December 03, 2004

Love and Libertarians
By Catfarmer

Libertarianism unfortunately appears closely identified with brand-conscious politics in people's minds. For that reason it loses people who aren't attracted to the heavy lifting needed for political philosophy, to political parties that eschew philosophy for ideology - it might seem more appropriate to call those "ideological parties." Libertarians might find lots of room to grow numbers outside of political parties, reducing the numbers of people in ideological parties at the same time by becoming less politically oriented.

Ideological parties have all the answers, and intend to force them on everyone for the "greater good" or for "national security." They do not operate on a philosophical basis, searching inquisitively into the reason and nature of humans and societies - instead they operate on an ideological basis, constructing artificial frameworks for ideal societies and then trying to flesh them out with an unwitting human population. (Read the rest here)

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

Well, a month since the election, and chaos has not yet descended upon the Union or the planet (well, no significant INCREASE in chaos, at least). In my opinion, there is still far too much in the news about elections and that one, in particular, but you may not agree with me - obviously many folks don’t or they’d stop buying papers. Of course, as always it is my views you’ll find here - not necessarily TPoL’s, RRND’s, FND’s, or anyone else’s.

GOP discusses national sales tax
Fox News
"While Republican leaders of the House and Senate are huddling for the next two days in Norfolk, VA, to chart the agenda for the upcoming Congress, White House officials meeting with them on tax reform are likely to debate the idea of a national sales tax. President Bush and House Speaker Dennis Hastert have both said the idea of a national sales tax deserves a serious look. For many, the idea of a world without the Internal Revenue Service is very seductive. 'We spend about $400 billion a year complying with the tax code. We spend $200 billion a year just filling out IRS paperwork,' said Rep. John Linder [R-GA] who has proposed a bill that would create a national sales tax." (112/01/04)

Wow, what would we do with all the accountants and all those four-month jobs at H&R Block gone? Of course, talking about it is a lot different from doing anything about it - the GOP’s track record for honesty is low - Contract with America, Department of Energy, Department of Education, etc. I expect this to die in the vaunted halls of Congress sometime sooner than later.

Mama's Note: Before anyone gets all excited about this, they might want to think about a few things. Remember that the government makes all the rules, of course, and they are not bound by any measure of logic or intelligence, so we might be jumping from the frying pan into the fire here. Just what would be taxed, and how often? Is there any hope for some way to limit the rate or what is to be taxed? I doubt it.

Government already collects sales tax each time a car, boat, etc. changes hands now, and it is a significant part of the price already. What is to prevent them from collecting tax on used items at yard sales, etc. They already get a cut when you buy something at Goodwill or the Salvation Army, so why not anywhere else? How about things you make or grow and sell to your friends and neighbors? You could easily become a "tax cheat" and criminal if you don't report and pay that tax. Do you really think they wouldn't collect tax on food too?

What about services? This could open the door for a tax on every visit to the doctor, the vet, and the thousands of other services we enjoy each day. I can just see how they could use this tax as an excuse to get even more nosy about our personal affairs, so I'm in no rush to find out.

Of course, if government actually only did its basic job (assuming it even has one), and was totally accountable to the people who form and use it, there would be no need for much of a tax at all. I'm sure nobody in Washington DC loses any sleep worrying about that one. Too bad. (Read the rest here)

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

December 02, 2004 (Unfortunately, phone line problems caused this Commentary to be sent in too late for publication on Thursday.)

Start of a new month - ice-blue skies, and a lot of really nasty news, unfortunately. At least that is my opinion, not necessarily that of TPoL or anyone else! But - it’s not ALL bad, folks!

Dutch Hospital has begun intentionally killing newborns
(AOL)
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (Nov. 30) - A hospital in the Netherlands - the first nation to permit euthanasia - recently proposed guidelines for mercy killings of terminally ill newborns, and then made a startling revelation: It has already begun carrying out such procedures, which include administering a lethal dose of sedatives. The announcement by the Groningen Academic Hospital came amid a growing discussion in Holland … In August, the main Dutch doctors' association KNMG urged the Health Ministry to create an independent board to review euthanasia cases for terminally ill people ''with no free will,'' including children, the severely mentally retarded and people left in an irreversible coma after an accident. Three years ago, the Dutch parliament made it legal for doctors to inject a sedative and a lethal dose of muscle relaxant at the request of adult patients suffering great pain with no hope of relief. The hospital revealed last month it carried out four such mercy killings in 2003, and reported all cases to government prosecutors. There have been no legal proceedings against the hospital or the doctors.

I honestly had a hard time clicking on the headline to read this news story, which makes me sick to my stomach - even knowing the hypocrisy of governments, who have no problem killing children by bombing them or burning them to death or a dozen other ways - there is something different between such wholesale killing and having the state, one by careful one, with no question as to their human identity or existence or life, to snuff out the life of an innocent child so that “no one need be bothered” to care for it or love it. The Dutch government, rapidly becoming the cesspool, not just of Europe, but of the world, has proven its complete illegitimacy - the ONLY possible justification for government is to protect people, and obviously this hideous monstrosity and excuse for civilization has decided to ally itself with the Moloch-worshippers and Khmer Rouge and Stalins and Hitlers of today and the past. As one American observer said, “there is no more slippery slope in the Netherlands - it has become a cliff of death.” (Read the rest here)

Non Custodial Parent's Action Planned for DECEMBER 17th, 2004

Non Custodial Parent's Action Planned for DECEMBER 17th, 2004 (in New Orleans, LA ); and your city?. Fathers 4 Justice will hold their Christmas Protest Action in London on Saturday December 18th. in typical F4J style ;o) (Read the rest here)

The American Jury Hour with
Iloilo Marguerite Jones and guests

FICAA.com Presents: The American Jury Hour with Iloilo Marguerite Jones and guests. Heard on The American Voice Radio Network , Thursday Afternoons, Noon Pacific, 1PM Mountain. The weekend rebroadcast of this week's program is at Sunday at 9:00 PM. .

Heard on The American Voice Radio Network American Voice Radio Network can be heard on:

C-Band Satellite at Galaxy 11 (formerly G-7), Transponder 12, Audio 8.1 Internet Streaming Audio (MP3 16kbps) C-Band and Internet Audio feeds are free with no subscription fee or sign up required whatsoever. (Read the rest here)

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