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Libertarian
Commentary on The News
March 01, 2010By Nathan A. Barton © 2010 Monday Madness: Doublethink Obama unveils revised $1 trillion health plan MSNBC "Obama would create competitive insurance markets, closely regulated by federal and state officials." Mama's Note: Oxymoron statement of the week. Nathan' thoughts: Along with "civilian defense force" and "mandatory volunteer community service" and many others. From Wikipaedia: "Doublethink is a word described in the fictional language of Newspeak and the act of simultaneously accepting as correct two mutually contradictory beliefs. It is related to, but distinct from, hypocrisy and neutrality. Its opposite is Cognitive Dissonance, where the two beliefs cause conflict in one's mind. Doublethink is an integral concept of George Orwell's dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four." The First Citizen looks more and more like Big Brother all the time. Islamic war - Afghan front Dutch government collapses over Afghan troops MSNBC "The Dutch coalition government collapsed Saturday over irreconcilable differences on whether to extend the Netherlands' military mission in Afghanistan, leaving the future of its 1,600 soldiers fighting there uncertain. An early election is now expected. Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende announced that the second largest party in his three-party alliance is quitting, in a breakdown of trust in what had always been an uneasy partnership." (02/02/10) The headline exaggerates or oversimplifies: this was just the last straw; the Dutch government has been teetering for weeks, and its coalition was established in a sense of desperation in the first place. But the crisis is real and the Dutch Monarchial Republic is in danger of collapse (along with Belgium's and a good many others); most politicians refuse to recognize that for 60 years the Dutch have been harboring the asp in their bosom and inviting all its kin in as well. IF Islamism were stopped in Afghanistan, in Mesopotamia, in Pakistan, in Indonesia, then the Netherlands (and all of Europe) would have been relatively safe - at least for this generation. But if Her Majesty's government cannot find the will and wherewithal to fight Al Qaeda in Afghanistan with the rest of the NATO allies, it will be fighting and losing in Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Venlo, and Maastrict - if it is not already too late. Mama's Note: No fighting of Muslims was ever required. All they needed to do was eliminate all of the welfare and other socialist nonsense, and stop giving in to idiot PC crap on every side. If immigrants - from wherever, and whatever their culture - were required to assimilate, become productive and non-aggressive or leave the country, these problems would not develop. The fact that most of the immigrants in Europe are Muslim really doesn't have much to do with it. The same problems, for the same reasons plague the American Southwest due to Mexican immigrants. And they are mostly NOT Muslim. Politics 2010 CPAC straw poll: US conservatives prefer Paul to Romney, Palin Agence France-Presse "A straw poll of US conservative activists saw Texas congressman Ron Paul emerge as the preferred Republican presidential candidate to run against President Barack Obama in 2012. Some 31 percent of the more than 2,000 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) attendees who participated in the poll voted for the outspoken libertarian. Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, John McCain's running mate in 2008, came in third with 7.0 percent, some way behind former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney (22 percent), who had won the CPAC poll for the last three years." (02/21/10) As I am on the road, I happened to see Tuesday's USA Today article on this: front page about the CPAC; front page picture of Romney, 10 or so column inches on the front page (most about Romney) and then, on the continuation of the story, a single paragraph about Ron Paul, an "unlikely" candidate. The fix is already in, folks. Mama's Note: They may try... but I suspect it isn't going to be a "cakewalk" for them this time. At least I pray people will not be so foolish and let themselves be "obominized" again. Islamic war - Afghan front Afghanistan: Taliban mounting tough fight in Marjah Barre-Montpelier Times Argus "Afghan officials say outnumbered Taliban fighters are mounting a tougher fight than expected in Marjah, as U.S.-led forces converge on a pocket of militants in a western section of the southern Afghan town. Despite continuing fighting, Marjah's newly oppointed civilian chief planned to fly into the town Monday for the first time since the attack to begin restoring Afghan government control and winning over the population after years of Taliban rule." (02/21/10) The beginning of the end, or the end of the beginning? For whatever reason, the Taliban had apparently had to abandon standard guerrilla tactics; either because they believe that they can face main force troops or because they are out of options. We can expect high casualties on both sides, and a LOT of civilian casualties. Government-ruined, theft-funded schools PA: School denies spying on students with webcams Fox News "A suburban Philadelphia school district accused of secretly switching on laptop computer webcams inside students' homes says it never used webcam images to monitor or discipline students and believes one of its administrators has been 'unfairly portrayed and unjustly attacked.' The Lower Merion School District, in response to a suit filed by a student, has acknowledged that webcams were remotely activated 42 times in the past 14 months, but only to find missing, lost or stolen laptops -- which the district noted would include 'a loaner computer that, against regulations, might be taken off campus.'" (02/21/10) How many more reasons do we need to have to get rid of these cesspools of statist infection? Big Brother in the form of a school laptop! Mama's Note: Big discussion of this over at the Mental Militia. Tuesday Trials First Citizen - theft by government Breaking His Pledge? Obama Calls for Increasing Payroll Taxes on ‘Households’ Earning Less Than $250,000 A Year CNSNews.com President Obama new health care plan calls for raising the Medicare payroll tax on some households earning less than $250,000, an apparent breach of his campaign pledge not to raise taxes on families earning less than that amount. The president’s plan also calls for increasing taxes on interest, dividends, annuities, royalties and rents. I realize that the CNS News is doing this on purpose, to point out the hypocrisy. But the First Citizen abandoned his campaign pledges a LONG time ago. Now, he and the rest of the Triumvirate are after all that they can steal as quickly as possible, in as many ways as possible. First Citizen - medical care panic - culture wars Obama’s Proposal Includes Individual Health Insurance Mandate CNSNews.com The health care plan proposed by President Barack Obama on Monday includes an individual mandate requiring every American to have health insurance, despite concerns from Republican lawmakers and legal experts that the provision is not constitutional. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told CNSNews.com that he is not aware of any legal review of this question by the White House. Again, we are NOT surprised: if the mandate had not been an absolutely critical part of the "reform" then the Senate would have watered it down enough to get a couple of RINO votes back before Christmas; of COURSE, the First Citizen's "compromise" will have this one item that prevented compromise the first time. Does he think we're STUPID? (Yes, of course he does.) Mama's Note: In addition to being unconstitutional, of course, the whole thing is just plain wrong in every way imaginable. Too bad that doesn't count for anything in Congress. Obama's ‘New’ Health Care Plan Would Use Tax Dollars to Pay for Abortions CNSNews.com Pro-life legislators and advocates said President Obama's “new” health-care proposal, unveiled Monday on the White House Web site, would allow tax dollars to fund health plans that cover abortion. Really, again, how can anyone be surprised? As with the mandate, this has always been essential as far as the Triumvirate is concerned. As the next story explains, even the mainstream media recognizes that this is no "compromise." Late in the game, White House isn't playing defense Washington Post There had been rampant speculation that the White House would narrow its ambitions for health-care legislation after the loss of the Democrats' filibuster-proof Senate majority last month. Instead, the president's proposal is striking for the extent to which it hews to the basic scale and framework... I suppose that we can characterize this as "arrogant" (which is a good description for the administration in general). First Citizen - medical care panic Obama Administration Sinking Millions Into Government-Run Health Care for Children CNSNews.com While Democrats and Republicans disagree on establishing a government-run health insurance plan as part of health care reform, such programs already exist – and are thriving. On Monday, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that 10 states will share $100 million in federal grants to improve health care quality and delivery systems for children enrolled in Medicaid and in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). What are these, payoffs? Of course there are. The CHIP is a perfect fill pipe to drop money to various congressional holdouts. Home front Majority of Americans: Business Leaders Make Better Decisions to Grow Economy Than Government CNSNews.com A majority of Americans say business leaders make better economic decisions than the government can, according to a new poll. Respondents were asked: “Which will do more to help the U.S. economy -- decisions made by government officials to help the economy grow or decisions made by U.S. business leaders to help their own businesses grow?” The odd thing is that a poll was even asking this question, given the doctrine being taught and preached constantly. Sadly, most of these people who say that they trust business leaders still expect government to "keep the leash" on businesses. Islamic war - Afghan front Pakistan Pressing U.S. to Turn Over Woman Convicted of Trying to Kill American Soldiers CNSNews.com More than two weeks after a federal jury in New York convicted a Pakistani neuroscientist of attempting to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan, the case continues to infuriate Muslims in her native country who view Aafia Siddiqui as the victim of U.S. injustice and anti-Muslim discrimination. Pakistan’s president has raised the matter with U.S. officials, saying the early repatriation of Siddiqui in line with a prisoners’ exchange treaty could help to improve the U.S. image in Pakistan. It is hard to know what the truth is here, but a jury DID convict her - if we send her to Pakistan (where it is almost certain she will be freed), then why not send all convicted Mexican criminals back to Mexico, all convicted British criminals back to the UK, and so forth? (Of course, we can't keep them outside the US, obviously; the government is too inept to do so.) Actually, this case points out the plain fact that she should NOT have been treated as a criminal, but as a combatant and a prisoner of war - no trial, and no catch-and-release; just keep her from trying to kill more people until the war in Afghanistan ends. Islamic war - Persian front Iranians’ Support for Nuclear Program Cuts Across Political Lines CNSNews.com As the U.S. and it European allies step up efforts to impose new U.N. Security Council sanctions on Tehran, the drive could play into the hands of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by providing an issue for conservatives and reformists to rally around. Even Iran’s opposition leaders support the Islamic regime’s right to pursue a nuclear program. It is important to note that almost all Persian political parties are by definition Islamist and extremist: none of them are friends of the West or of the "Great Satan." They already rally around such things, Western efforts or not. Welfare - stupid government tricks Bechtel-backed solar firm lands sweetheart government loan guarantee San Jose Mercury News “BrightSource Energy on Monday landed preliminary approval for a $1.37 billion loan guarantee from the federal government to help finance construction of a big solar energy complex in the Mojave Desert. … or the guarantee to be finalized, BrightSource must obtain the necessary permits from the state Energy Commission and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for the project to proceed. The company also must land private financing to cover the remaining construction and development costs. Bechtel has already agreed to provide an unspecified investment in the project and will also serve as the general contractor for the development.” (02/22/10) More slop for the pigs, according to Mama Liberty. And more power and prestige for the various government agencies involved: watch the BLM expand as it seeks to "protect" the land. Like wind power, like ethanol, like biomass, this becomes one more massive pork project that provides bucketloads (10-ton RT bucket loader loads) of money to the guys that are all kissy-kissy with the politicians, but does NOT provide enough power to run businesses, industry, or even much in the way of houses. Home front Man pleads guilty in plot to bomb New York subway Washington Post An airport shuttle bus driver who plotted to detonate potent explosives in New York's subway system pleaded guilty Monday for his role in a "martyrdom operation" that authorities called one of the most serious terrorism plots on American soil since Sept. 11, 2001. I asked myself, "why would this guy lie" in his confession and guilty plea? The only reason I can see is that he does have a desire to become a martyr. I don't know if you get a reduced number of virgins for just going to prison (maybe you get second-run production models - or "slightly used" types). But he seems willing to be a martyr for Allah. Then we have to ask if some government agency prodded him (enticed him) to do this, or try to do this. Again, we have to ask why they would do that (lots of answers) and why he would LET them do that. This may be a false-flag operation but it seems as though he really is a wanna-be killer. Congress in action - Crash of 2009 With GOP help, Senate advances job-creation bill Washington Post Aided by a handful of Republicans, Senate Democratic leaders on Monday kept alive a $15 billion job-creation measure and are poised to pass the measure later this week. Thanks in part to Mr. Brown. And other GOP types - RINOs? Maybe. Just plain statists who are hungry for power and have holes burning in their pocket; together with some incredibly stupid people. Congress in action From the bluest of states, a red senator of a different color Washington Post So much for the Massachusetts Miracle. The election of Republican Scott Brown to Ted Kennedy's Senate seat was supposed to bring a seismic change to national politics. It did just that Monday night, but not in the way Republicans had hoped. While the smug attitude of this article is enough to make you sick, a LOT of us warned that Scott Brown might NOT be the white knight so many Republicans and conservatives wanted him, and portrayed him, to be. He is being a "maverick" and joining the likes of McCain, Snowe, and even (dare we whisper) Specter. Wednesday Weirdness Crash of 2009 Wall Street shifting toward Republicans Washington Post Commercial banks and high-flying investment firms have shifted their political contributions toward Republicans in recent months amid harsh rhetoric from Democrats about fat bank profits, generous bonuses and stingy lending policies on Wall Street. This may be nothing but a stupid business trick - businesses routinely support both old parties to maintain a finger in the action. Fact is, the Democratic Party and most Democrats are NOT enemies to big business; they are tools of big business, whenever possible, just as the GOP is. Just as both parties are inimical to most small business, since they can't control it as much. The attacks are posturing, for the most part; smoke and mirrors. And so is this. World wars 'God gap' impedes U.S. foreign policy, study says Washington Post American foreign policy is handicapped by a narrow, ill-informed and "uncompromising Western secularism" that feeds religious extremism, threatens traditional cultures and fails to encourage religious groups that promote peace and human rights, according to a two-year study by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs... This is interesting for several reasons. First, this is from a frankly leftist organization with much influence and powerful connections (Madam First Lady is on its board!). Secondly, it is attacking "secular fundamentalists" - the left which has demanded an extreme interpretation of the First Amendment which will effectively ban religion from American public life, and which has strong support within Congress and the current Administration. Thirdly, there are some of the recommendations (like training Foreign Service officers to be aware of religion and its influence and impact as an integral part of ALL societies) that really make sense. That said, it is easy to see where this is going, from a Tranzi point of view: the complete subjugation of religion to the purposes of government, and the integration of religion into a Tranzi globalization effort which will ultimately destroy the very religions it purports to suggest. Health care panic GOP plans own pitch for health summit Washington Post Republicans are preparing to use Thursday's White House health-care summit to sell their own ideas for using the private marketplace to expand coverage and reduce costs, but they remain wary of fumbling away what they believe is an advantage on the issue heading into this year's critical midterm... Written Thursday: From what I've heard, it appears that the GOP is accomplishing these objectives, and making the First Citizen's efforts very difficult. Home front States eye ban on public release of 911 calls MSNBC "Missouri, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Wyoming already keep such recordings private. But generally, most states consider emergency calls public records available on request, with exceptions sometimes made for privacy reasons or to protect a police investigation." (02/23/10) I find myself unsure on which makes the most sense: there is an expectation of privacy. However, I suspect that the primary reason that states want to ban release is to "protect" the police. Every week it seems we have a revealing recording which shows police in an accurate and bad light, and this is probably what the supporters of these laws want to stop. Which trumps? Our right of privacy, or our right to be free from harassment and abuse by government officials? I don't know if we can agree on this. Stupid "libertarian media" tricks - moral courage US military chiefs: Conservative social engineering trumps mission readiness South Oregon Mail Tribune "Top Army and Air Force officers said Tuesday they would be reluctant to overturn a 17-year policy that prohibits gays from serving openly in the military without more time to ascertain it won't hurt the services. 'I do have serious concerns about the impact of a repeal of the law on a force that is fully engaged in two wars and has been at war for eight and a half years,' Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey told Congress." (02/23/10) At last, we have the senior officers stating what is clearly a great concern in the lower ranks - a far more honest and truthful opinion than what we've heard from the likes of Powell, Petronius, and Mullin in the past few weeks. Apparently SOME officers have that valuable - nay, essential, character trait of "moral courage." Sadly, the person who wrote this headline (a man who seems to front his homosexual activism with a shallow facade of "libertarian" politics) pretends not to understand that it is the proposed overturn that represents "social engineering" and that these officers are concerned (and rightly so) about the ability of the services to accomplish their mission if the rules are yet again changed to "reform" military order and society. Especially when we have seen the severe (and generally concealed) impacts of a whole host of other "reforms" on the ability of the services to carry out both their assigned missions and their legal missions. Such things as integration of women into many combat units, into surface ships, into some flying units, but especially into basic combat training; the reform of that same basic combat training; toleration of gangs; and the wholesale integration of Islam, Wicca, and Satanism into the military religious system, to name some. There are, in military and civilian society, some things that are immoral (sinful, wrong, evil) that are not damaging; there are other things that are not immoral but are still damaging; there are some that are both immoral AND damaging. A military organization - especially one in combat - can often accept some of its members doing things that are immoral, because they are either not damaging or the damage can be kept in control. Examples include gambling, drinking, other kinds of drug abuse, adultery, and sexual promiscuity. Other things may or may NOT be immoral but are seriously damaging. Examples include organizing unions, voting, many kinds of free speech, and certain religions (such as Quakerism). But some things are both immoral AND highly damaging. "Standard" homosexualism and its associated culture are one of those things, just as are certain religions: Wahhabi Islam, for one, as would be Aztec and Bushido religion. Homosexual practice is aggressive, disruptive, creates severe social problems both within the military organization and in the greater family outside the organization. Adultery is similar in its impact on a military unit and the greater family. It is one reason that adultery is a UCMJ violation: it is betraying the trust and weakening the bonds between soldiers when one soldier sleeps with another soldier's wife or husband. This is the NORM for homosexuals, whether in "committed unions" or "partnerships" or not (Yes, I know that there are probably exceptions to that); a unit's cohesiveness can and has been destroyed by such: openly permitting homosexuality (male or female) (and more, openly and actively promoting such as "preferred and healthy lifestyles") will damage the effectiveness of the military "tool" as much as, and probably more than, mixed-sex basic training, mixed-sex combat units, and similar actions. And for exactly the same reasons. Thursday Tribulations Islamic war - Afghan front A Third of All U.S. Casualties in Eight-Year Afghan War Have Occurred Since Obama Ordered Escalation CNSNews.com More than 300 U.S. soldiers have died in the war in Afghanistan since May 15, 2009, the day when the first major wave of new troops ordered by President Barack Obama arrived in the country. The 308 U.S. casualties in Afghanistan since then account for about a third of the total of 920 U.S. casualties in the eight-year war. What is more, of course, is that in less than 1 year (1/8 the length of the war), a third have died. If the same level of casualties had occurred for the first seven years, we'd have 2400 dead. Now, it can be said that the status-quo of the last six years has been steadily downhill, and this was necessary to prevent a total collapse (that is, restoration of the Taliban to power and creating yet another safe house for Al Queda). But this is NOT, as we know, what the First Citizen and Congress promised. First Citizen - Health care panic White House Spokesman 'Not Sure' If Obama’s Health Proposal Increases Taxes on Those Earning Less Than $250,000 CNSNews.com White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said he was "not sure" if the new health care proposal President Barack Obama released on Monday calls for increasing the Medicare payroll tax on households earning less than $250,000 a year, which would be an apparent breach of the president's pledge not to raise taxes on people earning less than that amount. “I'd have to look through the proposal,” said Gibbs. “I'm not sure that's correct.” Oh, he's a smooth liar. Mama's Note: And, of course, it's quite beside the point, whatever the truth may be. Government has no business being involved in our health care - period. Congress in action - Health care panic House Republicans Gave Obama Their Health Care Proposals Weeks Ahead of Thursday’s Summit CNSNews.com Weeks ahead of Thursday's “bipartisan” meeting on health care reform, House Republicans offered their ideas to President Barack Obama in a booklet presented to the president during his visit to the Republican Party retreat in Baltimore on Jan. 29. The 27-page booklet includes proposals on health care as well as six other issues Republicans consider vital to America’s continued prosperity: jobs, fiscal responsibility, open government and transparency, energy, savings, national security and fiscal reform. None of these proposals are any more acceptable that what the First Citizen proposes. None of them really address the real solutions. New religions - global warming Fifteen Years With No Global Warming Doesn't Mean There's No Global Warming, Says EPA Chief CNSNews.com Fifteen years with no statistically significant increase in global temperatures does not mean that the human race is not causing the climate to change, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson told CNSNews.com on Tuesday. Let me get this lie straight: 10 years of increases are enough to prove that global warming is happening, but 15 years of no increase is NOT enough to prove that global warming is bogus. Now, remember, this woman is in charge of ensuring that our environment is adequately protected and that people will not pollute (well, not "excessively"). What a piece of garbage. Congress in action Sen. Udall Sees China As Impetus for U.S. Cap-and-Trade Bill CNSNews.com Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) urged his fellow lawmakers to push ahead with “cap-and-trade” energy legislation and the creation of “green jobs,” saying that China is competition for the United States and does not “have to go through the democratic processes that we do.” Well, we've known for a long time that most Udalls (at least those in politics) are incurably stupid, but does he have to make it so obvious? There is nothing in "cap-and-trade" that makes the US more competitive with China - indeed, the exact opposite is true. And a totalitarian state is not going to "go green" and limit its production of greenhouse gases any differently than a "free" state is - especially not if they are in competition with a once-free and still barbarian economy. Islamic war Criticism of Obama’s OIC Envoy Raises Questions About the Need for Such an Envoy CNSNews.com President Obama’s decision to appoint an envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has focused renewed attention on the Saudi-based body, and what role a U.S. envoy should play. The ONLY possible role I can see for a US envoy to play in this grand gangster organization is that of spy and spoiler: an intelligence outpost beside the enemy with some potential for disrupting the OIC's activities by pitting member against member, or in a bad situation, taking out as many of the enemy leadership as possible. I realize that we don't have a pocket nuke that will fit in a diplomatic bag, but there are all kinds of weaponized bacteria and other disease-causing organisms that can be. Mama's Note: And just what would justify such an attack? That would make us terrorists. Your comments and feedback are welcome! Now PoL has its own forum at The Mental Militia! Check it out Nathan Barton is writing from either the Four Corners or the Black Hills - two places where there is still a hope of liberty and freedom for the 21st Century and beyond. He is a libertarian (a lover of liberty) because he is a Christian; a follower of Christ Jesus, Who came to make all men free in all ways. He was born, by God's grace, a Westerner, an American; he is a Christian, and therefore a libertarian, again by God's grace and his own free will and choice. Nathan's writings and words and life seek to live up to the potential of all these things, knowing that he can never achieve perfection on this earth in any of those things, but never giving up trying. Be sure to visit my blog, Liberty's Outpost. Special Feature! Add your signature to the NEW Declaration of Independence By Robert Greenslade To Read previous Commentaries, go to the archives page and click onto the link for the week. The commentaries are linked from the weekly front pages. Please note: Information about readers is never given or sold to anyone for any purpose. Remember, however, that many people can read and recover anything posted to web sites or email unless it is carefully encrypted. Please take personal responsibility for what you post anywhere. MamaLiberty) |
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