The Whims of the Majority

Disaster Capitalism- Disaster Democracy

Author Naomi Klein from The Nation runs down the problems with the American Market. One issue I have, it appears she's aiming at the wrong target or at least exempting the parts of the American system that conform to her acceptable -ism's-.

Her book "Disaster Capitalism" is one of my selected readings with my political group of friends. So far it is a historical, though biased, report on the Chicago school of Capitalism. She brings up a lot of good perspectives, but the villain she is addressing is only, at worst, a co-conspirator in the myriad of abuses going on in the American government. If the 'free market' were exclusively the system America uses, Ron Paul would likely be our next president [gasp].



"We now have evidence that this market model is broken."

This market model is a complex system made up of socialism (government runs education, social security, central banking or federal reserve, etc), fascism (corporate exemptions and no bid contracts, no accountability for corporate abuse, etc), capitalism (small and big business flexibility and opportunity) and a few traces of other systems like religious authoritarianism.

She is correct that this market model is broken. However, to say that the part of the system that has failed is the 'free market' side is quite a stretch. The banks have had extraordinary and exclusive rights and abilities on top of the corporate structure they enjoy which limits accountability. Special rights, exemptions (tax and otherwise), and loopholes are NOT the residue of free market capitalism. They are the result of fascism.

In Argentina she says it was a revolt against the 'Expert Class'. The is a reflective remnant of the communist idea that there will be a group of elites who are smarter than the average people and they will choose how things run and what things will flow and what things will not.

She promotes the idea of nationalizing (or internationalizing) the oil companies. I would agree that we could offer some type of standards to be sure that they are not polluting the environment in production, but why stop with nationalizing the oil companies. What about the plastic, drug, banking, media, and gun companies. Don't they all have dealings with the public in some way? Why not nationalize ALL business? To each according to their need, from each according to their worth.

The dog eat dog world of bare knuckle capitalism has always had elements I despise. Same with the leach of others we're all brothers, redistribution of wealth system promoted by many.

To be honest, I despise corporate abuse equally to the waste and abuse of big government. They are both wholly unacceptable.

The Greenspan legacy (another case where many are pointing to this breakdown as a failure of capitalism) is actually a case of a person who abandoned the free market ideals and joined the fascist control of the market. ONE MAN with has his finger on the pulse of interest rates for the nation (actually much of the world) can, in NO WAY be construed as Free Market Capitalism. It is the result of long stretches with a two party system.





When it comes to her book there is a missing link as well. She talks about how the Friedmanite school of thought evolved into a plan where they wait for a disaster and then swoop in and install free market programs I have not yet heard her address the opposite theories stemming back to Karl Marx about a violent uprising, killing off the rich and the elites and then installing their particular -ism- creating a central government that eventually dissolves (on the tongues of the people?) into small democracies across the land (America started of just inches away from that).

So 'Disaster Communism' is one in which the communists create the disaster and then there is no one to rebuff the install of communism.

We must abandon the idea of authoritarian government.

Should there really be an agency telling us how many peas and carrots to have on the shelf?

Shouldn't education be determined by the region and not the reigning president of the U.S. of A.???

What system best teaches charity and regard for our fellow man? That is a research assignment I would love to see done without political bias. As long as it supports my narrow view of the world.

If people are naturally bad then how can we trust one group of people to regulate another group of people?

Shouldn't the governemnt focus on the rule of law instead of enforcing fears and desires on the whims of the majority?

I.O.U.S.A.

The United States of America is facing many critical issues.

The economy has always been assumed to be stable and reliable. But ask yourself this question, is there NOTHING that we can do wrong?

I Call Penn Jillette!!!

Glenn Beck has Penn Jillette on his show the other night.

Hmm, strange bedfellows???

This reminds me of the phone call I got from my conservative brother when he said he found himself in a position to vote for a third party when he heard Bob Barr (L).


I have MAD respect for jillette and my folks have a deep fondness for Beck.

The Top Two Works, How?

If the public had a state sponsored race and everyone could run would you go for it?

Maybe? If you thought you were a good runner.

But what if, regardless of how skilled or poor a runner you were the same two runners trade off winning every other race for the past few decades?

Would you still run?

Maybe if you thought you were really good.

What if you all pay the same entry price just to run in the race, but halfway through the race whichever two in are in the lead, who likely will be the ones that always win, are allowed to continue on to the finish line would you still run?

Welcome to the Top Two system in Washington State.

This "Top Two" system has the potential to give voters only two Republicans or two Democrats showing up in the general election. It also will more commonly cripple third parties in the general election because you will have to miracle yourself enough support to knock out the democrats and republicans. Many voters think the general election is the only one that really matters. What do you think?

Born Again Bob Barr Borat

On the floor of the 2008 LPCon when Barr was nominated, there was a lot of emotion and some contention between the contrast of long time activists Libertarian choices for President and the recent slate of 'newcomers' to the race.

Candidates like Dr. Mary Ruwart, Professor George Phillies, Steve Kubby, W.A. Root among others in the 'libertarian-o-meter' were compared in contrast to some long standing nationally known figures Bob Barr and Mike Gravel, who have long and considerable records serving in Washington DC who have, or had, some positions that Libertarians vehemently oppose.

In the end, Barr was considered by the majority to hold the most potential for media coverage and ability to run a strong and well organized campaign.

Many say this is an attempt to run a 'right' leaning campaign instead of a more centrist campaign in order to appeal to the McCain weakness on conservative issues.

At this point my answer to that is, 'Well, Duh!!!"

The task now is to keep Born Again Barr soaking in 'Liberty's Brine' so that he continues to redeem himself (as he states he wishes to do) and to keep working on other campaigns in each individual state.

More to come. . .

Okay, This is the best piece yet!!!

The second half is the most powerful pwning of a Senator in public I have seen in ages.




Honourable Mention -
http://www.youtube.com/v/KrpES1Lk7X4&rel=1

AND THIS ONE IS COOL TOO!!!

http://www.youtube.com/v/t-lxZmrqLxU&rel=1

Who Really Should be. . . Under Pressure?

Here are the statistics to back what Ron Paul says on Iraq.

Intel on Iran's Nukes should ruduce American Aggression

Unless the Iranians say something like, "See America, we told you so", or "Hey America, invade this!!!". We will likely not see a nuke dropped in the middle eaast for another few years.

But America has made it clear, if another country with opposing views to ours seeks nuclear weapons we are justified in a first strike. If they only HAVE nukes then we engage in a decades long expensive war of words and chest thumping.

Lord, I hope the Iranians love their children too.

Iran Nuke Intel

Ron Paul: A True Underdog Story

Vote Ron Paul

fox distorts again, putting words into Dr. No's mouth

More debate recaps you ask??? Okay!!!

Ron Paul Visits Google

He has more views than Hillary (scroll to bottom of this page to see how his numbers compare to hers) in a fraction of the time. His support team on the net is growing like wildfire and I am truly amazed.

I respect his message, I respect his solid voting record, and I respect all of those out there that have reached down and supported this guy as he puts the best platform of any (R) and (D) candidate.

Thanks for watching,

Scott~

1988 debate with Ron Paul (funny)

Part 2

And Part 3

This is a trio of videos from an interview of Ron Paul on the Morton Downey Jr. Show. I was truly LMAO to this video and at the same time catching gems from the show. I love the way people talk and the way they are so passionate about their views.

It is really centered around the drug war and the failure of our policy to stop drugs on the street and the level of interaction with the audience really makes this a snapshot of opinion in the late 80's.

Enjoy,

Scott~

Ron Paul Visits Google HQ

Ron Paul made a visit to the main headquarters of google on his campaign trail for President of the United States of America.

A brief review of the visit is here in the article. I wonder why journalists have to include so much of the 'he does not have a chance, but take a minute to humour him.' type attitude when covering someone who is not in the top two of the polls.

Take a read for yourself and comment your thoughts.

Go Ron Go,

Scott~

What a bumpy road

Resignation, Impeachment, or Both

This link is for a video of the Olbermann article read by him. you can also read this at the same link.

Olbermann succinctly exposes the serious condition in which the United States of America is constantly, daily crossing the lines into the very types of ruling government that caused rebellion and after much struggle the formation of this nation of laws and protection of individual unalienable rights.

Nowhere in the Polls, but Everywhere on the net

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003751285_paul17.html

It has been since the Ross Perot campaign many years ago that I personally got a glimpse of alternative candidates and party structures.

The Reform Party and the Libertarian Party were touted as representing the Constitutional ideals I had been taught in school. Yet the leading papers and politicians often scoffed at or just outright (I first misspelled that as 'pout'right) ignored these alternative or third party candidates. Sometimes I am glad that third party candidates are ignored because quite frankly they do not have it altogether. But this does not excuse the total disregard for what anyone should consider a valid or legitimate campaign.

So all of that aside, forgetting any personal bias of desire for complete coverage, could you hold a 'scientific' poll and include candidates that are not yet declared and exclude candidates that are not only in the race, but getting quite a bit of online buzz?

The LA times has done so and a few others as well.

Here is a video of some polls and ideas being ignored. Tell if you think these are ideas the public of the United states are not interested in!

Read on,

Scott~

___________________

Here is a letter from a friend to the LA TIMES:

From: Regan A.
To: timespoll@latimes.com
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 9:03:23 AM
Subject: Where's Ron Paul?

Dear Editor,
Pollster, or whomever it may concern,
I recently saw your Republican Primary poll and noticed a glaring omission: Ron Paul was not one of the choices. You listed Fred Thompson (who is not even officially running) but you decide to omit Dr. Paul? You also listed Huckabee who, according to the FEC, has raised less money than Paul in the first quarter of 2007. I have a simple question for you: Why did you do this? Was it just a mistake? If you can give me a satisfactory answer and launch another poll with Paul's name then I will be content. Otherwise, I am prepared to boycott your newspaper because of your unfair coverage of the election. Thank you and have a nice day.

Sincerely,
Regan A
San Diego, CA

_______________________________

Ron Paul Stands out again. . .

The GOP would be wise to listen to Ron Paul's message

Opinion/Editorial article in the Seattle Times

"Two-thirds of Americans can now see that starting a war in Iraq was a mistake. The majority of Republicans still do not see it. Eventually they will, but it's hard to go against their own president unless one of their own makes them do it.

That may be the usefulness of Rep. Ron Paul. There is no way this libertarian medical doctor from Texas is going to win the Republican nomination. His strict noninterventionist policy is too radical a change for Republicans. But on foreign policy the Republican Party could use a dose of criticism that gets to the root of things, and that is what Paul has to offer."

For the whole article, click on the title of this article.