12/03/08

The (Too) High Cost of Politics
By Lady Liberty

I don't usually watch any coverage of the national political conventions. I think of them as hour long infomercials, broadcast solely to suggest to the average voter that he or she should buy this guy or that as the next President of the United States of America. But this year, entirely by accident, the television happened to be on when John Kerry stepped to the podium in Boston to accept the nomination of the Democratic Party. And that's how it is I heard John Kerry spend far more talk time using promises to buy votes than he did asking voters to buy his experience and his qualifications (there's a reason for that, of course, but that's a topic for another time).

In an obvious appeal to military members and those families with loved ones fighting overseas, John Kerry promised to "build a stronger American military," to "add 40,000 active duty troops" and "double our special forces to conduct anti-terrorist operations," as well as to "provide our troops with the newest weapons and technology to save their lives – and win the battle." He spoke of increasing security at such places as chemical and nuclear power plants, and of making sure that all cargo containers are inspected for contraband or terror tools. (Read the rest here)

Wide Open Spaces
by Bob Wallace

When I was a kid we had, as the Dixie Chicks sing, "Wide open spaces...room to make big mistakes."

And, boy, did I make a lot of mistakes. They were all minor, though. A few of my friends made major, fatal mistakes, almost always because they did something incredibly stupid, like changing a tire on an interstate without pulling over far enough. I've got little scars all over me--face, arms, legs, hands, fingers, chest, back. They were caused by razors, knives, shrapnel from exploding aluminum cans, pencils, mini-bike wrecks, cats, cars, and once, the floor, which hit me in the forehead. If I ever had an angel's face, it's long since turned into a mug that scares kids.

I've decided life is precious, but not priceless. If it was priceless, we wouldn't die. (Read the rest here)

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

It is warm and windy in the northern Great Plains today, as gusts come from the campaigns across the nation, and as those campaigns heat up! The news and views expressed herein are also likely to heat up folks, as recent feedback indicates. They are NOT necessarily those of TPoL, FMN, FND, RRND, or anyone else but the author! Please support and read FND - click here -- AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS!!!!

1- Army's JetBlue data-mining didn't violate privacy law
Wired
I can't fault the IG's logic - the problem is that the so-called privacy laws are so full of loopholes that they are effectively meaningless. With our current government (no, not just our current administration) we will see no better!

2- Data-mining consumer information for votes
Wired
Wired (and Sunni) are on a roll - no matter what you want to do with it, data is out there to help you spend money, save money, and target your best potential customers (and worst enemies). Is monkey-wrenching the only solution - trash and destroy the data, and corrupt what's left? (Read the rest here)

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