Breaking Analysis
Posted 7/6/08 ( by Travis)
Earnings now pace him ahead of the annual salaries for network news anchors: Katie Couric, Brian Williams, Charlie Gibson and Diane Sawyer — combined!
Sunday NY Times Magazine Zev Chafets
“Do you know what bought me all this?” he asked, waving his hand in the general direction of his prosperity. “Not my political ideas. Conservatism didn’t buy this house. First and foremost I’m a businessman. My first goal is to attract the largest possible audience so I can charge confiscatory ad rates. I happen to have great entertainment skills, but that enables me to sell airtime.”
Adam Smith once said:
By pursuing his own interest he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. I have never known much good done by those who affected to trade for the public good.
Perhaps Rush has done more for the cause of liberty and conservative ideology than if he started off intending to promote it? Or, to twist it even further, perhaps he knew a market based approach would promote such a positive outcome.
Before ending with Rush's transcript, here are two stories, previously posted here at neoperspectives.com:
1/23/07 Thomas Sowell
Many observers who say that they cannot understand how anyone can be worth $100 million a year do not realize that it is not necessary that they understand it, since it is not their money.
1/19/07 Washington Post
RUSH: (laughter) Am I worth
it? Here's Michael Wolff, the guy you thought was Lex Luthor. He's beside himself He's
just beside himself! It's a monster error.
WOLFF: I think it's a monster error. I'm sitting here saying, "What are these
people smoking?" You know, the truth is that Rush Limbaugh has been, um, uh... He's
ridden the rise of conservatism for 25 years, and I -- I don't... Maybe nobody quite -- quite has
been following the news, but that's coming to an end. It's going to be over, and Rush Limbaugh, in a
relatively short period of time, is going to look like a kind of really out-of-it oddity. And
I cannot, for the life of me, imagine how someone could have made this deal.
RUSH: CNBC, if you keep this up; if you keep putting inane, ignorant people who have no
understanding of how media works -- if you keep putting them on to discuss me -- I am going to buy
your network and start doing things right or else shut it down.
Posted 7/2/08 ( by Travis)
Elderly
Woman Rescued by Family from NHS Dehydration Order
LifeSiteNews
^ | 7/2/08 | Hilary White
Doctors at Selly Oak Hospital then told the family that all food, fluids and hydration were to be stopped and that Mrs. Westwood would be given morphine "because she is dying".
Ellen's daughter, Kathleen Westwood, told the BBC that the decision had been taken because it was "a capacity ruling" and that under current UK law, the family's wishes do not enter into the equation.
"If you deem somebody to have lost capacity, then the doctors can act in the best interests," she said.
The family had an interview with doctors on a Friday afternoon, in which they were told that Mrs. Westwood was going to die.
The family, however, brought the woman food and water. Hospital officials responded by threatening to report the family to social services for feeding Mrs. Westwood.
"We said we don't want this to happen and they said 'it's happening, sorry'. I had to fight very, very hard to get it stopped."
Eventually the family obtained a second opinion and Mrs. Westwood was able to go home, where she is recovering well and is celebrating her 89th birthday today.
Under the UK's Mental Capacity Act, passed in 2005, patients deemed to be incapable of making decisions in their own "best interests" can have all fluids withheld until they die. The family can do little to stop this process once doctors have made their decision.
While active euthanasia officially remains illegal in Britain, some are saying that the NHS standard procedure of issuing elderly and vulnerable patients with an "end of life plan" that includes dehydration, is simply euthanasia under a different name. And it is becoming common. A packed meeting this week in Stafford organised by a group called Cure the NHS, heard the stories of families who had been forced to bring in priests and lawyers to stop similar orders from killing their loved ones, even though the patients sometimes are not terminally ill.
(Added to 'British HealthCare')
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Posted 6/27/08 ( by Travis)
*LIVE
THREAD* DC Gun Ban Struck Down 5-4 (Scalia for the win!)
SCOTUS
Blog ^ | 6-26-08 | shameless vanity
This historic ruling reaffirms what the second amendment clearly states. The so called 'coma debate' never held water and both the intention and meaning was always clear.
This sort of 'negative power', as power goes upwards from township, city, county, state, federal, whether judicial or legislative is in dire need of expansion. In other words, the next level up can tell the lower levels what they may not do (negative power), not what they must do (positive power). For example, knocking down this tyrannical law in the district of Colombia, is an example of negative power being utilized. National New Deal type legislation at the Federal level is 'positive power', mandating what states must do, regulations they must comply with, socialisms they must conform with, pyramid schemes they must partake in, and are inherently antithetical to liberty and good governance.
Interestingly, isn't it ironic that the highest crime rate in the nation is the district of Colombia. In fact, the District at one point had a higher murder rate than Baghdad, a fact mentioned by Secretary Rumsfeld. How can it be, that the city with the highest crime rate in the United States has amongst the strictest gun control laws? Likely for the same reason that the District of Colombia has the lowest test scores and highest funding per student out of all the 50 states.
Also interestingly, Obama appears to agree with the ruling as do many Democrats. Perhaps freedom is indeed on the march!
(Added to 'Guns and Crime' and 'Constitutional Issues')
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Posted 6/27/08 ( by Travis)
Tired
of waiting, man pulls tooth
The
Australian ^ | June 25, 2008 | Danny Rose
Jeff Miners said he extracted his own molar tooth about four weeks ago, after he had languished on a series of public dental waiting lists since 2001.
(Added to 'US Government Health', for now)
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Posted 6/27/08 ( by Travis)
Awash
in oil wealth, Venezuela suffers healthcare crisis
boston.com
^ | April 9, 2008 | Chris Kraul
Palacios, the nation's largest public maternity hospital and once the nation's beacon of neonatal care, has fallen on hard times. Half of the anesthesiologists and pediatricians on staff two years ago have quit. Basic equipment such as respirators, ultrasound monitors, and incubators are either broken or scarce. Six of 12 birth rooms have been shut.
On one day in March, five newborns were crowded into one incubator, said Dr. Jesús Méndez Quijada, a psychiatrist and Palacios staff member who is a past president of the Venezuelan Medical Federation
The deaths of the six infants "were not a case of bad luck, but the consequence of an accumulation of circumstances that have created this alarming situation," Quijada said.
The problems at Concepción Palacios are symptoms of a variety of ills plaguing the public healthcare system under leftist firebrand President Hugo Chávez, Quijada and others say.
Cases of malaria nearly doubled between 1998, the year before Chávez took office, and 2007. Incidents of dengue fever more than doubled over the same period.
Poorly paid doctors regularly demonstrate at hospitals from Puerto La Cruz in the northeast to Maracay in the industrial heartland, demanding back pay and protesting the lack of equipment and supplies. Others are leaving in droves for Spain, Australia, or the Middle East, where they can make 10 times the $600 monthly average salary they earn in public hospitals.
<.>
A lack of openness has affected other facets of public health too. After the medical establishment blamed him for an outbreak of dengue fever last summer, Chávez halted weekly publication of an epidemiology report that for 50 years had tallied occurrences of infectious diseases nationwide.
<.>
Chávez has also been accused of appointing cronies to manage public health.
(Added to 'US Government Health' [for now], and 'Chavez')
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Posted 6/20/08 ( by Travis)
Penn And Teller Get Hippies To Sign Water Banning Petition
12/6/08 You Tube
DiHydroMonoxide Ban! :) The tendency towards this sort of mindless advocacy is indicative of a lot of problems in society.
Which reminds me, it is often said that it is one's duty to vote. As in, every good citizen should vote. I sort of disagree with this. I think every good citizen should be informed, opinionated, and educated about the issues. Only then is voting (or signing petitions) appropriate. An uninformed, uneducated, unaware citizen should find it their duty not to vote. If not, we get a bunch of these water bans thrown into our public policies, as is currently the case.
(Added to 'The Environment')
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Posted 6/20/08 ( by Travis)
‘I’m Very Sorry’: Man Involved In Shooting Shares Experience
6/8/08 Brietbart TV
(Added to 'Guns and Crime')
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Posted 6/17/08 ( by Travis)
Ron Paul Candidates on the March in NV
6/17/08 Neoperspectives.com
Two weekends ago I attended a fundraiser and volunteer event for Ron Paul republicans here in NV, which I have been meaning to write about. The amazing energy and work of the Ron Paul Republicans (especially our Meetup [over 700 members]) generated a strong second place showing for Ron Paul here in NV, brought hundreds of new, and mostly young, faces into the political arena, shut down the GOP convention in Reno, and heavily influenced the NV GOP party platform, has now translated into candidates running for office. As the saying goes, all politics is local, and indeed, local change will predate national change and lead to lasting political involvement, while national advocacy is more emotionally satisfying, initially, it will not bear as heavy long term fruit like local advocacy.
So, I am proud to announce that Ron Paul candidates are on the march in NV; we are challenging all three congressional seats, and at least 5 state assembly seats (so I've been told). Plus, from appearances of things, we may have a number of other candidates not directly involved in the meetup who at least sympathize with the ideals of human liberty. The 3 Ron Paul candidates who were the beneficiaries of this this particular fundraiser are:
Chris
Dyer running for Congressional district 1
Carl Bunce running for Congress, district 3
(running in the primary in my district
against pork barreling, big government spending Jon Porter, who
last time I checked was on TV was spinning his wheels discussing Darfur instead of battling American
socialism.)
David Isbell running for state assembly district 17
I know all three of them quite well and can personally vouch that they are truly in favor of limiting the size and scope of government. Plus, David Isabell has an awesome license plate! :)
LisaMarie Johnson running for state assembly district 6 was also in attendance.
Also, we had two judges present, one current Judge, Cynthia Steel for Family Court, and one judge seeking election, Suzan Baucum for district court judge. I'm not sure if either of them are Ron Paul supporters, but it was certainly nice of them to stop by; I was pleased to have some good discussions with Judge Steel and as an added bonus on her website she has listed the endorsement of Weldon ‘Don’ Havins, M.D., Esq, who taught our class and whose opinion I respect.
Of course, there are other NV Ron Paul candidates who were not at this particular fundraiser, those with websites are:
Andrew Bronsen running for state assembly, district 4
James Smack running for congress, district 2
As political forces grow, this phenomena of politicians recognizing and showing up at events will surely increase. Once it is known that 'liberty' is a popular concept, that Ron Paul candidates are being elected to office, that Ron Paul voters are voting with their ballots, we will attract the attention of 'mainstream' politicians who, flighty with the wind, as they are prone, will soon begin to co-opt our rhetoric and vote and rule respectively. Not to mention, attend out events and give us access to these elected officials. Let us welcome them.
In conclusion, I have the utmost respect for all our candidates, they are taking the necessary steps, fighting our battles for us, putting in the hours, doing the dirty work, while we remain bashfully on the sidelines and cheer. I congratulate them all and wish them the best of luck, they will certainly have my vote and support this November and beyond.
As is said, 'what men can dream, men can achieve', and if this phenomena continues to replicate in states across the country, and from what we hear this is happening; we will truly have a revolution on our hands.
(Added to 'Ron Paul 2008' and 'Nevada Politics')
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Posted 6/14/08 ( by Travis)
Two Pro American Articles:
May/June 2008 Foreign Policy
The United States is poised to receive a massive—perhaps unprecedented—inflow of large- and medium-size European investors. Everything from corporate behemoths to family-owned companies are about to come to America on a corporate buying spree. Call it the Euroinvasion. Not only will many U.S. companies now have European owners, but the American marketplace will witness an infusion of new foreign competitors that will manufacture their products in the United States.
European companies are not just being pulled to America by a cheaper dollar. They are also being pushed away from Europe by a business environment that is not as attractive as that in the United States. For many companies, moving across the Atlantic is the fastest and cheapest way to cut costs and become more competitive. The average hourly manufacturing wage in Europe is 16 percent higher than in the United States. Social insurance and payroll taxes are far steeper in Europe. As are energy costs: the average price of a kilowatt-hour for industrial usage in Europe is roughly 60 percent more than in the United States. Transportation costs are higher, too. And the cost advantages of operating in the United States don’t stop there. Land is still far cheaper in the United States. An acre of rural land in the United States will cost you an average of $1,900. The same plot of land will cost you $5,700 in Germany, $6,650 in Spain, and $14,600 in Denmark.
Of course, you will see protectionist American and European politicians hollering and fighting this change, as is their wont. But, they would be wise to remember the words of Milton Friedman from the 1980s when the same thing was happening with the US and Japan:
It is a mystery to me why... it is
regarded as a sign of Japanese strength and American weakness that the Japanese find it more
attractive to invest in the U.S. than Japan. Surely it is precisely the reverse - a sign of U.S.
strength and Japanese weakness.
This second article illustrates that freedom of speech accompanies the, relative, economic freedom described above:
Hate
speech or free speech? What much of West bans is protected in U.S.
International
Herald Tribune ^ | June 11, 2008 | Adam Liptak
Posted 6/14/08 ( by Travis)
Nevada
Imaging Centers Installs The First Toshiba Aquilion ONE dynamic volume CT system
The
Financial via Finchannel.com ^ | 05/21/08 | N/A
"As the only dynamic volume CT system in the world, the Aquilion ONE's ability to image an entire organ and show function means faster, more accurate diagnosis, better patient outcomes and ultimately lower healthcare costs," explained Dr. William W. Orrison, chief of Neuroradiology, Nevada Imaging Centers. "Nevada Imaging Centers is committed to best-in-class solutions for its thousands of patients and is thrilled to be the first site in the Western U.S. to offer this truly revolutionary technology."
Dr Orrison (and the rest of the folks at NIC) is an amazing person, kind, generous, incredibly knowledgeable (understatment), and a very hard worker who has built up an incredible privately owned and operated imaging center here with top rate cutting edge technology. He has also helped provide great research opportunities for the students of Touro University (and elsewhere); including this recently published paper, the first ever modern study of contortionists, which I was privileged to be involved with.
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Posted 6/14/08 ( by Travis)
ADA
accessibility lawsuits causing headaches for small business owners
San
Francisco Chronicle ^ | 6/13/8 | Carol Lloyd
Death by a thousand cuts. This an example of the sort of private property infringements that are putting small businesses out of business, putting a lot of lawyers in business and amount to legalized racketeering.
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Posted 6/11/08 ( by Kyle Hunt)
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: a Vision of the Future
6/11/13 neoperspectives.com By Kyle Hunt
Having grown a bit weary of this space and time, I decided to take a journey. I have studied the past, but this time I decided to look into the future. What I saw there surprised me. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World became clear right before my eyes:
The Great Pyramid - More than just a manifestation in Giza, this was the structure through which the whole world was ruled. It stood for centuries as the model for maintaining control over people and exploiting their labour. It remained until the
free radicals were numerous enough to bring the whole system crumbling to the ground, destroying the power of the
All-Seeing Eye. The civilizations that grew from the rubble had no such set structure, but most closely resembled the wiring of the human and the roots and branches of the tree.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon - Oh Babylon, the once great city, doomed to fall. A city of great buildings and powerful men, it was the center of trade for the world. But its confidence was shaken by the collapse of its sacred buildings. After that, many were able to foresee its imminent fall from grace. After the oceans rose up, the city streets were reclaimed through the sewers. Windows and walls became broken and eroded, but the strength of men's industry remained for many years in the steel frames. Nature reclaimed her materials and put them to her uses, cultivating a magnificent wild garden high above the sea. No one could gaze upon the Hanging Gardens of Babylon without a great sense of awe. A city taken by time.
Statue of Zeus - There he sat just as he stood, a giant among men. Deified by his country, he was erroneously credited with freeing a good many from bondage. The people who followed this demi-god killed their brethren only to be sold into slavery by the same system they helped to save. He was the model by which leaders were judged, leading to catastrophic consequences. After a short while, people had lost most records of this man and would wonder at the small pieces of copper-plated zinc they came across from time to time. Eventually, his temple fell to the ground, but he remained seated for a while longer, staring out across the shores. Only the birds were left to honor the memory of my brutal relative.
Temple of Artemis - Artemis, the goddess of forests and hills, had her temple built in a land of incredible natural beauty. A domed center with its two wings, it soared grandly above the rest of the world for a short period of history. The temple was magnificent, but the facade only served to hide the foul deeds that were occurring within. It was brought to the ground by flame, serving as its own crucible. Young
Herostratus, seeking fame, claimed credit for the destruction.
Mausoleum of Maussollos - Used by those who honor death over life, the mausoleum housed their shameful past. This order of men sought to rule over the people of this earth through deception, but their greed, arrogance, and lack of faith in humanity were their ultimate downfall. The secrets were revealed and their power destroyed. This structure did not take long to fall.
Colossus of Rhodes - Often misunderstood and mistranslated through the years, the colossus of roads was the method by which men physically conquered this planet. These routes and roads brought them to faraway lands full of unimaginable treasures to plunder. One of the most successful practitioners of this philosophy was
Cecil. His company was able continue his legacy and convince the deluded people of the world (especially Babylon) that rocks symbolized love. Through their roads to the mind, they told many that these rocks were important because they lasted far longer than the human being, despite all of the evidence to the contrary. A lie soon became "tradition," while many men lost their lives fighting over rocks. The roads of the land, the roads to the minds, and the scholars of Rhodes all became unnecessary. Travel was revolutionized, people thought for themselves, and morally bereft leaders were thrown from office. The Colossus splashed into the ocean piece by piece.
Lighthouse of Alexandria - What a noble pursuit, to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. Alexandria was the home of inventors far ahead of their time, like
Heron (Hero), but their works were relegated to triviality, as ground-breaking developments were unneeded with slave labor so readily available. The lighthouse was built to attract everyone safely to Alexandria, but also to gain the highest perspective and see for miles around. With so much collected information, the All-Seeing Eye eventually assumed control of the tower.
Together, their power seemed limitless, but this was only an illusion.
*****************
Is the future I saw the end of humanity? No, it is only the beginning! It is truly the Kingdom of God, a land of men and women living in peace with themselves, each other, and their surroundings. Humans will evolve to amazing heights with no systems of domination and exploitation there to hold them back. It will be the Golden Age of man. When it will happen is only a matter of
Chronos.
But who am I to tell you of the future? Prometheus?
Ezekiel? Cronus?
Lucifer? You might even think I am just some lunatic.
The truth is that I am a child of God. Just like you.
Posted 6/9/08 ( by Travis)
Obama Wouldn't be the First Black President
6/7/09 Rush Limbaugh
As you know, Barack Obama clinched the Democratic Party Nomination last week. I was meaning to write a short piece on this but Rush gives a great monologue on it, which mostly represents my personal opinion. First, it places the measure of 'racism' on the private sector, not the government.
However, not mentioned is the fact that there will always be racists, just like there will always be people who dislike fat people and dislike red heads and have biases and predjudices and whatnot against every quality imaginable. It is human nature to judge and criticize and sublimate innate negative emotions. It is a battle we all face in our own ways and collectively each 'group' deals with the negative connotations coming at them from somewhere. But no one is exempt! All of us are targeted by negative subtle emotions stemming from some individuals or subclass group; we are all discriminated against in some way and have our own discriminations, for such is life. But it would be a mistake to express even the slightest outrage about any such sentiment directed at ourselves. Even pity is condescending. Fighting fire with fire only gives credence and reinforcement to fallacious thought processes.
So race and race relations is an unimportant thing to dwell on, discrimination is an unimportant thing to worry about, and most certainly an unimportant things to legislate for, IMHO. Now, here is Rush:
All these Drive-By Media stories, there was one Washington Post story mentioning Obama is black four or five times. There were three or four other Drive-By Media publications focusing on Obama's race and how what a great step this is for the United States of America, we've passed a major milestone. It just is so wonderful and so forth.
After
a while you can see all the liberal white guilt throughout the Drive-By Media because they won't let
the subject of Obama's race go. I mean they're making a huge fuss about this, being black,
being African-American, biracial or whatever. But I have news for those of you in the
Drive-Bys. If Obama wins the election, he would not be the first black president. And
I'm not talking about Bill Clinton and the phony baloney first black president bit.
Thirteen years ago in 1995, Time Warner, Incorporated, inaugurated a black president, Dick Parsons.
Eleven years ago, 1997, American Express inaugurated a black president, Ken Chenault. Seven
years ago, Merrill Lynch inaugurated a black president, Stanley O'Neal. Now, three of our
greatest corporations, what the left calls greedy corporations, formally ended racism by elevating
an African-American to the presidency. Now, you may know this and you may not know it.
But these were incredible events, too. They didn't get that much news coverage, it didn't fit
the media template or the action line or the talking points of the left because the Drive-By Media
is so hell-bent on trashing America, on dwelling in the past, on inflaming racial confrontations, on
elevating racial entrepreneurs that they underreported the real state of race in America. My
point here -- and I realize it might have offended you to say, hey, he's not the first black
president. I did that to get your attention. The point is that the real state of race in
this country continues to be underreported. We continue to hear that we are no different now
than we were in 1965 and in prior years. There's just as much discrimination, there's just as
much racism, and incidentally, there's just as much sexism and we're not making any progress
whatsoever, and that's why Obama's nomination is being hailed as some great point that has never
been reached, and in fact it has.
Now,
I understand the difference in a board of directors and a committee hiring somebody to be the CEO of
a corporation and the votes of American citizens of a political party electing or nominating
someone. I fully understand the difference. My primary point is that we have made so much
progress in race relations in this country that people who are responsible for underreporting it or
not reporting it, and the people who are responsible for continuing to try to keep this country
roiled with racial strife are the very people who are now celebrating this wondrous event in the
nomination of Obama, as though its only meaning is that he's black, and it's not its only meaning.
He stands for things that are pretty bad. He's got some associations with people that are
pretty questionable. All that's swept aside, all of that is ignored because of the momentous
racial achievement.
I don't think we have, at least as it has been defined in the past, racism in this country. We have
underclassism. We have broken-familism. We have single-momism. We have you're-a-victimism. We have
the failure of the Great Society-ism. We have a bunch of isms that are genuine and real, but
racism, said to be the root of all these, is not. If we were as racist as the left wants to
portray us, there wouldn't be the phenomenon known as Oprah Winfrey; there wouldn't have been Bill
Cosby. I could go on down the list. There wouldn't be Obama. There wouldn't have been
Ken Chenault and American Express. There wouldn't have been Dick Parsons at Time Warner. There
wouldn't have been Stanley O'Neal at Merrill Lynch, and there are countless other examples of this
in smaller corporations. Herman Cain is one. And all of the truly achievement-oriented
black leaders who don't fit the liberal mold are ignored or they are impugned. You've heard
the names, don't need to mention them. Clarence Thomas is one, Dr. Sowell himself, Walter
Williams.
So while the media is trying to catch up with old news, first black president, and signals they're
ready to acknowledge America's fairness, ask yourself, why do the Drive-Bys say they're in the news
business when they're actually in the old news business? That's what they thrive on is the
past, narratives, action lines, and templates from the past. Congratulations are due to Obama,
there's no question, but not for being black, what an insult. Hey, congratulations, Obama,
welcome to politics, the first black presidential nominee. What an insult. The reason
you congratulate Barack Obama, he's a guy who took on and beat the pantsuit off the Clinton machine,
even if he did crawl across the finish line.
Posted 6/9/08 ( by Travis)
Senate
Votes To Privatize Its Failing Restaurants
Washington
Post ^ | Paul Kane
A great story, which serves as a microcosm illustrating the difference between state and private control of institutions and industries. Why doesn't Senator Feinstein carry this lesson over to healthcare?.
Year after year, decade upon decade, the U.S. Senate's network of restaurants has lost staggering amounts of money -- more than $18 million since 1993, according to one report, and an estimated $2 million this year alone, according to another.
In a letter to colleagues, Feinstein said that the Government Accountability Office found that "financially breaking even has not been the objective of the current management due to an expectation that the restaurants will operate at a deficit annually."
In a masterful bit of understatement, Feinstein blamed "noticeably subpar" food and service. Foot traffic bears that out. Come lunchtime, many Senate staffers trudge across the Capitol and down into the basement cafeteria on the House side. On Wednesdays, the lines can be 30 or 40 people long.
House staffers almost never cross the Capitol to eat in the Senate cafeterias.
Operation of the House cafeterias was privatized in the 1980s by a Democratic-controlled Congress. Restaurant Associates of New York, the current House contractor, would take over the Senate facilities this fall. The company wins high praise from most staffers and lawmakers, who say they are pleased with the wide variety of new items offered every few months.
Most important to Feinstein, Restaurant Associates turns a substantial profit -- paying $1.2 million in commissions to the House since 2003.
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Posted 6/6/08 ( by Kyle Hunt)
6/6/08 Neoperspectives.com By Kyle Hunt
Democrats and Republicans, Progressives and Neoconservatives, Socialists and Statists. All have been growing increasingly concerned over the popularity of the libertarian philosophy.
Although increasing in numbers due to Ron Paul's success, libertarians are still only a small percentage of the population. The Libertarian Party candidate, Bob Barr, will not win the general election. He is more mainstream and less radical than Ron Paul, which could gain him a significant amount of votes, but he will not inspire a great many people to action like Ron Paul did for this very same reason.
So who will be voting for Bob Barr? He recently stated that he does not believe he will be taking anyone away from the McCain camp. McCain has the Neoconservative vote locked up, especially with Clinton out of the race.
Will disillusioned Democrats decide to turn their backs on Obama and vote for the man who led the impeachment of their last president? Probably not too many. He will likely be getting votes from LP regulars, Independents, and those who do not usually affiliate with political parties.
So if libertarians are not going to be taking over the country any time soon and will not play a significant part in this upcoming election, then why are so many people worried?
I believe it is because the libertarian philosophy is attractive. The philosophy transcends party politics. With a country facing imminent collapse, such a radical idea becomes an intriguing option. Have not both parties been responsible for bringing us to the brink of destruction? Why should government increase in size and scope every year? Why must our civil liberties be destroyed? Why not obey the Constitution? Cannot change be affected at the local level most effectively? Does the United States really need to police the world? Would people not be more prosperous if their labor was not taxed by the federal government to pay for boondoggles? Why is our money backed by nothing? Why does the Federal Reserve debase our currency?
These are hard questions to answer. This had led many people to put their faith in themselves, friends, families, free markets, God, and their fellow man. Often misunderstood, libertarians are not simply greedy or lacking compassion. They see the problems that arise from unrestrained government in collusion with big business and honestly consider their philosophy as being the most efficient and intelligent way for restore peace and prosperity for all.
Libertarians understand that the state has made many obligations to its citizens. The only way these obligations could actually be met would be by dramatically decreasing spending, withdrawing troops from around the world, and by living within our means. Eventually it would be great to see these programs phased out at the federal level as people can best be cared for by their communities, but this is not an immediate goal or a pressing concern. Do not be mistaken by propaganda and lies, libertarians do not want to put people out on the streets.
Let us not fear each other. I suggest we all try to put aside our differences, learn from one another, and cooperate to achieve our similar goals. We want to see Neoconservatives (Democrat and Republican alike) thrown out of power, our country returned to prosperity, and our international reputation restored.
By working together, we can return our country to greatness.
Posted 6/3/08 ( by Travis)
Neoperspectives.com has accepted its first ever advertisement on this site. Previously we have had an informal policy of not accepting or placing advertisement in order not to clutter the site. However, the growth of our traffic has now made it lucrative enough to accept a small advertisement on one of our research articles, 'A Charter School Tale', which effectively pays for the year maintenance cost of running this site. Additionally, this ad was accepted because we are also supporting a good cause; the company which placed the ad reviews online schools. Certainly we are supportive of this effort.
(Added to 'A Charter School Tale')
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Posted 6/3/08 ( by Travis)
'Cushy'
Prisons See Dozens Trying To Break In (UK)
The
Telegraph (UK) ^ | 6-4-2008 | Robert Winnett and Christopher Hope
Shadow ministers claim that the figures provide the first hard evidence that prisons are now so "cushy" that people would rather stay in prison than be free.
The latest figures show that 37,000 inmates eligible to be released early declined to apply for the perk between 1999 and 2006.
Between 2003 and 2008, 42 individuals were detected attempting to break into prisons.
I think Janice Rogers Brown says it best:
"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible."
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Posted 6/1/08 ( by Travis)
Grassley's War on Cancer Patients
5/31/08 WSJ
Charles Grassley (R., Iowa), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, requested that the Government Accountability Office launch an inquiry into whether the FDA behaved appropriately in granting the "accelerated approval" of Avastin, a drug for treating women with metastatic breast cancer. Mr. Grassley's action will have a catastrophic effect on America's ability to develop new drugs.
(Added to 'FDA Tyranny')
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Posted 5/26/08 ( by Kyle Hunt)
Elephants Stampeding (and Donkeys Ditching Jackasses)
5/26/08 Neoperspectives.com By Kyle Hunt
On May 15th, there was an interesting vote in the House of Representatives. While many Democrats voted to send an additional chunk of taxpayer money to the Iraq boondoggle, almost all Republicans chose to abstain. Being wary of politicians' motives, there is much discussion as to what might be behind this odd turn of events.
I argue that these are elephants of a dying breed facing extinction, hell-bent on staying alive. Governor Schwarzenegger and Representative Tim Davis have both recently
commented on the dying Republican Party, but I think that there is something more subtle going on here. Politicians will do anything to keep their positions of comfort, even if it means voting (or cowardly abstaining) in line with their original party ideals.
Why won't they 'stay the course'? Because the new Republican Party will never allow it. The new Republican Party is made up of energized people of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds who believe in the Constitution, non-interventionism, limited government, and a sound financial system not supported through the theft of taxpayer money. It is, in truth, the old Republican Party, which was stolen from us piece by piece by many shysters along the way. And worried about running up against this new and uncompromising crowd of conservatives, these politicians have chosen to go turn-coat.
If you think I am just full of hot air, look at what has already been accomplished by this group's efforts for Ron Paul's campaign. Despite being fought every step of the way by the media and GOP establishment, they were able to twice break fund-raising records, get a Ron Paul blimp up in the air, and turn
The Manifesto into a bestseller, all while getting over a million primary voters to turn out for a candidate who was laughed at in every debate and pronounced to have "no shot of winning." Because of their efforts, Ron Paul has been picking up a significant number of delegates to bring to St. Paul, where John McCain will be facing a legitimate Republican revolt. It appears there are some elephants who never forgot.
And all of this was orchestrated by a small band of people loyal not simply to a man, but to an ideal.
I write to my friends, the hardworking Donkeys, to ask that you consider working with this group of individuals to achieve amazing results, collectively. Just as 'liberal' is not a dirty word, neither is 'conservative.' This is a bridge that desperately needs to be built. Despite our many differences in regards to particular policies and use of governmental power, we all desire a better future for our country and the world. This is a future purged of the Neoconservatives (both Republicans and Democrats) who got us into this terrible mess, and it can only be attained through diligence and cooperation.
Imagine the possibilities. Congressional elections would become about much more than whether or not candidates have Ds or Rs next to their names, allowing us to get true fighters into seats of power, even if they come from a *gasp* third-party! Forget the kind of people that renege on every promise made before taking power and who take impeachment 'off the table.' They are done. We shall show the world that if our president is going to act as a tyrant, it will be without the support of Congress, the American peoples' proxy.
We should also be constantly rethinking the way we show our discontent. Protests and demonstrations have been effective in the past, but I am unsure if they are worth the effort now. With a media that turns a blind eye to things that matter and free speech allowed only in 'zones', the message being conveyed will likely never reach its intend targets. Additionally, the badged terrorists are always looking to incite violence at such events and spy on these groups through the use of moles. This article from Minneapolis mentions how church groups, theater troupes, and vegans are some of the most watched groups. Armed goons are watching people who would likely never imagine holding a weapon. (Who is the terrorist threat, again?) I do not suggest that anyone should back down to the powers that be because of their criminal behavior, but I think there may be a better way.
Working together, we could lay siege to the bastards. Hit them where it hurts by boycotting things that stand against your principles. If you don't like the idea of cloned meat, beaten cows, or chickens that cannot walk after a year of life, then stop eating these sorry animals because you most certainly are what you eat. If you are against the media's monopoly of information, then cancel your cable. Google's privacy practices got you worried? There are always alternatives. Make even the slightest change in the way you consume, tell your friends about it, and sit back and watch the results. I have a feeling you will be astounded. For every action..
There is an equal and opposite reaction. There are fundamental laws at play in this universe. Once we begin to understand the rules of the game, then we can finally begin to play consciously. It seems the odds are stacked against us, but who doesn't love an underdog? David beat Goliath, the Americans beat the British (twice!), and the Giants beat the Patriots. Anyone who concedes defeat at this crucial point in the contest does not understand history and most certainly does not belong on this team. Everyone else, let us take this country back.
Posted 5/26/08 ( by Travis)
Two great healthcare stories focusing on market orientated solutions to reforming healthcare:
Let
Wal-Mart fix US health care
MSN
Money ^ | 27 may 08 | Jim Jubak
Florida
sets pace on reform
Waterbury
Republican-American ^ | May 27, 2008 | Editorial
(Added to 'US Government Healthcare')
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Posted 5/26/08 ( by Travis)
Court:
Texas had no right to take polygamists' kids
AP
via Yahoo ^ | 5/22/08
A welcome development from the state of Texas, and a related article:
System
Intended to Protect Children Under Fire for Overzealousness
Fox
News ^ | Robin Wallace
(Added to 'Government Kidnapping')
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Posted 5/20/08 ( by Travis)
"Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed?" said Dr. Ferris. "We want them broken. You'd better get it straight that it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against - then you'll know that this is not the age for beautiful gestures. We're after power and we mean it. You fellows were pikers, but we know the real trick, and you'd better get wise to it. There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens' What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted - and you create a nation of law-breakers - and then you cash in on guilt. Now that's the system, Mr. Rearden, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with."
- Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, 1957.
With the above quote in mind, check out this story:
4/28/05 kake.com
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Posted 5/20/08 ( by Travis)
Touro
University Nevada has commencement (first ever!)
5/18/08 KNPR
Touro University Nevada will hold its spring 2008 commencement on May 18, starting at 3 p.m.,
at Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall on the campus of UNLV.
The ceremony will include the non-profit university's first-ever class of
medical school graduates, as well as masters degree graduates in education, nursing, occupational
therapy and physician assistant studies. Nevada Senator Joseph J. Heck, D.O., will deliver a special
keynote address.
The 76 students graduating with Doctor of Osteopathy degrees from the
College of Osteopathic Medicine began their studies when Touro University Nevada was established in
2004. They make up the largest medical school graduating class ever in Nevada.
(Added to 'Touro University NV')
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Posted 5/20/08 ( by Travis)
Immigration
Raid Jars a Small Town
Washington
Post Online ^ | Sunday, May 18, 2008 | Spencer S. Hsu
"I like my job. I like my work. I like it here in Iowa," said Escobedo, 38, an illegal immigrant from Yescas, Mexico, who has raised his three children for 11 years in Postville. "Are they mad because I'm working?"
..the sudden incarceration of more than 10 percent of the town's population of 2,300 "is like a natural disaster -- only this one is manmade.
Rounding up of families, mass deportations, separations of children from their parents is a step on the road to a police state and should abhor, rather than excite conservatives.
(Added to 'Amnesty from Government')
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Posted 5/20/08 ( by Travis)
Texas
will immunize FLDS children
The
Salt Lake Tribune ^ | 09 May 2008 | Brooke Adams
"The truth is [FLDS parents] don't kow what to
do," said Polly R. O'Toole, who represents one child. "They would prefer to make that
decision. But they are afraid to exercise any options out of fear they will be perceived as
uncooperative by CPS."
Willie Jessop, an FLDS member and spokesman, said some parents have immunized their children and some have not. "It's an individual decision," he said. But the parents "oppose forced mandates of things happening to their children they don't even know don't even know about."
Speaking of police state...
(Added to 'Government Kidnapping')
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Posted 5/14/08 ( by Travis)
Genetic
Discrimination: Unfair or Natural?
Time
^ | May. 08, 2008 | MICHAEL KINSLEY
Last week, with little attention or fanfare, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 414 to 1 to outlaw genetic discrimination. The only dissenter was the irascible libertarian Ron Paul.
Freedom to discriminate is amongst our most precious and precarious freedoms. Where in the constitution is congress authorized to pass legislation like this? Surely much unintended harm will result.
(Added to 'Ron Paul 2008')
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Posted 5/14/08 ( by Travis)
Who's
crashing our tea party?
Las
Vegas Review-Journal ^ | 11 may 08 | VIN SUPRYNOWICZ
Vin Suprynowicz nails another.
(Added to 'Nevada Politics' and 'Ron Paul 2008')
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Posted 5/11/08 ( by Travis)
This was my third time in Washington DC for 'DO Day on the Hill', where osteopathic medical students 'lobby for changes affecting their profession and their patients'. That's what they call it, but what we really do is go ask government for taxpayer money, one way or the other, just like any other special interest. There have been exceptions, such as a national malpractice bill from three years ago. But even that bill I received somewhat lukewarmly due to my natural federalist tendencies.
So, this year we again lobbied for perpetuating the failed and failing Medicare program by increasing payments to doctors. This was done to 'increase patients care and access', because doctors may increasingly opt out of Medicare if the fees are not raised; as if this would be a bad thing. If more docs absconded Medicare then perhaps we would in due time be liberated from the socialism of healthcare, which particularly plagues this industry. 'Wither on the vine', as Newt Gingrich so eloquently plotted Social Security, is actually an apt policy position. My opinion on Medicare can be summed up in the following brief, yet succinct, article:
Fix Medicare - Not Prices (Required Reading)
10/10/06 Cato