Ron Paul on who's really to blame for our skyrocketing gas prices:
In the past few months, American workers, consumers, and businesses have experienced a sudden and dramatic rise in gasoline prices. In some parts of the country, gasoline costs as much as $4 per gallon. Some politicians claim that the way to reduce gas prices is by expanding the government’s power to regulate prices and control the supply of gasoline. For example, the House of Representatives has even passed legislation subjecting gas stations owners to criminal penalties if they charge more than a federal bureaucrat deems appropriate. Proponents of these measures must have forgotten the 1970s, when government controls on the oil industry resulted in gas lines and shortages. It was only after President Reagan lifted federal price controls that the gas lines disappeared.
Instead of imposing further restraints on the market, Congress should consider reforming the federal policies that raise gas prices.
Read the rest, and see the bill Dr. Paul introduced, the Affordable Gas Price Act (HR 2415).
Monday, May 5, 2008
A Colonial Radical in King Bernanke's Court (George F. Smith)
George F. Smith on how Thomas Paine might react to the Fed and its disastrous fiat currency:
Thomas Paine made the case for freedom in 1776, and ten years later made the case for freedom’s money, gold and silver. If we had followed his advice on the latter, we would still possess a good measure of the former.
Only an intimidated culture could succeed in preventing a subject like money from reaching the forum of mainstream media, particularly with the dollar’s heavily-inflated history plainly evident on world currency markets, not to mention at the local grocery store. None of what we see today in the financial press would be surprising to hard-money thinkers like Paine. The Common Sense author might respond much like Nock did in regard to the criminality of states: “Well, what would you expect? Look at the record! This is what states do. This is what happens when the government forces you to use paper money and imposes a banking cartel to ‘manage’ its supply.”
Read the rest
Thomas Paine made the case for freedom in 1776, and ten years later made the case for freedom’s money, gold and silver. If we had followed his advice on the latter, we would still possess a good measure of the former.
Only an intimidated culture could succeed in preventing a subject like money from reaching the forum of mainstream media, particularly with the dollar’s heavily-inflated history plainly evident on world currency markets, not to mention at the local grocery store. None of what we see today in the financial press would be surprising to hard-money thinkers like Paine. The Common Sense author might respond much like Nock did in regard to the criminality of states: “Well, what would you expect? Look at the record! This is what states do. This is what happens when the government forces you to use paper money and imposes a banking cartel to ‘manage’ its supply.”
Read the rest
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Ron Paul Book Sold Out at Amazon, But....
You can still buy The Revolution: A Manifesto at the Mises.org bookstore!
[UPDATE] Mises.org is now sold out (expected to be available 5/16); it looks like the book may still be available at Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.com should be shipping by the end of the month.
[UPDATE] Mises.org is now sold out (expected to be available 5/16); it looks like the book may still be available at Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.com should be shipping by the end of the month.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Go Cowboy Cal!
For Murray Sabrin's benefit, I'll be rooting for Cowboy Cal in today's Kentucky Derby! See the press release, where Dr. Sabrin explains why he's wagering on the longshot:
Atlantic City, NJ – New Jersey conservative Republican leader Dr. "Maverick Murray" Sabrin, the Garden State's strongest advocate of limited government and individual freedom and the front-runner for United States Senate, announced his support to eliminate the federal prohibition against Atlantic City and other casinos from around the country from accepting wagers on sports and other activities. In addition, Maverick Murray announced his prediction for the Kentucky Derby along with a special one-hour online money-bomb to wager on the Kentucky Derby.
Dr. Murray Sabrin stated, "Our Founders never envisioned the federal government deciding whether states should or should not allow sports betting. A United States Senator from New Jersey named Bill Bradley made it illegal and a United States Senator from New Jersey named Murray Sabrin is going to make it legal again. Taxpayers from across America are responding to my message to Legalize Freedom." Sabrin continued, "This is another example of the federal government getting involved where it has no Constitutional basis. It is time to get government off our backs and out of our wallets."
Read the rest
Atlantic City, NJ – New Jersey conservative Republican leader Dr. "Maverick Murray" Sabrin, the Garden State's strongest advocate of limited government and individual freedom and the front-runner for United States Senate, announced his support to eliminate the federal prohibition against Atlantic City and other casinos from around the country from accepting wagers on sports and other activities. In addition, Maverick Murray announced his prediction for the Kentucky Derby along with a special one-hour online money-bomb to wager on the Kentucky Derby.
Dr. Murray Sabrin stated, "Our Founders never envisioned the federal government deciding whether states should or should not allow sports betting. A United States Senator from New Jersey named Bill Bradley made it illegal and a United States Senator from New Jersey named Murray Sabrin is going to make it legal again. Taxpayers from across America are responding to my message to Legalize Freedom." Sabrin continued, "This is another example of the federal government getting involved where it has no Constitutional basis. It is time to get government off our backs and out of our wallets."
Read the rest
I Favor Discrimination (Michael Rozeff)
Michael Rozeff shows that there cannot be true freedom without the ability to discriminate:
If ever anyone wants to discredit me, he can cite the title of this article. I am giving it away on a silver platter in order to make one point: Freedom includes the freedom to discriminate.
Discrimination is nothing more than making distinctions and being selective. Without discrimination, freedom to choose is an empty exercise. I favor the freedom to choose. Therefore, I favor discrimination.
Not only do I favor discrimination, I discriminate constantly. And so does everyone else.
Read the rest
If ever anyone wants to discredit me, he can cite the title of this article. I am giving it away on a silver platter in order to make one point: Freedom includes the freedom to discriminate.
Discrimination is nothing more than making distinctions and being selective. Without discrimination, freedom to choose is an empty exercise. I favor the freedom to choose. Therefore, I favor discrimination.
Not only do I favor discrimination, I discriminate constantly. And so does everyone else.
Read the rest
Friday, May 2, 2008
"Freedom" Through Submission (William Grigg)
William Grigg doesn't think too highly of Christian pastors who would have us submit to the "authority" of the state, no matter how wrong the state is:
All government officials form an unbroken chain of legitimacy that ultimately leads to God, explained the pastor, and are therefore entitled to unconditional support. It is God's will that all Christians be bound by that chain, and He is grieved whenever His people rebel or even criticize their anointed rulers.
Christian parents have a duty to instruct their children in this doctrine of submission -- unconditional obedience to those God has ordained to exercise authority over us. Children are to be taught to "respect" and obey police, municipal officials, governors, and all other political officials. After all, "how will they possibly respect God himself if they haven't learned to respect somebody right in front of them?"
Such instruction in the tenets of fuhrerprinzip (the Leader Principle) was entirely representative of state-controlled German Protestant churches in the 1930s. Which makes it somewhat remarkable that those words were uttered in a sermon delivered in Milwaukee last March.
Read the rest
All government officials form an unbroken chain of legitimacy that ultimately leads to God, explained the pastor, and are therefore entitled to unconditional support. It is God's will that all Christians be bound by that chain, and He is grieved whenever His people rebel or even criticize their anointed rulers.
Christian parents have a duty to instruct their children in this doctrine of submission -- unconditional obedience to those God has ordained to exercise authority over us. Children are to be taught to "respect" and obey police, municipal officials, governors, and all other political officials. After all, "how will they possibly respect God himself if they haven't learned to respect somebody right in front of them?"
Such instruction in the tenets of fuhrerprinzip (the Leader Principle) was entirely representative of state-controlled German Protestant churches in the 1930s. Which makes it somewhat remarkable that those words were uttered in a sermon delivered in Milwaukee last March.
Read the rest
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Free Hawaii!
Kudos to the Hawaiian Kingdom Government for keeping up the fight to free the Hawaiian people from the illegal U.S. occupation! Here is their description of the occupation:
On January 16, 1893, United States diplomatic and military personnel conspired with a small group of individuals to overthrow the constitutional government of the Hawaiian Kingdom and prepared to provide for annexation of the Hawaiian Islands to the United States of America, under a treaty of annexation submitted to the United States Senate, on February 15, 1893. Newly elected U.S. President Grover Cleveland, having received notice that the cause of the so-called revolution derived from illegal intervention by U.S. diplomatic and military personnel, withdrew the treaty of annexation and appointed James H. Blount, as Special Commissioner, to investigate the terms of the so-called revolution and to report his findings.
The report concluded that the United States legation assigned to the Hawaiian Kingdom, together with United States Marines and Naval personnel, were directly responsible for the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom government. The report details the culpability of the United States government in violating international laws and the sovereignty of the Hawaiian Kingdom, but the United States Government fails to follow through in its commitment to assist in reinstating the constitutional government of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
Read the rest
Note: I realize that "Free Hawaii" does not accurately describe the group's efforts because for the people living on the group of islands known as "Hawaii" to really be free, the state would have to be eliminated; however, a return to their traditional government would likely be far better than continuing to live under the thumb of United States imperialism.
On January 16, 1893, United States diplomatic and military personnel conspired with a small group of individuals to overthrow the constitutional government of the Hawaiian Kingdom and prepared to provide for annexation of the Hawaiian Islands to the United States of America, under a treaty of annexation submitted to the United States Senate, on February 15, 1893. Newly elected U.S. President Grover Cleveland, having received notice that the cause of the so-called revolution derived from illegal intervention by U.S. diplomatic and military personnel, withdrew the treaty of annexation and appointed James H. Blount, as Special Commissioner, to investigate the terms of the so-called revolution and to report his findings.
The report concluded that the United States legation assigned to the Hawaiian Kingdom, together with United States Marines and Naval personnel, were directly responsible for the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom government. The report details the culpability of the United States government in violating international laws and the sovereignty of the Hawaiian Kingdom, but the United States Government fails to follow through in its commitment to assist in reinstating the constitutional government of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
Read the rest
Note: I realize that "Free Hawaii" does not accurately describe the group's efforts because for the people living on the group of islands known as "Hawaii" to really be free, the state would have to be eliminated; however, a return to their traditional government would likely be far better than continuing to live under the thumb of United States imperialism.
A New Look at How World War II Happened (Thomas DiLorenzo)
Thomas DiLorenzo on an apparently excellent new book that chronicles the actions of those mass murderers Churchill, FDR, Stalin, and their ilk leading up to World War II:
Nicholson Baker’s new book Human Smoke: The Beginnings of World War II, the End of Civilization, is one of the most unique nonfiction books you’ll ever read. Based on voluminous research of newspaper and magazine articles, radio speeches, memoirs, diaries, and biographies, Baker’s 566-page book gives the reader an extraordinary look into the mindsets of all the major actors in the lead-up to the war.
Each paragraph of the book is written like a press release of an important event on a particular day, and is not necessarily related to the previous or succeeding paragraph. At first I thought this would be an extremely boring read, kind of like looking through old newspapers. But the information in the book is so interesting (and sometimes astounding) that I read it in one sitting (admittedly a forced "sitting" on a 9-hour flight from Vienna to Washington, D.C.).
Many of the icons of "the greatest generation" are portrayed not quite as heroically as they are by their hagiographers and government-school textbook writers.
Read the rest
[UPDATE] Also: David Gordon's excellent review of the book.
Nicholson Baker’s new book Human Smoke: The Beginnings of World War II, the End of Civilization, is one of the most unique nonfiction books you’ll ever read. Based on voluminous research of newspaper and magazine articles, radio speeches, memoirs, diaries, and biographies, Baker’s 566-page book gives the reader an extraordinary look into the mindsets of all the major actors in the lead-up to the war.
Each paragraph of the book is written like a press release of an important event on a particular day, and is not necessarily related to the previous or succeeding paragraph. At first I thought this would be an extremely boring read, kind of like looking through old newspapers. But the information in the book is so interesting (and sometimes astounding) that I read it in one sitting (admittedly a forced "sitting" on a 9-hour flight from Vienna to Washington, D.C.).
Many of the icons of "the greatest generation" are portrayed not quite as heroically as they are by their hagiographers and government-school textbook writers.
Read the rest
[UPDATE] Also: David Gordon's excellent review of the book.
The Relentless Process of Socializing Health Care (D.W. MacKenzie)
D.W. MacKenzie says we need to educate others on the fallacy that the government can run a health care system effectively (or, for that matter, run anything effectively):
The movement towards socialized medicine is strong but widely misunderstood. Many ordinary people see health care as a right and complain that it is too expensive. Some economists also see problems with the existing health care system and propose public-sector alternatives. One serious problem with those who want socialized medicine is that they fail to see the problems that already exist with governmental involvement in health care.
Read the rest, or listen to the audio version.
The movement towards socialized medicine is strong but widely misunderstood. Many ordinary people see health care as a right and complain that it is too expensive. Some economists also see problems with the existing health care system and propose public-sector alternatives. One serious problem with those who want socialized medicine is that they fail to see the problems that already exist with governmental involvement in health care.
Read the rest, or listen to the audio version.
NASA, the Aerospace Welfare Queen (Lawrence Ludlow)
Lawrence Ludlow calls for the abolition of the boondoggle known as NASA:
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is a textbook example of how to quash free scientific inquiry. It also is a lesson in transforming potentially useful citizens into high-speed drains on the U.S. Treasury. Instead of perpetuating its gold-plated make-work projects and revering its state-sponsored “official heroes,” we should recognize NASA for what it is—a resuscitated Roman coliseum that stages useless spectacles that hypnotize taxpayers while bleeding them dry. Or is it just a vampire with a bad case of hemophilia? Take your pick.
Read the rest
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is a textbook example of how to quash free scientific inquiry. It also is a lesson in transforming potentially useful citizens into high-speed drains on the U.S. Treasury. Instead of perpetuating its gold-plated make-work projects and revering its state-sponsored “official heroes,” we should recognize NASA for what it is—a resuscitated Roman coliseum that stages useless spectacles that hypnotize taxpayers while bleeding them dry. Or is it just a vampire with a bad case of hemophilia? Take your pick.
Read the rest
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