January 11, 2005

Private Help for Tsunami Victims
by Congressman Ron Paul - R - TX

In the past ten days, Americans have donated several hundred million dollars to help Asian tsunami victims. Despite this outpouring of support for private charities, the Bush administration has pledged to send at least $350 million in federal aid, a figure that is open-ended and certain to climb. It’s admirable that Americans have been so willing to open their hearts and pocketbooks for the victims of this enormous tragedy, but it’s not the job of the federal government to make a show of generosity to the world with your tax dollars. Remember, government officials cannot be generous or charitable, because the money they dispense does not belong to them.

The original coalition of donor governments has been disbanded, meaning the United Nations will control all government-funded relief efforts going forward. Surely the oil-for-food scandal demonstrates that UN officials are the worst possible stewards of the tsunami relief funds, yet that’s precisely who will be overseeing the expenditure of our $350 million. Bush administration officials have promised to keep a tight watch over how those tax dollars are spent, but the truth is that we cannot control this money once it’s sent overseas for UN administration. (Read the rest here)

Count Me In
By Lady Liberty

One of the most sacred rights we have—at least in the eyes of many Americans—is the right to vote. With such a right, many believe that bad politicians can be peacefully removed from office, and that unconstitutional laws can be reversed without bloodshed. There are, of course, just a few problems with this scenario.

Perhaps the biggest problem we have with voting as a check and balance on bad politicians and unconstitutional laws is the fact that too many voters are inclined to take advantage of what benefits them personally. A bad politician for you, for example, might be one who raises your taxes or who works to pass laws that take away your guns. That very same politician would be a good one, though, for the person who receives government benefits courtesy of your tax dollars, or who is afraid of anything that goes "bang!" You might think of a representative as doing a poor job for you if you lose your own job thanks to a decision he's made; the very same officeholder might win votes from the man who gets your job thanks to a law singling out his minority status for special treatment. (Read the rest here)

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

(Editor's Note: Sorry this is late going up today. The widespread violent weather took its toll on some of the internet yesterday, delaying the email that brings this column to PoL. Thanks for your patience. MamaLiberty)
Elections are in the news today, with the results of Palestinian elections in, and increased violence in Iraq as the election countdown drops - and there are still pieces of the US election popping up in the news, too. (2004 AND 2006!) But I’m going to try to concentrate on other important news. At least news that is more important, in my opinion - not necessarily anyone else’s, than elections and politicians. (Warning - once more, this column is bashing the mainstream media, which is only what it deserves.)

Hold on to your billfolds - Congress is in town!
House passes "doomsday" plan
Boston Herald
"With no fanfare, the U.S. House has passed a controversial doomsday provision that would allow a handful of lawmakers to run Congress if a terrorist attack or major disaster killed or incapacitated large numbers of congressmen. 'I think (the new rule) is terrible in a whole host of ways -- first, I think it's unconstitutional,' said Norm Ornstein, a counselor to the independent Continuity of Government Commission, a bipartisan panel created to study the issue. 'It's a very foolish thing to do, I believe, and the way in which it was done was more foolish.' But supporters say the rule provides a stopgap measure to allow the government to continue functioning at a time of national crisis." (01/09/05)

This was proposed last year, and except for the serving congrus-critturs and the administration, everyone agrees this is a bad idea - foolish, as Ornstein said. It still has to pass the Senate and be signed into law, and go through the Supremes - but I don’t have the foggiest what possible life it has. (Read the rest of the Commentary here)

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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