Analytics

Friday, August 31, 2018

Post #3789 M: Is College Worth It Today?;

Quote of the Day

The civilized world represents the victory of persuasion over force.
Plato  

Well, the Blog Statistics (Google-Induced?) Are Disturbing

If you go back to the start of the year, my individual posts were averaging over 20 views a day. That is not my daily impression rate, because I usually get impressions on multiple posts per day. Roughly over the history of blog statistics, which seemed to start in 2010, I've probably averaged over 1500 hits a month. Over the past month, I'm now showing just over 900 hits; over the past day, statistics show just 4 US hits (and 9 European ones), and my last miscellany post collected just 6 views (so far), which may be a multi-year low.

I don't know if Google is manipulating access to the blog (e.g., burying my results in search results or even direct measures). I really haven't been a critic of Google, beyond a couple of points: the firing of a Google engineer for criticizing certain progressive policies and its willingness to work with the censoring Chinese government. I was one of the earliest Gmail users. But to be frank, I've defended Google's rights as a private company, I am not a Republican or a Trumpkin (which they are reportedly targeting).

For all I know, maybe it's just that I've somehow turned off my readers. I don't really see my numbers going down in a similar fashion on Twitter, although Twitter has slapped me twice over the year for unspecified reasons (I suspect a couple of Tweets sniped at over-the-top "progressives"). By the way, sometimes the reply tweets, like a recent Palin cultist who sniped at McCain over recent comments over regretting not going with his early favorite, Joe Lieberman, will often draw 60-100 or more impressions. The point is that I'm an equal opportunity critic; I've even recently criticized a fellow libertarian. Facebook is a more difficult read. I periodically comment on libertarian posts and don't usually go back and check on likes, etc. Sometimes Facebook will notify likes, other times not. I remember going back, e.g., I wanted to republish a comment for the blog and found something like 32 people liked the comment. I mostly restrict my friends to relatives

Will I change my blog portal? Well, as I've mentioned before, I don't write for the numbers. Changing portals won't help any issues I have with, say, the Google search engine. I think it's a shame. My little blog is interesting and different. My views may be an acquired taste, and almost everyone will find something to disagree with.

Just a Passing Comment on the Aretha Franklin Memorial Service

I did not watch the service on my flex day off. I have a well-documented distaste for politicization of or by entertainment figures and really had other things to do than watch some overly long political-musical program. (As far as I'm concerned, Aretha had better pipes than any guest performer.)

I did look at Twitter during the event though. Faith Hill apparently opened the entertainment, and I have to confess that was a counter-intuitive choice--maybe it was a way for country-pop to pay a tribute to someone from another musical genre. What was sad were all the negative, insulting tweets thrown at Faith, many of racially motivated like (slightly paraphrased)  "Fantasia should be allowed to sing twice to make up for that white woman, Faith Hill". I think Faith Hill showing up to sing in tribute to the Queen of Soul was R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

RIP, John McCain

Notice the last person to approach was John's beloved mother. So sad when a parent survives her child's death.



FEECast: Is College Worth It?




Choose Life: Choose Family: The Beauty of Adoption





Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Ken Catalino via Townhall


Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Madonna, "Hanky Panky".

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Post #3788: Rant of the Day: Presidents and Credit For the Economy

Regular readers may realize that there are regular sources for many of the video clips I feature on my miscellany posts: John Stossel, Johan Norberg, FEE, Reason.com, the Acton Institute, not to mention regular samples from Ron Paul and Matt Kibbe.  I'm not afraid to feature a debate or people with opposing views. (I sometimes write an introduction to the clip emphasizing certain points in the clip.)

Youtube had teased me with a recommendation of a clip about some libertarian guy schooling this articulate but sadly deluded young black male "Democratic Socialist" who is picketing for a hike to the minimum wage (I think in Pennsylvania). The white male libertarian somehow starts talking about inflation and, like any good Austrian School of Economics troll, starts talking about the Fed (mentioning how the government debased silver coins around 1964, how much silver sells for today, and the black guy starts talking about indexing the minimum wage for inflation. I thought, "Oh my God, this discussion is so clueless on both sides that if I clip it into the blog, I'll have to write a long commentary prelude.

Whereas it is true in some sectors where government has had counterproductive intervention, like colleges and healthcare we have had huge inflation. But for the most part, across the economy the Fed doesn't see inflation rising rising rates (beyond their slow return of rates to "normalcy"), even as Trumpkins like Hannity ludicrously promote this is the hottest domestic economy in 50 years. What they don't tell you, for instance, is that Obama's second quarter in 2014 reached 5.1% growth (which wasn't enough to reach 3% for the full year). Moreover, we're likely to see a slide in the current quarter. Just citing one example reason, the Chinese announced a retaliatory tariff hike on soybeans, so domestic farmers did everything they could to push sales into last quarter from this quarter. Trump's unnecessary, counterproductive tariffs have mucked up the statistics, and no doubt Democrats will politically exploit any drop-offs in September's numbers.

Going back to this video, the minimum wage is fundamentally unjust. For example, as an IT professional with experience, degrees and professional certifications, I earn significantly more than minimum wage. But if I found myself laid off with other DBAs in a recession, I can offer to cut my compensation demand to make myself more acceptable to employers, so long as it is above minimum-wage. People who work at lower-level/paying jobs don't have that ability: the government arbitrarily says their right to make a deal is "illegal".

A business can't arbitrarily change its prices. The law of supply and demand says that you have fewer customers at higher prices. If and when you increase wages, your costs go up, and many (particularly small) business operate at razor thin margins. It's not a matter whether an employer bases compensation based on what he considers is "fair". Pay is based on a market and contribution your labor brings to the marketplace. Take mopping floors, something I did on my first college job. Needless to say, a high school valedictorian really felt overqualified to mop floors at 6 AM. Mopping requires little training, and I would be one of a huge number of potential moppers. What would justify an employer doubling my wages as a mopper? Maybe I can mop twice the number of floors in the same amount of time so he doesn't have to hire a new mopper.

But suppose the government tries to buy my vote, voting to double my wages without an increase in productivity. He really can't afford it. Maybe he buys some sort of mopping iRobot who won't bitch about mopping floors on an empty stomach at 6 AM. Maybe he reduces my hours. Maybe his business goes under, and I can't find a replacement mopping job.

Going back to the debate (and the Mises Institute guy starts talking about Bitcoin as a decentralized alternative to the currency-manipulating Fed),  the black guy proves that he stayed awake in history class when they talked about the greenbackers, i.e., inflation basically making loans easier to pay off. Of course, that's a double-edged sword because inflation is a cruel de facto regressive tax on the poor (just ask the people living in Venezuela and Argentina, among other places).

You could talk about strong dollar policies (including the central bank raising rates, the federal government balancing its budget and paying down its debt, engaging in long-overdue entitlement reforms, etc.), open-trade policies, which allow competition for the lower-income dollar, etc. What you will find that government is not the friend of the poor. For example, rent control and strict zoning laws discourage the free market's ability to meet the need for affordable housing

So what does have to do with cheesy promotions of Trump's economic policies? Well, regulation reform is important, but to be honest, there's not a lot Trump can due without sweeping federal legislative reforms. We're talking about a nearly $2T choke hold on the economy.

Tax reform is a step forward (especially its approach to territorial tax vs. worldwide tax system), but it's temporary (e.g., individual taxpayer cuts), in part due to budget reconciliation rules to avoid a filibuster by Senate Democrats.

Trump has done nothing about huge, ongoing deficits; he has done nothing to reform Medicare and social security, both of whose reserves will be exhausted in 15 years (i.e., Congress will need to cover out of its operational funds or cut benefits), his trade wars are quixotic, counterproductive and distorting (e.g., soybean sales). Trump's thuggish threats to Harley-Davidson exploring international expansion in the wake of retaliatory tariffs are morally corrupt and unacceptable; his attempts to subsidize farmers hurt by retaliatory tariffs against his own unprovoked tariffs are self-serving and immoral (I reject a welfare state for farmers).

I do think Presidential actions have an impact on an economy, but they are mostly indirect  and even then the Congress makes laws or ratifies treaties. Trump's version of Obama's pen-and-phone autocracy, an expansion of the imperial Presidency, his opposition to open trade and immigration policies--are all bad for the US economy. We can no longer afford an 800-base empire overseas. A modest uptick in the economy is an improvement over Obama's disastrous policies, but it may not be sustainable. The 4.2% QUARTERLY increase may be the high water mark of the Trump Presidency.
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Thursday, August 30, 2018

Post #3787 M: Ban Hate Speech? NO; Property Rights Would Save the Amazon

Quote of the Day
When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: 
“If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.”
It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, 
I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself:
“If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” 
And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, 
I know I need to change something. 
Remembering that I’ll be dead soon 
is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. 
Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — 
these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. 
Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid 
the trap of thinking you have something to lose. 
You are already naked. 
There is no reason not to follow your heart.
Steve Jobs 

Should We Ban Hate Speech? NO!



Property Rights, Not Statism, Will Save the Amazon




Molyneux Exposes Garbage Statistics On Ideological Claims of European Genocide of Native Americans



Choose Life: Choose Adoption










Political Cartoon


Courtesy of AF Branco via Townhall


Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Madonna, "Vogue". Her first #1 of the 90's.




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Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Post #3786 M: The Myth of Swedish Socialism; Trump Needs to STOP Saudi Attacks on Yemen

Quote of the Day

A good tale is none the worse for being twice told.
French Proverb  

DEAD WRONG: Socialist Sweden



It's Time For Affirmative Action To End




Ron Paul On Immoral US Support of Saudi Aggression in Yemen




Choose Life: Big Sister to Mixed (Brother and Sister) Twins








Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Henry Payne via Townhall


Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Madonna, "Keep It Together". Madonna starts the 1990's with a new string of Top 10 hits.

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Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Post #3785 M: The Virtue of Price Gouging

Quote of the Day

There is nothing noble in being superior to some other man. 
The true nobility is in being superior to your previous self.
Hindu proverb 

Stossel and Students Weigh In on Price Gouging




Peterson On Zuckerberg and Private Sector Censorship

Peterson is fairly spot on here. Yeah, deplatforming Alex Jones was a bad idea--it just feeds the conspiracy theorists.



Revisiting the Crusades




Choose Life: Big Brother Protection










Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Bob Gorrell via Townhall

Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists


Madonna, "Oh, Father". This is one of her more obscure hits (and maybe only Madonna could have hit the Top 20 with it). There are a few biographical certainties: references to her Franco-American mother who died of breast cancer young (at 30, when Madonna was  5), a hard-headed, stern, autocratic father, and maybe a blurring a line between her father and the Church, where one's parish priest is usually addressed as "Father". (I was reminded about this at Uncle Roger's funeral as Mom and Uncle's closest cousin still refers to him as "Father Roger".) (My own nickname at work is "Dr. Ron".) I know that my own maternal grandfather ran a very authoritarian home, e.g., there was no talking in the house during national newscasts. Most notoriously, my folks got married on a holiday because it was one of the few days that his grocery store was closed, and he might not go to his only daughter's wedding otherwise; he wasn't about to close his store on a Saturday, one of his busiest days. There are some suggestions that film star/once-husband Sean Penn, who reminded her of her father, is also symbolically represented. I gather from her mother's lips sewn shut that she had put up with her authoritarian husband's behavior, but Madonna won't put up with it in her own life.

I gather from the video young Madonna got caught by her father playing with her late mother's jewelry, and he did not respond well to how she was trying to cope with her grief. It's difficult for me to put myself in that place (I've never had a daughter), but I was my young nieces' favorite relative and couldn't bear to hear them cry. I'm fairly sure I would have handled things differently; I'm not standing in judgment of her Dad, but Madonna has her own memories, and I'm sorry that she experienced that as a heartbroken young girl.

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Monday, August 27, 2018

Post #3784 M: Project Jumpstart; Nowrasteh On the Truth About Immigration

Quote of the Day

People are more easily led than driven.
David Harold Fink  

Project Jumpstart




Nowrasteh On the Truth About Immigration




Social Media Digest













[from a libertarian coolish response to McCain's passing]

This is rubbish. Woods is particularly disgusting in his disingenuous hostility to anyone who ran against St. Ron Paul for President (I personally slapped back at him when he took an unnecessary shot at Romney on St. Ron's birthday). In fact, McCain had opposed Reagan's involvement in Lebanon and opposed Clinton's interventions in Somalia, Haiti, and Yugoslavia. He opposed Bush's "stay the course" policy in Iraq (2004). It is true that he was not laissez-faire in foreign policy, but clearly his views were more nuanced than most people assume. Not to mention he clearly opposed the use of torture and was more moderate on economic sanctions, a leading cause of war.

 Why has McCain become the media and Dem's favorite Republican, which seemed impossible 10 years ago when Dems were comparing him to Hitler? The fact that the despised Trump has personally attacked him, belittling him for allowing himself to be captured during the Vietnam War, is one reason. He was part of the bipartisan Gang of 14. He had reached across the aisle with Feingold, Lieberman, Kerry, Kennedy, Hillary Clinton and others. He personally rebuked supporters during the 2008 campaign for dishonorable attacks on Obama at rallies. He was a prominent advocate for immigration reform. He cast a number of unpopular votes, including one on ObamaCare repeal.

 This is not to say I've agreed very much with his politics over the past decade. I much prefer Jeff Flake, his retiring colleague. But I don't regret voting for him as President and 2 years ago as an Arizona resident (no longer a nominal registered Republican since I left the Democrats as a young professor). I have little doubt that unlike Obama, who won the Nobel Peace prize before radically expanding undeclared drone wars and approving kill lists, McCain understood the hell of war better than Clinton, Bush 43, Obama, and Trump.

The Mother-Child Reunion



Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Robert Ariail via Townhall


Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Madonna, "Cherish"

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Sunday, August 26, 2018

Post #3783 M: South Africa's Legalized Plunder of Farmland; Censorship Over Abortion

Quote of the Day

When you arise in the morning, 
think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive
 - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.
Marcus Aurelius  

Kibbe On Millennials Infatuation With "Socialism"




Kibbe On South Africa's Legalized Plunder of Privately-Held Farmland




The Attempted Leftist Censorship of Men On the Issue of Abortion




Carpool Karaoke

I will say I've never seen a woman move in a car like Madonna (including a twerk and I can't reach the roof with my leg; I don't think she was wearing a seat belt). She actually has a good sense of humor that comes through here. I haven't covered the carpool karaoke segments that much (I think just McCartney and Elton John). I'm not sure we would like each other if we met, although we have one thing in common--being born to Franco-American women: Mom, however, would not approve of me dating an excommunicated Catholic. Madonna's politics are not consistent with mine, not to mention she's claimed to have had multiple abortions (never mind "Papa, Don't Preach", which she reprises here). (I don't think Madonna has been excommunicated, although some Church officials have disapproved of things she's done, like the provocative video for "Like a Prayer"--and she made a risque comment in this video over nuns' habits.)




Political Cartoon


Courtesy of AF Branco via Townhall


Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists


Madonna, "Express Yourself". A quick count shows Madonna has had a dozen #1's on the hot 100. It is more impressive when you consider she had a half-dozen other hits just miss at #2. This is one of them.

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Saturday, August 25, 2018

Post #3782 M: In Memoriam: John McCain passes; The Libertarian Divide: Anarchism vs. Minarchism

Quote of the Day

One man with courage makes a majority.

Andrew Jackson  

RIP John McCain

When this blog began in 2008, I was secretly vested in McCain's Presidential candidacy. In the 2000 campaign, I had admired his independent, bipartisan, straight-shooting persona, but I thought Bush's executive performance as Texas governor and bipartisan record had the edge. I soon regretted my decision with Bush's performance in the White House--his doubling the national debt, his unpaid for Medicare drug expansion benefit, failed immigration reform, his naming an unqualified crony to the Supreme Court, his politically naive attempt to reform social security, his abominable performance during the 2008 economic tsunami, etc.

In early 2007 it was clear VP Cheney would not be running, and McCain was an early heavy favorite, but his campaign imploded. Activists did not like his positions on campaign finance and early votes on the Bush tax cuts; McCain backed Bush's new surge policy in Iraq and returned to his populist base, famously flying coach and carrying his own baggage on a shoestring budget. Against his adversaries, most prominently Romney, he prominently noted his recent pro-Bush voting record/ Giuliani had surged to a lead after McCain's collapse, as McCain barely retained single-digit support in the fall, but quickly pinned his hopes on a Florida victory to give his momentum.

McCain's rise from the ashes to capture the nomination is the stuff of legend. But it was destined to fail in the end. It was a change election year, and Bush now had among the lowest approval ratings in recent history. Obama could raise maybe 10 times the money McCain got from public finances. After the economic uncertainty caused by the economic tsunami, McCain was all but finished because the Dems are willing to spend taxpayer money on what social welfare security frightened workers wanted. He had made monumental unforced errors, like nominating an inexperienced first-term Alaska governor as a running mate and suspending his campaign to help pass TARP.

My emerging libertarian views surfaced post-election, particularly in the aftermath of the disastrous Iraq and Afghanistan wars and a string of Obama trillion-dollar deficits really exacerbated my already skeptical views on government competence. McCain had to fight to retain his Senate seat in  2010; he was put on the defensive on unauthorized immigration. His "straight talk" had degenerated into predictable political spin. There were no longer any centrist Democrats to bargain with, and when he cast a deciding vote against repeal of ObamaCare, never mind his hawkish and/or populist views, I had lost whether faith I had left in the man as a politician (most recently, I had taken a shot at a bloated defense bill being named after him), other than an admiration for his integrity and character, his honorable service to the nation, particularly as a POW. My thoughts and prayers for his surviving family members.



The Anarchist/Minarchist Debate

I will likely have more to say on the topic in a future article or book. I think the idea that defense and justice are best served by competition is intuitively obvious, but a key issue is how to reconcile rival claims under natural law, hence my own minarchism.


Social Media Digest














































Choose Life: Daddy-Daughter Communication







Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Michael Ramirez via Townhall


Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Madonna, "Like A Prayer". Hands down, my favorite Madonna song. I've fantasized performing the song fronting a group of monks singing chorus in robes with a Gregorian chant backdrop. Who says I don't have a fertile imagination?

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Friday, August 24, 2018

Post #3781 M: The Destructive Philosophy of Victimhood; The Myth of Scandinavian Socialism

Quote of the Day

The goal of the works of a genius' existence lies only in itself. 

FEECast: Victimhood vs. Self-Help



An Anecdote About the Founder of Michelin




Molyneux on the Myth of Scandinavian Socialism



Choose Life: The Love of Big Siblings






Political Cartoon


Courtesy of AF Franco via Townhall


Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Madonna, "Causing a Commotion"

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Thursday, August 23, 2018

Post #3780 M: Trade Is Win-Win; Ron Paul On Trump's War on Trade

Quote of the Day

Man has to suffer. 
When he has no real afflictions, 
he invents some. 
Jose Marti  

Trade Is Win-Win




Ron Paul Nails It on the Consequences of Trump's War on Trade



Ron Paul Interviews Tom Massie



I Drink Almond MILK! Screw Big Dairy!




Political Cartoon


Courtesy of AF Branco via Townhall


Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Madonna,"Who's That Girl?" Another #1; Madonna had an interesting pattern of alternating #1 hits. This one to me sounds too much like "La Isla Bonita"'s arrangement.

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Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Post #3779 M: DEAD WRONG: Tech Sector on the Decline; Free Market Healthcare

Quote of the Day

Man has to suffer. 
When he has no real afflictions, 
he invents some.
Jose Marti  

DEAD WRONG: Measures of GDP Focusing on Cost vs Value


The War on Outside Food Trucks at Carolina Beach



How the Fascists Stole the Term "Liberal" From Contemporary Libertarian




Free Market Healthcare




Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Tom Stiglich via Townhall


Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Madonna, "La Isla Bonita". It's odd how I associate certain songs with certain places. Whenever I hear this song, it takes me back to working late night at UWM on a research paper.

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Post #3778: Rant of the Day: Enough Already of These Trump Pep Rallies!

The way that I've griped about Fox News Channel lately, you might think that I have it on all the time. No. It's more like like Springsteen sang: "57 channels and nothing on". It's not like I'm going to watch Hallmark's umpteenth rerun of "Golden Girls" episodes. Ion often has episode-a-thons like tonight's old "Law and Order" shows. I never cared much for Gunsmoke, but maybe if someone ran old Bonanza or Lone Ranger shows or some comedy series like one of Bob Newhart's shows or the "Big Bang Theory" or some sort of "Dallas" retrospective. But most of all, I have little interest in FNC nightly fare in the prime time fare of Hannity, Carlson, or Ingraham. I don't think that Fox will ever resurrect RedEye, but it seems that occasionally FNC will break the tedium of primetime reruns with its flavor of "fresh news. I've never liked many of the contrived interview segments, which often skew against immigration, e.g., might feature a prominent family survivor of rare immigrant violence and some Trumpkin Republican Congressman.

At least, Carlson is modestly tolerable, having been a conservative debate stand-in on another, more mainstream network earlier in his career.  So I tuned in, only to find him cede coverage to the latest Trump pep rally, this one based in West Virginia.

I knew about FNC's doting coverage of Trump, even covering his airplane arrivals during the 2016 campaign. I do know prior Presidents did stump for their party during campaigns, but I don't recall Clinton, Bush or Obama holding pep rallies. (Maybe they did and I just never realized it. I do recall that Obama was seriously overexposed during his early Presidency, giving hundreds of speeches, not to mention his administration was trying to monopolize media access.)

I'm not going to do one of those point-by-point refutations of Trump's speech. it would be boring, repetitious and almost unfair. Trump's speeches are often meandering, narcissistic ramblings. Even his gimmicks are routine and predictable. Take his rubbish assertion about "winning". In one spot (look it up; find a transcript) he poses the GOP Senate candidate he's supporting to take incumbent Manchin's seat (which I think is at best a longshot)  as coming to him and saying (paraphraed), "Trump, West Virginians are begging to stop all the winning you're doing; they just can't cope with it." And Trump says he'll respond by pushing back, refusing to stop winning. PLEASE. There is no "winning" under Trump. The fact that we are paying lip service is like playing on his home court where he hopes to control the conversation by forcing his opponents to address his inane talking points vs. addressing real issues.

He disingenuously ties immigration to violent crime--not a hint that the dysfunctional, failed war on drugs creating sky-high profits luring international criminals. He's "smarter" than everyone else; he's got the "best education".  He lectures on how Congressional Republicans weren't selling tax reform until he told them to promote it as a "tax cut" package. He basically caricatures West Virginia as little more than a coal economy (I never met a single miner in the year-plus I lived in WV), politically attacked by the Obama Administration. Whereas there is no doubt Obama's green energy policies didn't help coal producers, the real impact had more to do with much cheaper natural gas (obtained via fracking), a substitute for coal. By some statistics, natural gas was up to a third cheaper to deploy. The lower carbon emissions were an environmental bonus.

I don't buy Trump's playing the victim card over largely self-inflicted wounds like contradicting Rosenstein's rationale for terminating FBI director Comey. He's the guy who hired Manafort and Cohen. His calling the press the "enemy of the people" is unconscionable. Most people would get turned off by endless bragging and self-promotion. He promises to spend much of the time backing the GOP in the upcoming mid-term elections, but just to give an example, his endorsed fellow billionaire Friess lost in deep red Wyoming. It's highly possible the House will revert to Democrat control, and the GOP may actually make gains in the Senate. And I predict that Trump will claim credit for any gains and blame the GOP for any losses claiming they didn't nominate enough Trumpkins. Quite frankly, I'm bored. But, and I'm reluctant to make this point, the Democrats taking power may actually work to help Trump's chances at reelection.
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Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Post #3777 M: Freedom in the 50 States: Why Vermont Sucks; Bernie Sanders is the King of Economic Illiteracy

Quote of the Day

Youth and skill are no match for experience and treachery.

Freedom in the 50 States



Bernie Sanders: Socialist Propagandist



Turkey, Trade and Prosperity



Choose Life: Loving Baby Sister





Political Cartoon


Courtesy of Steve Kelley via Townhall

Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalist


Madonna, "Open Your Heart". Her fifth #1.

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Monday, August 20, 2018

Post #3776 M: Hannan On Brexit; The Exodus From Big Government California

Quote of the Day

Promise yourself to be strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. 
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. 
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them. 
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. 
To think only of the best, to work only for the best. 
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. 
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. 
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile. 
To give so much to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. 
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear 
  and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
Millionaire Eagles  

Hannan on Brexit




The Exodus From Big Government California


Trump vs. Immigration Justice




Pope Francis vs. the Free Market




Political Cartoon

Courtesy of AF Branco via Townhall

Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Madonna, "True Blue".The title track of an album with 5 Top 5 hits, including 3 #1's, a de facto greatest hits album. At the time I was still a college student on a budget and mostly bought hit compilations. Michael Jackson and Madonna had introduced albums that went beyond the hopeful 3 or 4 hits. Later, when I bought Madonna's first hit compilation, I remember looking for this hit, one of my favorites (probably my top 2 favorite Madonna hits are "Like a Prayer" and "Frozen" (upcoming selections)), which has a vintage feel and innocence about it, and not finding it, a disappointment.

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Sunday, August 19, 2018

Post #3775 M: The Scooter Revolution;

Quote of the Day

One person with a belief is equal to a force of ninety-nine with only interests.
John Stuart Mill  

FEECast On the Scooter Revolution



Choose Life: A Man With a Heart of Gold




Social Media Digest















Scripted Media




Political Cartoon


Courtesy of the original artist via FB

Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Madonna, "Papa, Don't Preach". Her second straight #1.

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