Get Freedom Watch on Fox News

The lovely Shelly Roche of Freedom Watch & BreakTheMatrix talks about getting the show Freedom Watch, hosted by Judge Andrew Napolitano, added to the open time slot on the Fox News Channel.





Details here.


Freedom Watch site


Stay in the loop

Ron Paul Comments on North Korea's Nuclear Test

Texas Congressman Ron Paul comments on the overreaction of the United States government to North Korea's nuclear test. Paul states that North Korea doesn't pose a real threat to us. Paul suggests that we change our actions in regards to North Korea.

Mother Freedom

A musical break for a Saturday evening. Here is the rockin' tune Mother Freedom. This song is by Bread, a band better known for their love ballads.

Sit em right down and then you gotta teach em bout
Freedom - gotta win it
Gotta put yourself smack dab in it
Freedom - keep trying
People stay alive and people keep dying for
Freedom - so don't lose it
Ya gotta understand ya just cant abuse it
Freedom - get moving
Never gonna stop till everybodys groovin on
Love for - one another
Calling some friend and calling some brother

Freedom don't abuse it, so you don't lose it. We have and we are.

Terrorists Are Everywhere!!!!!!!!!!

This video proves terrorists are everywhere. Man how often do I see people taking pictures, sitting on benches, etc. Just today I saw someone using binoculars!!!!!!!

We need the government to protect us! I am so fearful of terrorists!!!

We the Sheeple will follow blindly.

Here are your tax dollars being used by the Department of Homeland Stupidity to generate fear:



Just another sign of our descent into an authoritarian police state. When I visited my relatives in Communist East Germany in 1975, I was warned by the US government that things like taking pictures, asking questions could actually be considered spying by the Communist government. Just 34 years later the US government does the same thing.

State of Virginia Bans Smiling for Our Safety

In the never ending idiocy and controlling nature of the modern American authoritarian state, the State of Virginia has banned smiling on drivers licenses:

From the Washington Post:

As part of the DMV's effort to develop super-secure driver's licenses and foolproof identification cards, the agency has issued a smile ban, directing customers to adopt a "neutral expression" in their portraits, thereby extinguishing whatever happiness comes with finally hearing one's number called.

DMV officials say the smile ban is for a good cause. The agency would like to develop a facial recognition system that could compare customers' photographs over time to prevent fraud and identity theft. "The technology works best when the images are similar," said DMV spokeswoman Pam Goheen. "To prepare for the possibility of future security enhancements, we're asking customers to maintain a neutral expression."

At a Manassas DMV branch yesterday, that translated to a simple directive: "Don't smile."

That's exactly what a DMV attendant told Manassas resident Maria Quispe when she sat down against the white backdrop and attempted to look happy for the photo she would be carrying around for much of the next eight years.

The shutter clicked, and the attendant consulted a computer monitor, then shook her head disapprovingly.

Quispe's teeth had been visible. Strike one. "Your mouth was open," the attendant said.

When asked how DMV employees are able to determine when customers might be smiling too much, Goheen explained that the process is automated. Naturally, the new software is programmed to reject attempts at exuberance or human warmth. "It will send an error message if it detects a non-neutral expression," she said.

Peter Schiff and Marc Faber on The Glenn Beck, 5 28 2009

Peter Schiff and Marc Faber on the Glenn Beck show discuss the possibilty of hyperinflation in the United States.

Dollar Gets Hammered

Peter Schiff in his video blog for May 29, 2009 talks about surging commodity prices and the dropping dollar.

Adam Kokesh Money Bomb Video

A video done to promoye Adam Kokesh's July 4th money bomb.

128 Days Later: A Story of True Terror!

Morticians Association of America Salutes President Obama

From Reason TV:

Putting things off ... It's what we humans do. Thankfully, President Obama has stopped putting things off when it comes to global warming. He's insisting on tough new fuel efficiency standards, and that means our children will enjoy a cleaner environment.

The new standards mean more of us will be driving smaller, fuel-efficient cars. And since smaller, lighter cars—even when they are extremely well-designed for safety—mean more of us will have to plan for our final day sooner than we anticipated, we urge you to follow the president's lead and think ahead.

Don't put off planning for your final day. We're the Morticians Association of America, and we salute President Obama.

No Guns for Blacks

Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership film "No Guns for Negroes" exposes the racist history behind American gun control laws. The film features Ralph W. Connor, Chairman of Congress of Racial Equality - Chicago and Donna Major of the Second Amendment Sisters.

The film shows:

How “gun control” uniquely punishes honest, law-abiding Blacks

The hidden facts that many Civil Rights heroes actively exercised their Second Amendment self-defense rights in the 1960’s and 1970’s to insure the survival and success of the Civil Rights movement. This made Martin Luther King’s pacifism safe to use.

That the US Gun Control Act of 1968 was copied almost word for word from the Nazi's 1938 gun control act. This act was the brainchild of Connecticut Senator Thomas Dodd, father of the current corrupt Senator from Connecticut Christopher Dodd.

That according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 550 rapes and 1,100 are prevented every day because the targeted victim or other honest citizen has a gun.

That the Supreme Court in DeShaney vs. Winnebago County, 1989 declared that "...the Constitution does not impose a duty on the state and local governments to protect the citizens from criminal harm."



Part I




Part II

Peter Schiff: Buy Gold and Gold Stocks

Peter Schiff on Fox Business encourages people to put 10 - 20% of their investments into gold or gold related stocks.

Schiff also said he is considering a run for Senate from Connecticut.

Stunning California Election Results

From Downsize DC:

Subject: Stunning poll results

The politicians and pundits keep telling us the Era of Big Government has returned. For instance, the Washington Post claims that increased confidence in government is fostering economic recovery.

But what happens when Americans are given a real choice to accept or reject government growth? California just had that chance when they voted on several Big Government propositions. The results are stunning...

Prop 1A would have created a so-called "Rainy Day" fund. The voters slammed it down 65.8% to 34.2%.

Prop 1B would have spent $9.3 billion from this "Rainy Day" fund NOT on some future rainy day, but immediately, on schools. The voters slammed it down 62.5% to 37.5%.

Prop 1C would have increased state government funding through the lottery, but voters didn't want the government to have more money. They slammed down this one too, 64.6% to 35.4%.

There were only two propositions that could possibly be interpreted as deviations from these results . .

Prop 1D would have shifted money away from child services to balance the budget, but voters rejected this 65.7% to 34.3%

Prop 1E would have done something similar, shifting money from mental health services to reduce the state deficit, but voters rejected this one too, 66.4% to 33.6%

Now it could be that a majority of Californians value these services more than they do a balanced budget, but all of these propositions were crafted by politicians, so it could also be that voters prefer the status quo to the dangers of allowing politicians to make any NEW decisions. After all...

Prop 1F prevents pay raises for legislators and statewide officeholders in deficit years, and it passed by a whopping 73.9% to 26.1%.

Could it be that California taxpayers want politicians to balance the budget NOT by shifting money around, but by CUTTING spending overall?

Now here's what we find most interesting. California politicians, including Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, put on a full-court-press to pass these Big Government propositions. Their arguments were heard by everyone, everywhere, every day. But the Big Government position lost, across the board, by huge margins. Not only that...

The Big Government proposals lost in every single county, while the one small government proposition won in every county. You may find it fun to look at the sea of red for the defeated proposals and the sea of green for the victorious small government measure.

So cheer up. The politicians and pundits may think the Era of Big Government has returned, but the people are moving in the other direction.

Let's keep pushing. We only have 4 work days left in May. That means we need to slam Congress with 1,289 messages in response to today's Dispatch to exceed the 31,730 messages we sent last month. Please help us achieve this goal. Here's our Big Government target for today...

The House Energy and Commerce Committee just voted in favor of H.R. 2454, a bill designed to control carbon emissions through a "cap and trade" system. This bill is a classic example of why politicians shouldn't be trusted to construct complicated plans. "Cap and trade" is supposed to empower the market to figure out the best way to reduce carbon emission, but . . .

H.R. 2454 is full of mandates for HOW firms must cap emissions!


This directly contradicts the supposed market orientation of the "cap and trade" idea. Please use DownsizeDC.org's "cap and trade" campaign to instruct your Congressional employees to oppose all complicated "cap and trade" schemes.

Use your personal comments to...

Specifically object to H.R. 2454. Point out that this bill contains mandates that contradict the whole idea behind "cap and trade"

Obama's Budget Cuts Put in Perspective

Here are a couple of creative videos that put the size President Obama's budget cuts into perspective.

First his original $100 million proposed cut:

How much is the $100 million dollars in budget cuts compared to the federal budget as a whole? This video imagines the budget as $100 in pennies to provide the answer.

Next the $17 Billion in Budget Cuts:

While the president's $100 million dollar cuts weren't even a drop in a bucket, the $17 billion in cuts at least means something. But it's a far cry from the "net spending cuts" we were promised.

NOTE: Thank you to FactCheck.org for noticing an error in my arithmetic. The Bush budget was actually 12 gallons less than the Obama budget (not 9)... so the real difference is actually greater than the video portrays.

Is America Better Than That?

Texas Congressman Ron Paul explains why torture is wrong and counterproductive.

Torturing the Rule of Law

While Congress is sidetracked by who said what to whom and when, our nation finds itself at a crossroads on the issue of torture. We are at a point where we must decide if torture is something that is now going to be considered justifiable and reasonable under certain circumstances, or is America better than that?

“Enhanced interrogation” as some prefer to call it, has been used throughout history, usually by despotic governments, to cruelly punish or to extract politically useful statements from prisoners. Governments that do these things invariably bring shame on themselves.

In addition, information obtained under duress is incredibly unreliable, which is why it is not admissible in a court of law. Legally valid information is freely given by someone of sound mind and body. Someone in excruciating pain, or brought close to death by some horrific procedure is not in any state of mind to give reliable information, and certainly no actions should be taken solely based upon it.

For these reasons, it is illegal in the United States and illegal under Geneva Conventions. Simulated drowning, or water boarding, was not considered an exception to these laws when it was used by the Japanese against US soldiers in World War II. In fact, we hanged Japanese officers for war crimes in 1945 for water boarding. Its status as torture has already been decided by our own courts under this precedent. To look the other way now, when Americans do it, is the very definition of hypocrisy.

Matthew Alexander, author of “How to Break a Terrorist” used non-torture methods of interrogation in Iraq with much success. In fact, one cooperative jihadist told him, "I thought you would torture me, and when you didn't, I decided that everything I was told about Americans was wrong. That's why I decided to cooperate." Alexander also found that in Iraq “the No. 1 reason foreign fighters flocked there to fight were the abuses carried out at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. Our policy of torture was directly and swiftly recruiting fighters for al-Qaeda in Iraq.” Alexander’s experiences unequivocally demonstrate that losing our humanity is not beneficial or necessary in fighting terror.

The current administration has reversed its position on releasing evidence of torture by the previous administration and we must ask why. A great and moral nation would have the courage to face the truth so it could abide by the rule of law. To look the other way necessarily implicates all of us and would of course further radicalize people against our troops on the ground. Instead, we have the chance to limit culpability for torture to those who were truly responsible for these crimes against humanity.

Not everyone who was given illegal orders obeyed them. Many FBI agents understood that an illegal order must be disobeyed and they did so. The others must be held accountable, so that all of us are not targeted for blowback for the complicity of some.

The government’s own actions and operations in torturing people, and in acting on illegally obtained and unreliable information to kill and capture, are the most radicalizing forces at work today, not any religion, nor the fact that we are rich and free. The fact that our government engages in evil behavior under the auspices of the American people is what poses the greatest threat to the American people, and it must not be allowed to stand.

Tolerance and Diversity at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

The whole idea of race is a sham, it is an arbitrary creation of man. Here is another story of the idiocy of trying to pigeonhole people in to groups and the problems that result.

From the ABC News:

Can a white guy be African-American? Paulo Serodio says he is.

Born and raised in Mozambique and now a naturalized U.S. citizen, Serodio, 45, has filed a lawsuit against a New Jersey medical school, claiming he was harassed and ultimately suspended for identifying himself during a class cultural exercise as a "white African-American."

"I wouldn't wish this to my worst enemy," he said. "I'm not exaggerating. This has destroyed my life, my career."

Filed Monday in U.S. District Court in New Jersey, the lawsuit traces a series of events that Serodio maintains led to his 2007 suspension, starting with a March 2006 cultural exercise in a clinical skills course taught by Dr. Kathy Ann Duncan, where each student was asked to define themselves for a discussion on culture and medicine.

After Serodio labeled himself as a white African-American, another student said she was offended by his comments and that, because of his white skin, was not an African-American.

According to the lawsuit, Serodio was summoned to Duncan's office where he was instructed "never to define himself as an African-American … because it was offensive to others and to people of color for him to do so."

Serodio said he is a third-generation African of Portuguese ethnicity whose great-grandfather emigrated to Mozambique. He came to the U.S. in 1984 after being accepted at New York University.

Serodio said he is a third-generation African of Portuguese ethnicity whose great-grandfather emigrated to Mozambique. He came to the U.S. in 1984 after being accepted at New York University.

The lawsuit claims Serodio tried to stop publication on the newspaper article, but was too late. In response, the professor of the latter cultural class posted a reply on the bulletin boards at the medical school stating that Serodio "had failed to learn professionalism and humanism."

That's when, according to the lawsuit, the harassment, some physical, began in earnest. According to the lawsuit, Serodio's tires were vandalized in December of 2006, other students put up posters slamming him and he was denied protection by the school.

So basically Paulo Serodio is asked to identify himself, is told he is wrong, that he better keep his mouth shut and then is harassed by people who claim they are for tolerance and diversity. Apparently they only support tolerance and diversity some of the time.

Mr. Serodio is white, born and raised in Africa as a third generation in Mozambique, emigrated to the US and became a US citizen and these small minded people say he can't define himself as "White African American"? Because some people are offended? If we can't do or say things that offend others, than we will not be able to do or say anything.

A society that outlaws doing or saying something that someone finds offensive is not a free society or a tolerant and diverse one.

But the bottom line comes down to the foolishness of the whole concept of race. There is only one race, the human race. Putting people into different races is a diversionary tactic and a divide and conquer tactic. It keeps us apart rather than bringing us together. It is used for personal gain and power by the Jesse Jacksons, Ku Klux Klans and Al Sheratons of the world.

Iraq War Veteran Adam Kokesh

Iraq War Veteran Adam Kokesh speaking at the Jekyll Island Project. Kokesh, a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War and a Ron Paul Supporter, announces his candidacy for Congress from New Mexico.

Kokesh lays out the problems with our big government that is destroying individual liberty in this country.



See Adam Kokesh's blog here.

Close Guantanamo Bay

Judge Andrew Napolitano and Texas Congressman Ron Paul discuss Guantanamo Bay and the credit card legislation on 5/20/09.

The Bailout Bubble

Gerald Celente, director of Trends Research Institute, talks about the bailout bubble and how the combination of government and corporations that is occurring is fascism lite.



From CNBC:

As the Federal Reserve throws more and more money at the economic crisis and holds interest rates down at historic lows, it could be inflating a devastating bailout bubble, Gerald Celente, director of Trends Research Institute, told CNBC.

Were looking at a bailout bubble that's way bigger than the dotcom bubble before it and the real-estate bubble that were now getting out of, or attempting to, Celente said.

This is unprecedented; the economic system is being restructured, he said.

The real-estate bubble was born out of the aftermath of the dotcom bubble because the Fed slashed interest rates and made more funds available, according to Celente.

But because the US government now has a vast equity position in financial institutions, it could mean that there is no bouncing back if a bailout-induced bubble bursts, Celente said.

When this bubble bursts, there's no reinflating it because of the government intervention into it so deeply, he said.

As you look through history, it seems like governments become emboldened by their failures, he added.

Celente pointed out that according to the Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini, the merger of state and corporate powers was called fascism.

We could call this fascism lite, he said, referring to the government involvement in free enterprise. After these kind of catastrophic collapses, sometimes they're followed by war.

Dangerous Extremists Everywhere

Ladies4Liberty present Extremists Everywhere, making fun of the Department of Homeland Security's definition of potential extremists.

Arizona Family for Medical Marijuana

Minnesota finally passed a Medical Marijuana bill, a very restricted one, but Governor Tim Pawlenty has vetoed the bill. A simply inexcusable
action by someone who claims “I have great empathy for the sick.” Yeah right Governor. In fact it is beyond inexcusable, it is cruel and heartless. To deny a human the right to a substance that could relieve their suffering shows a total lack of human compassion.

Here is a story of an Arizona family that has a personal reason to support medical marijuana:

Tim Pawlenty: A Symbol for the Death of the Republican Party

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, a "rising star" in the Republican party, demonstrates why the Republican party is dying. Exactly what does Mr. Pawlenty believe in other than his own political career? Exactly what do Republicans believe in except power?

Pawlenty tries to portray himself as fiscal conservative who has vowed no new taxes. He and the Minnesota GOP came down hard on the "override six" Republicans who cast votes to override Pawlenty's veto of the gas tax increase in 2008.

Yet Pawlenty proposed and got passed the "Health Impact Fee" on cigarettes which was nothing but a new tax with a misleading name. This is the same Pawlenty who happily signed into law a bill providing for a sales tax increase in Hennepin County to build a new Twins stadium.

Pawlenty tries to portray himself as compassionate and in touch with the common man. But yesterday Tim Pawlenty vetoed the Medical Marijuana bill which would have allowed terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana. From the Star Tribune:

He said that while he was "sympathetic to those dealing with end-of-life illnesses," he felt marijuana poses "serious public safety and health risks." Legalizing marijuana, even under limited conditions, "could serve to compound these problems,"

What a load of bull! Will Pawlenty be working to outlaw the medical use of morphine? What happened to Republicans believing in individuals and limited government? Nothing but meaningless rhetoric. It is morally and ethically wrong to deny an individual a natural substance that could relieve their suffering or treat their illness. It is the epitome of big brother and cruel uncaring big government.

Then Pawlenty tops it off by signing into law the Nanny State seat belt law which allows cops to pull motorist over for not wearing a seat belt. Yeah, there is a small limited government law for you! Besides being an intrusion into personal choice, it also opens up the possibility of unlimited harassment of drivers, especially those out of favor with certain officers.

Why would anyone who believes in small limited government and individual rights support someone like Tim Pawlenty? Why would they waste their time with the Republican Party that views Pawlenty favorably?

Food Freedom Under Attack

Shelly Roche talks about Federal legislation (H.R. 759) that threatens small and organic farmers.

The United States Should Default

The Peter Schiff Video Blog Report for May 22, 2009. Schiff predicts a continued decline for the US Dollar. Schiff says it would be better for the United States to default on its debt, rather than what the government/politicians will actually do, which is to print more money to pay the debt.

Schiff notes that printing money to payoff debt is merely a sneaky, dishonest way to default because the dollars used are not really worth as much anymore.

Imagine that, the government and politicians being sneaky and dishonest!

Silence is Violence

A musical break for a Friday evening. Here is the wonderful, talented Aimee Allen singing Silence is Violence:



Silence is violence now availible on Itunes. Please support Aimee Allen.



Lyrics: Silence is Violence

Another song
to signify whats wrong
Another sunny day that tells me
I must move on
Another cigarette, another cigarette will do
Enough to fill spaces between thoughts of you
I jump up and down for your attention
Rhyme after rhyme with you as my intention
I start fires wave flags that burn for you
But you don't notice do you?

Silence is violence
You don't notice do you ?
I'm trying to break through your silence
Silence is violence
You don't notice do you ?
I'm fighting but losing to your silence

Another time i reach but your hands not out
Holes in the walls that we don't talk about
Another is it me?
Baby talk to me
I'm losing it while you watch TV
What's the matter?
Can you feel me?
You bite your tongue
What are you numb to me?
What's the matter?
This is killing me
Do you notice do you still love me?

(With nothing,You just said everything )

Silence is violence
You don't notice do you?
I'm fighting but losing to silence
Silence is violence
You don't notice do you?
I'm fighting but losing to silence

The rain is the rhythm of my song for you
The puddles I splash in to cleanse myself of you
There are no rainbows you have no light
It's just me swimming in you, drowning in your black and white
oh it's winter, all my leaves have fallen off
There's no risk of fire but I'm burning
I'm burning, I'm burning

(with nothing, you just said everything)

Silence is violence
You don't notice do you
I'm trying to break through your silence
Silence is violence
I don't know what to do
I'm fighting but losing to silence

Peter Schiff Video Blog Report for May 21, 2009

Peter Schiff talks about the flight from bonds and the dollar while stocks also decline.

Just Say No and Ignore the Useless Republicans

Jack Hunter states that it is hard to take most Republicans seriously. Hunter says the majority of Republicans talk about fiscal responsibility yet in reality spend like Democrats. Hunter points out the few exceptions to the Useless Republicans: Mark Sanford, Ron Paul and Gary Johnson.

Universal Dining

Ladies4Liberty (Rachel Mills and Friends) explore the benefits of Universal Dining:

Walter Jones Discusses Ron Paul's HR1207 Audit the Fed

Amazing, these two talking hairdos can't understand why the Federal Reserve should be audited and required to answer questions about its operations. I mean why should the people who have so much power over the financial system have to answer questions.

Audit and Then End the Fed

Texas Congressman Ron Paul explains the many reasons why the Federal Reserve should be abolished:

Audit the Fed, Then End It!

I have been very pleased with the progress of my legislation, HR 1207, which calls for a complete audit of the Federal Reserve and removes many significant barriers towards transparency of our monetary system. This bill now has nearly 170 cosponsors, with support from both Republicans and Democrats. Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced a companion bill in the Senate S 604, which will hopefully begin to gain momentum as well. I am very encouraged to see so many of my colleagues in Congress stand with me for greater transparency in government.

Some have begun to push back against this bill, and I am very happy to address their concerns.

The main argument seems to be that Congressional oversight over the Fed is government interference in the free market. This argument shows a misunderstanding of what a free market really is. Fundamentally, you cannot defend the Federal Reserve and the free market at the same time. The Fed negates the very foundation of a free market by artificially manipulating the price and supply of money – the lifeblood of the economy. In a free market, interest rates, like the price of any other consumer good, are decentralized and set by the market. The only legitimate, Constitutional role of government in monetary policy is to protect the integrity of the monetary unit and defend against counterfeiters.

Instead, Congress has abdicated this responsibility to a cabal of elite, quasi-governmental banks who, instead of stabilizing the economy, have destabilized it. It took less than two decades for the Federal Reserve to bring on the Great Depression of the 1930’s. It has also inflated away the value of our currency by over 96 percent since its inception. It has invisibly stolen from the poor and given to the rich through this controlled inflation, and now openly stolen through recent bank bailouts. It has predictably exacerbated the very problems it was meant to solve.

Detractors have also argued that the Fed must remain immune from the political process, and that that more congressional oversight would distort their very important decisions. On the contrary, the Federal Reserve is already heavily entrenched in the political process, as the Fed chairman is a political appointee. High level officials routinely make the rounds between positions at the Fed, member banks, Treasury and back again, taking care of friends and each other along the way.

As far as the foolishness of placing complex monetary policy decisions in the hands of politicians – I couldn’t agree more. No politician or central banker, no matter how brilliant, is smart enough to know more than the market itself. The failure of central economic planning has been witnessed over and over. It is frankly beyond me why we ever agreed to try it again.

To understand how unwise it is to have the Federal Reserve, one must first understand the magnitude of the privileges they have. They have been given the power to create money, by the trillions, and to give it to their friends, under any terms they wish, with little or no meaningful oversight or accountability. Thus the loudest arguments against greater transparency are likely to come from those friends, and understandably so.

However, it is the responsibility of every member of Congress to represent the interests of the people that sent them to Washington and find out what has been happening with our money. As the branch of government with the power of the purse, we really have no other reasonable choice when the economy is in the shape it is in.

I always find it laughable when the defenders of the Fed say we must have the Fed to protect our economy. Since the Federal Reserve was established we have had the Great Depression, stagflation in the 70's and 80's and now our current problems. Thanks Fed.

Big

Big business and big labor love big government, because they get big favors for their big contributions.

It never ceases to amaze/frustrate me that so many people can not see this. They honestly believe big government serves the little guy.

Springing the MHD3 from the Jones County Jail

I posted on the arrest of the Motorhome Diaries Crew this Past Saturday:

Motorhome Diaries Crew Arrested in Mississippi

Here is the story of springing the MHD3 from the Jones County Jail.




Other posts on the Motorhome Diaries Crew here:


The Excellent Adventure of Jason and Pete

Motorhome Diaries Visits Lake Jackson

See their website at MotorhomeDiaries.com

Newspaper Revitalization Act????

Should the government bailout the newspaper industry? What a horrid idea! How independent would government subsidized newspapers be?

More from Reason TV:

With the proliferation of news on the Internet, Americans aren't supporting their local newspapers. Circulation and ad revenues are way down, while web readership—where the news is likely to be free and up-to-the-minute—is way up. Technology has changed the game.

But for those who see a connection between American democracy and the demise of the newspaper industry, it's time to get the government involved to save the news business.

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) has introduced the Newspaper Revitalization Act, a bill that would allow newspapers to operate as nonprofits and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) warns of the "serious consequences for our democracy" if his hometown paper, The Boston Globe, goes belly up. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has publicly argued for an antitrust exemption to save the San Francisco Chronicle, a paper that has long supported her political career. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) recently argued that "If Congress does not act...a major city in the United States will be without a newspaper in the fairly near future."

Washington can give newspapers tax breaks or generous subsides to keep them afloat. There are many ways of extending the life of a terminally-ill by forcing onto life support. But why should the government support an industry that consumers are rejecting?

"Most of those supporting a newspaper bailout were also critical of the medias behavior in the run-up to the Iraq War," says Reason senior editor Michael Moynihan. "Now imagine the reaction if the very same journalists wrote the very same stories about Iraq in 2002 but were reliant upon the Bush administration for their survival."

Ayn Rand, Ron Paul, Rand Paul

Texas Congressman Ron Paul's son Rand Paul comments on the rumors regarding the origin of his first name. Rand Paul has thrown his hat into the ring as a US Senate candidate for Kentucky in 2010.

Jesse Ventura Talks Waterboarding on the View 5/18/09

There was no one more disappointed than me with Jesse Ventura's tenure as governor of Minnesota, but when he is right, he is right. Jesse hits the nail on the head commenting on water boarding on the View. If we violate the rule of law we are no better than the terrorists. If water boarding/torture is okay for suspected terrorists, than it is equally okay for suspected criminals. But anyone with any common decency or a moral compass knows torture is wrong and basically useless.

I wish Jesse would have run for Senate in 2008. Then maybe, just maybe. Minnesota wouldn't have to be represented by one of the buffoon twins: Franken or Coleman.

Obama Quit Stalling and Get With the Program

From the Center for Libertarian Press Information:

President Barack Obama entered the Oval Office brandishing promises to close the US detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, shut down CIA “black sites” around the world, and bring cleansing sunlight to bear on human rights abuses perpetrated by the Bush administration in the name of a “Global War On Terror.” On Friday, Libertarians called on Obama to quit stalling and get with the program.

“Every time it looks like justice will make it out of the woods, Obama falls off the wagon,” says Starchild, coordinator of the national activist group Grassroots Libertarians. “Less than four months into his presidency, we’re back to kangaroo courts at Gitmo, covering up crimes with a constitutionally baseless state secrets doctrine, and hiding evidence by deeming it ‘classified.’”

Earlier this week, President Obama reneged on his administration’s pledge to publicly release photos depicting abuse of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yesterday, after months of stalling on closure of Guantanamo Bay, he announced a return to the policy of trying terror cases by military commission instead of in the courts, as required by the Constitution. Obama’s White House has repeatedly sandbagged even his own party’s efforts to prosecute, or even expose, those responsible for the previous administration’s policy of torturing prisoners.

The Libertarian Party’s platform holds that “the Bill of Rights provides no exceptions for a time of war. Intelligence agencies that legitimately seek to preserve the security of the nation must be subject to oversight and transparency. We oppose the government’s use of secret classifications to keep from the public information that it should have, especially that which shows that the government has violated the law.”

To Marc Montoni, secretary of the Libertarian Party of Virginia, Obama’s policy shifts smell of politics as usual. “America voted for change we could believe in,” he says. “What we’re seeing so far looks more like Bush’s third term.”

Ron Paul Endorses Adam Kokesh

From Texas Congressman Ron Paul:

Dear Friends,


Adam Kokesh has been a tremendous supporter - of both me AND you! As a leader of Iraqi Veterans Against the War, Adam has spent years traveling the country to spread our message of peace, a strong national defense and limited government. Adam has tremendous credibility because of his service in the United States Marine Corps and I have deep respect for his commitment to principle.

And now, Adam Kokesh needs our support.

Adam has formed an exploratory committee to run for Congress in his home state of New Mexico. Sending Adam Kokesh to Congress would be a tremendous victory for the Freedom Movement, and if we come together and stand behind him, he has a real chance to win.

This race will be difficult, but I know Adam has the energy and drive to be successful and pour every ounce of himself into this effort. I urge you to go to www.KokeshforCongress.com and support him in anyway you feel comfortable. Whether it is making a financial contribution, volunteering or getting more information share with your friends and family, Adam needs your support now so he can start down this long journey with momentum and a strong wind at his back.

We have a chance to help a real patriot and lover of liberty join me in Washington. Again, I hope you will help me support Adam Kokesh for Congress.

In Liberty,



Ron Paul

2008 Housing Collapse Predicted on House Floor in 2003

While all the government economists, Federal Reserve governors and politicians who follow Keynesian economics never saw the housing collapse coming, some people did. Those who saw it coming follow Austrian Economics.

From the House Financial Services Committee, September 10, 2003. The following is the speech given on the House floor by Texas Congressman Ron Paul:

Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this hearing on the Treasury Department's views regarding government sponsored enterprises (GSEs). I would also like to thank Secretaries Snow and Martinez for taking time out of their busy schedules to appear before the committee.

I hope this committee spends some time examining the special privileges provided to GSEs by the federal government. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the housing-related GSEs received $13.6 billion worth of indirect federal subsidies in fiscal year 2000 alone. Today, I will introduce the Free Housing Market Enhancement Act, which removes government subsidies from the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), and the National Home Loan Bank Board.

One of the major government privileges granted to GSEs is a line of credit with the United States Treasury. According to some estimates, the line of credit may be worth over $2 billion. This explicit promise by the Treasury to bail out GSEs in times of economic difficulty helps the GSEs attract investors who are willing to settle for lower yields than they would demand in the absence of the subsidy. Thus, the line of credit distorts the allocation of capital. More importantly, the line of credit is a promise on behalf of the government to engage in a huge unconstitutional and immoral income transfer from working Americans to holders of GSE debt.

The Free Housing Market Enhancement Act also repeals the explicit grant of legal authority given to the Federal Reserve to purchase GSE debt. GSEs are the only institutions besides the United States Treasury granted explicit statutory authority to monetize their debt through the Federal Reserve. This provision gives the GSEs a source of liquidity unavailable to their competitors.

The connection between the GSEs and the government helps isolate the GSE management from market discipline. This isolation from market discipline is the root cause of the recent reports of mismanagement occurring at Fannie and Freddie. After all, if Fannie and Freddie were not underwritten by the federal government, investors would demand Fannie and Freddie provide assurance that they follow accepted management and accounting practices.

Ironically, by transferring the risk of a widespread mortgage default, the government increases the likelihood of a painful crash in the housing market. This is because the special privileges granted to Fannie and Freddie have distorted the housing market by allowing them to attract capital they could not attract under pure market conditions. As a result, capital is diverted from its most productive use into housing. This reduces the efficacy of the entire market and thus reduces the standard of living of all Americans.

Despite the long-term damage to the economy inflicted by the government's interference in the housing market, the government's policy of diverting capital to other uses creates a short-term boom in housing. Like all artificially-created bubbles, the boom in housing prices cannot last forever. When housing prices fall, homeowners will experience difficulty as their equity is wiped out. Furthermore, the holders of the mortgage debt will also have a loss. These losses will be greater than they would have otherwise been had government policy not actively encouraged over-investment in housing.

Perhaps the Federal Reserve can stave off the day of reckoning by purchasing GSE debt and pumping liquidity into the housing market, but this cannot hold off the inevitable drop in the housing market forever. In fact, postponing the necessary, but painful market corrections will only deepen the inevitable fall. The more people invested in the market, the greater the effects across the economy when the bubble bursts.

No less an authority than Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan has expressed concern that government subsidies provided to GSEs make investors underestimate the risk of investing in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to once again thank the Financial Services Committee for holding this hearing. I would also like to thank Secretaries Snow and Martinez for their presence here today. I hope today's hearing sheds light on how special privileges granted to GSEs distort the housing market and endanger American taxpayers. Congress should act to remove taxpayer support from the housing GSEs before the bubble bursts and taxpayers are once again forced to bail out investors who were misled by foolish government interference in the market. I therefore hope this committee will soon stand up for American taxpayers and investors by acting on my Free Housing Market Enhancement Act.

Unfortunately those in charge of saving our economy are the same Keynesian followers who got us in this mess.

Austrian vs. Keynesian Economics

Austrian Economics? What is Austrian economics? The mainstream media and most politicians never mention Austrian Economics. Instead they are followers of failed Keynesian economics, the economic theory that has gotten us into messes in the past and led us to the economic problems we face today.

Texas Congressman Ron Paul appearing on Morning Joe on 05/15/2009 discusses the failures of Keynesian economics and how his understanding of Austrian economics allowed him to predict the 2008 housing collapse back in 2003.

I'll post Paul's entire speech from 2003 where he predicted the collapse in my next posting.

The Treasury is Bare. We are at Perpetual War.

Texas Congressman Ron Paul on the House floor, May 14, 2009, commenting on a supplemental appropriation bill.

Paul expresses his disappointment about the continued run away spending by both Democrats and Republicans. He also expresses his disappointment in the continuing and growing war spending under the Obama Administration.

Paul states that if we continue this spending and continue to pursue our interventionist foreign policy we are on the road to collapse.

The Road We Are On

The Founders of this Country knew and understood history. This is why they restricted government to certain limited powers. They designed a government whose main purpose was to maintain a civil society.

Thomas Jefferson believed that the individual was supreme over the government or the collective. Jefferson believed that society as a whole benefits the most when individuals are able to choose. When force is used against individuals to make choices they otherwise wouldn't, the end result is that the powerful make choices for all of us.

As Lord Acton said:

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Most modern Americans have lost sight of these truths, whether Democrat or Republican, they view government as a tool to enforce their believe as to what is good and moral. This is why we have the corruption in government that we have today. No pie in the sky ethics laws will change that. Concentrating power in the hands of the few (government) will always lead to corruption.

It is our personal responsibility as members of a civil society to create, support and participate in private endeavors which help those truly in need, encourage good choices and behavior and so on. It is not the role of the government, nor can the government ever be successful in doing so. Force backfires.

Government programs don't work, but even worse they supplant private endeavors and disconnect us from our fellow man. This leads to a less civil society and eventual collapse. This is the road we are on.

Kuwait Elects Four Women to Parliament.

History was made in Kuwait as women were elected to four seats in the male-dominated parliament. This is the first time any women have been elected to the Kuwaiti Parliament.

Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra reports from Kuwait City.

Ted Stevens Meet John Murtha

Ted Stevens the corrupt former Republican Senator from Alaska had his bridge to nowhere. Corrupt Democrat Congressman John Murtha of Pennsylvania has his airport in the middle of nowhere.






Democrat, Republican, it doesn't matter. Most of our political leaders are corrupt, power seeking liars who serve themselves and their special interest friends.

Obama Man

A little levity for a Saturday night. Canadian comedian Greg Morton weighs in on the current financial crisis and how Barack Obama plans to get us out of it.

Another Jaw Dropping Decision on Civil Liberties by Obama

Many kudos to Rachel Maddow for calling Barack Obama for once again breaking a campaign promise. This time it is the continuation of the Bush military tribunals.

Misunderstood Economic Data: Peter Schiff Vlog 5/15/09

Peter Schiff comments on the reports of increased consumer confidence. Schiff says that the increase in confidence shows how little the average consumer understands economics.

Schiff also comments on Barack Obama's remarks regarding the economy. Schiff states that Obama is spewing half truths. Obama talks about America becoming a great country through savings and investments, yet his policies are encouraging Americans to spend and borrow.

Motorhome Diaries Crew Arrested in Mississippi

I've posted a couple of times on the Motorhome Diaries:

The Excellent Adventure of Jason and Pete

Motorhome Diaries Visits Lake Jackson

On Thursday they were arrested in Jones County, Mississippi. Here is the story from their website:

As many of y’all heard the MHD crew was arrested yesterday morning while traveling through Jones County, MS. Currently on our Southern Style route, we met some good folks in New Orleans the night before and were heading to Meridian, MS for breakfast with other fans of freedom then to Nashville, TN, where we were to pick up Allison Gibbs from the airport then head to a meetup there held in conjunction with Liberty on the Rocks and the TN Center for Policy Research. But that didn’t exactly pan out…

This morning we sat down at a Subway in Laurel, MS and jotted down what went down while it was fresh in our mind (note that all times are approximate):

STOPPED ON I-59

9:10am Pete was driving our motorhome (MARV) north on I-59. He spots a law enforcement vehicle parked in the emergency turn-around between the north and south-bound traffic. Pete drove past and it appears as though the vehicle stayed put. But then a minute later when Pete checked his rearview mirror he saw that the vehicle had caught up and was shadowing MARV.

9:15am The law enforcement vehicle (now identified as one from the Jones Country Sheriff’s Department) turned on its lights. Pete pulled MARV to a stop on the shoulder and turned on the flashers. The sheriff’s deputy (later identified as Officer Atkins) got out of his vehicle and, while standing off to the rear-left of MARV, stated “Driver, please exit the vehicle.” Pete did so, license in hand, and walked back to Officer Atkins. Officer Atkins noted that he had pulled over MARV because he could not read the tags (temp tags from NH).

Officer Atkins asked Pete how many other occupants were in the RV. Pete informed Officer Atkins that there were two other occupants. Officer Atkins asked if there were any weapons or drugs on-board. Pete told him that there were two firearms. Officer Atkins asked what kind of firearms and where they were kept. Pete stated that there were two handguns, that they were both disassembled and in a locked container and that the ammo was kept in a separate locked container.

Officer Atkins called his dispatcher, updated them on the status of the stop and asked for backup. Officer Atkins then advised Pete to stand at the front-right of his cruisers’ bumper. Pete complied.

Officer Atkins then yelled toward MARV, asking the passengers to exit the vehicle. Adam did so, video camera in hand. By this time Atkins had walked toward the door of the MARV (the right side, near the front). Officer Atkins saw the video camera and asked Adam if he was recording. Adam responded that he wants to make sure everyone is held accountable. Officer Atkins then advised Adam to stand at the right rear of his vehicle, which Adam did.

Officer Atkins then advised the third occupant (Jason) to emerge from the RV. Jason emerged and was told to stand at the right front of MARV, which he did.

9:20am A second officer arrived on the scene. He immediately approached Adam and said “Get that camera out of my face!” Adam started to lower the camera and explain that “I like to hold people accountable” when the second officer ripped the videocamera from Adam’s hand and roughly handcuffed him. (The Sheriff later acknowledged that the “video taping had nothing to do with these gentlemen being arrested and no its not illegal in Mississippi”). While this was happening Adam asked “Why are you doing this?” and the second officer replied “You’re disobeying an officer.” Pete, who was still at the front-right of Officer Atkin’s vehicle, asked “What’s going on!?” and was ordered to “Stay there!” Adam was placed in the second officer’s vehicle.

A third officer arrived on the scene and Adam was transferred to his car. The third officer then approached Pete and placed him in handcuffs. He explained to Pete that he was being detained “for our safety.” Pete noted that “I haven’t been threatening to anyone.”

During this time the second officer had departed the scene. He soon returned, going south on I-59, and walked toward the handcuffed Pete, trying to stare him down. The officers present conversed. Pete saw another sheriff’s car pull up and told the third officer, standing nearby, that “Some more of your buddies are here.” Pete was told that that was the captain.

Also around this time a state patrol K-9 officer arrived on the scene to join the Jones County Sheriff Deputies. having previously been beckoned by Officer Atkins (who himself was a K-9 officer but without his dog that day). The K-9 officer asked Pete if there were any drugs on-board MARV. Pete noted that he had already answered this question and asked if he and his friends were free to go. The K-9 officer proceeded to ask Pete (in the presence of the other officers) one-by-one if there were marijuana, heroin, meth, prescription drugs etc. on-board. Pete again reiterated that he’d already answered such questions. The K-9 officer then took a more personable tone and asked Pete directly if he’d like to talk one-on-one, noting that perhaps there were drugs on-board that may be someone else’s. Pete refused. The K-9 officer then took a more aggressive stance and stated that “I’ll get ATF involved if that’s how you want to do this.” Pete noted that he’d been upfront about the firearms, reiterating how they were safe and secure, and that the was not in violation of the law.

Pete was asked if the officers could search the RV. Pete responded that he did not give consent for such a search and asked if he and his friends were free to go. The K-9 officer said he was going to lead his dog around the RV and if triggered, that give them consent. Pete said he understood, but that he still would not grant consent. The K-9 officer led the dog around the RV twice. The K-9 officer then put the dog back in his vehicle and returned to Pete and stated “Tell me where the drugs are? You have marijuana in there. Where is it?” Pete replied that this was not the case and that he knows that K-9 dogs can be taught to falsely trigger. This caused the K-9 officer, who had been standing a couple of feet from Pete, to aggressively walk toward Pete and in his face threateningly ask “YOU CALLING ME A LIAR! YOU CALLING MY DOG A LIAR?!” to which Pete responded, “not necessarily, I just know that that happens.”

The K-9 officer then asked where the keys for the RV were. Pete noted that they were in his (handfuffed) hand. The keys were taken from Pete and the K-9 officer proceeded to open each external storage compartment, search the contents and place them on the ground. When the K-9 officer saw a box of papers (citations, print-outs, etc.) related to medical marijuana he asked Pete “So, you’re into medical marijuana?” to which Pete responded “I did my thesis on it.”

After going around the external storage compartments the K-9 officer attempted to open MARV’s door (which had been locked). When he was unable to do so after trying keys on the keyring he told Pete “If I have to rip this door off I’m going to get into this RV one way or the other.” Pete then told him the correct keys to use. The K-9 officer, leading the Jones County deputies inside, stopped after taking a couple of steps and stated “Be mean to government” which he read from a bumper sticker affixed to the wall inside MARV (one of the 200 that had been donated by LibertyStickers.com), then added “Ok, I know what you guys are about.”

While Adam and Jason were still locked in the back of a hot squad car Pete stood outside with an officer watching him and the rest of those present ripping apart the inside of MARV. Pete was asked where the keys to access the firearms were and he advised them on the location of the keys. The locked container was opened and the firearms were examined and left on the couch.

The third officer to arrive then asked another officer to keep an eye on Pete because he was “Going to take a piss in the woods” which he did.

10:30am All the officers emerged from MARV, having found nothing. The captain and his partner returned to their car, told Jason and Adam to “Have a nice day” then drove past the rest of the officers and Pete with country music loudly blaring.
The Statie K-9 officer then asked Pete where the drugs were held. Pete again stated that he’d already answered that question. The K-9 officer then got a Phillips screwdriver and started to take apart some of the external storage compartments. He later left the scene.

Officer Atkins then placed Pete in his vehicle. Pete asked what was going to happen to their property laying outside MARV. Officer Atkins told Pete he’d put it away and did so.

By this time Adam and Jason were being driven to the Jones County lockup.
Two men in plainclothes (later learned to be from Advanced towing) arrived, one of whom entered MARV and proceeded to drive away. Officer Atkins followed suit for a bit then passed MARV. Officer Atkins drove north on I-59 to the next emergency turnaround and headed south, toward the Jones County lockup. The whole time Officer Atkins was going in clear excess of the speed limit (posted at 70mph, Atkins was traveling 90+mph) and Officer Atkins had belted neither himself nor Pete. Adam and Jason reported a similar experience during their drive to jail.

Pete saw in the rearview mirror that the person driving MARV had also taken the emergency turnaround and was heading south.

Note that none of us were ever read our rights.

JONES COUNTY ADULT DETENTION FACILITY


11:10am Adam and Jason were led to the booking area

11:30am Pete arrived and was led into a small room attached to the booking area. From his chair he was able to see Jason and Adam on the bench. Pete asked Jason how his eyes were doing and Jason responded that he had not yet been able to open them. Jason then asked the correctional officer at the booking desk if he could wash out his eyes and was told that he could after he was booked.

Officer Atkins took Pete’s information and proceeded to explain why he acted the way he had. He accused Jason of getting into an aggressive stance, which he claimed to know how to identifying due to training and time on the job. Pete responded that “Jason is not violent so I find it difficult to believe that he would initiate force.” When covering what happened with Adam, Officer Atkins explained that “I didn’t know if he had a gun disguised as a camera.”

We asked if we could use the phone. We were told after we were booked we could do so. Yet after we were booked we were placed in a cell (size 9 x 10 cinder blocks, painted gray with a cold maroon concrete floor with no furnishings save for a metal toilet in the corner). We repeatedly asked different correctional officers if we could use the phone and were told “We’ll get to that soon” yet it wasn’t until the night shift came on that our request was finally granted — at around 7pm.

When one correctional officer passed Adam asked if we could use the phone. The officer said we soon could. Adam started to explain what had happened and noted that he “didn’t quite understand MS law” to which the correctional officer replied “You’ve said a mouthful” and continued “When I was at the academy and saw MS laws I asked ‘I have to enforce that even if I disagree with it?’ and was told ‘That’s the law.’”

We also kept asking the status of our charges — when we’d be free to go and what exactly we were being charged with. No one gave us an information — whether out of choice or ignorance — so we were left to lay on the floor wrapped in thin gray blankets.

10pm We were told that were soon to be on our way. We were let out of the cell and allowed to change back into our clothes. When we were brought back to the booking area we saw Allison Gibbs waiting in an adjacent room. We soon learned that she and Jil Wright had helped rally support for us and had raised enough money to pay our bond.

We signed our paperwork that listed our charges and fines: $215 for Adam’s “disorderly conduct,” $200 for Pete’s “possession of beer in a dry county” and $365 for Jason’s “resisting arrest.” Plus there was a $25 charge added to each person’s fee for a “key charge.”

At the Super 8 motel where they spent the night, Jason checked the e-mail on his iPhone and saw the flood of support.

THE AFTERMATH

As discussed on Free Talk Live tonight (2009.05.15) we are now looking at options on how to proceed. We’re going to work to ensure that the people of Jones County, MS don’t have to put up with an out of control sheriff’s department. We’ve been contacted by a number of lawyers who may help us out and we plan to file a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain all documents, recordings and communication made related to the event. And we’re going to reach out to media. Stay tuned for developments.

We will also soon post about the very real and very appreciated support that we received, the status of Adam’s camera and the footage he recorded and getting the fourth crew member of MHD (MARV) out of the impound yard.

Arnold's Promises? Hasta La Vista Baby

I never had much hope for Arnold Schwarzenegger as Governor of California and unfortunately my feelings turned out to be correct.

Reason TV documents the failure of Schwarzenegger to deliver on his promise to rein in government in California.



More from Reason:

He was the perfect political superhero, sent to rescue California from spend-happy politicians at just the right time. And yet Arnold Schwarzenegger’s reign as governor has turned into a disaster flick that could spell catastrophe for the Golden State—and the whole nation.

In 2003's historic recall election, the former Mr. Olympia pummeled dozens of candidates—from incumbent Gray Davis to former child actor Gary Coleman to porn star Mary Carey—on the road to Sacramento. He promised to abolish the odious car tax hike implemented by Davis. And to balance the budget, cut taxes and spending, and make California more business-friendly.

"He promised to stop the crazy deficit spending, cut up the credit cards, live within our means. And he did exactly the opposite. Schwarzenegger increased spending faster than we saw under Gray Davis," says Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), who was a state senator—and one of Arnold's challengers—six years ago.

Now the Golden State faces yet another spending-induced catastrophe. California could simply go broke by July. Sacramento reacted to the latest crisis by passing a massive tax increase in February, squeezing another $1,100 from the average family. Even the dreaded car tax, the issue that catapulted Arnold to office, is back.

How could it all have gone so horribly wrong, especially after it looked so wonderfully right? Well, it turns out there's a force in California politics that's much more powerful than the Governator: a culture of spending pushed by public-employee unions, money-grubbing corporate-welfare cases, and more.

Sadly, California and Schwarzenegger are hardly alone in spending well beyond their means. As many as 40 states face whopping deficits that are only going to get worse as the recession continues.

If country-wide trends do start in California, Rep. McClintock worries about what's in store for our nation. "As high taxes, high borrowing and high spending destroy California’s economy, Californians are moving to those 49 other states. If we allow the same policies to destroy our country where are we going to go?"

"Hasta La Vista, Arnold" is written and produced by Ted Balaker. Director of Photography is Alex Manning and Associate Producer is Paul Detrick.

Afghanistan: Graveyard of Empires

Dina Gusovsky of Russia Today interviews Doug Bandow, political columnist and analyst. Bandow says that war cannot be seen as a humanitarian action. While our actions in Kosovo and Iraq are painted in humanitarian terms, they really are political decisions.

Bandow states that US foreign policy is very hypocritical in regards to who it calls a terrorist. He points to the actions of the KLA in Kosovo.

Bandow says there is very little change in foreign policy between the Bush Administration and Obama's.

Bandow says that the United States has no clear goals in Afghanistan and that trying to establish a pro American central government is foolish. Bandow remarks that there is a reason that Afghanistan is called the "Graveyard of Empires".

Massive Inflation and a Lower Standard of Living

John Browne Senior Market Strategist from Europacific Capital and also a member of the British Parliament appeared on Fox Business 5/11/09.

Browne states that after the initial temporary boast to the economy by the Federal "stimulus" package, we will experience a downturn including massive inflation and a lower standard of living.

The Decline of American Liberalism

As used here liberalism is classical liberalism, which is individualism or libertarianism. From Reason:

Reason.tv's Nick Gillespie recently sat down with the Independent Institute's Robert Higgs, the author of such classics as Crisis and Leviathan: Critical Episodes in the Growth of American Government and Depression, War, and Cold War: Challenging the Myths of Conflict and Prosperity.

The topic at hand was the Independent Institute 's reissuing of Arthur A. Ekirch's The Decline of American Liberalism, a brilliant reading of American history from a libertarian perspective that was originally written in 1955. Ekirch, writes Higgs in his foreword to the new edition, argued that liberalism (in its original 18th and 19th century meaning) "had reached its apogee...at the time of the War of Independence and that despite a certain amount of ebb and flow thereafter, the tendency was toward its decline." The result was an ongoing battle between forces of centralization and decentralization in all aspects of American political, social, and economic life. Despite writing during the 1950s, a time of wide-ranging repression of speech and the individual, Higgs says that Ekirch was far from a pessimist. In fact, his revelation of how the government routinely used crises to amplify its power is the starting point of challenging that very dynamic.

Higgs also talks about the new paperback edition of his own invaluable Depression, War, and Cold War and gives his take on the government reaction to the current financial crisis.

Atlanta's Burning or When Your House is on Fire Don't Call 911

Apparently Atlanta's 911 system has some issues. From the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

Neighbors alerting 911 about a small house fire in west Atlanta Saturday afternoon say they waited on hold 20 minutes — so long that some decided to fight the blaze themselves with a garden hose.

The house is a total loss, its owner said.

“The damage is extensive because they didn’t get here fast enough,” said Janice Black, who lives across the street from the charred bungalow at 526 Dollar Mill Road. She said she was on hold “20-to-25 minutes.”

“I was shocked when I finally got through to a real person,” Black said.

Witnesses are left wondering if they can count on the city’s emergency service. The target response time for calls to 911 is 10 seconds, according to Miles Bulter, the city’s 911 communications center director.

Addison Williams, who lives next door to the burned house, said he and his mother-in-law waited 15 minutes on hold. She timed the response by a clock on her bedroom wall, he said.

“That house burned at least 30 minutes before the first engine got over here,” said Williams, who said he called at 4:09 p.m., soon after the blaze was ignited. “They didn’t get there until 4:35.”

“This is a world-class city,” said Courtney Martin, who, with her husband, owned the Dollar Mill Road house. “How something like this could happen is mind-boggling.”

Some of the witnesses responding to Saturday’s fire say their calls were diverted to either Fulton or Cobb counties, who reported similar difficulties reaching Atlanta’s 911 Center.

On Jan. 29, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution asked the city for a copy of its database of 911 emergency response information for the last five years. The city has so far refused to make it available to the AJC.

That request followed a Jan. 24 Grant Park blaze that went unattended more than 20 minutes, destroying Wilford Reed’s home of 40 years.

Firefighters were sent to the wrong address and soon after the incident Butler acknowledged that an operator could have done a better job verifying the location.

Firefighting, a basic function of government, not handle adequately by the government. This is Atlanta where the Police Department has a drug unit that plants evidence after it kills an innocent 92 year old woman. Maybe the city (along with most other cities) should spend its resources on the true functions of government and not improper functions like regulating personal matters or building stadiums for billionaires.

DC School Voucher Rally

Last Thursday I posted Obama Kills the DC School Voucher Program about the Obama Administration and Congressional Democrats effectively killing the DC School Voucher program.

Here is a reason video of a rally held in support of the DC School Voucher program:



More from Reason:

On May 6, 2009, concerned parents, students, and others gathered in Washington, D.C.'s Freedom Plaza. They came to voice support for the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, a school-voucher program authorized by Congress in 2004 (as the seat of the federal government, the District is overseen by Congress). The program gives 1,700 students up to $7,500 to attend whatever school their parents choose.

The program is wildly popular with parents and children—there are four applicants for every available slot—and a recent Department of Education study found that participants do significantly better than their public school peers.

Yet working with congressional Democrats and despite President Barack Obama's pledge to put politics and ideology aside in education, the Obama administration effectively killed the program through a backdoor legislative move. "[Education] Secretary [Arne] Duncan will use only one test in what ideas to support with your precious tax dollars," says the president. "It's not whether it's liberal or conservative, but whether it works."

Shortly after last week's rally, President Obama said that he would allow students currently enrolled in the program to finish up through high school, but that no new students would be allowed to enter the program. Thus, a president who exercises school choice himself, has consigned thousands of low-income students to attend massively under performing D.C. public schools.

Jesse Ventura On Larry King Live May 11, 2009

Jesse Ventura talks about water boarding, the situation in Mexico, Dick Cheney, Coleman/Franken, gay marriage and more.

In regards to water boarding Ventura said:

"It's drowning. It gives you the complete sensation that you are drowning. I'll put it to you this way: You give me a water board, Dick Cheney and one hour, and I'll have him confess to the Sharon Tate murders."

Part I:



Part II:

Ron Paul: Torture Creates More Terrorists

Ron Paul comments on the torture issue. Paul says torture is wrong and creates more terrorists.

Motorhome Diaries Visits Lake Jackson

Jason Talley and Pete Eyre have left Washington, D.C. in an RV to tool around America and tell tales of freedom and oppression. They recently stopped in Lake Jackson, Texas and visited with Texas Congressman Ron Paul. From Pete Eyre:

Sunday morning I had the great opportunity to sit down with Ron Paul. This interview was really special because I credit Dr. Paul with “awakening” the greatest number of people — getting them to think for themselves, to question the role and legitimacy of government and to take ownership of their life.

In Part I we discuss resources available to those new to the ideas of liberty, immigration, free markets, the welfare/warfare state and bailouts.





In Part II we discuss civil disobedience, jury nullification, secession, monetary policy, the power of ideas, self-government and a voluntary society, advice for activists and the potential for other freedom fighters to join Dr. Paul in the halls of Congress.

To follow Pete and Jason go to motorhomediaries.com.

Cheerios® is an Unapproved New Drug

Thank goodness we have our wonderful regulators protecting us. What would we do without them? The latest foolishness from the overbearing nanny state is the FDA warning General Mills of "serious violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act." This is because of the health claims General Mills makes for its Cheerios® Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal.

Here is the FDA's complete warning letter to General Mills:

Ken Powell
Chairman of the Board and CEO
General Mills
One General Mills Boulevard
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55426

Dear Mr. Powell:


The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reviewed the label and labeling of your Cheerios® Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal. FDA's review found serious violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) and the applicable regulations in Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR). You can find copies of the Act and these regulations through links in FDA's home page at http://www.fda.gov.

Unapproved New Drug


Based on claims made on your product's label, we have determined that your Cheerios® Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal is promoted for conditions that cause it to be a drug because the product is intended for use in the prevention, mitigation, and treatment of disease. Specifically, your Cheerios® product bears the following claims ort its label:

• "you can Lower Your Cholesterol 4% in 6 weeks" "
• "Did you know that in just 6 weeks Cheerios can reduce bad cholesterol by an average of 4 percent? Cheerios is ... clinically proven to lower cholesterol. A clinical study showed that eating two 1 1/2 cup servings daily of Cheerios cereal reduced bad cholesterol when eaten as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol."

These claims indicate that Cheerios® is intended for use in lowering cholesterol, and therefore in preventing, mitigating, and treating the disease hypercholesterolemia. Additionally, the claims indicate that Cheerios® is intended for use in the treatment, mitigation, and prevention of coronary heart disease through, lowering total and "bad" (LDL) cholesterol. Elevated levels of total and LDL cholesterol are a risk factor for coronary heart disease and can be a sign of coronary heart disease. Because of these intended uses, the product is a drug within the meaning of section 201(g)(1)(B) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 321 (g)P)(B)]. The product is also a new drug under section 201(p) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 321(p)] because it is not generally recognized as safe and effective for use in preventing or treating hypercholesterolemia or coronary heart disease. Therefore,under section 505(a) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 355(a)], it may not be legally marketed with the above claims in the United States without an approved new drug application.

FDA has issued a regulation authorizing a health claim associating soluble fiber from whole grain oats with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease (21 CFR 101.81). Like FDA's other regulations authorizing health Claims about a food substance and reduced risk of coronary heart disease, this regulation provides for the claim to include an optional statement, as part of the health claim, that the substance reduces the risk of coronary heart disease through the intermediate link of lowering blood total and LDL cholesterol. See 21 CFR 101.81(d)(2),-(3). Although the lower left corner of the Cheerios® front label contains a soluble fiber/coronary heart disease health claim authorized under 21 CFR 101.81, the two claims about lowering cholesterol are not made as part of that claim but rather are presented as separate, stand-alone claims through their location on the package and other label design features. The cholesterol claim that mentions the clinical study is on the back of the Cheerios® box, completely separate from the health claim on the front label. Although the other cholesterol claim is on the same panel as the authorized health claim, its prominent placement on a banner in the center of the front label, together with its much larger font size, different background, and other text effects, clearly distinguish it from the health claim in the lower left corner.

Additionally, even if the cholesterol-lowering claims were part of an otherwise permissible claim, under 21 CFR 101.81, the resulting claim language still would not qualify for the use of the soluble fiber health claim. To use the soluble fiber health claim, a product must comply with the claim specific requirements in 21 CFR 101.81, including the requirement that the claim not attribute any degree of risk reduction for coronary heart disease to diets that include foods eligible to bear the claim. See 21 CFR 101.81(c)(2)(E). However, the label of your Cheerios® cereal claims a degree of risk reduction for coronary heart disease by stating that Cheerios® can lower cholesterol by four percent in six weeks. High blood total and LDL cholesterol levels are a surrogate endpoint for coronary heart disease; therefore, the cholesterol-lowering claims on the Cheerios® label attribute a degree of risk reduction for coronary heart disease because if total and LDL cholesterol levels decline, the risk of coronary heart disease declines as well.

Misbranded Food:

Your Cheerios ® product is misbranded within the meaning of section 403(r)(1)(B) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 343(r)(1)(B)] because it bears unauthorized health claims in its labeling. We have determined that your website www.wholegrainnation.com is labeling for your Cheerios® product under section 201(m) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 321 (m)] because the website address appears on the product label. This website bears the following unauthorized health claims:

"Heart-healthy diets rich in whole grain foods, can reduce the risk of heart disease."

This health claims misbrands your product because it has been authorized either by regulation [see section 343(r)(3)(A)-(B) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 343(r)(3)(A)(B)]] or under authority of the health claim notificati6n provision of the Act [see section'343(r)(3)(C) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 343(r)(3)(G)]]. Although FDA has issued a regulation authorizing a health claim associating fiber-containing grain products with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease (21 CFR 101.77), the claim on your website does not meet the requirements for this claim. For example, under section 101.77(c)(2), the claim must state that diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in fiber-containing fruit, vegetable, and grain products may reduce the risk of heart disease. The claim on your website leaves out any reference to fruits and vegetables, to fiber content, and to keeping the levels of saturated fat and cholesterol in the diet low. Therefore, your claim does not convey that all these factors together help to reduce the risk of heart disease and does not enable the public to understand the significance of the claim in the context of the total daily diet (see section 343(r)(3)(B)(iii) of the Act [21 U.S.C.§ 343(r)(3)(B)(iiill].


In addition to the health claim authorized by regulation in 21 CFR 101.77, other health claims linking the consumption of whole grain foods to a reduced risk of heart disease have been authorized through the notification procedure in section 403(r)(3)(C) of the Act. Of those authorized claims, the one closest to the claim on your website states: "Diets rich in whole grain foods and other plant foods, and low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may help reduce the risk of heart disease.1" Although the claim on your website also concerns whole grains and reduced risk of heart disease, it is different from the authorized claim in significant ways. To meet the requirements of the authorized claim, the claim must state that diets that are (1) rich in Whole grains and other plant foods, and (2) low in saturated fat and cholesterol will help reduce the risk of heart disease) Instead, the claim on your website only states that diets rich in whole grains can reduce the risk of heart disease, with no mention of other plant foods or of low saturated fat and cholesterol.

"Including whole grain as part of a healthy diet may ... [h]elp reduce the risk of certain types of cancers. Regular consumption of whole grains as part of, a low-fat diet reduces the risk for some cancers, especially cancers of the stomach and colon."

This health claim misbrands your product because it has not been authorized either by regulation [see section 343(r)(3)(A)-(B) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 343(r)(3)(A)(B)]] or under authority of the health claim notification provision of the Act [see section 343(r)(3)(C) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 343(r)(3)(C)]]. Although FDA has issued a regulation authorizing a health claim associating fiber-containing grain products with a reduced risk of cancer (21 CFR 101.76), the claim on your website does not meet the requirements for the authorized claim.For example, under section 101.76(c)(2) the claim must state that diets high in fiber-containing grain products, fruits, and vegetables may reduce the risk of some cancers. The claim on your website leaves out any reference to fruits, vegetables, and fiber content. Therefore, your claim does not convey that all these factors together help to reduce the risk of heart disease and does not enable the public to understand the significance of the claim in the context of the total daily diet [see section 343(r)(3)(B)(iii) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 343(r)(3)(B)(iii)]].

In addition to the health claim authorized by regulation in 21 CFR 101.76, a health claim linking the consumption of whole grain foods to a reduced risk of certain cancers has been authorized through the notification procedure in section 403(r)(3)(C) of the Act. The authorized claim is: "Diets rich in whole grain foods and other plant foods ... may help reduce the risk of... certain cancers."2 Although the claim on your website also concerns whole grains and reduced risk of some cancers, it is different from the authorized claim in significant ways. For example, the authorized claim states that diets rich in whole grain foods and "other plant foods" may help reduce the risk for certain cancers. However,the claim on your website does not mention "other plant foods." Also, by using the language "especially cancers of the stomach and colon" the claim on your website emphasizes the relationship between whole grain foods and stomach and colon cancers as compared to other cancers, suggesting a greater degree of risk reduction or stronger evidence for the relationship between whole grain foods and risk of those two cancers. The claim authorized through the notification procedure does not emphasize the relationship between whole grain foods and stomach and colon cancer as compared to other cancers.

This letter is not intended to be an all-inclusive review of your products and their labeling. It is your responsibility to ensure that all of your products are in compliance with the Act and its implementing regulations.

Failure to promptly correct the violations specified above may result in enforcement action without further notice. Enforcement action may include seizure of violative products and/or injunction against the manufacturers and distributors of violative products.

Please advise this office in writing 15 days from your receipt of this letter of the specific steps you have taken to correct the violations noted above and to ensure that similar violations do not occur. Your response should include any documentation necessary to show that correction has been achieved. If you cannot complete all corrections before you respond, state the reason for the delay and the date by which you will complete the corrections.

Please send your reply to the attention of Tyra S. Wisecup, Compliance Officer, at the address in the letterhead. If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact Ms. Wisecup at (612) 758-7114.

Sincerely,


/s/


W. Charles Becoat
Director
Minneapolis District


TSW/cd


1 See "Health Claim Notification for Whole Grain Foods with Moderate Fat Content," December 9, 2003 (http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/f1grain2.html).

2 See "Health Claim Notification for Whole Grain Foods," July 1999 (http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/-dms/flgrain2.html).

Well if you are still here after reading all that bureaucratic blather... thank you.

What a complete farce. Basically the government thinks that we are complete idiots and can't make any judgements for ourselves. In some ways they may be correct because we continue to put up with this nonsense.