LIBERTARIAN LAND
Liberty. It’s a simple idea, but it’s also the linchpin of a complex system of values and practices: justice, prosperity, responsibility, toleration, cooperation, and peace. Many people believe that liberty is the core political value of modern civilization itself, the one that gives substance and form to all the other values of social life. They’re called libertarians.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Is a State Run Gold Standard Really the Answer?
Socialism American Style
– by Tibor Machan
Dr. Tibor Machan
When someone on the American political landscape is accused of being a socialist, the claim has little directly to do with Stalinism and a lot more with the kind of system they had in Hungary, Bulgaria, Poland and other Soviet colonies, namely the phony promise of cradle-to-grave security and relentless government meddling in people's lives (goulash communism). Call it Norman Thomas style socialism, the kind that so many academic socialists in the West champion.
Meaningless Words in Politics
– by Ron Paul
Ron Paul
For example, we've all heard politicians use the words "democracy" and "freedom" countless times. They are used interchangeably in modern political discourse, yet their true meanings are very different. They have become what George Orwell termed "meaningless words." Words like "freedom," "democracy," and "justice," Orwell explained, have been abused for so l?ong that their original meanings have been eviscerated. In Orwell's view, such words were "often used in a consciously dishonest way."
Ron Paul and the Future
– by Lew Rockwell
Lew Rockwell
Now, what was it that attracted all these people to Ron Paul? He didn't offer his followers a spot on the federal gravy train. He didn't pass some phony bill. In fact, he didn't do any of the things we
Ron is the anti-politician. He tells unfashionable truths, educates rather than flatters the public and stands up for principle even when the whole world is arrayed against him.
The Deception at the Heart of the Upcoming US Presidential Election
– by Staff Report
Dominant Social Theme: Paul Ryan believes in smaller government. This race is shaping up to be one of a legitimate clash of philosophies.
Free
The American Onslaught Against International Law
– by Paul Craig Roberts
Paul Craig Roberts
Propaganda is important in the inculcation of trust in authority. The Pussy Riot case shows the power of Washington's propaganda even inside Russia itself and reveals that Washington's propaganda has suborned important human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Chatham House and Amnesty International.
Now the Real Killing of bin Laden Is Revealed?
– by Staff Report
Dominant Social Theme: This must be a truthful book because it is making the Pentagon very uncomfortable.
Free-Market Analysis: No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama Bin Laden, by Mark Owen with Kevin Maurer, should probably be withdrawn for being a lie. When Clifford Irving famously concocted a tale about Howard Hughes he ended up serving 19 months in the slammer. But "Owen" will laugh all the way to the bank.
Newly Discovered Footage of Andrew Breitbart Debating the Left and the Media at Occupy LA
Newly Discovered Footage of Andrew Breitbart Debating the Left and the Media at Occupy LA
Breitbart News is releasing newly-discovered footage of Andrew Breitbart at Occupy Los Angeles, confronting and debating radical activists as police began moving in to clear out the protest site last fall. The footage was captured on a standard Flip camera in the middle of the night on November 27-28, 2011, and was never published--though images from the event were tweeted at the time. 48 hours later, police completed the eviction.
**Shock** In ABC Webcast, Yahoo News Chief Says Romneys ‘Happy to Have a Party When Black People Drown’
**Shock** In ABC Webcast, Yahoo News Chief Says Romneys ‘Happy to Have a Party When Black People Drown’
by
John Nolte
***UPDATE III: Yahoo just announced they have terminated Chalian effective immediately.
***UPDATE II: Romney
camp comments: "It hasn’t even been 24 hours after the primetime
speech line up at the Republican National Convention last night, and you
can already tell how successful and powerful of a night it really was
by the complete and utter meltdown the mainstream media is experiencing
today. ... Most shockingly, Yahoo! Washington Bureau Chief David Chalian
got caught on an ABC webcast saying that Mitt Romney would be “happy to have a party when black people drown.”
***UPDATE:
ABC News reached out to Breitbart News to name the man heard mocking
the Romneys during this ABC News livecast: David Chalian (pictured) of Yahoo! News. Chalian is a former political director with ABC News,
but according to ABC News has no association with the network now. The
headline has been changed to reflect this update, as has the story
itself.
Here's a look at the black, bitter,
bitter, ugly and biased souls of our corrupt media during ABC News'
live-feed coverage yesterday. The moment in question occurs in the first
ten seconds. Listen closely to the video below:
Why Can't Obama Be More Like Reagan?
By Peter Morici -
The
Commerce Department reported today the economy grew only 1.5 percent in
the second quarter, down from 2.0 percent the previous period.
Consumer spending slowed under the weight of growing pessimism about the effectiveness of President Obama’s economic program, and a growing sense that Governor Romney will not unseat him. The President leads in polls in most swing states, and the President has made clear his intention to double down on interventionist economic policies.
Consumer spending slowed under the weight of growing pessimism about the effectiveness of President Obama’s economic program, and a growing sense that Governor Romney will not unseat him. The President leads in polls in most swing states, and the President has made clear his intention to double down on interventionist economic policies.
Obama’s job approval sags with economy
By Scott Rasmussen
Consumer confidence fell to the lowest levels of 2012 this past week.
Most Americans believe that both the economy and their own personal
finances are getting worse. Just 25 percent believe the economy is
getting better, and only 22 percent say the same about their personal
finances.
Why he’s going where he’s going
Not quite the naked ethnic appeal of yore. Each destination suggests a somewhat more subtle affinity: Britain, playing to our cultural connectedness with the Downton Abbey folks who’ve been at our side in practically every fight for the last hundred years; Poland, representing the “new Europe,” the Central Europeans so unashamedly pro-American; Israel, appealing to most American Jews but also to an infinitely greater number of passionately sympathetic evangelical Christians.
Why Are Keynesians of All People Calling for Tax Increases in a Crap Economy?
Nick Gillespie
Over at National Review, Mercatus Center economist and Reason columnist Veronique de Rugy points to the latest instance of the triumph of ideology over intellectual consistency. President Obama, along with most congressional Democrats and liberal pundits (including Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman) are calling for increasing taxes on Americans making over $200,000 a year. They do this in the name of Baron Keynes.
Yet
Blowing the whistle on the federal Leviathan
The huge humpback whale whose friendliness precipitated a surreal seven-year — so far — federal hunt for criminality surely did not feel put upon. Nevertheless, our unhinged government, with an obsession like that of Melville’s Ahab, has crippled Nancy Black’s scientific career, cost her more than $100,000 in legal fees — so far — and might sentence her to 20 years in prison. This Kafkaesque burlesque of law enforcement began when someone whistled.
More Evidence Obama Literally Not Doing the Job of President
The job of President of the United States is one that every occupant until Barack Obama has taken seriously. Every President prior to Barack Obama understood that the job entailed things like holding press conferences, meeting with members of Congress to compromise on budget issues, and learning the latest news about economic and international developments from the nation's best experts.
Sen. Schumer Seeks Ban on High Cap Mags and Assault Weapons Next Week
by
AWR Hawkins
The Cybersecurity Act, which the Senate will vote on next week, will not only contain measures for cyber security but also quite a bit of gun control, if a coalition of Democrats led by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) get their way.
Democrats Backpedal as China Readies $15.1 Billion Canadian Oil Deal
by
Wynton Hall
When President Barack Obama blocked the Keystone Pipeline, Republicans said the move would encourage Canada to pursue oil deals with China instead of the United States and cede a massive chunk of North American oil assets to the communist nation.
Occupy Marches Against 'Capitalist' Games
Associated Press
LONDON
About 500 people critical of the economic impact and corporate flavor of the London Olympics marched Saturday near the Olympic Park, determined to send a message that Britain is not united in backing the games.
Half a Hit: Free Markets Need Competition Via Regulation
– by Staff Report
Gordon Brown
Dominant Social Theme: We need to create free markets that work.
Free-Market Analysis: This article from the Telegraph proposes a way to fix capitalism based on the idea that free-market thinking has traveled too far, too fast. The article,, written by Telegraph maven Jeremy Warner focuses on the appropriate amount of regulation that is necessary for a healthy economy.
The crux paragraph actually comes toward the end of the article when Warner explains how a modern economy works and what is necessary. Here's an excerpt:
Ron Paul Statement: Financial Services Committee Hearing
– by Ron Paul
Ron Paul
Mr. Chairman, I welcome this hearing to receive the report of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC). The creation of FSOC underscores perfectly the complete intellectual bankruptcy underpinning the government's behavior towards financial markets. In the opinion of government leaders, the financial crisis was not caused by misguided regulation, interest rate manipulation, or government-caused distortions to the structure of production, but by a financial sector that was completely deregulated and laissez-faire. The response of legislators, therefore, was to create a new super-regulator with vast new powers to control the financial system.
FreedomFest, Rome and Opportunity
– by Ron Holland
Ron Holland
FreedomFest
I especially enjoyed moderating the Churchill debate with John Browne, our Biologix Chairman of the Board, debating Anthony Gregory on the important question as to whether Winston Churchill was a 20th Century statesman or warmonger. The debate was spirited and both men gave their best. In the end there appeared to be a slight plurality for "statesman."
ECB Will Now Print Money Directly ... But Why?
Mario Draghi
Auditing the Fed Is a Sideshow: Who Audits the Auditors?
– by Anthony Wile
Anthony Wile
Friday, July 27, 2012
17 Reasons Why Those Hoping For A Recession In 2012 Just Got Their Wish
100 Million Poor People In America And 39 Other Facts About Poverty That Will Blow Your Mind
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12 Signs That Spain Is Shifting Gears From Recession To Depression
The Price Of Corn Hits A Record High As A Global Food Crisis Looms
Are
you ready for the next major global food crisis? The price of corn hit
an all-time record high on Thursday. So did the price of soybeans.
The price of corn is up about 50 percent since the middle of last month,
and the price of wheat has risen by about 50 percent over the past five
weeks. On Thursday, corn for September delivery reached $8.166 per
bushel, and many analysts believe that it could hit $10 a bushel before
this crisis is over. The worst drought in the United States in more
than 50 years is projected to continue well into August,
and more than 1,300 counties in the United States have been declared to
be official natural disaster areas. So how is this crisis going to
affect the average person on the street? Well, most Americans and most
Europeans are going to notice their grocery bills go up significantly
over the coming months. That will not be pleasant. But in other areas
of the world this crisis could mean the difference between life and
death for some people. You see, half of all global corn exports come
from the United States. So what happens if the U.S. does not have any
corn to export? About a billion people around the world live on the
edge of starvation, and today the Financial Times ran a front page story
with the following headline: "World braced for new food crisis".
Millions upon millions of families in poor countries are barely able to
feed themselves right now. So what happens if the price of the food
that they buy goes up dramatically?
In Praise of Government Gridlock
by Mike Reid
California's Proposition 25 promised to rein in runaway spending and "end budget gridlock" by hitting politicians' pocketbooks. Every day on which lawmakers failed to pass a balanced budget after their June 15 deadline each year would be a day of pay they lost.
This was an attempt to increase government "efficiency" — to make government conform to the laws of business: you must give people the things they want on time or you do not get paid. But, as Mises wrote, "government efficiency and industrial efficiency are entirely different things."
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Do You Hate the State?
by Murray N. Rothbard
[Day 30 of Robert Wenzel's 30-day reading list that will lead you to become a knowledgeable libertarian, this article was originally published in the Libertarian Forum, Vol. 10, No. 7, July 1977.]
Column One: Brotherhood’s American defenders
By CAROLINE B. GLICK
Hopefully it was an instructive meeting for the senior US official, although his Israeli interlocutors were undoubtedly dumbstruck by how difficult it was to communicate with him. Unlike previous US counterterror officials, Brennan does not share Israel’s understanding of Middle Eastern terrorism.
A GUARANTEE FOR FAILURE
Testimony Before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs
In 2009, renewable energy company Solyndra received
$535 million through the federally backed 1705 loan guarantee program of
the Department of Energy (DOE). Two years later, the firm filed for
bankruptcy and had to lay off its 1,100 employees, leaving taxpayers to
bear the cost of the loan. For obvious reasons, more than any other
recent events, this waste of taxpayer money has attracted much
attention.
THE ECONOMICS AND HISTORY OF CRONYISM
David R. Henderson
“When you leave the honey jar open, expect ants.”
—anonymous
—anonymous
When
I speak of the benefits of economic freedom and free markets, many
people in my audiences do not think of those terms the way I think of
them. In the question-and-answer sessions that follow my talks, it seems
people often think they are taking issue with free markets when they
are actually rejecting cronyism—a term that encompasses government
favoritism, special privileges, and special interests.
For
example, people will object to the Wall Street bailouts carried out by
the Bush and Obama administrations. As do I, because those bailouts
violate free-market principles. They will object to government
regulation that makes it difficult for small food producers to produce
and sell food not inspected and approved by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. As do I.
On course to collide with fiscal cliff Promises to slash spending are broken already
JAMES VALVO
With nearly every major fiscal policy scheduled for a recalibration by the end of the year, the sirens are luring Congress and the economy toward a fiscal cliff with the promise of a grand bargain. The song is a predictable one, enticing budget hawks to relax their fears about deficits and debt by trading some spending cuts for a portion of tax increases. Often the sirens coo for a 3-1 deal like the one from the Simpson-Bowles deficit reduction commission: $3 of spending cuts for every $1 of tax increases. This path is folly, and we don’t have to look any further than last summer’s debt-ceiling deal to see why.
With nearly every major fiscal policy scheduled for a recalibration by the end of the year, the sirens are luring Congress and the economy toward a fiscal cliff with the promise of a grand bargain. The song is a predictable one, enticing budget hawks to relax their fears about deficits and debt by trading some spending cuts for a portion of tax increases. Often the sirens coo for a 3-1 deal like the one from the Simpson-Bowles deficit reduction commission: $3 of spending cuts for every $1 of tax increases. This path is folly, and we don’t have to look any further than last summer’s debt-ceiling deal to see why.
The Growing Dangers of Cronyism
The Growing Dangers of Cronyism
By David Henderson
The 2012 campaign trail has been rife with accusations of “cronyism” from both sides.
Anger over backdoor deals between government and
business has spurred an uptick in legislation, regulation, and
oversight. Here’s the problem: with an increase in government comes an
increase in privileges for special interests. And in the end, taxpayers
and consumers get the short end of the stick while politicians and their
cronies reap the rewards of having friends in high places.
Racism? No, Obama’s Own Incompetence Is Hurting His Campaign
Racism? No, Obama’s Own Incompetence Is Hurting His Campaign
Is slowing economic growth behind Obama’s failure to dominate in the polls? Not according to his supporters. They blame voters’—especially the GOP’s—implacable racial animus. Michael Medved with a rebuttal.
As the Obama campaign struggles against powerful riptides of economic bad news,
some of the president’s most fervent apologists have returned to the
old habit of blaming all his political troubles on racism.
State
Sen. Louise Lucas, one of the leaders of the official “Obama Truth
Team” in the crucial swing state of Virginia, told a local radio show
that Mitt Romney and his supporters won’t accept anyone “other than a
white man in the White House.” She declared that she couldn’t conceive
of any other reason that her fellow citizens might disapprove of the
incumbent president. “All of the folks who are saying, ‘We don’t like
Barack Obama,’ they can’t tell you any reason that they don’t…I
absolutely believe it’s all about race, and for the first time in my
life I’ve been able to convince my children finally that racism is alive
and well.”
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