Category Archives: Liberty

Irony

Posted on July 3, 2011 | 3 comments

I get it,  I do.  I get the idea that we wanna be able to choose for ourselves the risks we face each day.  At some point, the danger of NOT doing is greater than the actual doing.

The freedom of experience is almost always a significant amount of the joy.

But dang!

ONONDAGA, N.Y. — Police say a motorcyclist participating in a protest ride against helmet laws in upstate New York died after he flipped over the bike’s handlebars and hit his head on the pavement.

…

Troopers say Contos hit his brakes and the motorcycle fishtailed. The bike spun out of control, and Contos toppled over the handlebars. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Note to Leftists: Just because it’s a good idea does not make it just a-ok to legislate!

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Posted in Idiots on Parade, Liberty, Politics: National

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Baseball And Hopscotch Are More Fun

Posted on June 29, 2011 | Leave a comment

It’s no secret, the hard makes the great.

This is true in sports, in business and in baseball.

That it wouldn’t be equally so in governing is silly.  Look, do I want people to do the right thing?  Of course.  Do I want money to flow from those that have to those that need?  Yes.  Is it hard to manage a group of people into doing that right thing?  Without a doubt.  Would it be easier to just pass a law? For sure.

But there can be little doubt that a group of people voting that property be transferred from one to another is as tyrannical as a feudal king simply taking it.

Liberty is tough; but the tough is what makes it great.  Demonstrated here via

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Posted in Economics, Liberty, Politics: International, Politics: National

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How To Break A Monopoly

Posted on June 28, 2011 | 4 comments

We hate monopolies.

People fear ’em and the government works to find and destroy ’em.

They’re bad and they’re evil; scourges  on civilization.

I mostly agree.  I think monopolies would be able to take advantage of markets and prices and demand and supply to benefit themselves without being subject to normal natural checks and balances.

With that said, I do not, do NOT, believe that a monopoly can exits in an open market without the aid of government.

That is government regulation creates and sustains monopolies, not free markets.

Thought experiment:  Think of one single naturally occurring monopoly in the real world.

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Posted in Economics, Liberty

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When Elephants Trample

Posted on June 26, 2011 | 6 comments

Wisconsin recently passed a concealed carry law in the state.  Basically the law allows people in the state of Wisconsin to carry concealed weapons if they are licensed to do so.

However, the law is clear in that it does not trump private property rights.  That is, just because you have a carry-conceal license does not mean you can carry in my home.  Or other private property.

It would seem that certain people object to the concept of private property:

A Wisconsin jewelry store owner is under fire from customers for opting out of the state’s recently-passed concealed carry law.

Bret Eulberg, owner of Robert Haack Diamonds in Greenfield, Wis., says he has been getting angry messages threatening a boycott of the store. The new law allows residents to carry concealed firearms in public, but business owners still have a say whether or not they want to observe the law in their stores.

“We’re getting phone calls saying we’re not going to come to your store supporting you because you’re against gun rights,” Eulberg told Fox6Now.com. “We’re not against gun rights. My contention is if a bad guy is in my store and you’re a good Samaritan in my store and you see the bad guy whipping out the gun, we already have security procedures in place to protect ourselves.”

Private property is private property.  Mr. Eulberg isn’t saying that you can’t carry a gun, he’s not saying that he disagrees with you carrying a gun, he’s saying he doesn’t want you to carry a gun on his PRIVATE property.

Damn Republicans!

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Posted in Liberty, Politics: National, Republicans Can Be Leftists Too

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Expect More Liberal Hand Wringing

Posted on June 25, 2011 | 3 comments

Get ready for the gnashing of teeth, the tearing of clothes.  Massive amounts of money are going to be spent in the coming months by an organization not friendly to Barack Obama.

I anticipate much in the way of complaining that corporate interests are polluting the campaign process, that big money is drowning out the little guy.

All that, I expect it all.

Cause here comes CrossroadsGPS with a massive $20 million ad campaign:

WASHINGTON – Today, Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies (Crossroads GPS) announced a new $20 million issue advocacy initiative over the next two months to frame the national debate on jobs, the economy and the national debt in anticipation of congressional action on these issues.

In the first phase of the initiative, on Monday Crossroads GPS will launch a new national TV ad, “Shovel Ready,” which details the Obama Administration’s failure to improve the economy with its $830 billion stimulus legislation and other policies.

The spot’s $5 million television buy covers national cable news channels as well as local network affiliates in key states, including Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada, and Virginia.

The ad can be seen right here:

Awesome work.

30 seconds.

Crisp.

Brutal – I capital “L” love using NBC!

But they have more:

A beautiful attack on unions and union leadership.

Finally, top it off with:

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Posted in Elections 2012, Liberty, Politics: National

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Finally: Gay Marriage Passed

Posted on June 24, 2011 | 9 comments

New York has finally passed a bill that allows Gay Marriage:

ALBANY — Lawmakers voted late Friday to legalize same-sex marriage, making New York the largest state where gay and lesbian couples will be able to wed, and giving the national gay-rights movement new momentum from the state where it was born.

The GREAT news?  The bill was passed by a Republican senate where event the Democrats weren’t united:

The same-sex marriage bill was approved on a 33-to-29 vote, as 4 Republican state senators joined 29 Democrats in voting for the bill.

…

The lone Democratic opponent, Senator Ruben Diaz of the Bronx, said it was “unbelievable” that the Republican Party, “the party that always defended family values,” had allowed same-sex marriage to pass.

What he didn’t say is that the Republican Party finally found its way and let Liberty sing!

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Posted in Government, Liberty, Politics: National

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Anything I Can Do You Can Do Better…

Posted on June 24, 2011 | Leave a comment

Wait – wait.  That’s not how that goes.  Not at all.

However, for this purpose, it provides an interesting illustration.

For example, consider two bills:

One:

Raleigh, N.C. — Businesses, cities and counties in North Carolina are going to have to start checking the immigration status of new hires.

Gov. Beverly Perdue on Thursday signed into law a bill directing employers to use the federal government’s E-Verify system to prevent illegal immigrants from landing jobs. The legislation makes exceptions for companies that employ fewer than 25 people or which use seasonal workers.

Then, the other:

Two:

Gov. Bev Perdue has vetoed a controversial proposal to require voters to show photo ID at the polls.

Her statement:

“The right to choose our leaders is among the most precious freedoms we have – both as Americans and North Carolinians. North Carolinians who are eligible to vote have a constitutionally guaranteed right to cast their ballots, and no one should put up obstacles to citizens exercising that right.

Get that?

If you are a business and wanna  hire someone, you have to check and verify valid ID and legal status.

If you are a government and wanna protect the right that thousands have died to protect – not so ‘effin much.

The way of the Leftist ya’ll, the way of the Leftist.

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Posted in Government, Liberty, Politics: North Carolina

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Shrinking The Income Disparity Gap: What Would It Mean?

Posted on June 22, 2011 | 4 comments

So, I had an interesting discussion with reflectionephemeral over at Poison Your Mind.  We were discussing the meaning of income disparity here in America and then around the world.

I acknowledge that such disparity is increasing; the gap between the rich and the poor seems to be getting wider and wider all the time.  And America is much less income level mobile.  That is, it is more difficult here in America to move from one income bracket to another than it is in say, Europe.

However, I make my point that while the gap may be larger, the rich may indeed be getting a larger slice of the pie, that the slice the poor DO get is much bigger than they otherwise would.

In my conversation, I envisioned two scenarios:

A. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being poor and 10 being rich, the poorest averaged a 2 while the rich averaged a 3.

B. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being poor and 10 being rich, the poorest averaged a 4 while the rich averaged a 9.

In world B, the poor earn MORE than the rich in world A. However, in world B, the rich are wealthier in relation to the poor in world A.

Which would you pick?

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Posted in Economics, Liberty, Politics: International, Politics: National

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Citizenship: What It Takes To Become An American Citizen

Posted on June 20, 2011 | Leave a comment

I’m always looking for great content to comment on.  I’m always watching TV listening for idea.  I have the radio on, waiting for the snippet that’ll lead to more and more thoughts for posts.  I troll through the news media; the big guys.

You know, Fox and The Wall Street Journal.  The NY Times and Reuters.  The Economist and KOS.

I KILL me!  The KOS, as if.

A long time ago I went to grab a soda from our break room at the office and saw an issue of the “Independent Weekly” in the corner.  Normally, I pass this by, but they had a cover that grabbed my attention.

In our 2010 Citizen Awards we redefine “citizen”

I grabbed the copy and saved it for future blogging.  Tonight I’m cleaning out my stash and have realized the time has come to address the Indy.

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Posted in Government, Immigration, Liberty

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Government Can’t Get Too Large

Posted on June 17, 2011 | Leave a comment

Because really, nothing should go unregulated.

In an age where we believe that the only valid unassisted choice a person can make is to abort or not abort a child, the government continues to restrict our liberties.  In the name of “safety” the government, and those who are government fan-boys, march toward the regulation of every movement and decision we make.

Buy too big a house and can’t afford the payments?

Regulate it.

Wanna consume cheap energy?

Regulate it.

Wanna sell flowers in New Orleans?

Regulate it.

And now this.  Kids selling lemonade to people who are hot.  Regulated:

BETHESDA, Md. (WUSA) — You can make a fortune selling parking spots outside the US Open, but don’t even dream of setting up a lemonade stand.

A county inspector ordered the Marriott and Augustine kids to shut down the stand they set up on Persimmon Tree Rd., right next to Congressional.

Yup.

Some kids set up a lemonade stand and were told they needed a $300 permit.

No regulation is too big to save us from the next Wall Street greed induced bubble!

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Posted in Economics, Government, Liberty, States Behaving Badly

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