that happen, but I would ask an open question. If someone can be proven beyond doubt that they have taken the life of another citizen should that person then cede his or her life. I contend, that person should, you may differ, and that is okay, but keep in mind the most sacred thing you have is your life. To take that from someone should have the most dire consequences, and if execution is the method then it is a just form of punishment, but I also maintain the standards for the proof of such a crime and the eventual punishment of that crime should be extra ordinary. We are after all talking about the most sacred of our rights, and in the process of dealing with those who choose to violate those rights, we are burdened with protecting the rights of those who are innocent until proven guilty, that is the most complete form of Justice that I know of. If there exists a more perfect form of justice, then please.............. I am all ears.

Thanks Jen........ but we got it from here !

2011-09-18T09:08:00.000-07:00

http://detnews.com/article/20110918/POLITICS02/109180303/Granholm%E2%80%99s-book-critiqued-by-first-couple-of-Detroit-newspapers

The former Governor of Michigan it seems has decided that, 1) She has something to say that we either want, or need to hear, 2) and has drawn the conclusion that what she has to say is of some importance to the Nation and the State of Michigan at large. Sorry Jen, but you could not be more irrelevant. Consider that Michigan was the only State in the union to lose population in the last 10 years, and one could only stand back in utter amazement that a former Governor of such a situation would have the audacity to believe at a personal level that her political conclusions have merit that are of any redemption, or validity. I always understood Richard Nixon post Presidency, despite his failures, he did have some keen insights that were worth consideration particularly in Foreign Affairs, even if you disagreed with Tricky Dick, you could at some level appreciate his input on certain matters, but our former Governor presided not only over a loss of population in Michigan, but over the greatest loss of jobs in this nation over that period. She was, and is always quick to blame forces outside of her control as she likes to define it, but she has never once taken the responsibility that the office she held was worthy of more accountability than she was ever capable of giving. That failure of leadership, and accountability coupled with an absolute ignorance of what the role of a free market plays in prosperity, as well as limited government is the downfall of those that rule as she does, what is more frightening is the absolute lack of introspection of the failure of that type of statist economics on the part of those that are it's strongest proponents. Reality does not exist with that type of thinking, mantras, slogans, and feelings rule, and if the brick wall stands before them, the orders will be to keep marching forward to go thru that wall, because it is not the failure to see objective reality that is the problem, the problem is that more individuals are not willing to sacrifice for the greater good. Mind you this is an " educated " individual. We should be as a people, deeply concerned by this type of behaviour, as well as the role it plays in guiding our current crop of the political class in this nation.
                                                                                                      In passages of her new book Jen seems to think that we as a people are not capable of handling the truth. Of course this is the truth as Jennifer herself has deemed to define it. She is an admirer of China and it's growth, and along with many in the political class, she has an admiration for the " system" that China has employed for it's prosperity. Government subsidies for certain industries, industrial policies, and more importantly Centralized planning for the economy at large. Although Jen was born in Canada, she was raised and educated in the United States, but somewhere along the way here heart is in the philosophy of the planned economy. Her intellectual ilk has overlooked one very important, defining factor in why China has begun to grow, and grow they will. It was because under the completely planned economy under the Mao regime, there was no economy. While the world around it was growing exponentially, China and it's people suffered real human tragedy. Innovation was never beyond the bicycle for transportation, and the shovel for digging. Capitalism was the evil, and needed to be ignored. Innovation if there were any at all came from the planners in the Capital, and the population at large in there collectives, and government run shops and factories, were all becoming impoverished as a matter of policy for an equality that is the promise of all collectivist societies. It was only after Deng Xiaoping began to steer away from those policies, and suggested a more market based economy that China even had an economy. So let me get this straight Jen........... I need to be completely broke, starving, and homeless, so you can introduce a policy that you and a few others have planned out, in order to achieve wealth and prosperity ? That's the solution to a prosperous economy ? Hey you know what..........? I'll pass.

                                                                                       She makes commentary also about freed up Capital leaving not only Michigan, but abroad as well, and remarks that the people are contradictory towards government on this matter; her statement: Why do Americans say they hate an active government, then get mad when government does nothing while " their " jobs disappear, shows both an attitude of victimization, as well as condescension toward the very people that she was elected to serve. Quite frankly I am surprised by this statement. Small business across this state continually called for a more limited role from Lansing, in regulation and taxes during her time in office, and there was by no means at that time a desire from anyone to ask for Lansing's involvement in business, other than say from the UAW or the Teacher's unions for an active government, if anything the clarion call was for Lansing to " get out of the way" of business in Michigan over that period of time. This kind of thinking on her part however just demonstrates the rationalization that was employed during her tenure as Governor, and continues on in her mind that only an elite, with the wisdom and insight that common people just do not have the capacity for, or the proper collective insight into what procedures or policies are necessary for the collective good. There within itself of course is the problem. As Mises demonstrated, as Ayn Rand wrote in fiction, as Adam Smith himself has shown, an economy is not a collective organization, rather it is individuals pursuing their desires. The needs and wants of people are varied and diverse. Is that not what freedom is about ? There is no bureaucracy that will ever be known to man, that can predict the desires, wants, needs or whims of any population. There is no reason in nature for such an organization to exist. If you prefer the collective policies that China or any other statist government has in place, consider the cost of liberty to those people, and destruction to liberty centralized planning does to individuals within that society. Prosperity, and freedom coexist. One cannot exist without the other. History continues to show the more freedom a society has, and a stable currency to go with it, the more prosperous that society is. Those are the conditions necessary for capital formation, and wealth creation. Jenny never got that, and probably never will....... and that's okay; she is no longer in office, and her advice is no longer needed.
                                                                   From the bottom of my heart I wish Jen all the best,......... but you know what ....... we got it from here.......... Adieu !

Our Historical Moment

2011-09-12T06:01:00.000-07:00

I had not intended on writing today, this is a day in the United States that should be somber, and reflective. It is a day for hero's, of all types. We Americans know those hero's well. Some do not even have a name to us, others have names that will be etched in our memory forever. Some have worn uniforms, others are just ordinary citizens, but by all respects are none other than hero's.
                                                              The last 10 years has embarked our nation on a historical precedence that I don't believe we have fully grasped the full meaning of. I had originally thought that it would be appropriate to say that the last 10 years would be properly defined as the precedence of such dramatic proportion as to change the face of the nation forever. Perhaps that is inaccurate, and premature, and I would be willing to accept criticism for that point of view, and it's lack of proper insight. What is irrefutable though, is that the face of this nation, and it's future is changed by the history of the attacks on September 11th of 2001. What hasn't been identified is where we will go from here, and that is the context of what I am writing about. We will have to change, the next generation will have to endure the consequences of that change, and what needs to be contemplated is the effect on our nation because of that change, and our relationship with the rest of the world. No nation is an island, and if trade and commerce is what made us great, than we will be a member of the International community for many years to come. Our course of action in the past should lead us to ponder our course of action for the future.

                                                                                               One could argue effectively the merits or demerits of military action in Afghanistan and Iraq, however the fact remains that we have committed military action in these countries for our safety and security. Our policy has been to effect regime change, and defeat forces that are hostile to American, or more general Western ideas of governance. This battle has not concluded, nor is there an appearance of conclusion any time in the near future, and in the last 10 years we have committed personal, money, and material to this effort and an enormous expense to the lives and fortunes of our country. Mind you this is not an assault on the policy, but a recognition on what has transpired. The depth of the policy is more than just defeating an enemy, it is to assuage our opposition that Western values are not an assault, but a liberation, a liberation from tyranny; a liberation FOR freedom, rather than opposed to freedom. That endeavor has, whether we have realized it or not defined not only our future, but the future of the next few generations. The consequences, either for good or bad, are the consequences that they will have to live with. The decisions that have been made, and will continue to be made will dictate the course of events that those who are much younger will be influenced by, both here at home, and for those living abroad. That thought causes me to stop and think of the magnitude of the responsibility we have today, and in the events that are coming in the next year of our political discourse. I would dare say it concerns me deeply, for if one takes the effort to understand the why of major moments of history, you will find decisions, or lack of proper decisions made 20, 30, even 40 years previous have led to unforeseen consequences that have dictated unforeseen outcomes, and usually have ended in some form of tragedy, in loss of life, and property, and freedom.

                                                                                           American Manifest Destiny, along with Jefferson's notion of an Empire of Liberty have set precedence for the use of force in global conflict, with the outcome being that a free people have a duty to end tyranny where ever they see it. It is the moral obligation based on these premises to ensure that Liberty reigns supreme throughout the world, and it is the duty of those who are founded on liberty to ensure the continence of liberty to those who are betrayed of that level of freedom. In part, that is what guides our policies today, the danger in this however is that liberators, can become dictators, and the whole policy becomes a contradiction in fact, and execution. That is in part, caused by the ability to obtain a massive amount of power, and we should never forget Lord Acton's view on this. It can, and will cause corruption on many levels and to many degrees. We should tread carefully because of this axiomatic principle. Our present generation is not the only individuals left to deal with decisions made today.

                                                                                           Of course it is prudent to ask the question if Americans are not to be the leaders in this effort who will it be ? China ? Russia ? Cuba ? Freedom is not the temperament of most nations, and to those that do have a degree of that, it does not compare to the level that this country was founded on. We are by our nature, and foundation a radical people. That is not a bad thing is it ? Radicalism in the defense of liberty is a wonderful thing, in fact it is a necessary thing, because it is the course of history to oppose freedom, and to support tyranny. Our foundation as a nation was to ensure that RIGHTS reign supreme over all else, as envisioned by Thomas Paine and the " RIGHTS OF MAN" , but more importantly our system has allowed leadership at the individual level to flourish, and not rely on the leadership of one person, but rather a " collective " leadership of free individuals, all pursuing their dreams and desires, thus promoting peace, and a good order for all.

                                                                                        This reflection I hope is a wonderful outline for the next few years, for this day, this observance of such a magnificent tragedy will pass. The sun will rise tomorrow, and our lives will continue on, deadlines will have to be met, term papers will have to be written, clothes will need to be purchased, in other words " life will go on " and then the sun will set and another day will begin. Just because nature will continue, and our lives will progress onward does not mean that we will forget the events of 10 years ago, just the opposite, it is my opinion that we will spend more time looking backward to see where have have been, just to understand how we have gotten to where we are today. The only piece missing in the puzzle now is what do we want the future to portend. Our country has not asked that question, it has not been a part of the dialogue, nor has it been at the forefront of political debate. That is not necessarily a bad thing...... we have endured much, and really have not come to full terms with what has happened, after all we still have troops abroad because of what happened ( God bless them all ! ) on this horrible day 10 years ago, but at some point we would be wise to ask........Now What ?......... what ever that course is, and however it unfolds, my most sincere desire is that it is based on Liberty, Freedom, and Rights for all........because in my mind no other course of action supersedes the one of Liberty, Liberty as founded in this nation 235 years ago. I hope that you agree.

A Bridge to Far

2011-09-06T12:21:00.000-07:00

Operation Market Garden was an attempt during the Second World War on the part of General Montgomery to find a deep water port in Holland for supplies for the advancing armies against the Germans. Supply routes were still coming from the beaches of Normandy and although they were performing above expectations, bad weather was settling in which threatened any advances on the part of the Allies. It was thought that if Holland could be recaptured the ports in that country could be utilized and then crossing over into Northern Germany would then allow the Allied Armies to travel into Germany and end the war by Christmas.
                                                    This was to be accomplished by a series of bridges that were to be captured by the largest Airborne assault of the war, perhaps ever or so it was at the time. The Bridges would be held by Airborne infantry, and then regular infantry units would follow thru, and pick up the Airborne troops, and proceed into Holland and defeat what was a weakened German Army, and onward into Germany.
                                                                       The operation was a complete failure and a retreat had to be ordered. The German troops were much stronger than had been anticipated by the Allies, and the link up with regular infantry never took place. Montgomery had high hopes for this operation, and it brought into question his ability to lead and plan successful full scale operations of this magnitude.

                                                                     President Obama visited Detroit yesterday for the Labor Day Holiday, and speaking to a crowd of thousands gave some insight into his speech that will be made to the nation on Thursday, and as I had predicated before, he talked about jobs, well..... public works jobs. In particular he made references to roads and bridges that he would like to propose spending money on. Money he does not have, nor can he obtain. His jobs programs are the same old tired worn out statist ideas, that go back to the " public works" projects Hitler proposed to the German people during the early 1930's. Hitler ( as the president currently is ) was devoid of any real economic education, although the Nazi Party had within it's party platform economic ideas, they were based on the statist notion of public works projects, funded by deficit spending, just as the President is proposing to the Nation today. There are certainly roads that need repair, and I am sure bridges that need repaired, but make work projects do not satisfy the market enough to provide real goods and services that are necessary for getting the economy going. It will make it worse. History has already proven the failures of this approach to economic downturns, from Mussolini, to Hitler, Roosevelt all the Centralist politicians pursuing the same platform, and for the same reason, tend to admire each others ignorance, however in the meantime, the average person suffers from the failed policies. We would be wise to overturn, and demand the end to such policies as a people.
                                                                 The United States Government can no more predict the needs, or more importantly the wants of the individual consumer, and creating more debt to Foreign governments for public works projects " for there own sake " is extremely foolish, and dangerous to the Republic. Those debts at some point will have to be repaid, more than likely with devalued dollars, making the cost of living even more difficult for the citizens in later generations who will have to face those debts. There is no pump priming being done because we order more steel ( already in a shortage on the world market, that is why steel scrap prices are so high today ) or concrete. Those bridges and roads are going to have to be maintained, and the States, and Federal Government are not able to maintain what they have today, so building another bridge to no where in Alaska is not the best way to spend the public treasury, even though the intent is a good one. I too want to see more people able to work. This is not the way to do it, it is a method employed by some one who has no idea of What does make an economy work, that is the sad part, besides since when did a President have the power to do anything about the economy ? Other that is, than to misallocate the resources of the consumers desires, and insist on easy credit, and low interest rates which do nothing but disrupt the business cycle.
                                                                       Let the President make his speech, it will amount to nothing more than a campaign speech anyway. He can have his night on television, and then we the people can get to work in demanding that Congress not spend more on public works for just the sake of doing so, and demand a cut in the spending in Washington. Anything else will just lead to more disaster for all of us.

Government and Growth...... a Contradiction

2011-09-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

                                                                       Stimulate: to excite to activity or growth or to greater activity.

                                              A simple definition don't you think. I was contemplating the word stimulate a lot today, mostly because of the term or phrase " to stimulate the economy ", a phrase heard a lot in this day and age. Of course thinking about it made me consider rather deeply in my mind of what exactly does stimulate mean to me. The definition provided by Webster's dictionary is alright I guess, it is quite concise in it's definition, but that definition seems so stale, it doesn't give any passion to the word, the definition of course is correct, after all it comes from a prominent dictionary, however it does not leave a visual impression for the word. It has no soul to it. What I had in mind when I was thinking of the word, I was looking to have more passion in my head when thinking of the meaning. Then again, context is always important when trying to define a word is it not ? There should be some excitement, images of movement, blood rushing, chaos, various forms of activity, things that would draw an immediate impression in our brains of the idea of stimulate, so let me try and draw some analogies of what I think to stimulate really means.

                                                                           Being a man one of the first things that came into my head considering that this is summer, it's the weekend, and it has been very hot was a beach. White sands, deep blue water, and lot's of bikini's. Young firm tanned legs, curvy hips, ........... if your a seeing this ( I presume there is a smile on many a man's face right now ) in your head, there is a form of stimulation with just the brief mention of this scenario I am sure. Men with sunglasses lowering there head to get a better view, or starring at the water pretending to look at the boats, and other watercraft, we all know that nothing can be more satisfying than laying on a towel, warm sand underneath, and just laying around watching pretty young ladies strolling around in the sand. Senses are heightened, and smiles are everywhere.......... stimulating.

                                                                                                    For the female audience ( and trust me I am only using this example from direct testimony ) let us imagine a movie scene. Viggo Mortensen walks into the room with a flannel shirt and a pair of jeans. Stops looks in the mirror, takes his tucked in flannel shirt, slowly pulls it out of his jeans and starts with a bottom button and unbuttons the bottom button. Then the next one, as the flat stomach starts to show, and the navel appears, there appears a glimpse of a trail of hair........... okay enough of that........... I think we get the picture STIMULATION............. and to what degree ... I don't want to know... but in fairness to Women......... we get it............


                                                                           The point I am really trying to make is that government by it's nature has no power to stimulate anything. In order to put money into an economy, that money must be taken from somewhere else. It would be in the form of a tax, which goes into the Treasury. Or there is a bond issued, which would then require a tax from the economy to pay the bondholder later. Government is an enterprise whose sole and exclusive purpose is force. As George Washington was quoted as saying " Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force " and in order to force the people to which they govern to pay for an enterprise to stimulate an economy as they there rulers deem fit, is to misunderstand what the nature of an economy is. By ignoring the importance of the price mechanism in the economy, more importantly the price mechanism of the interest rates in the economy, there is a false signal being sent to producers on the demands of consumers and the preference they have for goods. This false signal then encourages building and production that would otherwise be ignored because there would be a loss of profit in making these goods, or offering certain services. Only a Central Bank, that has the ability to print money, or to provide as Central Banks like to say " liquidity " in the economy can alter the true nature of an interest rate, that however is the miscalculation that causes severe recessions, and ensures depressions.

                                                                                  Guess what........ the Federal Reserve is pursuing such a policy now........... in fact publicly maintain a policy of near zero interest rates until around 2013 according to the latest Open Market meetings. More misallocation of resources, and miscalculations, coupled with the mistakes made in the middle of the last decade. Not a pretty picture, and certainly not a pretty sight. More importantly not a rosy outlook for the future. That is unless more citizens are willing to fight for the necessary change that needs to take place. As always the future, and it's fate is in our hands.

A Centrally Administered Economy

2011-09-01T05:53:00.000-07:00

Public works projects, infrastructure spending, easy credit, loose monetary policy,manipulation of exchange rates. These are indeed the current policies that the Federal Reserve and more importantly the President of the United States are actively pursuing to alleviate our current economic downturn. The President is scheduled to speak to the Nation on September 8th, and address a new round of job creation for the nation and it's unemployed. I am relieved to hear that he is working on this. As a matter of fact last year, and this year he has been quoted as saying that " as soon as I get back from vacation, jobs will be my number one priority. Now given the tools in his toolbox let's see what can happen.
                                                                           Public projects: Not all States have the crumbling highway's and secondary roads as Michigan, I have noticed in recent travels that Indiana, Ohio, even parts of Illinois could use some road work, but when it comes to roads, it tends to be relative, there are 50 States connected to the Federal Highway System currently and I am sure there are bridges to be repaired, curbs that need fixed, lanes that need to be added, warning signs to be constructed, high speed wireless towers that could be installed. All of this will take studies, engineers, laborers, raw materials, transportation, fuel, food, and of course capital. Rather than hurt the wages of workers who are the backbone of the economy with market wages, the President should sign an executive order mandating that the National Highway System is vital to the defense of the Nation. In conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security, funds could be allocated from multiple Federal Departments for the various projects, as well as say a 9-12 % devaluation of the dollar on the open market, and then those monies will be used to keep the wages of all the workers on all the projects related to the Highway stimulus above the market wage, and would probably be better off to have a separate mandate to pay at least 15 % above market for their tireless efforts to ensure the safety of our nation, the effect such a policy would have on the nation would be beneficial to children and families who would benefit from the guaranteed security that would be brought home in the form of a paycheck. If attracting initial capital for the project is difficult due to the stubbornness of those not willing to look at the country as a whole, Interest rates could be risen to attract capital in various banks, that will have the loans backed by Securities from the Treasury. This will be followed by tax exemptions for those who invest in the Highway bond system at any rate. After all again we are talking about National Security, and the Security of the Nation is of the utmost importance is it not ?
                                                                               Schools: Education is just as important to the nation as a Highway System, and tests continually show that our Nation is behind in mathematics, and science compared to other industrial nations of the world. This should be unacceptable to a nation that has a history of producing some of the worlds greatest scientist, philosophers, poets, writers, engineers, and industrialists. Americans have a long and proud history on the world stage, and should never have to face a decline in their living standards. To ensure the continuation of our greatness our education system should have the greatest priority in investment, only second to that of the highway system, and even then that should be a close second. Rebuilding schools that reflect the needs of the modern era, with high speed wireless systems, a paperless classroom, iPads for every student given to them thru the Education trust that should be established at the national level, that comes from funds taken from subsidies that are currently given to corporations, and wealthy individuals, we can create a national standard that can be updated in real time thru the Central authority that will be strengthened in Washington, by giving a local control to the Department of Education in Washington. No longer will we need to waste valuable resources and time, on books, which are an anachronism to a time when waste was rampant, the President could outline a new more modern version of strengthened and enlightened Department that reaches to all students, and teachers, and administrators instantly thru an application say on the issued iPads, that sends messages to all in the student body, and faculty's that dictate changes made in a subject, say a revised and more enlightened view of history that reflects the feelings of other cultures about the American revolution and it's impact on the environment. The technology that would be needed for such a system would demand the best of our IT Departments thruout the nation, and with Washington steering the course, and direction, and providing the funding for these improvements, the lives of the people will be further enhanced thru the cooperation of government, and business. It will be in the end however dependent on the successful leadership only our President could bring to this situation. He alone has the fortitude and insight necessary to guide us away from selfish endeavours, and must plan for these projects for our benefit, and the benefit of the nation, and for those who refuse to follow those policies due to a willing lack of understanding of the new order, they should be denied access to contracts to participate in such programs. Why should individual concerns in economics outweigh the needs of the people at large? Clearly the type of spending necessary for the Highway and Education improvements should go to all the people, and not just a small minority of private owners who show no concern for the good of all the people.

                                                                               The Federal Treasury can create a bond program using existing National Assets to use as collateral to issues loans to small, and private business for growth, and employment, coupled with a complete tax deduction on the health of workers, and their families, as well as Insurance policies for accidents, and long and short term benefits for disabilities. These policies will attract and keep labor in the market place due to the incentives necessary for the employers, and employees to create a harmonious work environment, working for the benefit more as a Nation, rather than a private concern, the incentives employers need to attract workers, and then to afford workers must come from the Federal Government. The President will I am sure wisely choose to use every natural resource to provide the proper capital to be loaned to small shops, and concerns that will be necessary to whittle away at the unemployment that is plaguing the Nation. It will be imperative for employers to think more along the lines as providers of service to the people, rather than to selfish concerns for consumers, but in the end providing for workers will be providing for both the consumer and the worker. To this end the President could take a bold step forward for the nation and mandate a slightly longer work week, to keep the nation more productive, but then also follow that mandate with longer periods for vacation, and travel, in order to keep families together, and to allow more rest for a productive work force that will be the envy of the world.
                                                                          These simple approaches to the economy would spur more growth, and wealth that could ever be achieved by private industry, it is only thru the planning of government with nothing more in mind than the security of the Nation and the Welfare of it's people in mind. No longer should private enterprise dictate the success or failure of a Nation, our modern age requires that bold leadership is needed to ensure that the welfare of it's people are addressed as a whole rather than the welfare of a few individuals, our President needs the support of the people to push these projects thru, and to override the greed a a stagnant political philosophy, and it's selfish backers, who are only concerned with the old ways, which are no longer appropriate for a modern economy.

                                                                  And in case you think I have flipped my lid, have woke up with a transformation of the brain, or there is a Brownshirt standing next to me with a pistol and my head........... read and research the economics of the National Socialist Party and there rhetoric. The basis for our current approach to our economic malaise is identical to that proposed by Adolf Hitler to the German people in 1932, and 1933. Easy credit, loose monetary policy, infrastructure spending, control of education, devaluing of the currency. That is not to say that I believe the President is Hitler, however I do know for a fact that his economics is exactly the same as a fascist. In fact they are identical. Watch his speech, listen to his proposals, and remember next November as the unemployment grows, what the policies are that are in place, also keep in mind that the United States was made great by freedom, sound money, and private enterprise.......... and to maintain that greatness we need more of the same, and more reflection on the absolute importance to liberty and prosperity. It's your country, and it will only be as good as you choose to make it.

Barack......... Follow Warren to Win !

2011-08-28T09:42:00.000-07:00

President Obama has to be pulling his hair out of his head much as Franklin Roosevelt was in the late 1930's, stubborn unemployment that just will not go away, a devalued currency policy to help with exports, pumping money into the economy via the printing press, public works projects meant to stimulate the economy, and nothing, ohh nothing seems to works. In fact in the Roosevelt playbook the only thing our President has not done yet, is set wage and price controls, or set a limit on production. Maybe the Presidents advisers are not desperate enough yet to boldly go in that direction, after all it is an election year, and winning is everything.

If any of the current crop of office seekers wish to follow a play book to success than they need look no further than 1920-1921. A time when there was a severe depression in the United States, after the first World War. Prior to taking office Harding made speeches in public, while pursuing office lamenting to wage earners to expect lower wages, not because he wanted to make people poorer, but rather he at least understood that in a time of economic crisis prices of all items in the economy needed to fall. That is a parallel at least today with the downturn that has taken place starting in 2008, while of course there have been places harder hit before then for instance the State of Michigan. But Harding understood that the Federal Government had a role to play in sapping the necessary Capital for investment, and higher production projects out of the economy as well, and pledged reductions in spending upon moving into office. A promise he kept, reducing the Federal Government's spending by 50 %, yes you read that correct in 2 years the United States Federal budget was reduced by 50% !, and what followed where policies enacted and followed thru upon his death to lead one of the greatest economic expansions in the United States history, and produced a decade know as the " roaring 20's " and they were roaring for a very good reason, not only was the Federal Spending cut in half in 2 years but taxes were cut significantly ( with the result of revenues increasing significantly to the Treasury......... sound familiar ? ) tax rates on income, capital gains, inheritance, taxes on equipment, and printing and communication, as well as corporate taxes were all reduced significantly. These reductions in rates, as well as a smaller bite at the Federal Level, left room for some of the greatest improvements in technology and consumer goods known since the 1980's.

He of course at this time was advised by then Secretary of the Commerce Herbert Hoover to abandon the tax cutting ideas, and implement a different strategy, one that created vast public works projects, and make work schemes to alleviate the depressed economy, Hoover favored higher tax rates on the wealthy of the country at the time, in his enlightenment to business and growth Harding rejected these principles, which eventually when Hoover took office and enacted were major contributions to the Great Depression, which in turn Franklin Roosevelt followed Hoover's prescription and increased even more Federal Taxes and spending, which gave the country the longest economic down turn in it's entire history, rather Harding was inclined for more pro growth, pro business type of policies, and because of that along with the slash in Federal Spending the depression of that era was over relatively quick, with unemployment falling within the first year by as much as 10 %, and the unemployment rate by 1926 was as low as 1 %, yes that is correct 1 %, that was clearly a time when one could have pursued the " American Dream".

It is interesting to note that in following years, Presidents Kennedy, Reagan, and Bush have followed the tax cut route to spur the economy to some degree, and have managed to have success. Where Barack could outdo all of these men is to cut the budget by a minimum of 30 % and lower all rates on taxes to a simplified 15-20%. That action alone would spur unprecedented growth, and the effect on revenues to the Treasury would be monumental. However Barack will not follow that play book, nor do I think any of the current Republicans running for office would follow that play book, because the current system provides for the power to manage people and the economy, and while the Political class sit in the office and worry, and twiddle thumbs about what to do the productive individuals in the economy are sitting on there hands, and more importantly their cash.................waiting for the day when they can get a really good ROI.............return on Investment for their money. The only way that will happen is to force Washington, and 50 State capitals to do with less.............. much less than they are operating with now, it means a deep soul searching to figure out what precisely is the legitimate function of Government, and then only those functions will be the the processes that they will engage in, and as far as that goes the less, the better. Government is not a job creator, it is a job destroyer, and for this economic mess to correct itself, free people need to be free to engage in the free market. Consumers, and producers all meeting in the market place satisfying each others needs. That is what creates wealth, and prosperity, not flooding banks with paper money that has little value, or projects created for the sole purpose of transferring wealth from one class of people to another, that system is designed to take power away from people, and transfer it to a select group of a political class. That resembles a fascist state rather than a Republic of free people. Barack forget the Mussolini model, and follow the model of Warren Harding, you will have political success beyond your wildest dreams.

Then...... as Now

2011-08-27T09:36:00.000-07:00

If Ben Bernanke is really a student of the Great Depression as we are led to believe perhaps

he should ask for his money back for the education he has received. For if he were a student of the policies that both Herbert Hoover, and Franklin Roosevelt took after the crash of 1929, and understood the causes of that crash, he would see that the recommendations of both Presidents were the cause of the depth, and the severity of the Depression. He would also understand that to mimic those actions, as well as trying to persuade the public that more of those actions would be a disastrous course to take for the American economy. From the outset of the depression Hoover abandoned all principles of laissez-faire principles and after 3 1/2 years of action the economy became worse. Sound familiar ? Of course when Roosevelt took office, he then proceeded to undertake even more intervention in the economy, and to the dismay of the President, and the country things became worse.

An imbalance of the economic magnitude that we are facing today, just as the country faced then can only happen with the expansion overall of credit, and an increase in the money supply, as I mentioned before this sends signals to those wishing to invest, of easy money, or rather a supply of money in the economy that really is not there. When the Central bank prints money and lowers interest rates the signal to the economy that gets sent is that there are large sums of money in saving, which means that consumption has been delayed, that is; we will not buy a new car right now, or I have decided to wait for the purchase of a home, or if you are a manufacturer, the delay of the purchase of large pieces of equipment. The Fed in essence is taking away the need for savings, an important part of the economy, to promote consumption, this in turn allows the political class to proclaim the success of their statist policies. Politicians love a little inflation for another reason, it allows for them to pay back debt with money of lesser value, however for you the consumer, what you end up with is money that has a lower value, thus you get the short end of the stick so to speak, you will face rising prices.

The Hoover and the Roosevelt administrations upheld failures in the Marketplace, much as Presidents Bush and Obama have done, both in banking and the automobile industry, by not allowing the weak to be weeded out of the economy for poor performance, tax dollars were sucked out of the economy to subsidize failure, which then prevented those who were solvent, from purchasing banks, or GM for that matter at rock bottom prices. That is how a capital society works. It is not like this country has not had calamities in the economy before 2008, or 1929 for that matter, the difference in both scenarios are that prior to those times, the United States Government stayed out of the way. Companies did go out of business, and people did lose employment, wages fell as the supply of workers increased, however this is the remedy that was ( or is ) needed to gain a balance in the overall economy again, when there is intervention in that balance unfortunately the correction takes longer to remedy itself. It as an absolute. It is axiomatic. Further more Ben, should know that. if he does not he got robbed of a good education, however if he does why would he pursue a policy, that has a history of failure ? The reason again is power. The power to control the money supply, along with the power that Congress has with the current tax system is designed to make the Citizens of this country nothing more than servants. That has been, and will continue to be the plan, as long as we the people tolerate it.

Hoover believed in correcting our countries " marginal " faults, in our underdeveloped health and education systems, he was troubled by the " waste" in the industrial process, then as now some of the most efficient and productive in the world. President Hoover was in favour of inheritance taxes, and regulation of the stock market. President Roosevelt asked for and received by law, more control over the market and increased the taxes overall in the economy taking even more capital out of the economy. Our current President favors much the same course of action, and prefers to allow Washington to " invest" rather than the private economy. Mr. Bernanke if he were honest with himself, and our President would be quick to point out the similarities, wouldn't you think ? Instead he encourages more of the same failures........... damn curious if you ask me. If I hit my head against a brick wall 10 times and all I get is bloodied and bruised, what would make me think the 11th time would be any better ? To pursue a policy of more quantitative easing, or if you will printing more money by selling bonds to be paid by the taxpayers at a later date makes absolutely no sense. The problem is there is a lack of capital for the work that needs to be performed in the economy, want to know what else is the problem ? There is no acceptable return on that investment in the minds of those that have the capital. No one is in business to just hand over money, and no one wants to put it into the hands of a President, and 535 Congressman who have concluded that there sole purpose in life is to interfere with everyone else's life, all over the globe.

The fact is, for prosperity to reign in this nation we have to understand that the unhampered market, where individuals are free to meet the needs of there customers, based on the demands of customers is the only prescription for getting our country out of, and keeping our country out of economic malaise. Ayn Rand once wrote that there should be a separation of Economy and State, just as there is a separation of Church and State. And for the very same reasons. That is a principle well worth exploring in the upcoming election cycle. If we wish to pass on a legacy to the younger generation, it should be the legacy of freedom. Not just of thought, not just of worship, but also to include the legacy of prosperity, and that legacy can only exist in the absence of the interventionist tendencies of government. If we can eliminate that, we will have passed on something far more valuable than an estate, or a business, or a large trust fund. We will have given the next generation the gift of freedom, a gift far more valuable than any amount of money on this planet.

Where Ben is Boldly going..................

2011-08-26T06:49:00.000-07:00

Chairman Bernanke is the center of attention again today, and the American Press sitting idly by waiting for the God like figure of the Federal Reserve Chairman to speak holding there collective breath to hear the words from on high from the omnipotent money maker is at first confusing, but within seconds one can see with amusement just how comical the American economic game is played. Intertwine this comedy with politics, and you can see clearly that Bernanke, President Obama, and the willing sheep of CNN, Bloomberg, and even the Wall Street Journal, are willing participants in a failed economic set of rules that need to be abandoned, but will not be given the current power, and control the system as it stands, has over the nation, and the productive ability of the ordinary citizens in this country. After all the name of the game is power. Absolute control. A total dictate to the order of the economy based on flawed planning, ........ more importantly a flawed premise. The comedy is performed right before our eyes, only if you are not informed enough on the matter, it could pass right by you, and you would never know. Thank goodness for the means of communication we have today. Instant. Fast. Also verifiable. With knowledge we the people can end this monster in our lives.
                                                                              Chairman Bernanke is hailed as a student of the Great Depression, and has written a number of critiques on the failed policies that were taken at the time that in his opinion exacerbated the situation. In fact one of his major critiques was the insistence of keeping the money and it's value tied to gold. That discussion is for another time, the point here is the good Chairman has concluded that the failure on the part of the Federal Reserve in the late 20's and early 30's was that not enough was done to prevent the bank failures from happening, liquidity ( read printed money ) was lacking to sustain the economy, and thus prop up the banks, and put capital into the market to keep the economy from suffering from deflation ( read a period of lowering prices ) . In total then what happened was the collapse of the economy, that never recovered until the start of World War II.
                                                                       Ben is not the only student of the Great Depression, in fact his view is the popular view of all Centralist thinkers. The flaw in there thinking is that the consumer drives the demand for the economy. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact Ben has never won a Nobel Prize for Economics. Hayek, and Mises have. A student of both of these Economist is Murray Rothbard. Murray has a completley different view of the Great Depression, and was just as ardent in his studies of the causes of the Depression. Mr. Rothbard and many students of the Austrian School of Economics have pointed out time and again, the failed economic premises of the likes of Ben Bernanke, and time and again history has proven the Austrians correct in the cause, and the solution to recessions, and or depressions. Perhaps that is why they have won Nobel Prizes. Just a thought.........
                                                                    When the Central Bank prints more money to put liquidity into the system it sends a false signal to the rest of the economy via interest rates on the demand for Capital goods versus consumers goods. What happens with the newly created lower interest rates ( due to the money supply increase via the Federal Reserve ) is that the producers within the economy will switch there production preference from short term to long term goods. Think housing, machinery, equipment, etc., these goods take longer to produce thus the scarce resources in the economy become subject to higher production than the true demand for those items warrant. One reason there is a housing bubble in particular in the Commercial Real Estate market is due to the prolonged building that has taken place in the last 15 years, which is in large part due to easy credit, and low interest rates. That was directly a result of flooding the banks with money, both by Chairman Bernanke, and his predecessor Alan Greenspan. And as Rev. Wright was so colorful to point out, " America's chickens have come home to roost ".
                                                                     It is encouraging to note that Governor Perry, and Congressman Bachmann have keyed into the danger that the Federal Reserve has caused in the malaise our economy is in. Couple that with 4 trillion dollar Congressional Budgets ( and then some ) and you see that the market being objective is reacting to the policies that the Chairman, and Congress refuse to do away with. For it would mean the end to their power over you and I, and as we see in Libya, and other nations, once there is an establishment that gets comfortable with power, the tendency to try to retain that power at all costs, including human life is the natural progression of that establishment. Power indeed is the most seductive thing on the planet, and known to man. History is replete with examples, so there is no need to pursue it here. Of course Ron Paul has been after the elimination of the Federal Reserve for many years. He has challenged the fiat money supply and it's detriment to the American public for as long, he has even publicly confronted Chairman Bernanke, and you know what I find most interesting................ no one has said that anything Congressman Paul has said is incorrect. Nor that what he has confronted the good Chairman with publicly is mistaken.
                                                       If we the American public wish to have sound money, and a sound economy, then perhaps we should do our part and elect officials that will represent those policies, for if we don't we can expect more of the same, and guess what, our standard of living will continue to fall even more, and China, and India will surpass our standard of living, and will have greater influence over affairs of State in the world, and that will be because they have the resources ( i.e. money ) to control such affairs. No country can yield power without money.......... the axiom is just as true today as it was yesterday............ he who has the gold, makes the rules....... it's just the way it is.

un CAFE

2011-08-23T05:20:00.000-07:00

Having announced the new proposed CAFE standards I love reading how the administration has put forward the cooperative language to the public. The sort of language one would read from say " The Peoples Daily, or the DPRK News. You know the one that describes just how rosy and wonderful life is when government officials take it upon themselves to tread in areas that they are not qualified to lead in such as business let's say. One line put forth in Popular Mechanics read " It's official the government and automakers have settled on the new 2025 CAFE standards. " Like the automakers have a choice. What is really meant by this is that the government has slightly reduced it's demands on the automakers, ......... for now. This is the point where I wish there were someone like Hank Rearden in our midst. Could you imagine Bill Ford sitting across from the President and saying: Mr. President I can appreciate that you are unsatisfied with the way my family makes cars, however there are millions, some of whom put you in office, who beg to differ with your point of view, but rather than waste my time and effort fighting for my right to own a family business, I will sell all my family assets of value today, and give you the company to run as you see fit, after all you and Congress already own General Motors, and your claim to success is a $50,000 dollar battery run car that can't pay for itself, or the investments put forward to design and make it, but hey who am I to impede on progress, especially Sir .... with some one who has the talent you have at running a business.
Just think of the headlines that would be created for the defense of the administration and it's right to order business to conduct itself in a politically appropriate fashion. Ohhhhh the press would call for Mr. Fords head on a platter to defy such authority. The satisfaction though that it would bring to those who believe in Liberty to hear a prominent leader stand up for the right to own property. To use it in a way that the owner individually sees fit. To finally stand up to an administration and declare " This is mine. Keep your hands off ! " Imagine the power that Mr. Ford could then yield, as he is sitting across from the table with the President he could lean over and with a slight smile and say : ohhhh .... and by the way before I give you the Company I am going to lay off Every employee, that is on salary or paid hourly, and then you can hire your own staff of people to run the company the way I know you can do. The look of slight surprise and shock at such a moment would be priceless. One can only dream I suppose.
At the end of the day, Hank Rearden was a fictional character, and of course Atlas Shrugged was a work of fiction that most establishment Intellectuals scoff at. Of course in all fiction there is a grain of truth, which is why fiction is so fascinating to read. The power that we the people hold is indeed limitless. Those who are the lawmakers really are our servants, to do as we bid them to do. If they refuse; the power of there removal is in our hands as a people. This is the year that we have seen the Arab Spring rise, and the removal of dictators and tyrants is spreading through out the world, here in this country however obedience and servitude to the state is the order of the day, at a greater risk to our security, our safety, and our liberty. What we need our more real life Hank Rearden's. If indeed Liberty is what the modern American truly cherishes.

Libya and the Empire of Liberty

2011-08-22T17:21:00.000-07:00

                                          There should be no doubt that Muammar Gaddafi is a dictator. There is no doubt that he was a sponsor of terror. There is no doubt that he was responsible for ending the liberties of citizens of his country. In the fashion that Jefferson proscribed, President Obama set forth a policy that may indeed allow the Libyan people to set a course of self determination. At the moment there is a draft constitution, and considering that the majority of the population follows the religion of Islam, it is deemed to be the Supreme source for there laws. Nothing is final on that matter, what does however seem final is the strategy of removing a tyrant.
                                                     The people there are going to need time to reflect on how it is they wish to govern themselves. As Americans I would suspect that we would appreciate that. After 235 years the citizens of this country squabble all the time about the proper role of government. That is exactly how it should be. No one generation should have the right to dictate to another on how it should live, provided that there is an unquestionable respect and adherence to liberty. How a people wish to worship, and how they wish to observe the respect for the rights of each other is a sacred trust between those individuals, and God. Our best efforts are to be in engaging in trade, and seeking prosperity with one another. In that way we will have fulfilled Mr. Jefferson's view of an Empire of liberty.
                                                                                     Jefferson spoke of the barbarism of his time, and wished to see it recede from the Earth. Much as I would like to share that vision we have seen more rather than less of it on the planet. It does not relieve us of the duty to fight it. To stand by and allow tyrants to continue to rule as the norm rather than fight them, is to stand by and watch evil continue to flourish as the good do nothing to stop it. It is a duty that can lead this country to become the " policeman of the world " a position very few Americans wish to take, or pay for for that matter. I would consider that a reasonable position, however when the President set out to use our military to aid in the Civil war of Libya, he was following the view of Jefferson that the United States had a world responsibility to spread freedom across the globe. Considering that Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence I find it fairly easy to conclude that he knew a thing or two about tyranny and fighting for freedom.
                                                                                      The overthrow of political systems that do not adhere to, respect, or acknowledge the rights of individuals are justified, and the use of force to do so when peaceful means are exhausted are simply the means left for individuals that are left with no other alternative. Gaddafi himself never had intentions of giving up sole power over Libya, as a matter of fact he was by his own account a socialist. Sponsorship of terror as a weapon, and sending arms to fight for causes that were intent on doing harm to peaceful people was his way to use the power he had to live the life of a pure evil hateful person. His rule has been in place since the late 60's and what he has overlooked is that the world has changed a whole lot since then. No free people should be terrorized for that length of time. No freedom loving nation should allow that kind of tyranny to exist for that length of time. Given that Jefferson was interested as part of the Empire to promote " republicanism " in the case of Libya our policy has been exemplary, and has included Nations from around the world to help in the effort. So much the better.
                                                                                 In the end the success or failure at this point depends on the American ability to act as leaders, rather than dictators. The rebellion has been respectful toward the help that our military and other nations military personnel have given. It is a grand opportunity to build on that respect. If patience is used there can be an ally to our benefit in the future. In that part of the world we can use more allies. We can use this opportunity for real peace in our time, for that part of the world. Let's hope the President, and Secretary Clinton have there eye on the 8 ball on this one. It is an important step. Now the next one is to look hard at the pro democracy movement in Iran. Those folks have been begging us for years to help them. In my view Mr. Jefferson would be pleased to hear we are taking steps to help them as well.

The Sage and his folly

2011-08-16T05:39:00.000-07:00

Seems like Warren is at it again. Of course it is not his first time espousing his version of statist propaganda, however it is disheartening at times to see such wealth amassed amongst such ignorance. There were many wealthy industrialist who favored Mussolini, and later Hitler. Even Henry Ford was eager to do business within the Third Reich. The puppets in the press who parrot whatever tripe the Statist wish to have repeated are willing accomplices to the perpetration of ignorance. More taxes, more money, more power. Warren seems to be making headlines again for his statements about the rich who need to contribute more. Oh the Sage from Omaha has spoken from on high, and look with all his wealth even Warren himself sees the need to pay more, and more, and more why it is just not fair he and his ilk are not forced to surrender more of their property to the Central Authorities, while those Mignon's who to not have our status in wealth pay more.
                                                                        While I can sympathize with Mr. Buffett and his egalitarian principles, I am more concerned that the Sage does not have a more fundamental American attitude. NO American should pay taxes. Period. The idea that an American should surrender their wealth, at any level is ridiculous, and absurd. Liberty and property the foundations of this nation have been long forgotten. Those basic principles are not even topics of discussion with the Statist in the governing class who rule not as representatives, but rather as Lords who wish to control their serfs. The arguments for taxation today are framed in such a way as if it is a metaphysical absolute that Washington or any State Capitol in our union is automatically decreed by right to the wealth created in our society, the question then being before us is how much and who should pay what share.
                                                                       Government needs revenue in order to function, of that I do not question. Where we are at today however is far from the idea of a Central Authority that is keeping peace and order amongst it's Citizens. Our system of governance today is about more than defense of our nation ( which is important of course ) and ensuring domestic tranquility. It has become a monster that has unleashed itself into every fabric of existence. It is a master that wants to demand that it makes the rules in your life from the moment you wake up, and right until you lay yourself into a bed weary from a days work. Your every movement thruout the day is touched by some form of law or regulation, in every step or direction your life is touched by a law, decree, or reform that some form of government has instituted into your life, and somehow Mr. Buffett and those who think like him believe that he and those who has wealth like he has should pay more for this. I will ask him the question that no one else will, Why would you subject yourself or anyone else to that form of slavery, and do it willingly ?

                                                                     I have always been amazed that those who are successful in business are the least capable of defending freedom and capitalism. The very system that allows individuals to pursue their dreams, create wealth, to succeed in creating a better life for themselves and those around them, are the least capable of defending the very system that makes that happen. In the end of it all if you make a deal with the devil, the devil always wins. Or as they say in a casino, the house always wins. You cannot bargain with someone who does not have your interest at heart, and with the modern governing class, freedom is not what is at the top of there list. Control and power is. Party is irrelevant. If the discussion is not premised on freedom, then there is no discussion. Mankind has a long history of control over peoples lives. It is time to change the discussion, the nature of the debate, and the direction the debate is going in.
                                                                  As far as taxes go, we should all as citizens pay an equal amount. I do not believe in the Progressive point of view that those who have more should pay more, In a free country that should be offensive. The excise tax for imports should be considered for imports to help pay for keeping our country the best place on Earth to do business. Those from abroad who wish to do business here should pay a fair share for that as well, domestically an implementation of a National Sales tax should be put in place, and then eliminate the current tax code, and income tax, as well as the tax on Capital Gains and savings. The sales tax would be paid by all equally regardless of station in life. It would be the cost that all Citizens pay for the functioning of a legitimate government and it's services. There is nothing wrong with paying for what we as a people need for the " common good " but pitting one group of Americans against another is a disgusting ploy used by politicians. We the people are the only ones that can put a stop to that. And stop it we must. I do not envy Mr. Buffetts wealth, nor should anyone else. He has worked hard to earn what he has made. I would just like him to respect that I have worked hard for mine as well and wish to have the same respect in return. Warren and I both know, that corporations do not pay taxes. Very wealthy people who can afford very good lawyers do not either. Let's end the game, become citizens of liberty, pay for what we need and nothing else, and all pay an equal amount regardless of who you are, or what you have. That is equality. That is the American system at it's roots, and that is what the founders had in mind when this nation was formed. If you demand it, you will get it. Otherwise we are all just fighting for the spoils the political class have left us. That should end as well. The power is in your hands. Are you going to use it ?

The Idle threat

2011-08-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

It never ceases. Of course it never will. The extent to which Federal and local governments will trouble themselves over the daily lives and activities of individuals in our society is remarkably awesome. I must say that the latest piece of legislation that was being announced on this morning's news after completely stunning the senses, completely deprives me of any sensibility. More over, the enthusiasm displayed by individuals who preside over public policy in regard to such legislation which at first is completely frightening, and then after having a few moments to digest such sincerity, enables me to understand that this is not a nation of freedom. Liberty is the last thing on legislative minds control, over your thoughts, your actions, your very way of life, from the time you wake in the morning until you lay down to go to sleep, from the moment you are born, until the moment you are laid in the grave. The Idle threat is more than just a threat, it is an action only being considered in Ann Arbor, but has already been enacted in other States as law. The Idle law is simple, if you let a vehicle idle in public for more than 5 minutes you will be ticketed
$ 100.00 and if it is a commercial vehicle that is idling than the fine is $ 500.00. In the case of Ann Arbor what is before the City Council is a law which aims to educate the public on the damage that can occur when prolonged idling vehicles stand around in the open and create dangers to the environment.
                                                                       It is now not enough for those that govern that we as the public pay higher prices for fuel blends, which vary from state to state creating shortages of summer fuel for vehicles, it's not enough for the governing elite that we have parts added to our automobiles for the safety of the environment that add thousands of dollars to the purchase of the vehicles, it is not enough that in some states you have mandatory inspections on vehicles at the owners expense for the emissions to be tested, but now the general public seems to be to stupid to know what is in there own good, so we must fine the public for letting a car run for more than 5 minutes, and actually take time for the police to issue such a ticket for the violation of such.
                                                                     Apparently the legislative body of the City of Ann Arbor is somewhat disappointed that they did not propose this as a national first as well. Of course what is sure to follow is the argument for this at the State level. After all Ann Arbor is just one city, and can you not see that if the city of Jackson allows vehicles to idle, than the pollution from that city then would endanger the health and welfare of the citizens of Ann Arbor, and from there the city of Detroit ? It would not be just to allow the environment to be destroyed by rouge municipalities who do not have the wisdom or enlightenment to protect the environment, and it would be absolutely necessary for the State of Michigan to pass legislation for such a criminal and heinous act would it not ? It is not fair that only the City council of Ann Arbor has to burden it's public with such a law, and would make them less competitive in business so for fairness the State must act for all cities to comply do you not agree ?
                                                                          Just think with such legislation passed at a State wide level the amount of energy and fuel that would be saved, not to mention the amount of pollution that would be reduced to the air, so we can all breathe easier, and the reduction of health care costs that would follow as well. there would be lower costs to the public medical system as well with the strict enforcement of the Idle law. Why as a matter of fact the State legislature could raise the fine to $ 500.00 for individuals and
$ 2,000.00 for business vehicles and then those monies could go into the Medicaid and Medicare trust funds to be used for offsetting health care costs caused by damage due to the pollution caused by idling vehicles.
                                                                     Government you see in it's modern form has never been about liberty or freedom. It is not designed for freedom. It is not designed for liberty. It's design is strictly to keep you and I as individuals as slaves kept for the purpose of enriching the fantasy's of those in power alive. To keep there vision of what a society should look like intact. To ensure that the power does not lay at the hands of the people, but rather at the hands of the rule makers. The threat to liberty from legislation like this is not idle, it is real. It has taken place. It will continue to grow. With each passing day as we let it continue, our journey to serfdom continues.

Refusing Victimhood

2011-08-13T14:58:00.000-07:00

Victim: a person who suffers from a destructive or injurious action

2. a person who is deceived or cheated

Ayn Rand had written about the concept she called the

"sanction of the victim" which can only occur as she describes it when : the willingness of the good suffers at the hands of evil, to accept the role of sacrificial victim for the sin of creating values. Her idea was that evil can only exist as a parasite on the values of those who uphold the good, only as long as the good will tolerate the parasitical behaviour. In other words, evil exists only as long as you allow it to feed off of your good behaviour. If you tolerate the parasite. The parasite will continue to feed off of the host. Starve the beast, and it will no longer be able to exist. In our time, in our contemporary view, we are asked to accept parasites in many different forms, and behaviours. To some degree, an individual can choose not to allow that behaviour. In some instances individual action alone will not be of any great value, but persuading others to follow the right course of action may indeed be the way to show others a moral approach to a situation, and further persuade others to follow such a course. Then of course there are much larger issues that require the strength of a collective action for a moral course of action, but in each of these instances as an individual you have the choice to choose to not be the victim.

Let's examine one instance of action we can all choose to take. Money is a medium of exchange. Real money has inherent, or objective value, which allows others to compare a level of production. For thousands of years gold was the medium that was used. When governments realized that they could print money, they did so robbing those in a marketplace the value of their labor, and savings. As an individual you could always offer to pay for a transaction either in fiat currency, or in gold. At first others may see this as strange, or bizarre, and to those not accustomed to the idea of payment in specie I am sure at first it may seem that way, but consider that the only way our modern education allows most people to understand money today is via the Federal Reserve Note system. There would be no need to lecture the other person who is less informed on the matter, just simply say you prefer to transact with real money, but can work with them either way. If many of us choose to act this way we could rid ourselves of the Federal Reserve System, without any help from Congress which is who foisted the mess on the American People to begin with. It would as an institution wither on the vine so to speak, for no entity is above objective reality. The Fed could print, and print, and print, and if no one would use their product then it would just be an obsolete institution that would go away.

Ownership of property is absolutely necessary for the existence of a free society, ones home, ones means of shelter and survival lie in the ability to have property to be used as we deem necessary, to protect us from the elements as shelter, and yet in our times it is taxed, and assessed as if it is a privilege handed out to individuals by the graces of those governing our cities and States. Municipalities and States feed off of an unalienable right, as parasites, depriving true ownership to any property owner, mind you I am not speaking against taxes per se here, there is no question that any government to exist must receive revenue, but to take the most basic right, ownership of property, and attach a payment that is required for life to it, well then by any objective measure ownership ceases to exist does it not ? Encouraging a more proper structure of taxation is what is necessary, which would require the action of many individuals to achieve, but in so doing you are ending the parasitical nature of property taxes, and are encouraging more individuals to become franchised in the system of rights and ownership,

Our nation existed without modern welfare programs until the mid 1960's, and with the creation of these programs created a system of dependency that we live with today. For most poor people it pays more to stay within the system than it does to leave and become independent. The political creation of a class of parasites is one of the most abominable acts that could exist in this country, to enslave productive people to ensure the impoverishment of others is truly the most diabolical thing any people's of this planet could do to another. It is sickening that such a system was created in the name of " helping ", when in fact it degrades those who pay for it, and those confined to it. Again I am not opposed to helping others, in fact encourage everyone to help those in need if at all possible, to sacrifice wealth to need is a criminal act however, and reduces the productive to a form of slavery, that they would never be freed from. There will always be someone who is poor, there will always be someone who is in need, but to enslave an individual to permanent servitude is a parasitical act that in the end destroys freedom. It is a bondage to which one can never be freed. This type parasitical behaviour must be fought on moral, and intellectual grounds by those who cherish freedom.

If you are a person who lives to be free, if you are a person that values the rights that are bestowed upon us by God, or by nature, or by reason, however it is you individually have come to conclude in your own mind that those rights inherent to being human exist, If you no longer wish to be a victim, then it is important to know what being free is, and then to take the necessary actions required to achieve that freedom. Otherwise by giving sanction, by allowing evil to continue to reign over you, being a victim is precisely what you will continue to be.