Hard things are put in our way,
not to stop us,
but to call out our courage and strength.
Anonymous
Image of the Day
Did the Free Market Cause the 2008 Economic Tsunami?
Facebook Corner
 |
| Via LFC |
(The Cato Institute). "The political externalities of immigration are important to consider, but the revelation that immigrants are slightly less libertarian than most Americans is not a convincing argument to further restrict their freedom of movement and the freedom of Americans to associate with whom they want."
Many immigrants come from countries with a strong government, where civil service is a desirable career path and/or there is a social welfare net or religious/social democratic values; government affirmative action policies may be seen as a check on discrimination or xenophobia. However, I would expect the more entrepreneurial/professional/educated immigrants to be more supportive of libertarian values.
(The Independent Institute). Research Fellow Burton Abrams: "The War on Drugs is an unmitigated failure. Those who support that war might recall Prohibition, a similar deployment of government paternalism, which was wisely repealed 80 years ago this month."
What failure? The war on drugs reaps $100 Billion a year for the Police State....line em up and knock em down boys!
I assume that you are talking about the estimated $100B spent globally on enforcement, according to Cato some $88B a year across all levels of the US government, not the take on civil forfeitures, etc., all reaped at the expense of the taxpayer. What a deal--the black market continues to spring up anew every year to sustain the bureaucracy.
(LFC). The Australian government has made it clear where it stands on the issue of videogames. I wonder if, a few years from now, there will be a full-on global War on Games that succeeds in establishing violent video game cartels. "An emerging area of serious concern is games that simulate gambling...It’s a growing business in a largely unregulated market." View the webpage: http://nogame.com.au/ (Teal)
Next there will be bans on raffles, lotteries, the sale of dice, Bingo cards, football pools, childhood dares,... Sanctions on child bookies, forfeiture of purses...
 |
| Via LFC trolling for economic illiterates |
It reminds me of a story I read of a musician whom was employed to work on a John Lennon track (I think it was "Watching the Wheels", part of his monster comeback album). The musician was happy with the agreed-upon payment until he realized whom the vocalist was and then wanted more money.
Then there was the time I briefly worked in Brazil in the mid-90's at a client site and discovered often there was the local price and the (higher) American price.
The Politics of Greed and Envy are never pretty.
Finally, someone who understands that government is the whore in corporatism! Don't feed the parasites!
The best tactic I can think of for dealing with people who post or believe such nonsense is to first explain the difference between capitalism and crony capitalism. Once they acknowledge the undeniable difference - commence bitch slapping.
I get impatient with defensive people whom repeat this line. It's like Dems whom argue that politics is all about evil corporations, special-interest payoffs, etc. The problem is CORRUPTIBLE, SELF-PRESERVING GOVERNMENT. It's when Statists seek to "reform" the economy that corrupt, weak capitalists and other special interests seek government protection. Strong capitalists don't want government costs that reduce demands for their products and services. What you should be pointing out is the government scapegoats the markets for its own failures. But if government didn't intervene in the economy, there would no reason for corruptible entities to argue "their fair share".
(Bastiat Institute). "It’s a perfidious “business model” in which the state creates social inequality through its monopolistic monetary system, splits society into poor and rich, and makes people dependent on welfare. It then intervenes in a regulatory and distributive manner, in order to justify its existence."
Obama finally found something he's good at doing...
(Learn Liberty). What are your thoughts on "three strikes laws?" Many states have enacted these laws with intent to curb the number of repeat criminal offenders, but critics argue that three strikes laws often result in punishments that are disproportionate to the crimes committed.
It's a violation of equality under the law: the punishment should be proportionate to the crime; a third offense is a life sentence.
(Illinois Policy Institute). Military pension debate? President Barack Obama’s 2014 budget opened the door by proposing to increase what federal employees contribute to their pensions: adjusting the number upward in three increments from .8% of pay to 2%.
BAD IDEA. "President Barack Obama’s 2014 budget opened the door for the GOP by proposing to increase what federal employees contribute to their pensions: adjusting the number upward from .8 percent of pay to 2 percent".Bad idea. Instead,,,,Let the federal employees create their own 401K plan. The employee puts in 5%, and the government matches them 3%. The Federal employee will also contribute to social securtity.... that is a good idea.
I think federal employees do have a 401K--in addition to a pension. If anything, the federal pension system is in even worse condition than states. I've seen unfunded liabilities starting at $10T. But I do agree with the concept that public employees, in addition to job security not available in the private sector, do not deserve retirement benefits over and beyond those of us in the private sector--at our expense.
I just realized that there may be differences in retirement systems between the military and civil servants. I think one of the things Illinois Policy Institute points out if you don't reach the magic 20 years in, you don't get anything (disregarding things like disability exceptions). But people with 20-plus years are generally eligible to half-pay or better for life, sometimes even by the time they reach 40--young enough for a full second career. For officers, this could mean the mid-five figures or higher, never mind a potential lucrative career as a defense contractor. I do think we need to think of a reform you suggest so people, say, with 15 years in, get some vested benefit; if we are going to have pensions, they should, at minimum, have means-testing and deferred eligibility. (I expect to get flamed by military vets, and I have 3 relatives drawing military pensions whom won't be happy with my opinion.)
Political Cartoon
 |
| Courtesy of Gary Varvel via Patriot Post |
Musical Interlude: My iPod Shuffle Holiday Series
Kenny Rogers and Wynonna Judd, "Mary, Did You Know?"
