12/03/08

Doctor Fix-It
By Lady Liberty

This past week, I had surgery. Although the surgery itself went smoothly and my recovery is proceeding apace (thanks for asking!), events leading up to the actual operation weren't nearly so easily managed.

My particular problem wasn't life threatening, but it was serious enough that it cost significant dollars to fix and required advance approval from my health insurance carrier before I could go ahead. So I got all of the required paperwork together, and sent it along with the recommendations of both my doctor and my chosen surgeon for review and approval. The review process was to take six to eight weeks. How long did it actually take? Well, I first submitted paperwork in early October of 2003. I had surgery in July of 2004. You do the math. (Read the rest here)

Libertarian Commentary on The Day's News
By Nathan A. Barton © 2004

These comments are the opinion of the author, not necessarily agreed to or promoted by anyone else, and your comments are welcome! Be sure and tell people about TPoL and FND, which you can read here.

1- CIA chief: we don't need no intelligence czar
Whatever the reasons given, there are real-world reasons not to centralize intelligence functions and control. Soviet Russia discovered (or rediscovered) this principle decades ago: consolidated intelligence agency leaders tend to replace their "master" whether it is a single dictator or a junta of some type. In addition, without multiple agencies (such as the Soviet KGB and GRU) there is no way to confirm the veracity of the reports given. Odd, isn't it, how with each year, Fedgov adds more and more "czars" to its table of organization? A Russian term derived from the Latin Caesar, "czar's" connotations are evil - why just call them the "king" or "queen?"

2- Badnarik's the adult in the race
Mr. Badnarik is getting a fair amount of press, but too much is like this - condescending and obviously playing for wit, not news. (Read the rest here)

Pledging to the Monster
by Bob Wallace

About a year ago I discovered the Pledge of Allegiance had been written by the Nationalist and Socialist Francis Bellamy, in 1892. (The phrase "Nationalist Socialist" is better known by the word, "Nazi.") Before this leftist's drive to support himself by selling a flag to every classroom, the flag was almost never seen in schools.

Bellamy, being a fascist, wanted to collectivize the entire nation. To this end he resurrected the Roman salute for school children--the same one as the Nazi salute--until the beginning of World War II put a permanent end to it.

Since every individual state was originally a "free and independent" nation, when children said the Pledge of Allegiance, to which entity were they pledging allegiance? The entire country? (Read the rest here)

Pass the Condoms and Let's Forget Ideology
By Kerry L Marsala

What works 100% of the time to prevent sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS? The science of condoms? Or the ideology presented by Ugandan President Yowen Museveni at the AIDS Conference recently held in Bangkok?

President Museveni, whose country Uganda is a success story in Africa's war on AIDS, stated that he, "looked at condoms as an improvisation, not a solution." Museveni stirred the pot further by calling for, "optimal relationships based on love and trust instead of institutionalized mistrust, which is what the condom is all about."

Uganda's implementation of Abstinence, Being faithful and Condoms has become a model for the AIDS policies the Bush Administration has given them to model. And the efforts of the Ugandan people to abstain until marriage must be working: of the 26.5 million citizens of Uganda 6% of them are now infected, this number is down by 30% since the 1980's. (Read the rest here)

The Stall Begins On The Debt Limit
By Ed Henry

On Thursday, July 15th, the U.S. Treasury Bureau of Public Debt issued a notice that it is recalling thirty year bonds issued from 1974 to 1979 that have been paying more than 10 percent annual interest. Investors holding these bonds are not required to turn them in, but the Treasury will cease paying any interest at all after November fifteenth.

This is a good thing. It's really a matter of refinancing a small part of the national debt because new bonds will be sold to replace these at much lower interest rates. The amount involved is a little more than four billion dollars. An amount equal to what the Bush administration has been borrowing every two days.

The only serious question is why the Bureau waited so long. Interest rates have been at a historic low for more than a year and the Federal Reserve just increased them a quarter percent. People in the general public had the common sense to restructure their personal debt a long time ago. (Read the rest here)

Did you miss our last issue? Click Here for the Archives
Newly revised! ALL bad links fixed. (Please tell me if you find one!)

External Links
Articles of Interest From Other Sites
Last update 07.16.04

The Religious Nature of Education
by David Sant

I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me. -Deuteronomy 5:6-7

ALL EDUCATION IS RELIGIOUS AT HEART

Most Americans think of education as a value-neutral arena in which children are taught the knowledge and skills they need to function as adults in society. As Christians, we must realize that education is inherently religious. What is education, if not teaching children about the way the world works? (Read the rest here)

Free "The Hunter"

Free Hunter: Collateral Damage
by Carl Bussjaeger

American Independence Day has come and gone, along with the traditional boom and glare of fireworks that bring joy to many kids, young and old.

Picture two such of the younger children: Adorable little girls just six and four years old respectively, Mikayla and Brittany. Imagine their anticipation as the big day approaches and they look forward not only to the beloved fireworks, but also to the arrival of their favorite uncle Jeff, whom they haven't seen in months.

Now picture the adorable little girls' disappointment because a suited goon in Ohio wouldn't let Uncle Jeff come see his family. Yes, Mikayla and Brittany are just two more victims of the Ashland County, Ohio prosecutor's office.

Call them "collateral damage," more innocents caught in the cross-fire as the run-amuck prosecutors pursue their vendetta against Jeffrey "Hunter" Jordan. (Read the rest here)

The Lighter Side of PoL
Humor links and items to lighten your day. Send us your humor contributions!
Updated 06.10.04
We have our own Bubble Wrap Pop now!