tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313360762024-03-05T05:55:02.765-05:00FreedomsAdvocate.comBlogging on Politics, Economics, Law and The Middle East from a Classical Liberal, Libertarian Perspective.Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-3055989841446122682016-07-26T04:27:00.003-04:002016-10-12T22:02:32.064-04:00Johnson/Weld--Just say NO!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If you haven't guessed already, I was excited about the Libertarian ticket this year. We have about the two worst possible candidates in the indistinguishable parties. Seemed the 'Perfect Storm.'<br />
<br />
I never envisioned that Johnson could actually win, but if I was to throw my vote away (any more than I normally do, that is) on the LP candidate, at least this time he would be better than Hillary or Trump, right?<br />
<br />
Not so. I just watched <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsWGdPBbsI0" target="_blank">this video from ReasonTV</a>. At about the 10:15 point you have Johnson spouting off about appointments to the Supreme Court based upon "original intent" interpretations. In the next breath, he says he will pass the decision off to Weld. Who then goes on to say how he thinks Breyer--a definitive anti-gunner--was <a href="http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/7842-breyer-suggests-second-amendment-out-of-date" target="_blank">a great choice</a>. And how Obama's selection of <a href="http://heavy.com/news/2016/03/merrick-garland-position-view-gun-control-second-2nd-amendment-history-supreme-court-nominee-obama/" target="_blank">Garland</a> as Scalia's replacement was just super.<br />
<br />
Sorry, but to me, the 2nd Amendment is about the last bastion of the Constitution (read Freedom) we have left in this country. I can't see how two people who claim to be libertarians could not understand the importance of the one fundamental liberty we have left.<br />
<br />
I might have been able to sluff it off as a mis-statement, or a basic mis-understanding of the US Constitution, but this is the second by the Johnson ticket: The first was right after the Libertarian Convention. Johnson thought that using the powers of government to force anyone--non-government entities such as businesses and individuals included--to associate with whomever the government dictates they should--was appropriate. (In this case gay couples--but that is immaterial.)<br />
<br />
I had high hopes, but they are Constitutionally ILLITERATE.<br />
<br />
I guess that leaves me with Trump...<br />
<br />
</div>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-73142538062038501352016-05-04T17:13:00.000-04:002016-05-04T17:34:11.282-04:00Can Congress Stop A President's Executive Actions?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Pulled this from a <a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/instead-of-impeachment-can-house-vote-to-overturn-obama-executive-order/article/2551331" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Washington Examiner Article</a> on immigration, but it pertains to all Executive Actions:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="margin-bottom: 30px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 0px;">
The fact is, there is nothing House Republicans can do by themselves, short of another self-defeating <a href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/section/government-shutdown" target="_blank">government shutdown</a>, to stop Obama if Senate Democrats are determined to block any move to assert congressional prerogatives and establish limits on <a href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/section/executive-overreach" target="_blank">executive overreach</a>. But there is something House Republicans could do that would at least specifically target Obama's immigration action: They could vote to overturn the president's executive order. </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="margin-bottom: 30px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 0px;">
Congress can overturn an executive order. It can overturn parts of an executive order. If the executive order is based on a statute, Congress can change the statute, thereby nullifying the order. Congress can also refuse to fund activities stemming from all or part of the executive order.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 30px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 0px;">
The only instance in which the above does not apply is if the president is acting pursuant to an exclusive power granted to him by the <a href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/section/constitution" target="_blank">Constitution</a>. Obama's immigration order would not be such a case. "As long as it is not constitutionally based, Congress may repeal a presidential order, or terminate the underlying authority upon which the action is predicated," the Congressional Research Service noted in a <a href="http://archive.today/FCDeR" target="_blank">December 2011 report</a>.</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 30px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's not very complicated. The CRS report mentioned Congress' revocation of an executive order by President George H.W. Bush concerning fetal tissue research. "Congress simply directed that the 'the provisions of Executive Order 12806 shall not have any legal effect,'" the report says. It was as simple as that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If Obama chooses not to act by executive order, but instead issues some sort of "policy directive" -- the way he implemented the<a href="http://www.dhs.gov/deferred-action-childhood-arrivals">Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals</a> initiative that stopped the deportations of thousands of illegal immigrants -- then Congress would have the same authority to get rid of all or part of the president's directive.</span></div>
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</cnt></blockquote>
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Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-52286131871765185282016-04-26T12:18:00.001-04:002016-04-26T12:18:34.247-04:00High School -- 1957 vs. 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Found this On my computer. No idea where it came from. Dates back to approximately 2012.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=31336076" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=31336076" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=31336076" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=31336076" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=31336076" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=31336076" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=31336076" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=31336076" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=31336076" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=31336076" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=31336076" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=31336076" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=31336076" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=31336076" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=31336076" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=31336076" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Shows the results of the collectivist mentality, the society it creates, the government that society elects, the government education (indoctrination) system that results, and the underlying irrational philosophy that it inculcates. It is a self-sustaining cycle which inevitably leads to the destruction of a once free republic. As Jefferson indicated, the fate of the Republic is determined by the education of its electorate.<br />
<br />
Collectivism is not just the enemy of individualism and individual responsibility, it is the enemy of human society, itself.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Enjoy!</i></b><br />
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<b><i><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">HIGH SCHOOL </span></u></i></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">-- </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 24pt;">1957 vs. 2011 </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiGx7tj_eLNTgoxPhIQoS7Iv20_TEqw4NWDfCzACy4voOGbVbEsfpXFAcOE_-a_nbmKiN2i7a7RkHX-EqtOra5ii-S_fk2_ZDsdttiPmcqoRL_sQMDCMyuqNwJvpowjb6V5tq/s1600/shotgun.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><u>Scenario 1: </u><br />
<br /><b>
Jack goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking
lot with his shotgun in his truck's gun rack. </b><br />
<br /><b>
1957 - </b>Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his
car and gets his shotgun to show Jack. <br />
<br />
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2011 - </b>School goes into lockdown, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and
never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students
and teachers. <br />
<u><br />Scenario 2: </u><b><br />
<br />
Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school. </b><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6An-HCnstnDd02Kcb_I74oeoSiJe4km6p0CuDCjzRfTCcY1pF9uOED0PzK5uN2pV76PC-2L_UrgnDaq42LKa6p3Sgja_UYVTP3sRhKJAB_vLcaeKYo3lSd9Olznl3d1iuu-fg/s1600/Johnny+%2526+Mark.gif" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6An-HCnstnDd02Kcb_I74oeoSiJe4km6p0CuDCjzRfTCcY1pF9uOED0PzK5uN2pV76PC-2L_UrgnDaq42LKa6p3Sgja_UYVTP3sRhKJAB_vLcaeKYo3lSd9Olznl3d1iuu-fg/s1600/Johnny+%2526+Mark.gif" /></a><b><br />
1957 - </b>Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and
end up buddies. <br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9Kazo5fnurwnbGIA2KXitIdP4HkUIoraRVqGCzvteZkEvZ428xRhyx173uixotVYkRJpf2RHyjJGoszhFPMHZ657X21x454o2vFX66CKqHZ5WkTENgtGRdX3dFFLMGdi1xSQ/s1600/Swat.gif" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9Kazo5fnurwnbGIA2KXitIdP4HkUIoraRVqGCzvteZkEvZ428xRhyx173uixotVYkRJpf2RHyjJGoszhFPMHZ657X21x454o2vFX66CKqHZ5WkTENgtGRdX3dFFLMGdi1xSQ/s1600/Swat.gif" /></a><b><br />
2011 - </b>Police called and SWAT team arrives -- they arrest both Johnny and
Mark. They are both charged with assault and both expelled even though
Johnny started it. <br /><u><br />Scenario 3: </u><b><br />
<br />
Jeffrey will not sit still in class, he disrupts other students. </b><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwBi9oSRwdd_bFgHjsutrWj93EZBu5INJ946efxx2pZ7EsgCrxByIuXZHnmW4ouc3x5pWVwkollrbcLRNUD0QcoQESMnYhJcKoByaMxU1SqrC3IIGXjfH_22r0WWaIs7Awjna/s1600/Jeffrey.gif" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwBi9oSRwdd_bFgHjsutrWj93EZBu5INJ946efxx2pZ7EsgCrxByIuXZHnmW4ouc3x5pWVwkollrbcLRNUD0QcoQESMnYhJcKoByaMxU1SqrC3IIGXjfH_22r0WWaIs7Awjna/s1600/Jeffrey.gif" /></a><b><br />
1957 - </b>Jeffrey sent to the Principal's office and given a good paddling
by the Principal. He then returns to class, sits still and does not
disrupt class again. <b><br />
<br />
2011 - </b>Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a
zombie. He is then tested for ADD. The school gets extra money
from the state because Jeffrey has a disability. <br /><b><u><br /></u></b></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><u>Scenario 4: </u>
<br /><b>
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping
with his belt. </b><br />
<br />
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1957 - </b>Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college
and becomes a successful businessman. <b><br />
<br />
2011 - </b>Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to
foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist is told by Billy's
sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to
prison. Billy's mom has an affair with the psychologist. <br /><u><br />
Scenario 5: </u><br /><b><br />
Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school. <br />
</b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lFWixN9ZbfY-7mvuF82_VSA7NOBg8YmseXvXTfUbd66Mq2WUzIxPbsFboGaVWXTNJwf5IchOO3pZUC4Lz2E30M8H-K0htER0S838CDqpD8emBwxa-GHQGrQZy7uKhEhV7nP6/s1600/Aspirin.gif" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lFWixN9ZbfY-7mvuF82_VSA7NOBg8YmseXvXTfUbd66Mq2WUzIxPbsFboGaVWXTNJwf5IchOO3pZUC4Lz2E30M8H-K0htER0S838CDqpD8emBwxa-GHQGrQZy7uKhEhV7nP6/s1600/Aspirin.gif" /></a><b><br />
1957</b></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">- Mark shares his aspirin with the
Principal out on the smoking dock. <br />
<br />
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2011</b></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">-</span></b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> The police are called and Mark is
expelled from school for drug violations. His car is then searched for
drugs and weapons. <br />
<br /><u>Scenario 6: </u><br />
<br />
<b>Pedro fails high school English. <br />
<br />
1957</b></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">- Pedro goes to summer school,
passes English and goes to college. <br />
<br />
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<br />
2011</b></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">- Pedro's cause is taken up by state.
Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a
requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit
against the state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English is
then banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but
ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English. <br />
<br /><u>Scenario 7: </u><br />
<br /><b>
Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the Fourth of July, puts them
in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up a red ant bed. </b><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vo0pFMN1nM4o0L5u9mIiIDWtCsu2gVPz4TyTIoHyRcYGtJTW7J2J8gNon46_AwctWYjtPrag9BDTu7Uihf3iwxMEaCO0ugt0KHsLaFCDd_IC4v6jr28nlOjDz2Zbf2Qt5bNp/s1600/AntHill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="56" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vo0pFMN1nM4o0L5u9mIiIDWtCsu2gVPz4TyTIoHyRcYGtJTW7J2J8gNon46_AwctWYjtPrag9BDTu7Uihf3iwxMEaCO0ugt0KHsLaFCDd_IC4v6jr28nlOjDz2Zbf2Qt5bNp/s320/AntHill.jpg" width="320" /></a><b><br />
1957 -</b> Ants die. <br />
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2011</b></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">- ATF, Homeland Security and the
FBI are all called. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism.
The FBI investigates his parents -- and all siblings are removed from their
home and all computers are confiscated. Johnny's dad is placed on a terror
watch list and is never allowed to fly again. <br />
<br /><u>Scenario 8: </u><br />
<br /><b>
Wally falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is
found crying by his teacher, Nancy. Nancy hugs him to comfort him. </b><br />
<br />
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1957 -</b> In a short time, Wally feels better and goes on playing. <b><br />
<br />
2011 -</b> <b>Nancy</b> is accused of being a sexual predator and loses
her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Wally undergoes 5
years of therapy.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-81621263658589500642015-01-08T18:27:00.000-05:002015-03-21T18:03:37.467-04:00Marriage and Civil Unions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://evanscove.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/marriage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://evanscove.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/marriage.jpg" height="201" width="320" /></a></div>
'Marriage' by definition is a religiously sanctified union between a man and a woman. We should never have let it be usurped by the State. (I use the term 'State' with a capital 'S' to indicate <i>"a nation or territory considered as an organized political community under one government'"</i> or in the case of federal systems, <i>multiple governments.</i>) And in fact, the current situation wherein the State has nearly complete control over marriage is ripe for a thoughtful application of Jefferson's separation of Church and State. Such a division would go a long way toward resolving our current social and legal conflicts over the issue.<br />
<br />
The basic solution I envision would be as follows: remove the term and state of 'Marriage' completely from the government sphere, and replace it word for word in law with the term 'Civil Union.' Return 'Marriage' to its religious roots and control. Stated differently, all Marriages would be civil unions, but not all civil unions would be Marriages. In this way, the bundle of State assigned legal rights formerly associated only with Marriages would devolve seamlessly onto all civil unions, and the term Marriage would be assigned to the civil union via religious authority. Even the terminology could be differentiated in that the members of a simple civil union would be legally referred to as 'partners,' whereas in a Marriage they would be 'husband' and 'wife'.<br />
<br />
To those of you who are religious, this would be a simple application of "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's." while allowing other Americans the right to live a moral life as they see fit.
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-19591465622053326562013-01-02T10:33:00.001-05:002013-01-02T10:33:06.973-05:00Demand A Plan? Demand Celebrities Go ______ [Clean Version]<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jrJjlPH1dqo" width="480"></iframe><br />
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-75360855693985736532012-12-18T15:11:00.003-05:002012-12-18T15:11:33.916-05:00Newtown, Connecticut: The Libertarian Party Gets It Right.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was amazed, but the Libertarian National Committee issued a fantastic <a href="http://www.lp.org/news/press-releases/halt-the-massacre-of-innocent-children-by-ending-prohibition-on-self-defense-in">press release</a> in reaction to the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut last week:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
For Immediate Release<br />
Dec. 16, 2012<br />
<br />
Families throughout
the nation mourn the horrific deaths of 26 people, including 20 young
children, killed Friday during a Newtown, Conn., mass shooting at Sandy
Hook Elementary School. <br />
<br />
“It’s impossible to imagine the depths
of despair and grief that the victims’ families are experiencing right
now,” said Geoffrey J. Neale, Chair of the Libertarian National
Committee. “Our hearts go out to every one of them.”<br />
<br />
In the
immediate aftermath of news surrounding the shootings, pundits and
politicians called for new restrictions on firearm ownership, exactly
the opposite of the approach needed to combat tragic gun violence in
schools.<br />
<br />
“We've created a 'gun-free zone,' a killing zone, for
the sickest criminals on the face of the Earth," said R. Lee Wrights,
vice-chair of the Libertarian Party. "We've given them an open killing
field, and we've made the children of this country the victims."<br />
<br />
Wrights pointed out that merely the knowledge that armed people will be present acts as a deterrent for would-be shooters.<br />
<br />
"They're not going to walk into a police station, and why not? Because that's where the guns are," he said.<br />
<br />
The
Federal Gun Free Schools Zone Act prohibits carrying firearms on school
grounds in most cases, effectively criminalizing the right to
self-defense in places filled with the most vulnerable citizens. Without
that federal prohibition, adults working at the school would have been
free to defend themselves, very possibly saving the lives of many of the
young children and adults who were slain in this horrific tragedy.<br />
<br />
"We
must stop blinding ourselves to the obvious: Most of these mass
killings are happening at schools where self-defense is prohibited,"
said Carla Howell, executive director of the Libertarian Party. "Gun
prohibition sets the stage for the slaughter of innocent children. We
must repeal these anti-self-defense laws now to minimize the likelihood
they will occur in the future and to the limit the damage done when they
do."<br />
<br />
Responsible gun owners can and do prevent mass shootings from occurring and escalating.<br />
<ul>
<li style="margin-bottom: .5em;">A 1997 high school shooting in Pearl,
Miss., was halted by the school's vice principal after he retrieved the
Colt .45 he kept in his truck.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: .5em;">A 1998 middle school shooting ended when a man living next door heard gunfire and apprehended the shooter with his shotgun.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: .5em;">A 2002 terrorist attack at an Israeli school was quickly stopped by an armed teacher and a school guard.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: .5em;">A 2002 law school shooting in Grundy, Va., came to an abrupt conclusion when students carrying firearms confronted the shooter.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: .5em;">A 2007 mall shooting in Ogden, Utah, ended when an armed off-duty police officer intervened.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: .5em;">A 2009 workplace shooting in Houston, Texas, was halted by two coworkers who carried concealed handguns.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: .5em;">A 2012 church shooting in Aurora, Colo., was stopped by a member of the congregation carrying a gun.</li>
<li>At the recent mall shooting in Portland, Ore., the gunman took his
own life minutes after being confronted by a shopper carrying a
concealed weapon.</li>
</ul>
For several years after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, gun
prohibitionists blocked pilots from carrying firearms. But after it
became undeniable that guns are an essential line of defense against
hijackers and other terrorists when the lives of innocent passengers are
at stake, Congress finally passed legislation allowing it.<br />
<br />
It's
time to take the same approach with teachers, school administrators,
and security guards, who should be allowed to carry the tools necessary
to protect the students in their care. It's time to put an end to
gun-free zones and make it much easier for responsible adults to arm,
train, and protect themselves and the people they love from the violent
criminals who seek to harm them.<br />
<br />
"You can't depend on somebody
else to take care of your own life for you," Wrights said. "It's too
precious to put it into the hands of somebody else, particularly when
the seconds count."</blockquote>
<i>
Amen!</i>
</div>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-72090526689394468472012-12-12T20:15:00.001-05:002012-12-12T20:51:02.392-05:00'Our Government-Created Financial Crisis' Goes Deeper, Yet.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Walter Williams wrote a good review of John Allison's new book on the roots of the financial crisis. You can read it here: <a href="http://cnsnews.com/blog/walter-e-williams/our-government-created-financial-crisis">Our Government-Created Financial Crisis | CNS News</a>. My additional comments below are cross posted:<br />
<br />
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">I have not read Mr Allison's Book yet, but I concluded that the </span><span style="font-size: 14.40000057220459px; line-height: 21.98000144958496px;">predominant</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14.40000057220459px; line-height: 21.98000144958496px;">responsibility</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> belonged to the Government back in 2008. There are several other events/facts that are rarely mentioned which really expand the evidence against Uncle Sam:</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ratings agencies that 'certified' the MBS', CDO's and CDS' that hid the true risk associated with the various debt instruments are a government-created cartel. Fitch, S&P and Moody's are the only SEC authorized rating agencies. Since they have no competition, is it at all surprising that the value and accuracy of their rating's are poor to say the least?</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Second, the sheer </span><span style="font-size: 14.40000057220459px; line-height: 21.98000144958496px;">existence</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> of various government entities (Fannie, Freddie, FHA, VA, etc.) which underwrite mortgages has introduced significant "unseen" (per Bastiat and Hazlitt) moral-hazard without even considering the "seen" implications of the CRA.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back in the 1950's and 1960's the vast majority of mortgages were privately held. When one wanted a mortgage one would go to a their local bank or S&L. That loan would in most cases be held by the same local financial institution for its lifetime. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">At that time the norm was 20% down-payment and a 30 year mortgage with a fixed or variable rate on the balance. When the local loan officer recommended approval of a loan, it was with the understanding that the risk associated remained with the local institution. Everything about the loan; the interest rate, the credit of the mortgagor, amount, etc., were determined based on risk.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Over the years since then, watching the government takeover of larger and larger portions of the mortgage market, we see the growth of mortgage brokers who did not hold the loan. They simply pass it on and make their living </span><span style="font-size: 14.40000057220459px; line-height: 21.98000144958496px;">solely</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> based on commission. Risk was no longer the primary driver. Now the qualification standards of the various government organizations were the main criteria of loan approval. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">The qualification standards in turn were primarily determined by politics. Countrywide's "Friends of Angelo" program; The CRA pressure on various lenders to increase approval rates; The political pressure brought by Clinton and the Bushs' on the various HUD Secretaries to increase the percentage of loans underwritten by the Government, etc., are just symptoms of the moral hazard created by the simple </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.40000057220459px; line-height: 21.98000144958496px;">existence</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> of Fannie, Freddie and the rest.</span></div>
</div>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-39964952073504159942012-11-02T13:54:00.001-04:002012-11-02T13:54:24.227-04:00What's Up With Progressives (And Other Socialists)?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have finally come to understand why Progressives are so vituperative and malevolent: Reality simply does not function as they wish it would.<br />
<br />
I know that would make me grumpy to say the least!</div>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-3784018582158033472012-11-01T16:29:00.001-04:002012-11-02T10:06:47.681-04:00Sandy and Katrina: A Collectivist Response?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Hurricane_Frances_from_the_ISS_-_10AM._EDT_AUG_27_2004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="By Image ISS009E20440 was provided by the by the Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Laboratory, Johnson Space Center. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" border="0" height="209" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Hurricane_Frances_from_the_ISS_-_10AM._EDT_AUG_27_2004.jpg" title="By Image ISS009E20440 was provided by the by the Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Laboratory, Johnson Space Center. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" width="320" /></a></div>
The <a href="http://politicker.com/2012/11/staten-island-borough-president-dont-give-money-to-the-red-cross/" target="_blank">whining I am hearing</a> about the most recent storm in the Northeast reminds me of the response I witnessed to Katrina in 2005. They prompt me to ask: Why are these 'victims' waiting on organizations to take care of them instead of getting prepared themselves beforehand? Did they not know that a 'bad' storm was coming? It seems hard to believe that they 'prepared' for the storm when "they arrive at a shelter without shoes or socks". <br />
<br />
Here in Florida we face such storms multiple times a year. Although there are always a few people caught unprepared, the vast majority weather the storm quite adequately.We also have a generally high opinion of the various organizations that are kind enough to help out such as the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. (FEMA's historical role is that of a National Security organization, humanitarian assistance is relatively new, and simply <a href="http://www.hoover.org/publications/policy-review/article/7897" target="_blank">adds another, highly politicized bureaucratic layer</a>--often slowing the recovery process.) Apparently, here in Florida we still generally adhere to the philosophy that we are responsible for ourselves--both from a basic sense of self-respect as well as long experience of the severe limits on any organized help.<br />
<br />
I can only guess that this radically different type of response to a similar crisis and identical organizations is the difference between the collectivist mindset and the individual responsibility mindset. When I hear of a hurricane headed our way, we don't even consider what FEMA or the Red Cross will be able to do for us; we start preparing. Do we have sufficient water, food, batteries, lamp oil, ammunition, clean clothes, plastic bags, charcoal, Sterno, etc. Are the cars full of gas? Do we need to refill our medications? In short, we do just about everything we can to survive without any external assistance.<br />
<br />
I could be wrong, but just like Katrina, the people Sandy caught unprepared appear to have simply not prepared, and completely depend on the government and organizations like the Red Cross for their survival. They do not appear to be generally well-prepared, and are simply facing one-off situations: e.g., they did fill up the car with gas, make sure they had food, water, space blanket, flares, etc., in the trunk, but all was wasted when a wind-fallen tree crushed it. Instead, they did not personally prepare and expected the collective to care for them.<br />
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</div>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0Tampa, FL, USA25.482951175355311 -81.21093750.02283867535530959 -121.640625 50.943063675355312 -40.78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-54655005116229262832012-04-21T10:13:00.001-04:002012-11-02T10:04:03.513-04:00Write your Representative: Oppose HR-14 aka MAP-21<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr14" target="_blank">HR-14</a> titled "Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act," or "MAP 21," does at least two thing which are inimicable to a free
society: Allows the IRS to administratively and unilaterally <a href="http://bit.ly/HGgXoQ" target="_blank">suspend a citizens passport</a> and it creates a requirement for personal vehicles to
be equipped wih <a href="http://bit.ly/JaEHWU" target="_blank">‘blackbox’ recorders</a> by 2015. It has passed the Senate so
Write your Representative immediately!</div>
Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-76041693386595570502012-03-28T23:11:00.000-04:002012-03-28T23:19:27.317-04:00QUOTE OF THE DAY: Justice Scalia, "Can that possibly be the law?"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
From today's Supreme Court oral argument on the Affordable Care Act regarding severability:
<br />
<blockquote>
JUSTICE SCALIA: Mr. Kneedler, there are some provisions which nobody would have standing to challenge. If the provision is simply an expenditure of Federal money, it doesn't hurt anybody except the taxpayer, but the taxpayer doesn't have standing. That -- that just continues.
<br />
<br />
Even though it is -- it should -- it is so closely allied to what's been struck down that it ought to go as well. But nonetheless, that has to continue because there's nobody in the world that can challenge it.
<br />
<br />
Can that possibly be the law?
</blockquote>
<br />
Unfortunately, Justice Scalia, under the current legal interpretation of "Standing," that is exactly what our law is today. </div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-33085112984512262542012-02-09T11:34:00.001-05:002012-02-09T11:34:44.719-05:00Israel's Peres sends message of peace to Iranians <a href="http://ping.fm/rRujq">http://ping.fm/rRujq</a>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-55060375636277979312012-02-08T23:55:00.001-05:002012-02-08T23:55:15.742-05:00States Are Refusing To Lock Up Americans Without Due Process <a href="http://ping.fm/rirIL">http://ping.fm/rirIL</a>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-2638414826575029652012-02-04T16:09:00.001-05:002012-02-04T16:09:03.501-05:00[Regulatory Tyranny: CRA 4 Telecoms] First free government cell phones, now free internet! <a href="http://ping.fm/pnRsI">http://ping.fm/pnRsI</a>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-34541737630829057212012-02-01T17:56:00.001-05:002012-02-01T17:58:08.130-05:00Iranian Threats; Ck out all the US military bases surrounding Iran.<div><p>Iranian Threats; Ck out all the US military bases surrounding Iran. <a href="http://ping.fm/wSrin">http://ping.fm/wSrin</a></p>
</div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-29228965995940537662012-02-01T17:07:00.001-05:002012-02-01T17:12:35.273-05:00Dubai Police Chief: 'U.S. Policy Is the No. 1 Security Threat' to the Gulf States' (new link)<div>Dubai Police Chief: 'U.S. Policy Is the No. 1 Security Threat' to the Gulf States' (new link) <a href="http://ping.fm/c3Z4O">http://ping.fm/c3Z4O</a>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-90717396494085083152012-01-30T17:45:00.001-05:002012-02-01T17:15:35.664-05:00BOMBSHELL: Here's A Tape Of Newt Gingrich Endorsing Obamacare<div>BOMBSHELL: Here's A Tape Of Newt Gingrich Endorsing Obamacare <a href="http://ping.fm/vshMr">http://ping.fm/vshMr</a>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-1952737047404548452012-01-27T17:37:00.001-05:002012-02-01T17:16:24.478-05:00Syria Is Importing Iranian Snipers To Murder Anti-Government Protesters<div>Syria Is Importing Iranian Snipers To Murder Anti-Government Protesters <a href="http://ping.fm/HMKZG">http://ping.fm/HMKZG</a>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-55501128556474770722012-01-26T17:46:00.001-05:002012-02-01T17:16:48.804-05:00Controversy in Egypt over Newly Established 'Religious Police' [al-mutawa'ah]<div>Controversy in Egypt over Newly Established 'Religious Police' [al-mutawa'ah] <a href="http://ping.fm/fF1js">http://ping.fm/fF1js</a>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-56507616065333941152012-01-23T20:31:00.001-05:002012-02-01T17:18:14.650-05:00Judge: Americans can be forced to decrypt their laptops<div>RT @AnonymousIRC @Kallisti Judge: Americans can be forced to decrypt their laptops <a href="http://cnet.co/xq5oa5">http://cnet.co/xq5oa5</a>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-40183828617312438852012-01-22T11:43:00.001-05:002012-02-01T17:18:35.805-05:00[Big Brother: The ISP Police] SOPA Now Dead Hail The Rise Of HR 1981<div>[Big Brother: The ISP Police] SOPA Now Dead Hail The Rise Of HR 1981 <a href="http://goo.gl/UuI1a">http://goo.gl/UuI1a</a>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-25645228435302132692012-01-21T11:01:00.001-05:002012-02-01T17:18:55.495-05:00Islamists win 70% of Egypt People's Assembly party list seats<div>Islamists win 70% of Egypt People's Assembly party list seats <a href="http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/33/100/32287/Elections-/News/Islamists-win--of-Egypt-Peoples-Assembly-party-lis.aspx">http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/33/100/32287/Elections-/News/Islamists-win--of-Egypt-Peoples-Assembly-party-lis.aspx</a>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-55676034293688209352012-01-18T18:23:00.001-05:002012-02-01T17:19:15.246-05:00This Horror Story Shows How SOPA Would Be Bad News For Startups<div>This Horror Story Shows How SOPA Would Be Bad News For Startups <a href="http://ping.fm/HDqnW">http://ping.fm/HDqnW</a>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-82527233379432278652012-01-18T11:22:00.001-05:002012-02-01T17:19:34.962-05:00Iranian lawmaker says Obama proposed talks<div>Iranian lawmaker says Obama proposed talks <a href="http://ping.fm/Po8DO">http://ping.fm/Po8DO</a>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31336076.post-39182115612408254742012-01-18T11:07:00.001-05:002012-02-01T17:20:26.003-05:00Press TV: Barak: Israeli attack on Iran 'far away'<div>Press TV: Barak: Israeli attack on Iran 'far away' <a href="http://ping.fm/ct3Db">http://ping.fm/ct3Db</a>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00167782961598132213noreply@blogger.com0