Right Again

A while back Peter Schiff was blasted by another economist and a Cavuto show fill in host (who could generally be classified as an ass for the way he spoke to Mr. Schiff) for suggesting that the inflation numbers were false.



As we have seen before, though, Schiff is right once again. Here Jim Jubak reports the "breaking news" that Schiff suggested a few months ago by saying

The official inflation number is so misleading that it played a huge role in creating the tech stock bubble that broke in March 2000 and in the leverage bubble that broke in 2007.

Still, though, Peter gets no love.

Wow, Fred!

A good friend sent this video to me this past weekend and I was astounded at Fred Thompson on the bailout. I will say, however, that it seems the blame is being laid on the liberal politicians as opposed to the so-called conservatives. Still it is extremely entertaining.



Thanks Nate.

Walter Block Tears Into Loyola College Maryland

This may be a long read to some, but it is well worth the time.

Block who is a professor of economics at Loyola University New Orleans, and a senior fellow of the Ludwig von Mises Institute, gave a lecture at Loyola College in Maryland and fills us in on the "controversy.

Again, this is a very entertaining piece that you will enjoy immensely.

Why Immigrants Voted Obama

In a recent column in the Tennessean, Saritha Prabhu tells us that America's newest voters identify with Obama. What she means by this is that immigrants from other cultures with newly acquired voting privileges are helping to shape modern America.

Little did I know that my first U.S. presidential vote would be in a historic race.

In early November 2006, about 60 of us immigrants stood in a Nashville courthouse and took the oath of citizenship. It was a disparate bunch, from different corners of the globe. One woman in a sari, obviously from India, smiled at me from across the aisle, perhaps in silent acknowledgment of our common national origin.

Fact is, if Obama was an "other," so were millions of new Americans. The country's demographics are changing, with rising numbers of the foreign-born, the brown-skinned, the biracial, and those in interracial marriages.

Millions of these people probably saw in Obama a piece of themselves. I know I did. As an immigrant who moved from one culture to another, who has evolved into a hybrid over the years, and who has a still-changing identity that is part Indian and part American, I could relate to Obama's story.

I couldn't keep myself from responding.

It is an ignorant and extremely gullible stance to think that the "other" is the better. It is in fact no different than what the "conservative" base does when voting. It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling that you and other newcomers from other cultures get to shape our culture and help decide our national direction (satire).

This is yet another good reason to reject the false doctrine of "universal suffrage." When you, Prabhu, make a larger consideration for this "nirvanian" world of multiculturalism by the acceptance of a black skinned leader at the expense of Constitutional liberties, you are no different than those who still defend the Bush/Cheney doctrines. (By the way, I have no problem with a black skinned president if they can honestly take the oath of office and defend the Constitution.)

What makes this article that much more offensive is that you are a new citizen telling us how great things are going to be. It is a bit demeaning to those of us (no matter how few) who side with the anti-Federalists, when someone comes in and starts telling us how wonderful this great new leadership will be that is just as tyrannical as GWB was with a blatant Communistic twist.

I can do nothing more than I have to stop this trampling of constitutionalism, but I will lambaste those who come in like carpetbaggers and use a public forum and their so called "right" of suffrage to facilitate change in a manner completely unhealthy to the form of government that these states adopted and entered into voluntary contract thereof.

With all this being said, I would like to reiterate the opening...Only the ignorant, unlearned, gullible, mentally incapable of critical thought and logical reasoning believe that the "other" is the better. Perhaps this is the real reason that we are in the condition that we are here after eight years of Bush (thanks to your counterparts who lean right of left) and now as we top the hill of "progressive-ism" and see the Constitutional constraints of government completely vanish in the rear view mirror.

God save us from ourselves.

Man Jailed For Illegal Couch?

Where in the world might one be arrested and sentenced to 93 days of jail for having a couch on a lawn? Why right here in America of course.

Keene, New Hampshire resident Ian Freeman has been arrested by local authorities and tried in a private courtroom for refusing to remove a couch from his yard.

Patten claimed that he cited Freeman after receiving a complaint. Freeman said he would remove the couch if given an opportunity to speak to the original complainant, “like an adult, instead of calling in men with guns.” The city refused and demanded he come to trial Friday, where he was jailed for contempt almost immediately.

While some may find this to be a trite example of standing up for one's rights, I find it to be a good example of how horribly stupid our "laws" and court proceedings have become.

Guilty Until Proven Innocent

It is becoming more and more common for folks to accept their position of constantly proving to the authorities that they have not broken any laws. The State has been making “laws” for years that have subtly done away with the assumption of innocence.

The particular laws cannot coexist with the particular liberties. One or the other must cease existence.

Sadly few people even notice when these tyrannical laws are passed or when they are even directly affected by them.

Take for example the Tennessee law that requires every driver to carry proof of insurance. You cannot have this law and the principle of innocent until proven guilty.

One must pay close attention to the laws to see how legislators have made it the responsibility of the citizen to prove his innocence. Perhaps the most aggressive example of this comes from the IRS in the form of tax audits.

They announce to the taxpayer that they will be investigating them for tax fraud only they call it an audit. It does not sound so bad that way. Also, by not calling it an investigation, they feel as though they need no evidence of wrongdoing or reasonable cause for suspicion.

The next step for the IRS to take in convicting you is nothing. It is up to you to prove your innocence. Of course everything you say can and will be used against you, but remaining silent in this case is “illegal.” Refusing to address these warrantless charges void of any evidence makes you “guilty.”

In short it is an inquisition. All of these laws become that. When stopped for speeding or not wearing a seatbelt, one may also be charged with other crimes if they cannot prove on the spot that they have not broken other laws. Unless there is some reasonable cause to suspect that one is driving without a license or without insurance, then the officer has no authority to fish for such offenses.

But they do and Americans capitulate.

This idea goes along with an earlier post about the State redefining rights. They are the ultimate wordsmiths and they will do as they please with laws in the name of the “common good.” The problem is that they have no authority to pass such laws.

A former law cannot be canceled out by a new law unless the former is repealed. The former takes precedence in this case. So when the officer asks you if you have proof of insurance, you might ask him if he has proof otherwise. It is not in the authority of the State to require from the people constant proof of not breaking the laws.

Perhaps it is the desire for tranquility; non confrontation? Perhaps Americans have forgotten their fathers’ fight over lesser grievances than today. Whatever the case may be, it is becoming a sad situation when one does stand up to unlawful authority and the masses condemn him. The maxim of Americans has become, “We must comply.”

Innocent until proven guilty is no longer applicable here and apathetic Americans are as much to blame for this as a corrupt government.

Now in closing, some readers might think that this is all trite, unworthy of provocation. To you the author declares two things. First, government is a monster that gets bigger and harder to control the more it “eats.” If you are unwilling to at least speak out against this now, then you are contributing as stated above.

The second declaration comes not directly from the author, but from a man who has witnessed the battle in its various stages. He was a man that has gotten in some cases a bad reputation as an agitator. After all, according to modern standards, he was in fact an agitator, though some still call him a Patriot.

“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may your posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.” --Sam Adams

It's All Palin's Fault?

Funny thing how the GOP is looking for reasons that Obama won the election and not McCain.

Rather than key in on a the last eight dismal years in which we have seen the Constitution shredded by a Republican administration (no doubt with help from the other wing) or the fact that they ran the most liberal possible candidate this term, they look towards the ill experienced Sarah Palin.

There are a number of reasons that one could pick for the loss, but the author cannot believe that it is because of the Veep choice. More accurately in his humble opinion it is because the GOP has fallen so far left of center, that moderate Republicans see no real difference in who they vote for.

Of course, according to Dr. Nathan Hoeldtke, and others, race had something to do with it.

But really, for the GOP to pick on Mrs. Palin is outright ridiculous. Even if her lack of experience and some reports of her alleged ignorance regarding not just foreign policy, but the difference between nations and continents had something to do with the loss, it should fall squarely on the GOP's shoulders; more particularly the idiot(s) that picked her.

She was a strategic choice, but she's no saviour. There is a very real possibility, though, that despite her akwardness in some situations and the fact that she is unqualified for the position, she gave new "conservative" life to an otherwise dying party garnering a few votes that otherwise would have gone third party or not been cast at all.

Still, there are far too many greater reasons that are staring them in their face, but the GOP cannot see the forest for the trees.

That's right guys. Keep looking. You'll find it eventually.

Maybe?

Nah, probably not.