Thursday, August 28, 2003
Sunday, August 24, 2003
Tim Cavanaugh an editor of Reason's web site, opines on the split of the libertarian party over the Iraq war for the Daily Star. This article resonates well with me, especially because this war is something that I struggled to support and still struggle with. Hopefully it was the right decision in the end and some good comes about because of it (be it for the Iraq citizens and for good old USA). (Via the Hiphop Libertarian)
After all, if you don’t trust the government to inspect your food, set reasonable zoning standards, or enforce laws conducive to public health, how can you believe the same government knows best how to decide the future of a sovereign state located thousands of kilometers and nine time zones away, whose religion, language and customs are barely known to most Americans?
Pro-Iraq war libertarians countered this argument by arguing that any principled belief in liberty went hand-in-hand with a desire to see Saddam Hussein an enemy of human freedom if there ever was one overthrown with extreme prejudice. Libertarian debate on the war was largely (and refreshingly) free from obfuscation about weapons of mass destruction and evanescent Al-Qaeda connections. Instead, the talk was about whether the oppression of Iraqis justified (an unrequested) US intervention, whether Iraq could be remade into a free state after the manner of post-war Japan and West Germany, and whether any of this was worth the expansion of American state power that inevitably takes place during wartime. Critic Randolph Bourne’s warning that “war is the health of the state” rarely seemed so relevant.
As the practical reasons for the Iraq war have been discredited, the debate over the larger implications for liberty has, ironically, become more vital. Whether the war was a justified act of self-defense, an example of idealistic overreach, or an imperial crime, the question of how free Iraqis will be in the future and which institutions will ensure that freedom is now inextricably tied in to US foreign policy. In forming an answer, the varied libertarian voices are a vital resource and should be given careful consideration.
After all, if you don’t trust the government to inspect your food, set reasonable zoning standards, or enforce laws conducive to public health, how can you believe the same government knows best how to decide the future of a sovereign state located thousands of kilometers and nine time zones away, whose religion, language and customs are barely known to most Americans?
Pro-Iraq war libertarians countered this argument by arguing that any principled belief in liberty went hand-in-hand with a desire to see Saddam Hussein an enemy of human freedom if there ever was one overthrown with extreme prejudice. Libertarian debate on the war was largely (and refreshingly) free from obfuscation about weapons of mass destruction and evanescent Al-Qaeda connections. Instead, the talk was about whether the oppression of Iraqis justified (an unrequested) US intervention, whether Iraq could be remade into a free state after the manner of post-war Japan and West Germany, and whether any of this was worth the expansion of American state power that inevitably takes place during wartime. Critic Randolph Bourne’s warning that “war is the health of the state” rarely seemed so relevant.
As the practical reasons for the Iraq war have been discredited, the debate over the larger implications for liberty has, ironically, become more vital. Whether the war was a justified act of self-defense, an example of idealistic overreach, or an imperial crime, the question of how free Iraqis will be in the future and which institutions will ensure that freedom is now inextricably tied in to US foreign policy. In forming an answer, the varied libertarian voices are a vital resource and should be given careful consideration.
Friday, August 22, 2003
The Buffet who should be working for ARR-NOLD (via Cella's Reveiw)
In four non-consecutive terms representing Omaha in the U.S. House of Representatives, the radical backbench Republican compiled an almost purely libertarian record. He opposed whatever New Deal alphabet-soup agencies and Fair Deal bureaucracies emerged from the black lagoon of the Potomac. As the historian Joseph Stromberg has written, "the only [current] member of Congress who bears comparison with Buffett is Ron Paul," the Texas Republican and courageous naysayer.
In four non-consecutive terms representing Omaha in the U.S. House of Representatives, the radical backbench Republican compiled an almost purely libertarian record. He opposed whatever New Deal alphabet-soup agencies and Fair Deal bureaucracies emerged from the black lagoon of the Potomac. As the historian Joseph Stromberg has written, "the only [current] member of Congress who bears comparison with Buffett is Ron Paul," the Texas Republican and courageous naysayer.
Tuesday, August 19, 2003
TM Q from Page2 - AFC preview: not blacked out
A weekly must read for the NFL fan from Tuesday Morning QB, Gregg Easterbrook. This week he breaks down the AFC and offers insight into everything.
Check out this sampling...
Canada is a threat to all we hold dear. Consider that millions of Americans cannot subscribe to NFL Sunday Ticket -- the product TMQ desires more than anything in life -- because they cannot or do not get the satellite signal of the Rupert Murdoch-owned DirecTV, which holds a monopoly over Sunday Ticket. Yet in Canada, anyone may subscribe to NFL Sunday Ticket over cable. That's right, Canadians have much better access to the viewing of NFL games than Americans do.
Plus in Canada, marijuana is close to legal. Same-gender marriage is recognized. So all these gay married Canadians are sitting around smoking pot and watching NFL Sunday Ticket -- enjoying total access to games made possible by the tax dollars of Americans! -- while in the United States, you can only drink beer, marry someone of the opposite sex and watch whatever awful woofer game your local network affiliate has chosen for you.
A weekly must read for the NFL fan from Tuesday Morning QB, Gregg Easterbrook. This week he breaks down the AFC and offers insight into everything.
Check out this sampling...
Canada is a threat to all we hold dear. Consider that millions of Americans cannot subscribe to NFL Sunday Ticket -- the product TMQ desires more than anything in life -- because they cannot or do not get the satellite signal of the Rupert Murdoch-owned DirecTV, which holds a monopoly over Sunday Ticket. Yet in Canada, anyone may subscribe to NFL Sunday Ticket over cable. That's right, Canadians have much better access to the viewing of NFL games than Americans do.
Plus in Canada, marijuana is close to legal. Same-gender marriage is recognized. So all these gay married Canadians are sitting around smoking pot and watching NFL Sunday Ticket -- enjoying total access to games made possible by the tax dollars of Americans! -- while in the United States, you can only drink beer, marry someone of the opposite sex and watch whatever awful woofer game your local network affiliate has chosen for you.
Here We Go Steelers Here We Go
Steeler Breakdown via ESPN.com
Cliff Notes version
1 -- O-line is shakey.
2 -- Touchdown Tommy is a ???? still, does he fly or fall?
3 -- Secondary, Secondary, Secondary more ???
4 -- LBs are NASTY
5 -- w/o Vick Randel EL is the most electrifying guy in the NFL
Steeler Breakdown via ESPN.com
Cliff Notes version
1 -- O-line is shakey.
2 -- Touchdown Tommy is a ???? still, does he fly or fall?
3 -- Secondary, Secondary, Secondary more ???
4 -- LBs are NASTY
5 -- w/o Vick Randel EL is the most electrifying guy in the NFL
Thursday, August 14, 2003
Must Watch...Commanding Heights: via PBS
This is a PBS special that aired this week. It tracks the battle between the Hayek and Keynes camps and results.
But in the 1970s, with Keynesian theory at its height and communism fully entrenched, economic stagnation sets in on all sides. When a British grocer's daughter and a former Hollywood actor become heads of state, they join forces around the ideas of Hayek, and new political and economic policies begin to transform the world.
This is a PBS special that aired this week. It tracks the battle between the Hayek and Keynes camps and results.
But in the 1970s, with Keynesian theory at its height and communism fully entrenched, economic stagnation sets in on all sides. When a British grocer's daughter and a former Hollywood actor become heads of state, they join forces around the ideas of Hayek, and new political and economic policies begin to transform the world.
ScrappleFace: Gov. Rendell Adopts Every Child in Pennsylvania. Rendell is going all out here and scrapple face keeps the hits coming.
Initially, Gov. Rendell proposed increasing the state's share of school funding to 50 percent and adding new early childhood programs including pre-kindergarten, full-day kindergarten and tutoring.
"But then I realized," the Governor said, "that if we're going to have the child for 20 years, six hours per day -- that's more time than most parents spend with their kids. So, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I'm adopting every child in the state from birth to age 21."
The state will also set up an automatic bank draft system to pull money from the birth-parents' accounts to fund education, medical care, room and board.
Initially, Gov. Rendell proposed increasing the state's share of school funding to 50 percent and adding new early childhood programs including pre-kindergarten, full-day kindergarten and tutoring.
"But then I realized," the Governor said, "that if we're going to have the child for 20 years, six hours per day -- that's more time than most parents spend with their kids. So, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I'm adopting every child in the state from birth to age 21."
The state will also set up an automatic bank draft system to pull money from the birth-parents' accounts to fund education, medical care, room and board.
Saturday, August 09, 2003
PrestoPundit quoting my man Lileks' Bleat from August 7th. Lileks comes hard with another darn good Bleat and makes a good point. Why regardless of how bad some of our choices are for office, we still need to go out and vote for what is sometimes the lesser of the evils.
Quotable:
Listened to much radio commentary today on the Arnie candidacy, and as usual there was much lamenting and rending of garments on the ironclad right; he’s not this, he’s not that, he said this, he sleeps with a Shriver, etc. I am always mystified by people who would rather die pure than live with imperfections. Every candidate will always disappoint, somehow. Any candidate with whom you agree 100% is probably unelectable. If your bumpersticker says DON’T BLAME ME, I VOTED FOR AYN RAND I'm not particularly impressed. ‘Cause she’s dead and none of that stuff is going to happen. Doesn’t mean we can’t keep the ideas in play, but if you don’t vote because no candidate vows to privatize the sewage systems and disband the Food and Drug Administration, don’t come crying to me when your marginal tax rate hits 71 percent.
Quotable:
Listened to much radio commentary today on the Arnie candidacy, and as usual there was much lamenting and rending of garments on the ironclad right; he’s not this, he’s not that, he said this, he sleeps with a Shriver, etc. I am always mystified by people who would rather die pure than live with imperfections. Every candidate will always disappoint, somehow. Any candidate with whom you agree 100% is probably unelectable. If your bumpersticker says DON’T BLAME ME, I VOTED FOR AYN RAND I'm not particularly impressed. ‘Cause she’s dead and none of that stuff is going to happen. Doesn’t mean we can’t keep the ideas in play, but if you don’t vote because no candidate vows to privatize the sewage systems and disband the Food and Drug Administration, don’t come crying to me when your marginal tax rate hits 71 percent.
Friday, August 08, 2003
Samizdata.net - Don't mess with Texas... except the taxes, that is
Sometimes the Republicans do something right and there appears to be hope in our great country. Unfortunately, I can't think of any instances when I can say this about the Democrats.
(via samazdata)
All the coverage of California we have had in Britain has not mentioned the fact that another large State in the United States has just balanced its budget.
I believe I am right in saying that the second largest State in the Union (Texas) has balanced its budget without increasing taxes.
Texas has achieved this by the strange practice of - cutting government spending
This policy does not often occur to politicians or media folk.
Sometimes the Republicans do something right and there appears to be hope in our great country. Unfortunately, I can't think of any instances when I can say this about the Democrats.
(via samazdata)
All the coverage of California we have had in Britain has not mentioned the fact that another large State in the United States has just balanced its budget.
I believe I am right in saying that the second largest State in the Union (Texas) has balanced its budget without increasing taxes.
Texas has achieved this by the strange practice of - cutting government spending
This policy does not often occur to politicians or media folk.
Jacob Sullivan opines on Ar-noold and why you have to like the guy.
This quote shows you why the Oak is the man and could do a good job governing (plus pumping iron is one of the best movies ever made).
"I come from Austria, a socialistic country. There you can hear 18-year-olds talking about their pension. But me, I wanted more. I wanted to be the best. Individualism like that is incompatible with socialism. I felt I had to come to America, where the government wasn't always breathing down your neck or standing on your shoes."
This quote shows you why the Oak is the man and could do a good job governing (plus pumping iron is one of the best movies ever made).
"I come from Austria, a socialistic country. There you can hear 18-year-olds talking about their pension. But me, I wanted more. I wanted to be the best. Individualism like that is incompatible with socialism. I felt I had to come to America, where the government wasn't always breathing down your neck or standing on your shoes."
Tuesday, August 05, 2003
Monday, August 04, 2003
Hot shit Hot shit....
Welcome to a new champdiesel/padovan production featuring libertariain thought with a Pittsburgh meets Chicago flavor. Look for posts from Ian Padovan and Christian Champ in the coming days, months and years.
Welcome to a new champdiesel/padovan production featuring libertariain thought with a Pittsburgh meets Chicago flavor. Look for posts from Ian Padovan and Christian Champ in the coming days, months and years.
