Does America seem Coarser to You?

Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.

Benjamin Franklin
April 17, 1787

California man faces 13 years in jail for scribbling anti-bank messages in chalk — RT USA

We live in dangerous times. One must be very careful not to anger those in power or be prepared to suffer the consequences of telling the truth.

Will you keep your mouth shut in the midst of obvious intimidation and injustice? If not are you prepared to pay the price?


California man faces 13 years in jail for scribbling anti-bank messages in chalk — RT USA

Maximizing Adversity

Incredibly powerful perspective on adversity from a former POW and his wife. When I read things like this that are so incredibly powerful, I wonder if it's just me at this moment, or if it's as universally powerful as it seems. I think it's universal.

This is something to read, watch the video and take the time to sit and let sink in. One of the important fundamental understandings of an effective life.

Most of us don't experience threats that force us to come to grips with dealing with our very survival. We don't get to learn this lesson. We need to be wise enough to learn from those who have. We don't want to waste their adversity.

‘Don’t Dread Suffering’: Read the Incredible Words of Vietnam POW Hugh Stafford | Video | TheBlaze.com

USA: The world’s best friend

It always amazes me that many of the most enlightened American Patriots are not American at all. Through some quirk they've managed to observe, understand and appreciate Americas greatness. Often moreso than most Americans.

I don't know why that is, do you?

USA: The world’s best friend

Bombing Caused By 2nd Amendment?

I don't care when people disagree with me or interpret things differently than I do. I just find overt, arrogant, ignorance intolerable.

The fact that Jay Mohr thinks the 2nd Amendment has anything to do with the Boston Bombing betrays his astonishing ignorance. Ignorance that really matters - and not just to him. He's not the only one that will pay for his ignorance. He will persuade people because of his celebrity to embrace that ignorance and hold in disdain those who refuse to be infected by it.

The brandishing of that level of ignorance is far more dangerous to Americans than the 2nd Amendment...

Actor blames Boston attack on gun culture: ‘2nd amendment must go’ | The Daily Caller

IRS Can Read Private E-mail

Get your email off Gmail, Yahoo, Windows Live, AOL and any other cloud based service NOW.

Our privacy is under serious attack and they try to pacify us by saying we haven't had any for a while, so it's useless trying and you don't need to worry about it. Hogwash!

It's a lot like companies that aggressively defend copyright and trademark violations. Principles we don't defend vigorously, will eventually be rendered moot by our inaction.

Encrypt your email,  keep your email servers folders clean. Download everything you want to keep to local folders in your email client. Ideally you will encrypt your local storage so prying eyes will need judicial action to get into your personal data.
 
IRS claims it can read your e-mail without a warrant | Politics and Law - CNET News

Insane Money Policy can Create Opportunity

These are certainly days of miracle and wonder. Well, of absurd and extraordinary financial experimentation, at any rate.

Last week, for example, saw the Bank of Japan abandon any last pretense of restraint and topple headfirst into a gigantic pile of monetary cocaine. 
The scale of the policy is daunting: the Bank of Japan intends to double the country’s monetary base over two years via the aggressive purchase of long term bonds. 

It would be difficult to overstate the drama of this monetary stimulus(although we favour the word debauchery). .... more

Rest in Peace Iron Lady

"[Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher] demonstrated two great qualities. The first was that she had thought seriously about how to revive the British economy and entered office with a clear set of policies to do so. She brought down inflation by controlling the money supply, and she began removing the controls, subsidies, and regulations that kept business lazy. Her second great quality was the true grit of a true Brit (or perhaps I should say, of a true-blue Brit). We both realized that our policies wouldn't solve such deep-rooted problems overnight. The first effects, in the world recession of 1981-82, were painful. I remember meeting her in Washington at a time when people in both our countries were calling for a change of course. She never wavered. And she was proved right by events. ... Margaret Thatcher -- this great lady has not only served her country well, she has served the free world well. She is truly a great statesman. So much so that I'll correct what I just said: She is a great stateswoman holding her own among all the statesmen of the world." --Ronald Reagan

First it was Gun Shaped Pop Tarts, now it's Smartphone Gun apps.

Military Veteran Reportedly Kicked Out of Nursing School Over Gun App on His Phone | TheBlaze.com

Two issues here to talk about. First the fact that an app is considered as dangerous as a gun. Second the only places you'll find this story covered is theblaze.com and a couple of other military/Veterans issues web sites.

This is why 2nd Amendment advocates are so concerned about seemingly minor infringements on the 2nd amendment. It's the proverbial slippery slope, and in fact we are in mid-plummet. It's no longer just a 2nd Amendment issue. It's a freedom and common sense issue. We not only have to be VERY carefull with firearms, but we need to be careful what shape we chew our food in and what sounds our smartphone apps make. It's indefensible.

Secondly - why is it that this outrageous foolishness is only covered on theBlaze.com and a couple of small veterans issues web sites. Doesn't someone who is pro gun control view this as foolish, destructive and unfair? If not, it only further legitimizes the concerns of the 2nd amendment crowd that we are being victimized by the foolish and dangerous anti-gun pc culture.

Bang Bang! I just violated the terms of the blogging site I use. What happens to me now? The Gulag?

Ebay Guilty of Extreme PC Censorship

Jim Carrey Backlash on eBay for His Anti-Gun Video Mysteriously Disappears - The Hollywood Reporter

We are truly in a cultural PC war. The auction site Ebay took down auctions to sell items that were described by the auctioners as "so I can by a gun with the proceeds".  Really? That's worse than a suspension from school for a pistol shaped Pop Tart!

The aggressiveness of thought and speech control in our society is out of control. And it does matter. We cannot let these forces harrass us into compliance.

As the Isley Bros once said, "Fight the Power!"

Sometimes Things Don't Get Better 'til They Get Worse

The Obamacare Revolt: Physicians Fight Back Against the Bureaucratization of Health Care - Reason.com

Now that the practice of medicine is becoming untenable, people are finally willing to make tough decisions to extract themselves from the system and go back to the best service exchange model known - direct provider to consumer.

Funny how warped the system has to become before people are willing to risk the change and enjoy the benefits. Interestingly, it's benefits go both ways. The consumer (patient) benefits at least as much as the doctor. There's no worse health care that that provided by a frustrated, bureaucratically hamstrung practitioner whose primary concern is regulatory requirements and standards set by Governemnt bureaucrats that know little or nothing about medical care. There's no better health care than that provided by a happy, fulfilled professional whose sole interest is providing the best care possible for his patients and reaping the rewards of that superior care.

Voluntary direct exchange fee for service. What an insane idea. I love it!

Radical, hateful right wing "liking"

More Stupidity in Stamford, Connecticut - The Rush Limbaugh Show

Typical lame-stream media. They can't get even spoon-fed stories right any more. Good thing it doesn't really matter. It's getting to be a joke. I want to see how silly they can make themselves look. I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

Governments to citizens: What's mine is mine and what's yours is mine!

Cyprus bail-out: live - Telegraph

Ultimately the citizens always pay for their Government, whether they want to or not. You cannot raid the treasury ceaselessly without getting to the point that, as Margaret Thatcher once said, "You eventually run out of other people's money".

The problem is we vote ourselves money thinking it's from the other people that either don't deserve to keep their money, or have so much, we believe they shouldn't care. We mistakenly believe that somehow it's the right thing to do and can go on ad infinitum. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter how correct we think our mistakes are. Like drinking poison you sincerely believe is Dr Pepper, it still kills you.

The piper is coming for his payment...

This Could Never happen here! Could it?

Cyprus deal shock sends shares tumbling, gold up - Yahoo! Finance

When the going gets tough, Governments get going. They do whatever it takes to feed themselves. Including closing banks, taking the citizens money in banks or anything else that becomes necessary. Cypriots can't get to their own money for the time being, and when the Government lets them, it will be less due to the illegal confiscation.

That could never happen here! Or could it?

Zimbabwe Is Down to Its Last $217

Zimbabwe Is Down to Its Last $217 - Global - The Atlantic Wire

The first question that comes to mind from the title of this article - where were the citizens? Didn't they see this coming? Didn't they realize the politicians couldn't be relied upon? Where they concerned when bank account went down to 1 billion? 1 million? 1,000?

Secondly, did the media do their jobs and uncover the issue? Or did they attack and marginalize those that sounded the alarms as things degraded over the years? Did they try to protect the country and it's citizens or blindly support Mugabe and his destructive policies?

Thirdly, how far will Americans go along this road? Don't kid yourself, we ARE on it now. Will we begin to care when the American bank account is at 1 trillion? 1 billion? 1 million? Are we so foolish that we to will take down to $217 dollars?

It took Zimbabwe roughly 33 years to go from the richest, most productive country on the African continent in 1979 to $217 dollars in the bank in 2013. Obviously we are no where near that, so it will take some time. 33 years? 60 years? 100 years? Do we really want to try this?

Happy Thanksgiving!

President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation:

The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well as the iron and coal as of our precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.

And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the imposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purpose, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.

Milton Friedman 100 year birthday today

"Free To Choose" (1980) a TV Series by Milton Friedman

In honor of one of my heroes - Milton Friedman's 100th birthday. Friedman's down to earth analysis and real world explanations were always brilliant and entertaining. It's a little depressing when you realize even with his peerless communication ability, so many still don't get it.

Take a moment and view some of these videos. It's very informative and a lot of fun. Freidman single handedly made economics easy to understand AND fun for me. Yes, fun.

He never gave up, never wavered and always taught with great charm and a clever sense of humor. Thank you Milton! God bless you!

Fannie, Freddie Problems Haunt Us Again

Fannie and Freddie debt fuels anxiety - FT.com:

I understand the old cliche about history repeating if we don't learn the lessons, but 3 years doesn't seem like much history. I wonder what racists will dare point out the problems, demand they be dealt with responsibly and be eviscerated by the pandering thieves and their journalistic partners in crime.

Do I sound a little jaded?

A brilliant synopsis of our PROBLEM with America today. Like most historic problems it's both terribly simple and exceedingly difficult. I don't know if it can be repaired...

A-10 Thunderbolt

A-10 Thunderbolt Airplane Is a Superb U.S. Fighting Tool | Video | TheBlaze.com

A great story about the classic war machine. Like the Russian Sturmovic, the P-47, Hawker Typhoon, A1d and other ugly ducklings of the sky, this is one effective tank killer and ground attack machine. One of many legacies of the incomparable John Boyd. The F -16 and F-15 are only as good as they are because of John Boyd and the A-10 exists at all only because of John Boyd. Col. Boyd was the master maneuverer and Pentagon antagonist that managed to save more lives than any other man in the DOD. God bless you John Boyd.