Ever Vigilant: Keeping a watchful eye on government

Squandering Our Inheritance

Benjamin Franklin once said, "It is every American's right, and obligation, to read and interpret the Constitution for himself." Wise words from a wise man, spoken during a time when people actually had the ability to think for themselves. I believe this is an ability U.S. citizens have lost since the Constitution was ratified, resulting in the systematic erosion of our individual liberties.

(Read the rest at Examiner.com.)

Labels: Constitution, Liberty

Free Bernie Madoff

I agree with the Mises Institute's Jeffrey Tucker:

What, then, precisely, is the point of jailing him? He is no direct threat to anyone. Society would not be safer because he is in the slammer. He is not going to rob people or beat people up. He might write a book and donate the funds to charity or make some restitution to his victims. I, for one, would like to read that book.

Instead, taxpayers will be forced to pick up the tab for his living expenses. Victims get nothing. That's not justice. That's inhumane for both sides of the transaction: Bernie and us. ...

... So let us ask the unaskable: Just how unusually evil were Madoff's actions? Not that unusual. In fact, the whole notion of paying off past investors with the funds of present investors is at the very core of the Social Security system. At least Madoff sought the consent of his investors who let him care for their money based on their own volition. And at least he didn't attempt to defend himself with the claim that he was conducting wise public policy.

Labels: Crime

Questioning Global Warming Is "Treason"

If you question the current "science" that wants us to believe that we are killing the planet with so-called "greenhouse gases," then you are guilty of a most horrible crime. The unintentionally hilarious Paul Krugman explains:

So the House passed the Waxman-Markey climate-change bill. In political terms, it was a remarkable achievement.

But 212 representatives voted no. A handful of these no votes came from representatives who considered the bill too weak, but most rejected the bill because they rejected the whole notion that we have to do something about greenhouse gases.

And as I watched the deniers make their arguments, I couldn't help thinking that I was watching a form of treason -- treason against the planet.

"Treason against the planet"? Mr. Krugman certainly has a flair for the dramatic.

Let's set aside the fact that the global warming scare is based entirely on junk science, an insatiable lust for taxpayer dollars, and a desire to alter the very fabric of Western civilization. Even if, by some chance, in our wildest imaginations, Earth really did warm a few degrees, I still fail to see how that would be a bad thing.

The way I see it, the melting of the polar ice caps would mean more water for drinking and irrigation. Once-frozen wastelands would become fertile farmlands capable of feeding hundreds of millions of people. Sure, Duluth, Minnesota, might become the new spring break destination of choice, the Winter Olympics might have to be put on hold indefinitely, and Paul Krugman might have to shave his beard, but I prefer to look on the bright side.

Labels: Environment, Stupidity

The Abortion Issue: A Conflict of Rights

The subject of abortion deals with the inevitable clash between property rights and the right to life. Given that predicament, how should this conflict be resolved? To put it in more crass terms, if protecting the rights of one means "violating" the rights of another, whose rights should take precedence?

(Read the rest at Examiner.com.)

Labels: Abortion, Commentary

Memo Reveals U.S. Plan to Provoke an Invasion of Iraq

The Observer has the story:

The memo, written on 31 January 2003, almost two months before the invasion and seen by the Observer, confirms that as the two men became increasingly aware U.N. inspectors would fail to find weapons of mass destruction (WMD) they had to contemplate alternative scenarios that might trigger a second resolution legitimising military action.

Bush told Blair the U.S. had drawn up a provocative plan "to fly U2 reconnaissance aircraft painted in U.N. colours over Iraq with fighter cover". Bush said that if Saddam fired at the planes this would put the Iraqi leader in breach of U.N. resolutions.

Labels: Foreign Policy, War

Even Police Dogs Are Not People

It is has come to be accepted that who serve the state are entitled to be ushered from this world in all manner of pomp and circumstance at taxpayer expense -- and that includes dogs.

Labels: Stupidity

Washington Elitism

Labels: Government Corruption

Now Showing at Liberty Theater: The Incredible Bread Machine

The Incredible Bread Machine, the classic educational film on liberty and capitalism from 1975, is available for viewing here.

Labels: Economics, Liberty

Another Anti-Confederate Flag Boycott

The NAACP is at it again, this time threatening a boycott (big surprise) of Florida businesses that display the Confederate flag. From the South Florida Times:

Civil rights groups on Thursday put city and business leaders here on a 30-day notice that unless they meet a list of demands -- including a ban on the display of the Confederate flag at taxpayer-funded events -- they will be subjected to protests and boycotts.

More than 100 people converged on the steps of Homestead City Hall for a press conference organized by clerical, civil rights and community groups who submitted the list of demands.

"We are ready to talk with the city of Homestead and the Homestead Chamber of Commerce concerning our action items. And our issues are with them, and not with the Sons of the Confederacy," said Bishop Victor T. Curry, president of the Miami-Dade branch of the NAACP. "If the Sons of the Confederacy want to have their own parade, we are not trying to stifle freedom of speech or freedom of expression. We just don't want to see racism walking down the streets of Homestead, being funded by the taxpayers."

Curry warned business leaders that if their demands are not met by the 30-day deadline, the controversy would escalate to another level.

"We want the mayor and the council, and the chamber, to do the right thing. We hope that we could start this with a positive dialogue. But we're also ready to move from dialogue to demonstration," Curry said.

"We are also prepared to say to the businesses that support the chamber, that if you want to offend the people of this great county and community, then we will seek other places to spend our dollars," Curry said. "We will not pay you to offend us."

It's a wonder the NAACP has any shred of credibility left.

Labels: Dixie, News, States' Rights

Peter Schiff on "The Daily Show"

Labels: Economics