It is a fine thing to have ability, but the ability to discover ability in others is the true test.
Elbert Hubbard
Tweet of the Day
"As conservatives we should not succumb to the notion that a government inept at home will somehow become successful abroad." - Rand Paul
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2015
The bills of spendthrift Congresses and Presidents are TOO DAMN HIGH! The deficit, national debt and unfunded liabilities are TOO DAMN HIGH!
— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) February 28, 2015
Image of the Day
A Brilliant Speech by George Will
Sigh! He had me even before he said Calvin Coolidge was the last President which he approved of...
Facebook Corner
(Reason). "I admire Edward Snowden because he revealed crimes against you, me, and every other American. He didn't do it because he was being paid by our enemies and it's far from clear that he's screwed our ability to protect ourselves." - Reason's Nick Gillespie
The man knowingly and intentionally violated the terms of his contract, which is anathema to any ethical libertarian. The man lacked the personal integrity to face the consequences of his actions, to have his day in court; there is no evidence he attempted to work within the system. We don't know the nature and extent of what he stole, whether he's attempted to extort people based on what he has, etc.
{IPI). Can the city of Chicago reduce retirees’ health benefits – even when it only promised to provide them for 10 years – or is it required to keep providing them at the same level (or higher) forever?
Now it's up to Illinois state courts to decide.
If they reduce theirs I want politicians reduced also. Why are politicians the only ones exempt from cut cutbacks? You are not exempt!!!! #Unconstititional
More populist vomit! For once can you use your mind instead of just taking potshots at politicians?
(Sen. Lee). Today, I introduced an amendment that would have prohibited DHS from spending any money to implement President Obama's executive amnesty, while keeping the Department fully funded.
I made two efforts to advance this amendment. I first requested an up-or-down vote, but I was denied. Then, I forced a vote to open up the legislative process and remove a procedural mechanism blocking my amendment to the DHS funding legislation, rather than being forced to vote on a bill without an opportunity to amend it. Thirty-three of my colleagues voted with me in support of an open and fair legislative process, but this was not enough to overcome the opposition.
Although the amendment didn't have enough support to pass the Senate, the fight to forestall implementation of President Obama's executive amnesty is not over. The DHS funding bill has been sent to the House of Representatives, giving Congress another chance to stand up for the American people and the rule of law, instead of acquiescing to the president's lawless demands.
Can hardly notice the difference between a Reid led Senate and a McConnell led Senate. We need more representatives like you. Thank you Senator Lee!
Almost all the people in this thread have severe brain damage--you have already forgotten 8 miserable years under Reid. McConnell is operating much differently--even Lee would be the first to tell you that. There have been more votes, there will be a budget, and McConnell got the Keystone pipeline bill passed. NONE of this happened under Reid. McConnell's big problem is that The (Incompetent) One holds a veto which means McConnell has to find around a dozen Dems willing to vote against Obama's position--easier said than done.
(Reason). Whose a bigger supporter of liberty?" would make for a great election year debate between Rand Paul and Gary Johnson.
Gary Johnson is irrelevant; he's been out of public office for over a decade, and I seem to recall he couldn't pick up statistically significant support against Ron Paul in the early GOP 2012 race. And notice how he demagogues against the GOP, although he was a Republican himself until he figured out in 2012 the only way anyone would vote for him was on an LP ticket, and Ron Paul returned to the GOP after losing his 1988 LP bid. And opinions among libertarians can differ on topics like abortion and "gay marriage"; for example, the idea of using the federal courts to impose "gay marriage" on socially conservative states (and the concept of voluntary association) is, at best, paradoxical. I myself have had occasional differences of opinion with Rand Paul and Justin Amash, but have no problem unconditionally supporting them both. If Rand Paul and Gary Johnson are on the same ballot, this guy goes for Rand.
I haven't read all the comments but I'm relieved not to see the usual flood of Ron Paulists bashing Rand for his alleged ideological heresies. Rand simply has a different style, but he has done more than anyone to bring liberty issues front and center in the national debate.
Guest Post Comment: GOP Men Social Darwinians, Women Social Conservatives
Wow, this is an enigmatic post which is partially tongue in cheek. Now Herbert Spencer in fact was proto-libertarian and did coin the term 'survival of the fittest' but his theory predated Darwin's theory of natural selection and leftist historian Hofstadter's characterization (yes, I had to read his Social Darwinism work in college) is a historical smear of Spencer, who explicitly wrote extensively about voluntary human benevolence. Granted, he did believe in competition in the market, but he also believed in benevolence mitigating the consequences. One should also note that he believed in the evolution of a militant society to an industrial society: he opposed imperialism and the use of force to subjugate individual rights.
The reason why I'm sensitive about this smear of Spencer is because The (Intellectually Pretentious) One has used Hofstadter's straw man caricature in multiple soundbite speeches in attacking the pro-liberty movement. I would prefer not to see other pro-liberty sources seemingly validating a smear against one of the intellectual giants of the liberty movement. Even if it is tongue-in-cheek, others probably read your discussion at face value.
There are several good articles on the social darwinism smear, e.g., http://mises.org/library/herbert-spencer-social-darwinist-or-libertarian-prophet
Choose Life
Um... Lose the Che Guevara t-shirt (4:21); he's not what you think he is.
Political Cartoon
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| Courtesy of Dana Summers via Townhall |
James Taylor, "That's Why I'm Here"
