A Look At The 2000's

Politically, I have to agree with Reason. Worst decade ever. At the end of it I feel a sense of dread, not hopefulness as one might expect. On other fronts, the decade wasn't the worst for me and mine. Our family has grown and prospered and, despite an economy ravaged by politicians, banksters and others of that ilk. I'm not likely to whip out a crystal ball and prognosticate where the next decade is concerned, but it doesn't look like it's going to shape up to be much better. The political scenery is unlikely to change much and the economy isn't getting better, as the politicians are trying to make us believe. Shoot the commercial real estate debacle hasn't even started to unwind yet. As for the seemingly endless and futile wars, they're going to be continuing for many years. That's how government maintains their health. Those conflicts will still be being waged when our children are of an age to be part of that continuing mess. Whatever the future portends we'll do as we always do around here. Hold on tight and see where the ride takes us.

Happy Solstice

Well, the shortest day of the year is here and days will start to get longer again. Today is the original New Years day and let's hope it starts off well and better than the previous year. Unfortunately for all of us there are still politicians in D.C. right now and they're working overtime to see to it that we get what we truly deserve (in their minds) this holiday season. Frankly, I could do without a gift from them this year. What I've received from my family was much better than anything these evil elves could craft.
Here's to a new and brighter year. May we all make it through unscathed and find renewed freedom on the far side.

Happy Bill Of Rights Day

(I'm going to rerun something I've already written on this subject. I don't think I can say it any better in a 2nd go 'round. Despite the recent regime change, not much has changed. Enjoy. Michael)

That time of year has rolled around once again. Today finds us looking at another Bill of Rights Day. This is a day which should be celebrated, but it won't be. It's a day when we should reflect on our individual liberties, but most will pay it no mind. Only a few of us out here in the aether of the blogosphere will even pay it homage, by mentioning it in a post or raising a glass to it.

It's rather difficult for most to work up the enthusiasm for a celebration of the document which theoretically reins in the powers of the government where our liberties are concerned. This grand old document has seen constant abuse and degradation at the hands of politicians, (both large and small), as well as the robed denizens of the courts. It's a wonder that anyone even deigns to mention it any more. Oh, sure. The press, that chosen class who strive daily in their task to tell us what we should think of certain issues, will occasionally mention their First Amendment Rights and the numerous violations of said right, but then they'll just turn around and call for the one of the other Enumerated Rights to be violated. All in the best interest of their readers, of course. Don't even get them started on the 2nd Amendment, unless you want to see wet panties and hanky wringing.

Today should be celebrated with great fanfare, fireworks and expressions of the very liberties enshrined in the venerable old document. Tonight the talking heads will appear on televisions across the nation and speak of many things. Their newly elected saviour, the economy, redistribution of wealth and myriad other topics. Nary a one will even mention that today is Bill of Rights Day. Well, I guess it's up to the rest of us to haul the weight. We'll mention it. Again and again. Until people are tired of it. Perhaps we'll mention Bill of Rights Enforcement and sound the call, now and again for the highest law of the land to be upheld without doubt or obfuscation, on a daily basis. Shoot, maybe they'd even deign to teach it in the government schools again.

Regardless of all of that, today is a day when we can take a few moments, at least, and honour the memory of those Founders who called for a Bill of Rights and then drafted it. To pay homage to the document itself and the principles it holds forth and to, once again, hold onto it dearly and do our best to see that it is upheld as it was intended to be upheld. As an inviolable shield betwixt the leviathan of government and ourselves. The BoR is not a limit on our Rights, regardless of what the politicians and their judges would have us believe.

Let us today ignore the petty tyrants and their bastard understandings of the truths of the Bill of Rights and hold our own celebrations, private or public. Let us refuse to be cowed by diffidence, ennui and the powers that be and stand proudly. Let us take a few moments of our day and re-read that Bill, refresh our current memory and validate that which we hold to be true. That we are sovereign individuals and we all possess Rights enumerated or not. Let us take a moment to remember that government has no Rights. Only the individual. And, regardless of what you may be told they may not be taken from you. You may only surrender them. Take a moment to reaffirm that you shall never surrender those Rights and will strive to enforce them when, where and how you wish. And, please take a few minutes and read it to your children. They need it just as much as we do, if not more.

Happy Bill of Rights Day.

Update: Needless to say, there are others out there writing on the subject, none quite so well as Mr. Vin Suprynowicz. Take a few minutes and read his writing on the subject. He does a great job, on this as well as many other subjects.

Technorati Tags:
Bill of Rights Day, Bill of Rights, Libertarian, Liberty

The Anniversary Of A Return To Sanity

Today marks the 76th anniversary of the ratification of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution of these United States. On this day in 1933 the U.S. returned to sanity and eased the governments grip on the citizenry. Sadly, it did not release its grip and many of the organisations that were created to wage the governments war on people still exist in one form or another today. They still wage a silent war on alcohol via taxation and regulation and use various agencies to enforce their diktats.
We still have unConstitutional prohibition on many other substances, some of which are far less harmful and more useful than alcohol. The new prohibitions have the same effect that the old Constitutional one did. They increase crime, corruption, the powers of the state and decrease liberty and personal freedom. Perhaps, the country still needs another dose of therapy to complete the process. Perhaps government paternalism could finally be laid to rest. Today would be a great day to start that process. Unfortunately, we aren't likely to see that anytime soon. Ah, well. A guy's got to have a dream to aspire to.
Happy 21st Amendment Day!

Whiskey In The Jar

Suitable for today's posting. A little something from Thin Lizzy.

The Great Thanksgiving Hoax

As children in school most of us were taught the story of the pilgrims of Plymouth and their bounteous harvest after a period of tough times. This story, like so many we were taught was a fictional account. William Bradford, the colonies governor tells a different story in his "History Of Plymouth Plantation". It's much more inspirational than the fictional tale. Go and enjoy it, courtesy of Mises.org.

Each year at this time school children all over America are taught the official Thanksgiving story, and newspapers, radio, TV, and magazines devote vast amounts of time and space to it. It is all very colorful and fascinating.

It is also very deceiving. This official story is nothing like what really happened. It is a fairy tale, a whitewashed and sanitized collection of half-truths which divert attention away from Thanksgiving's real meaning.

The official story has the pilgrims boarding the Mayflower, coming to America and establishing the Plymouth colony in the winter of 1620-21. This first winter is hard, and half the colonists die. But the survivors are hard working and tenacious, and they learn new farming techniques from the Indians. The harvest of 1621 is bountiful. The Pilgrims hold a celebration, and give thanks to God. They are grateful for the wonderful new abundant land He has given them.

The official story then has the Pilgrims living more or less happily ever after, each year repeating the first Thanksgiving. Other early colonies also have hard times at first, but they soon prosper and adopt the annual tradition of giving thanks for this prosperous new land called America.

The problem with this official story is that the harvest of 1621 was not bountiful, nor were the colonists hardworking or tenacious. 1621 was a famine year and many of the colonists were lazy thieves.

Get thee hence and peruse the rest. And have a happy Thanksgiving, too!

Technorati Tags
Thanksgiving, libertarian

A Country Of Illiterates

I'm often left wondering what's wrong in this country. Why do people think the way they do. Act the way they do and, especially vote the way they do. Vin Suprynowicz, noted libertarian, author and editor at the Las Vegas Review Journal provides me with some answers to my questions. In past editorials he has taken teachers, their unions and the American educational system to task for their obvious failures. His detractors amongst the teaching elite, and their supporters are quick to whine and attempt to deflect blame away from themselves. It's difficult to admit when you're wrong. Even harder to admit that you have been responsible for damaging untold numbers of children over the years, too.

"Abundant data exist from states like Connecticut and Massachusetts to show that by 1840 the incidence of complex literacy in the United States was between 93 and 100 percent wherever such a thing mattered. According to the Connecticut census of 1840, only one citizen out of every 579 was illiterate, and you probably don't want to know, not really, what people in those days considered literate; it's too embarrassing. ...

"By 1940, the literacy figure for all states stood at 96 percent for whites, 80 percent for blacks. Notice for all the disadvantages blacks labored under, four of five were still literate. Six decades later, at the end of the 20th century, the National Adult Literacy Survey and the National Assessment of Educational Progress say 40 percent of blacks and 17 percent of whites can't read at all. Put another way, black illiteracy doubled, and white illiteracy quadrupled."

It's hard to argue with things like that, though people have tried to do so. The American "educational system" is broken and agenda driven and may not be able to be fixed at all. I live in a town that has a "good" educational system and even so I have noticed that there are teachers in it who can't spell, punctuate or create a grammatically correct sentence or paragraph. My sons third grade teacher was just such a one. She was, by any standard an example of a teacher who should not be allowed to "teach". Radical change is going to be necessary and it must come sooner rather than later if we are to avoid the inevitable slide into irrelevance as a first world nation.

Those currently in power have no intention, or interest in ever changing things. They are vested in the current system and applaud it's further degradation. It's much easier to rule the illiterate. They are at the mercy of those who can read and think and are much more likely to believe the words of pundits and populists. Just look at the last elections results. It also bodes ill for the literate, as well. When you're surrounded by those who can no longer think for themselves your lives and fortunes are also at risk. Easily manipulatable masses can be made to accept anything by the master manipulators who run politics in this country. We're losing generations of people to the current system and if we don't make changes, (other than throwing piles of wasted tax dollars at it) then we will be facing the direst of consequences, a populace that has lost the ability to think and reason.

The time is now. Not tomorrow.

Technorati Tags
Education, Libertarian, Politics, Illiteracy

Take A Gun To School

.38 Special asks the right questions of teachers.

The Shape Of Things To Come III

With the inevitable advent of progressive inspired "health care" legislation in our near future, we can get a glimpse at what is headed our way. The Wall Street Journal takes a look at Washington States health rationing panel and what it has done to people who are using their government inspired "health care" scheme. It's certainly not a pretty sight, but it is what's likely to be foisted on the people who choose to be part of the government plans or those forced into it. I pity those poor folks.

In other words, the Medicare commission would come to function much like the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, which rations care in England. Or a similar Washington state board created in 2003 to control costs. Its handiwork isn't pretty.

The Washington commission, called the Health Technology Assessment, is manned by 11 bureaucrats, including a chiropractor and a "naturopath" who focuses on alternative, er, remedies like herbs and massage therapy. They consider the clinical effectiveness but above all the cost of medical procedures and technologies. If they decide something isn't worth the money, then Olympia won't cover it for some 750,000 Medicaid patients, public employees and prisoners.

So far, the commission has banned knee arthroscopy for osteoarthritis, discography for chronic back pain, and implantable infusion pumps for pain not related to cancer. This year, it is targeting such frivolous luxuries as knee replacements, spinal cord stimulation, a specialized autism therapy and MRIs of the abdomen, pelvis or breasts for cancer. It will also rule on routine ultrasounds for pregnancy, which have a "high" efficacy but also a "high" cost.

Currently, the commission is pushing through the most restrictive payment policy in the nation for drug-eluting cardiac stents—simply because bare metal stents are cheaper, even as they result in worse outcomes. If a patient is wheeled into the operating room with chest pains in an emergency, doctors will first have to determine if he's covered by a state plan, then the diameter of his blood vessels and his diabetic condition to decide on the appropriate stent. If they don't, Washington will not reimburse them for "inappropriate care."

If Democrats impose such a commission nationwide, it would constitute a radical change in U.S. health care. The reason that physician discretion—not Washington's cost-minded judgments—is at the core of medicine is that usually there are no "right" answers. The data from large clinical trials produce generic conclusions that rarely apply to individual patients, who have vastly different biologies, response rates to treatments, and often multiple conditions. A breakthrough drug like Herceptin, which is designed for a certain genetic subset of breast-cancer patients, might well be ruled out under such a standardized approach.

It's appalling that so many people will be forced to suffer under such a plan, but it is almost inevitable that this will be the case. The politicians in DC are determined to do something to us, where insurance and "health care" are concerned. Even if it kills us.

Punk And Hockey

What more could you ask for? This one's for Mike.

Happy Birthday, Internet!

It's hard to believe but 40 years ago today the internet was born. Forty years ago there weren't even any personal computers, now we carry them around in our pockets. The internet has changed the way we do everything, from communicating with each other to ordering a pizza. It has invaded almost every facet of our lives unlike any technology I can think of. When we need the most minuscule bits of information we just hop on our computers and, more often than not that information is retrieved in seconds. This post, and the article that reminded me of this significant day were brought to me via that internet. Amazing, that in my lifetime such a thing has occurred.

It's stretched our boundaries and made our "communities" bigger than they otherwise would be. It's certainly enhanced the freedom movement and brought liberty to many a persons thoughts and actions. The internet has brought diverse communities across the globe together. Warned us and informed us of hope, tragedy, tyranny and freedom. Here's hoping that the next 40 do even more to enhance our lives and promote freedom and liberty. Let the next revolution begin!

Happy Birthday, Internet!

Technorati Tags
Libertarian, Internet, Birthday

Secret Messages, Indeed.

From dial up to broadband. From wires on poles to satellite up links the internet sure has come a long way in 40 years.


Time for a party!

Technorati Tags
Electric Light Orchestra, Internet

Climate Change? Whatever.

With the upcoming climate meeting in Copenhagen, (where we'll likely be sold out) there's all sorts of propaganda out there. I rather like this remix of a British commercial. It seems to sum up the true spirit behind the movement. (Not necessarily safe for work).



Technorati Tags:
Climate Change, Al Gore, Libertarian

Hat Tip to The Flea

Continuing A Canadian Trend

I have a thing for Canadian bands, I guess. Triumph is one of them. I saw them in concert many years ago and was really impressed with them. As rock bands go they definitely had what it took to get a crowd going. Here's hoping they get things back together one of these days. I'd like to see them again.



Triumph, Canadian Bands

Taxing Our Hearts And Valves

Because they wouldn't play ball with him Obama plans to tax manufacturing jobs out of existence in Indiana. At least those manufacturers who make medical devices. That's some hope and change, there. Chicago politics at its best. Hope the people of Indiana remember this come 2012. Especially those folks who need prosthetics of one sort or another. From The Hill comes this bit of news concerning the people who refused to play ball with the Capo di Tutti Capo now in the White House.

The more the fiscal details of the healthcare bills emerge, the more appalling they seem. The Senate Finance Committee bill includes a broad provision taxing all manner of medical devices. This tax includes such frivolous luxuries as pacemakers, stents, artificial heart valves, defibrillators, automated wheelchairs, mechanized artificial limbs, replacement hips and knees, surgical gurneys, laparoscopic equipment and the like.

President Obama is planning to reduce the cost of medical care by taxing it!


The most recent Gallup Poll reflected that 49 percent of respondents said they believed that the ObamaCare plan will increase their healthcare costs. Only about 20 percent said it would lower them. It is taxes like these that substantiate this kind of concern.

The origins of this new medical device tax are troubling as well.

The medical device industry had its day at the White House, as did the insurance industry, the drug makers, the nurses and the doctors. In turn, each group heard the White House request that it come up with voluntary cuts in its healthcare costs and support Obama’s proposed changes in return for assurances that Congress would not impose deeper cuts (or, in the case of the doctors, that it would actually rescind cuts already scheduled under current statutes).

But, unlike all these other groups, the medical device industry refused the deal. This posture enraged the tyrants in the White House, who vowed to punish the industry with cuts imposed by Congress. The result was a decision by the revenue-hungry Senate Finance Committee to extract billions in funds from the industry.

For those of you that thought he'd be a breathe of fresh air....feh. There's no such thing in Chicago. What we had foisted on us was gangster government at its finest. And now we'll all pay for your mistakes.

Technorati Tags
Taxation, Healthcare, Gangster Government, Libertarian

You Talkin' To Me?

I was always taught that there are no such things as stupid questions. Apparently, Nancy Pelosi never learned that at her mothers knee. When a CNS reporter asked her where Congress got the authority to force people to buy health insurance, she had no answer. Just derision. Typical of the ruling elite.

CNSNews.com: “Madam Speaker, where specifically does the Constitution grant Congress the authority to enact an individual health insurance mandate?”

Pelosi: “Are you serious? Are you serious?”

CNSNews.com: “Yes, yes I am.”

Pelosi then shook her head before taking a question from another reporter. Her press spokesman, Nadeam Elshami, then told CNSNews.com that asking the speaker of the House where the Constitution authorized Congress to mandated that individual Americans buy health insurance as not a "serious question."

no doubt, when the rest of us were learning politeness and the basics of civil discourse she was learning Rules for Radicals and the doctrines of Marx and Lenin.

On a related note: Forcing people to buy broccoli.

Technorati Tags
Pelosi, Healthcare, Libertarian

No-one Says It Better

On a day like today, nothing will do but a taste of Harry. His version of this classic was much better than Dylan's.

Yes, As A Matter Of Fact They Are Watching You

From Wired comes the news that the government has bought a stake in a company which makes its hay looking at blogs and categorizing their contents. No doubt this will be for our own good and will not be used to create profiles of people who choose to speak out against government policies they find abhorrent. There's no way they'd ever create an enemies list. Right?

America’s spy agencies want to read your blog posts, keep track of your Twitter updates — even check out your book reviews on Amazon.

In-Q-Tel, the investment arm of the CIA and the wider intelligence community, is putting cash into Visible Technologies, a software firm that specializes in monitoring social media. It’s part of a larger movement within the spy services to get better at using ”open source intelligence” — information that’s publicly available, but often hidden in the flood of TV shows, newspaper articles, blog posts, online videos and radio reports generated every day.

Visible crawls over half a million web 2.0 sites a day, scraping more than a million posts and conversations taking place on blogs, online forums, Flickr, YouTube, Twitter and Amazon. (It doesn’t touch closed social networks, like Facebook, at the moment.) Customers get customized, real-time feeds of what’s being said on these sites, based on a series of keywords.

“That’s kind of the basic step — get in and monitor,” says company senior vice president Blake Cahill.

It was bad enough when a private company was doing it. Now that the government has a stake in it? Yeah, that's worse.

Here's Looking At You, Kid

In honour of the powers that be coming out of the closet, here's a little Alan Parsons. It seems fitting.

The Kings Largess

Obama is relishing his role as anointed saviour for the Democrats. Now come this story of his largess, otherwise known as vote buying to the rational sector.

WASHINGTON — President Obama urged Congress on Wednesday to authorize a second $250 stimulus check to be sent early next year to an estimated 57 million Social Security recipients, veterans and people with disabilities.

In effect, the payment would be in lieu of a cost-of-living increase for Social Security beneficiaries next year. The White House request, and receptive statements from Congressional Democratic leaders, anticipated an announcement on Thursday from the Social Security Administration that there would be no cost-of-living adjustment for 2010 because the inflation rate has been negative as the recession has driven down prices.

By contrast, a year ago the cost of living adjustment was 5.8 percent, reflecting strong inflation and high energy prices.

White House officials put the cost of the checks at $13 billion. The first $250 checks went out in May as part of the $787 billion two-year stimulus package. As with that package, the officials said Mr. Obama would not ask Congress to offset the cost with other savings because the checks were intended to stimulate the economy, and budget cuts or tax increases would defeat that.

The money would go to all Social Security beneficiaries, regardless of their income, as well as disabled veterans, those eligible for railroad retirement payments and people who receive federal and state government pensions instead of Social Security.

This is a blatant attempt on his part to buy votes. With soaring deficits and out of control spending from Congress, the fact that he would even think of spending more money is mind boggling.Then again, nothing this man does surprises me any more. His complete lack of understanding about the economy and spending is monumental. He and his cohorts in Congress see a rough time ahead, as we he get into the 2010 elections. Here's a chance to target likely voters and buy some votes, which they'll likely need. The fact that we, and our kids, shall have to pay for his vote buying scheme only adds to the issue. Maybe he could use some of his Nobel money to fund this? Naw. Bet that never occurs to him.

Technorati Tags
Obama, Stimulus, Libertarian, Voting

Something For Nothing

As may happen quite often I return to the trio from the Great White North for inspiration and commentary. They say it much better than anyone else.



Technorati Tags
Rush, Libertarian, Taxation

Taking An Axe To The First Amendment

Mr. Obama seems committed to bringing about change. Now comes news that his regime is cosponsoring a UN treaty that would be in direct conflict with our right to Free Speech.

The Obama Administration has now actually co-sponsored an anti-free speech resolution at the United Nations. Approved by the U.N. Human Rights Council last Friday, the resolution, cosponsored by the U.S. and Egypt, calls on states to condemn and criminalize “any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.”

What could be wrong with that? Plenty.

On its face it sounds nice. Tyranny usually does, to those who support such things. The problem with this thing is that it's in direct conflict with the highest law of the land in America. Eugene Volokh takes a gander at it and explains it better than I could.

But we still have the First Amendment, right? Legal expert Eugene Volokh, in an excellent analysis of the resolution, explains why it isn’t that easy to dismiss this. “If the U.S. backs a resolution that urges the suppression of some speech,” he explains, “presumably we are taking the view that all countries -- including the U.S. -- should adhere to this resolution. If we are constitutionally barred from adhering to it by our domestic constitution, then we’re implicitly criticizing that constitution, and committing ourselves to do what we can to change it.” He adds that in order to be consistent, “the Administration would presumably have to take what steps it can to ensure that supposed ‘hate speech’ that incites hostility will indeed be punished. It would presumably be committed to filing amicus briefs supporting changes in First Amendment law to allow such punishment, and in principle perhaps the appointment of Justices who would endorse such changes (or even the proposal of express constitutional amendments that would work such changes).”

This is change we cannot live with. I have absolutely nothing against Islam and its followers. Shoot, after 6 years in the Middle East I have a better understanding of them than many people. I refuse to condemn the totality of Islam for the horrific actions of a radicalised segment of their numbers. What I cannot countenance, tho is watching the current regime in D.C. shred the 1st Amendment in order to appease the sensitivities of the followers of Islam. Or any other religion or political belief.

The Dear Leader is taking this country down a bad pathway and it doesn't lead to a pretty place. I'm not sure he knows what his job is supposed to be. It's certainly not this.

“I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.”-Barack Obama

Protecting peoples ability to worship as they will is part of his job. Protecting their feelings, is not. We shouldn't have to remind him of this, he's supposedly an educated man.

Technorati Tags
Obama, First Amendment, United Nations, Libertarian

Uprising

via PSM comes the original inspiration to post this tune by Muse. It's been getting a lot of airplay lately and I can see why. It appeals to the revolutionary in us all.



Technorati Tags
Muse, Libertarian

Having A WTF? Moment

So, I wake up this morning and find out that the corrupt organisation Stockholm has granted a Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Obama. Excuse me? Here we have a man who is currently prosecuting two wars and is imprisoning people without trial and he gets the prize? Fer cryin' out loud. He hasn't done anything to foster peace in the world. He went on a world apology tour and made us the laughingstock of the Middle East. Is that what counts? His envoy to the Middle East has managed to do squat since he started burning up jet fuel. What has Obama done? Nothing. *sigh*

I'm sorry, but this just reinforces the belief of all sane people that the Nobel Peace Prize is a travesty and a continuing joke. First they gave it to a terrorist and now they grant it to someone who hasn't done a damned thing to promote peace. What a way to end the week. Now we'll have to listen to the Dear Leaders followers crowing about his do nothing policies till they run out of hot air. The cult of personality has gone global.

Technorati Tags
Obama, Nobel Peace Prize, Cult Of Personality, Libertarian

On A Nobel Peace Prize Kinda Day

Here's what we're dealing with, now deal with it.




Technorati Tags:
Obama, Nobel Peace Prize, Cult Of Personality

Pouring It On

Do you ever have one of those days, or weeks, or even months when it just feels like certain people are just pouring one thing after another onto our lives? That's what it feels like these days with the current regime. It's just one thing after another. Apparently, they want to see just how much we can stand. It's all a bit overwhelming, frankly and it just sucks the hope out of people and leaves them with nothing but resentment and anger. Eventually something's got to give. We can only hope that it's the powers that be that give.

From one corner of the media comes the disheartening news that war with Iran is inevitable. I'd really hate for that to be true. From the Hill comes the news that the harridan in charge of the House is looking to impose an onerous tax on us and everything we buy. Presumably so she and her cohorts can fund their tyranny. Members from both sides of the aisle are convinced that the worlds best health care system is broken, when it's just government interference and insurance companies that have issues. They're going to ram a socialised medicine scheme down our throats, whether we want it or not.

It just gets to be a bit much, doesn't it?

At least one guy in Malawi is having a good time, poverty or not. Look what he's managed to do with a bit of freedom. Guess there's always a spark of light somewhere in the world. Even if it's not where you are.

Technorati Tags
Libertarian, War, Taxes, Obama, Hope

The Mistress And The Master

Closing your eyes is advisable some days. Here's a piece of ballad metal goodness from Lita and Ozzy.



Technorati Tags
Ozzy, Lita Ford, Music

He's Left The Building

In all the political hoorah and angst that's been in the news lately it completely escaped my notice till now that one of the great poets and punk artists of the 20th century has died. Jim Carroll is dead and the world is a worse place for the loss. It's sad that it didn't make headlines, the way some politicians did.


Goodbye, Jim. Thanks for the tunes.

Technorati Tags
Jim Carroll, Music

Vermont Gets It Right

In a perfect world the government would be forbidden from interfering in the rites of marriage. So would fundamentalist bigots and their ilk. Until that day comes we shall have to rely upon people of courage in state legislatures to do the right thing by the people of their state. That's exactly what has occurred today in Vermont as they have legalised gay marriage and shunted aside the petty compromise of civil unions.

DUXBURY, Vt. — After 17 years together, Bill Slimback and Bob Sullivan couldn't wait another minute to get married. So they didn't.

With Vermont's new law allowing same-sex marriage only a minute old, they tied the knot in a midnight ceremony at a rustic lodge, becoming one of the first couples to legally wed under a law that took effect at midnight Monday.

Dressed in suits, saying their vows under a large wall-mounted moose head, the two Whitehall, N.Y., men promised their love, exchanged rings and held hands during a modest 17-minute ceremony. Moose Meadow Lodge co-owner Greg Trulson, who's also a Justice of the Peace, presided.

"It feels wonderful," said Slimback, 38, an out-of-work Teamster who is taking Sullivan's last name as his own. "It's a day I've been long waiting for, and a day I truly honestly thought would never come."

Slimback said he and Sullivan, 41, have long wanted to cement their relationship with a wedding, but since they couldn't legally marry in New York they chose to wed even before Vermont's gay marriage era officially dawned.

Vermont is one of five states that now allow same-sex couples to marry. Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa are the others. New Hampshire's law takes effect Jan. 1, 2010.

Even though government is still involved in the issue, at least they came down on the side of rights for individuals, rather than the bigoted side of rights denial. Someday's you actually think there's some hope for this country and the people who inhabit it. Of course, tomorrow's another day. But, for today I'll "hold some faith in the goodness of humanity".

Technorati Tags
Libertarian, Vermont, Gay Marriage

For All The People Doing The Hard Work

Promoting freedom is a thankless job and those folks in Vermont who have worked so hard deserve a lot of credit. Even their politicians, who managed to get something right. For once.




Technorati Tags
Vermont, Gay Marriage

Even A Broken Clock Gets It Right Sometimes

Colour me surprised that some anonymous blogger at Kos managed to actually get something right where libertarians are concerned. These guys are wrong on almost everything that comes out of their pie holes and on the one subject that is anathema to their little, stunted collectivist souls they are normally so off base that it would be pathetic. If I felt anything about them, other than contempt.
In a post titled "Top 10 Signs You Might Not Be A Libertarian" the poster manages to correctly call out many of the new crop of people who dare to call themselves libertarians. (Avoid the comments section, there's real world lunacy going on in there). I've met a few of these people over the years and frankly, I'm surprised it took a Progressive collectivist to call the mark on the issue. Libertarians should have been calling it out long ago, instead of welcoming the infiltration. I find it distasteful that it took a collectivist to make this call.

10. If you think Ron Paul isn't conservative enough and Fox News is fair and balanced, you might not be a Libertarian.

9. If you believe you have an inalienable right to attend Presidential townhalls brandishing a loaded assault rifle, but that arresting participants inside for wearing a pink shirt is an important public safety precaution, there's a chance you're dangerously unbalanced, but no chance you're a Libertarian.

8. If you think the government should stay the hell out of Medicare, well, you have way, way bigger problems than figuring out if you're really a Libertarian.

7. If you rank Anthonin Scalia and Roy Moore among the greatest Justices of all time, you may be bug fuck crazy, but you're probably not a Libertarian.

6. You might not be a Libertarian if you think recreational drug use, prostitution, and gambling should be illegal because that's what Jesus wants.

5. If you think the separation between church and state applies equally to all faiths except socially conservative Christian fundamentalism, you're probably not a Libertarian.

4. You're probably not a Libertarian if you believe the federal government should remove safety standards and clinical barriers for prescription and OTC medications while banning all embryonic stem cell research, somatic nuclear transfer, RU 486, HPV and cervical cancer vaccination, work on human/non human DNA combos, or Plan B emergency contraception.

3. If you think state execution of mentally retarded convicts is good policy but prosecuting Scott Roeder or disconnecting Terri Schiavo was an unforgivable sin, odds are you're not really a Libertarian.

2. If you argue that cash for clunkers or any form of government healthcare is unconstitutional, but forced prayer or teaching old testament creationism in public schools is fine, you're not even consistent, much less a Libertarian, and you may be Michele Bachmann.

And the number one sign: if you think government should stay the hell out of people's private business -- except when kidnapping citizens and rendering them to secret overseas torture prisons, snooping around the bedrooms of consenting adults, policing a woman's uterus, or conducting warrantless wire taps, you are no Libertarian.

It's time to take a look at what's been going on. Not everyone who claims to be a libertarian is. Glenn Beck and Neal Boortz aren't libertarians, no matter how much they'd like us to believe they are. They're both self admitted Conservatives, a philosophy that is incompatible with libertarianism's core values.

Conservatives who are disenchanted with their chosen party have deserted it in record numbers, some have decided that their philosophy is somehow compatible with ours. Boy are they in for some disappointment. Unfortunately, too many people are willing to extend a hand to them, hoping they'll bring in votes for political candidates. This is not a winning policy, unless you're willing to burn down your house to gain a few votes in an already rigged electoral system. Personally, I'm not. Most will never be able to pass the litmus test. And that's fine with me.

Technorati Tags
Libertarian, Daily Kos

Delusional Monday

It seems as if delusion is the watchword these days, from the Right and the Left. So let's go with that theme and a blast from the past. Golden Earring's paean to delusion, "When The Lady Smiles".

One More Down

The so-called Lion of Liberalism has left the building at last. Thank the gods. The man that never met a gun control bill he didn't like, who worked so hard to help push "No Child Left Behind" and even had more of a hand in the current "health care" debacle about to be rammed down our throats. "Former" Klansman Robert Byrd would even like it to be renamed for Kennedy. Sickening. Kennedy, through 47 years of legislation, stole more freedom and did more damage to liberty, (as well as millions of individuals) and was, by any definition a world class tyranny enabler. He helped grow the government by leaps and bounds.

I got to meet Mr. Kennedy many years ago, along with his clan when they visited the PRC, while I lived there. He was affable enough and spent a considerable amount of time drinking and schmoozing. He got along quite well with the Chinese, as one would expect. One would never think that, beneath his boozy exterior lurked the soul of an enemy of the Bill of Rights. They'd be wrong. His legislative record speaks for itself. He may have occasionally come down on the right side of an issue, but it was a rare occurrence. Now we'll have to worry about that no more. Mr. Kennedy is off to his just reward.

The country is a safer place today without him. One down.

Technorati Tags
Ted Kennedy, Tyrants

For Teddy

A little rock and roll to speed you on your way.



Technorati Tags
Teddy Kennedy

Ratchetting Up The Fear Factor

Well, the powers that be have decided that they need a distraction from the looming deficit, the spectre of hyperinflation and an the impending takeover of the American health care system. So, what have they done? They've trotted out their old buddy H1N1, the Swine Flu, again.

Aug. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Swine flu may hospitalize 1.8 million patients in the U.S. this year, filling intensive care units to capacity and causing “severe disruptions” during a fall resurgence, scientific advisers to the White House warned.

Swine flu, also known as H1N1, may infect as much as half of the population and kill 30,000 to 90,000 people, double the deaths caused by the typical seasonal flu, according to the planning scenario issued yesterday by the President’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology. Intensive care units in hospitals, some of which use 80 percent of their space in normal operation, may need every bed for flu cases, the report said.

Swine Flu is the new terrorism for the current regime. "Advisers" making predictions such as this are doing nothing more than pimping fear in the populace. Oh, No! There's not enough vaccine. Someone save us! There won't be enough health care people to care for the ill. Oh. My. God! What about the children?

Fortunately, the same article has a ray of sunshine and a voice of reason. Too bad he wasn't an adviser.

‘Overblown’ Estimates

The estimates seem “overblown,” Gross said, given that swine-flu outbreaks in 1968 and 1957 failed to cause as many deaths, even with medical technology and disease surveillance less advanced than today.

“Influenza, you can make all the predictions you want, but it’s more difficult than predicting the weather,” Gross said yesterday in a telephone interview, after the advisory report was made public. “If influenza was a stock, I wouldn’t touch it.”

Rumour and fear around this subject are everywhere. They ignore the facts of this influenza. Extremely few people have died from it. The majority of people have had no serious symptoms. The government speaks and people panic. Can't say that I blame them, given governments past efforts in virtually every arena. Talk of mandatory vaccination of children and others runs through some quarters. The use of troops to quell unrest, in the event of a plague has been put forth. More and more scare tactics, every day to keep people reeling. It's time to take a step back. Take a breath and learn something from our comrade in arms, BW. Refuse to be afraid. (Download his ebook while you're at it!). Ignore the government. Refuse to play their game. There's time enough to resist when we actually know what they intend, if anything. We can always refuse them, that's what liberty and freedom are all about. And, now a few words from Frank Herbert.

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.

Technorati Tags:
Fear, H1N1, Obama, Libertarian

An Interlude

Those who know me know that I have a thing for Rush. How could I not? They speak to me and many others on a multitude of levels. "Mission" is one of those songs. Take a break, kick back and enjoy.



Technorati Tags:
Rush, Libertarian

Let The Snitching Begin

From the Presidential West Wing comes this new missive. El Presidente' is looking for a few good snitches. Apparently, those who speak out against his so-called health care plans should be reported to the White House. No doubt those names will be added to a database and create more than a few "persons of interest", where the new regime is concerned. They can go ahead an add my name to their list.

There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.

Now this is some serious Hope and Change, Mr. Obama. Apparently, the Glorious Leader thinks a few words to his acolytes will result in the type of snitchery not seen since the halcyon days of the DDR's Stasi campaigns. Is this really the type of world we wish to live in? And if he's this concerned about his health care plans then one can only wonder what he has in store for gun owners and other dissidents. Don't Snitch!

Technorati Tags:
Obama, Snitching, Health Care, Libertarian

.Gov Giveth And .Gov Taketh Away

Got an older vehicle that the new Left and their ilk might consider a clunker? Heard about their "Cash For Clunkers" deal? You know, the one where the taxpayers subsidize you purchase of a new car, if you trade in your old one? Well, maybe you shouldn't be so fast on the pedal there. Seems like the bureaucrats running things changed the very definition of clunker before they allowed all those stolen dollars to be given out. From Jalopnik comes this bit of news.

EPA Secretly Changing MPG Numbers Ahead Of Cash For Clunkers, Screwing Consumers

Consumers hoping to trade in their old "clunkers" for new vehicles through the Cash for Clunkers (or CARS) program are discovering the EPA changed fuel economy numbers for some cars last week, making it impossible to trade them in!

New Jersey resident Jeff Chase was considering trading in his 1989 Mazda 929 for a new car and checked the government's FuelEconomy.gov website and it said it met the 18 MPG threshold to be considered a gas-guzzling clunker. He went back later to buy the new car only to discover the numbers had been changed and the combined mileage was now 19 MPG and therefore disqualified from the discount.

"The dealer that I wanted to do business with had started to write sales orders for cars but were not delivering them until the final CARS rules were set," said Jeff Chance. "They are finding out that cars that they thought were qualified as trade-ins are no longer eligible. Now these people will not be able to purchase a car."

Ah, the government. They get some peoples hopes up then dash them on the rocks of bureaucratic reality. Now, that some Hope and Change for you. Things only mean what the government says they do.

Technorati Tags:
Cars, EPA, Libertarian, Obama

Want A Free Book? It's Yours!

J. Neil Schulman has made his best work to date available as a free download. That's right, "Alongside Night", quite possibly one of the best libertarian and anarcho-capitalist novel written, winner of the Prometheus Award, is now available free. Get thee hence, download it and read it. If you haven't read it before you're in for a treat. If you have read it before, now you have a new electronic version to peruse. If you've lost access to television, due to the digital switch, now you've got something to occupy your time. If you still have TV, take the time to read a good book! You won't regret it. This one's a winner and well worth the time.

Technorati Tags:
Libertarian, Alongside Night, Free Book, Anarcho-Capitalism

200 Years Of Paine

Today marks the 200th anniversary of the death of Thomas Paine, American revolutionary, firebrand and radical. While the country that his words inspired has been begun an uncontrolled descent into socialist inspired totalitarianism, his words should still resonate with those who hold some semblance of hope in the future. His seminal work, "Common Sense" is, by necessity, needed more today than ever before. Would that we had the necessary thousands of people infected by his words today. We would be better served and have more than a gram of hope that things will not only get better, but would advance us into a place of renewed vigor, with no more government than a man can stand.

SOME writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins. Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness POSITIVELY by uniting our affections, the latter NEGATIVELY by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher.

Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one: for when we suffer, or are exposed to the same miseries BY A GOVERNMENT, which we might expect in a country WITHOUT GOVERNMENT, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer. Government, like dress, is the badge of lost innocence; the palaces of kings are built upon the ruins of the bowers of paradise. For were the impulses of conscience clear, uniform and irresistibly obeyed, man would need no other lawgiver; but that not being the case, he finds it necessary to surrender up a part of his property to furnish means for the protection of the rest; and this he is induced to do by the same prudence which in every other case advises him, out of two evils to choose the least. Wherefore, security being the true design and end of government, it unanswerably follows that whatever form thereof appears most likely to ensure it to us, with the least expense and greatest benefit, is preferable to all others.

In order to gain a clear and just idea of the design and end of government, let us suppose a small number of persons settled in some sequestered part of the earth, unconnected with the rest; they will then represent the first peopling of any country, or of the world. In this state of natural liberty, society will be their first thought. A thousand motives will excite them thereto; the strength of one man is so unequal to his wants, and his mind so unfitted for perpetual solitude, that he is soon obliged to seek assistance and relief of another, who in his turn requires the same. Four or five united would be able to raise a tolerable dwelling in the midst of a wilderness, but one man might labour out the common period of life without accomplishing any thing; when he had felled his timber he could not remove it, nor erect it after it was removed; hunger in the mean time would urge him to quit his work, and every different want would call him a different way. Disease, nay even misfortune, would be death; for, though neither might be mortal, yet either would disable him from living, and reduce him to a state in which he might rather be said to perish than to die.

Thus necessity, like a gravitating power, would soon form our newly arrived emigrants into society, the reciprocal blessings of which would supersede, and render the obligations of law and government unnecessary while they remained perfectly just to each other; but as nothing but Heaven is impregnable to vice, it will unavoidably happen that in proportion as they surmount the first difficulties of emigration, which bound them together in a common cause, they will begin to relax in their duty and attachment to each other: and this remissness will point out the necessity of establishing some form of government to supply the defect of moral virtue.

Some convenient tree will afford them a State House, under the branches of which the whole Colony may assemble to deliberate on public matters. It is more than probable that their first laws will have the title only of Regulations and be enforced by no other penalty than public disesteem. In this first parliament every man by natural right will have a seat.

Take a moment today and read, or reread the words of the original American Firebrand. Do not let the spirit of his words pass unnoticed. Mr. Paine named his pamphlet "Common Sense" for a good reason. It is something we need a great deal more of, now more than ever. Some might contend that his words are outdated and unnecessary. They could not be more wrong, no matter how hard they try. Mr. Paine wrote from a time when the word Liberty actually meant something. Here's hoping that the that time comes 'round again soon.

Technorati Tags:
Libertarian, Thomas Paine, Common Sense, Freedom, Liberty, Government

Something Wicked This Way Comes

我想昧耳，昧心，變石頭・我想昧耳，昧心，变石头
Wo shang mei er, mei xin, bian shi tou. Please God, make me a stone. - River Tam, Serenity

We are all going to enter into a new and devastating world sooner than we wish and our children and grandchildren will be the ones bearing the burdens of today's willful ignorance. USA Today reported that the current US debt has risen another 12%, to a whopping $63.8 trillion, and the destructive spending coming from Washington and the cretins who dwell there shows no signs of slowing. The new President is more than willing to not only continue spending, but to add more trillions of dollars in debt to further his destructive socialist agenda.

The latest increase raises federal obligations to a record $546,668 per household in 2008, according to the USA TODAY analysis. That's quadruple what the average U.S. household owes for all mortgages, car loans, credit cards and other debt combined.

"We have a huge implicit mortgage on every household in America — except, unlike a real mortgage, it's not backed up by a house," says David Walker, former U.S. comptroller general, the government's top auditor.

USA TODAY used federal data to compute all government liabilities, from Treasury bonds to Medicare to military pensions.

Bottom line: The government took on $6.8 trillion in new obligations in 2008, pushing the total owed to a record $63.8 trillion.

The numbers measure what's needed today — set aside in a lump sum, earning interest — to pay benefits that won't be covered by future taxes.

Despite these numbers, which the politicians must know about, unless they are blind, deaf, dumb and illiterate, Obama and his regime plan on saddling us with a multi-trillion dollar "health care" system, as well as other programs that will push this country, and everyone in it, further into soul crushing debt. Children as yet unborn will enter the world 10's, if not 100's of thousands of dollars in debt. They will spend their lives in toil to repay a the money that politicians and their supporters saddle them with today. They shall live, work and die as debtors for the governments follies.

Even if the government were to tax everyone at 100%, this debt would never be able to be repaid. This country may be left with no other recourse than to repudiate the debts foisted on us by this and past regimes and declare bankruptcy as a nation. That is something we are likely to never recover from.

The people leading us to this fiscally irresponsible horror have no care for the future, beyond maintaining their power through the broken electoral system. They will continue their assault on us, despite the fact that The Great Leader admits that the country is broke. When and where will it end? We will either have to harden our hearts and become stones to bear this or it will end in violence when no more may be borne by the peasantry.

We may well be past the point where there are "libertarian" or "conservative" or any political solution for this. Ceasing spending alone is not the answer. That $63.8 trillion will still be out there hanging over our heads like the sword of Damocles. Only a dismantling of government, programs and entitlements will have any effect. Even that is unlikely to do the job, since people will inevitably wish for "pragmatism" and a slow dismantling, (which is unlikely, as they'll wish to maintain their power base and the bureaucracy).

I fear for my children and theirs to come. The world they will inhabit will be vastly worse than that we once inhabited. Thanks entirely to politicians and their quests for power.

Technorati Tags:
Libertarian, National Debt, Obama, Spending

Sometimes You Should Listen To The Fans

The Green Lantern Movie has been in development for a while now and nothing is set in stone, as of yet. A truly talented fan has come forward and made a very convincing case for Nathan Fillion to head up the movies starring role, Hal Jordan. They've also made one of the best fan made movie trailers I've ever seen. Personally, I think the case is made. As a Fillion fan and a Green Lantern fan I think he would bring just what is needed to the role. Hey, producers and director! Listen up! This is gold!

We loved Fillion in Firefly and Serenity and there's just no doubt that he's the man for the role.



via I09

Technorati Tags:
DC Comics, Nathan Fillion, Green Lantern

Yet Another Soda Tax

First it was the governor of New York, wanting to raise more money for his dwindling coffers. Now it's the current regime and Obama who want to impose yet another tax on people and their carbonated beverages in order to help him fund his socialised medicine scheme.

Senate leaders are considering new federal taxes on soda and other sugary drinks to help pay for an overhaul of the nation's health-care system.

The taxes would pay for only a fraction of the cost to expand health-insurance coverage to all Americans and would face strong opposition from the beverage industry. They also could spark a backlash from consumers who would have to pay several cents more for a soft drink.

On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee is set to hear proposals from about a dozen experts about how to pay for the comprehensive health-care overhaul that President Barack Obama wants to enact this year. Early estimates put the cost of the plan at around $1.2 trillion. The administration has so far only earmarked funds for about half of that amount.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a Washington-based watchdog group that pressures food companies to make healthier products, plans to propose a federal excise tax on soda, certain fruit drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks and ready-to-drink teas. It would not include most diet beverages. Excise taxes are levied on goods and manufacturers typically pass them on to consumers.

Senior staff members for some Democratic senators at the center of the effort to craft health-care legislation are weighing the idea behind closed doors, Senate aides said.

The Congressional Budget Office, which is providing lawmakers with cost estimates for each potential change in the health overhaul, included the option in a broad report on health-system financing in December. The office estimated that adding a tax of three cents per 12-ounce serving to these types of sweetened drinks would generate $24 billion over the next four years. So far, lawmakers have not indicated how big a tax they are considering.

Mr. Obama and his bureaucratic cohorts are willing to add a "sin tax" on people who just want a few joyous moments with a frosty non-alcoholic beverage. This is just the opening salvo in his tax and spend health rationing plans. No doubt other onerous taxes lay in wait in the wings to fund this debacle. Fat taxes, fast food taxes, non-organic food taxes, organic food taxes and more are likely to rear their ugly heads, just to fund Obama's "health care" plans.

If they pass this one without resistance we can rest assured that they will see this as a sign of weakness and will rush to impose even more taxation measures. That's just the way these people work. Give them an inch and they want a mile. It's only a few cents, right? It's always a few cents here and there, and then pretty soon it's a whole dollar. Every soda you buy today already has embedded taxes in it that the companies have to pass along to the consumer. Fuel taxes, local, state and federal taxes, payroll taxes and a wide variety of incremental taxes that range from local to the federal levels. The politicians are counting on us not caring about " a few cents more". Well, I care.

You should, too. This taxation will be used to fund government controlled medicine. It doesn't work anywhere else in the world, why would we think that a Chicago politician would be able to do any better than anyone else? I certainly don't want the government controlling and rationing health care. They do a lousy job of it already and are more than partially responsible for most of the problems that we do see in our current system. No thanks. Keep your hands of my health care and my little pleasures in life.

Technorati Tags:
Taxation, Obama, Root Beer, Soda, Libertarian

Happy Patriots Day!

Today marks the 234th anniversary of the "Shot Heard 'Round The World". The opening salvo of the American War of Independence occurred on April 19th, 1775 . It is also the date of the first battle against gun control. The only difference was that the enemy government then was the British Crown and not our own "American" politicians, (politicians who have actually sworn an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution and, by extension, the Bill of Rights). The British sent their standing army of Regulars to seize the arms of the militia at Concord. Too bad for them that the word of their plans had already been spread far and wide. The weapons were already long gone and the militia had been alerted. What came next is history that should never be forgotten. Especially by those who occupy seats of power and would disarm the populace.

About 700 British Army regulars, under Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith, were given secret orders to capture and destroy military supplies that were reportedly stored by the Massachusetts militia at Concord. Through effective intelligence gathering, Patriot colonials had received word weeks before the expedition that their supplies might be at risk, and had moved most of them to other locations. They also received details about British plans on the night before the battle, and were able to rapidly notify the area militias of the military movement.

The first shots were fired just as the sun was rising at Lexington. The militia were outnumbered and fell back, and the regulars proceeded on to Concord, where they searched for the supplies. At the North Bridge in Concord, several hundred militiamen fought and defeated three companies of the King's troops. The outnumbered regulars fell back from the Minutemen after a pitched battle in open territory.

More Minutemen arrived soon thereafter and inflicted heavy damage on the regulars as they marched back towards Boston. Upon returning to Lexington, Smith's expedition was rescued by reinforcements under Hugh, Earl Percy. A combined force of about 1,700 men marched back to Boston under heavy fire in a tactical withdrawal and eventually reached the safety of Charlestown. The accumulated militias blockaded the narrow land accesses to Charlestown and Boston, starting the Siege of Boston.

The greatest army in the world was turned away by farmers, shopkeepers, smithy's and other "commoners". We stand today because men with courage and fortitude stood against the powers that be and fought back to defend that most basic of rights. The right to keep and bear arms for defence of self and community. Those who would repeat the folly of the Kings men should remember this and hold it as a solid truth. History does repeat itself when necessary. When diplomacy and politics fail the heroes of Patriots Day will stand as inspiration and example to us all.

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood,
And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;
Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;
And Time the ruined bridge has swept
Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,
We set to-day a votive stone;
That memory may their deed redeem,
When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare
To die, and leave their children free,
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raise to them and thee.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

While we shall be celebrating Patriots Day today, we can rest assured that those within the Washington, D.C. Beltway will not be paying their respects on this day. This is not a day of reverence for them, it is one of fear.

Technorati Tags:
Patriots Day, Gun Control, Revolution, Libertarian

When Seconds Count

Once again we have a large scale killing in a victim disarmament zone and it is pointed out just why individuals should exercise their natural born right to self defence. In Binghamton, NY a madman named Jiverly Wong (Voong) armed himself with two handguns (not a rifle, as many press sources initially indicated yesterday), and entered an immigrant aid centre and murdered 13 people. He then took his own life. Similar incidents have occurred before and likely will occur again, especially in places where the would be victims are disarmed by politicians and the police. New York state is a vicitm disarmament zone from border to border, denying New Yorkers the basic liberty of self defence at all times.

It is painfully obvious from this, and similar incidents, that the police are worse than useless. They, fearing for their own safety will not act until it is too late. In this case they took over 90 minutes to enter the building where Mr. Wong committed his murders.

The chief defended the time it took officers to go into the building -- an hour to 90 minutes.

"If some crazy lunatic decides to pick up a gun and go someplace and start shooting people, I really don't have the answer how long for us that could prevent anything like that," Zikuski said.

"What I will tell you is that the police did the right thing," he said. "We have procedures and protocols."

Their "procedures and protocols" insure that innocents die while madmen wreak havoc. The only way to insure that this does not happen to you is to exercise your right to defend yourself and those around you, at all times. Maybe you'll break some asinine law crafted by those who would aid and abet murderers, but it most certainly beats the alternative now, doesn't it? Of course you could always play dead, while bleeding from an abdominal wound and then talk to the cops on the phone, while they wait for things to wrap up. I know what I would choose.

Whether you carry "legally" or freely, doesn't matter. What does matter is that you avail yourself of the right at all times. None of the poor souls who were so callously murdered in Binghamton were armed, in fact I would venture to guess that in the course of their "civics" courses their right to defend themselves and others were conveniently overlooked by the instructors. And that's a shame. A greater shame is that people like the Brady Bunch are once again, dancing in the blood of fresh victims to call for the further disarming of Americans and even more will suffer because of their agenda. As we can see, disarming served no-one well in Binghamton and it won't serve any of us either, no matter where we live.

Technorati Tags
Jiverly Voong, Gun Control, Police, News, Libertarian