Is Obamacare going down?

Here's Judge Napolitano discussing day 3 of the Supreme Court hearing into Obamacare. Although there's plenty of time to wait for the ruling, it seems like Obama's unconstitutional dragon may have met its St. George.

World government under the cover of 'saving the planet' continues apace

Via Infowars, I note the 'Planet Under Pressure' conference that has just taken place in London. No surprises. All the usual suspects spouting their usual bullshit, demanding their usual solution, that being a world government, run by 'the experts' who are selflessly offering up themselves to 'serve' the rest of us, and indeed Gaia herself, in the role of philosopher kings. Here's an extract from their 'State of the Planet Declaration', telling us what we need:

Fundamental reorientation and restructuring of national and international institutions is required to overcome barriers to progress and to move to effective Earth-system governance. Governments must take action to support institutions and mechanisms that will improve coherence, as well as bring about integrated policy and action across the social, economic and environmental pillars. Current understanding supports the creation of a Sustainable Development Council within the UN system to integrate social, economic and environmental policy at the global level. There is also strong support for strengthening global governance by including civil society, business and industry in decision-making at all levels.

My interpretation of that paragraph is that these scumbag motherfuckers want to see the world ruled over by a central-planning institution which will make the Soviet Union look like a village fete cake competition organising committe tea-and-biscuits afternoon at the vicarage.

The last sentence talks about 'including civil society' etc. This would be wholly contradictory with the above interpretation, if it were more than a flick of the bullfighter's cape. If you have a global committee deciding things, that is the decision-making process. The ordinary individual will have absolutely no influence, and neither will any number of individuals banding together, unless they are capable of defying the military might of an angry UN.

Even more stomach-churning is Annex 3: "Supporting statement from young people representing the voice of youth". One question: WHO THE FUCK APPOINTED YOU TO REPRESENT ANYONE?.

So, go read it and seethe.

Ross McKitrick on Earth Hour

Over at Counting Cats I encounter a pithy piece of prose putting the boot into 'Earth Hour', written by Ross McKitrick, Professor of Economics at the University of Guelph, Ontario. Here's a little snippet:

"I abhor Earth Hour. Abundant, cheap electricity has been the greatest source of human liberation in the 20th century. Every material social advance in the 20th century depended on the proliferation of inexpensive and reliable electricity. Giving women the freedom to work outside the home depended on the availability of electrical appliances that free up time from domestic chores. Getting children out of menial labour and into schools depended on the same thing, as well as the ability to provide safe indoor lighting for reading. Development and provision of modern health care without electricity is absolutely impossible. The expansion of our food supply, and the promotion of hygiene and nutrition, depended on being able to irrigate fields, cook and refrigerate foods, and have a steady indoor supply of hot water. Many of the world’s poor suffer brutal environmental conditions in their own homes because of the necessity of cooking over indoor fires that burn twigs and dung. This causes local deforestation and the proliferation of smoke- and parasite-related lung diseases. Anyone who wants to see local conditions improve in the third world should realize the importance of access to cheap electricity from fossil-fuel based power generating stations. After all, that’s how the west developed.

The whole mentality around Earth Hour demonizes electricity. I cannot do that, instead I celebrate it and all that it has provided for humanity. Earth Hour celebrates ignorance, poverty and backwardness. By repudiating the greatest engine of liberation it becomes an hour devoted to anti-humanism. It encourages the sanctimonious gesture of turning off trivial appliances for a trivial amount of time, in deference to some ill-defined abstraction called “the Earth,” all the while hypocritically retaining the real benefits of continuous, reliable electricity. People who see virtue in doing without electricity should shut off their fridge, stove, microwave, computer, water heater, lights, TV and all other appliances for a month, not an hour. And pop down to the cardiac unit at the hospital and shut the power off there too.

I don’t want to go back to nature. Travel to a zone hit by earthquakes, floods and hurricanes to see what it’s like to go back to nature. For humans, living in "nature" meant a short life span marked by violence, disease and ignorance. People who work for the end of poverty and relief from disease are fighting against nature. I hope they leave their lights on."

Interlude

Here's King Curtis, playing "Mr Bojangles" at the Philmore West in 1970, which came to mind when I was perusing this post on Sammy Davis Jr at The Raft Journal.

"Raising the legal drinking age"? Another reason to curse this government

Not that we needed another reason, but via Velvet Glove, Iron Fist, who N.B.s another telling 'suggestion' from the puritan fanatics who infest the government like a Biblical plague, that being the current favourite object of masturbatory frenzy amongst the morality police; plain packaging.

But I will highlight the 'suggestion' above the above in the list of 'suggestions' they wish to 'consult' on, as indicated in the title of this post. Now, I don't think they will move on this any time soon, but it brings to mind an incident I witnessed only yesterday. A young woman being refused a quarter bottle of whisky, even though she was 26 years old, and evidently over the legal restriction. But she didn't have any ID that proved this to the zealous shopkeeper. Therefore she left with her money still in her purse, and I followed, likewise with my money intact.

One step at a time, we have accepted our liberty to be taken from us, and we reap the reward for this cowardice in such ritual humiliations as I witnessed: a grown woman being treated like a naughty child. It wasn't like this in the past, and it doesn't have to be like this now, but as long as we acquiesce in our own degradation and infantilisation, we're only going to get more of the same.

As for the government's alcohol strategy, here's my suggestion:

GO FUCK YOURSELVES YOU PURITAN SCUM.

An empty taxi pulled up and the UK Libertarian Party got out

Much as my reason tells me I should leave it alone and not give it the oxygen of publicity, there is the counter argument that it should be rebutted, and there is the little fact that I can't help rubber-necking the car crash which is what's left of the Libertarian Party UK.

Apparently there was an AGM held last week end. There is certainly a new website in operation and a Facebook page, but there is a strange absence of names. Who is the leader? The website gives no clue. Who is the treasurer, referred to in a recent post? No one knows. Is it the same person? Is anyone else in the party? I can but guess.

However, post the AGM, some actions have been taken, one being a YouTube video, purporting to explain what the party stands for. Well, it's libertarianism Jim, but not as we know it. This is not particularly surprising, for whatever skills the erstwhile and presumably current party leader has, his grasp of the political philosophy he claims to espouse has never matched his vice-like grip over the party financial records. The only thing that hints in the right direction is a statement that the party wants to reduce taxation. Well done! What party doesn't claim that. However, this is wholly negated by the party's proclaimed belief in government-run healthcare, pensions, education and all manner of interventions. "What about drugs?" the video asks. The party's policy; 'we favour a debate' or words to that effect.

So the mystery continues, although I expect we will learn more as time passes and the party slips away to the place where so many minor parties go.

Gene Burns: as recommended by Rothbard

I've not come across this fellow before, but I wondered who Rothbard praised as a far better speaker than himself. I've not watched it all as I write, but so far so good:

Today's quiz

If you word-search the Daily Mail Online front page today for "bikini", how many times does it come up?

A) 7
B) 11
C) 13

(Answer in comments)

A note to fellow bloggers

I learn, via Leg-Iron, that some cock-sucking shit-eater has decided to post a comment under my name.

Naturally, this does not amuse me, although the over-riding emotion is one of pity for whatever streak of cloudy piss finds in such subterfuge the validation for their otherwise futile and sordid existence.

To my fellow bloggers, therefore, I must warn you, that if you find a comment under my name, it may be from someone else.

UPDATE: I see I am not alone in dealing with this particular virus. Thus:
Longrider
Angry Exile
Etc.

It's an old one, but it still rings true

It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.

'Cromwell between two pillars' (?) ; from the British Library

Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not barter'd your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth?

Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defil'd this sacred place, and turn'd the Lord's temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress'd, are yourselves gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors.

In the name of God, go!

Oliver Cromwell; closing speech of the Long Parliament, 30 April 1653

Queer Folk

I can never remember what I've posted before and what I haven't, but using the criterion of something still being funny, here's Bob Fleming's Folkin Classics from the Fast Show:

Leaving politics aside...

Changing the subject, here's the Carter Family singing 'Wildwood Flower'. The picture's somewhat over-exposed, but no matter. Mother MayBelle sure can play that guitar.

Graham Mitchell - Victim of Monstrous Injustice: Update

Not here, but at Anna Raccoon's, who has dug into how exactly someone, acquitted 20 years ago, can find himself facing extradition for killing a man who is still alive.

The European Arrest Warrant is one of the clearest examples of how this country's membership of the European Union has been used to nullify long-established protections against the violence of the state.

Let us not accept the Nuremburg Defence when it comes to this treasonous attack on justice. Yes indeed, vile scum like Graham Watson MEP, who boasts of his involvement in having the 'legislation' enacted, are guiltier than most, but guilty also are the pen-pushing Judas trash and black-uniformed goons who have taken this ludicrous warrant from the Portuguese authorities and used it to attack an innocent man.

We are told that the UK government are 'looking into the matter'. What that means in reality is FUCK ALL. The Tory Party and even more so the Lib Dems, of which vile scum Graham Watson MEP is one, are instrumental in implementing this rape of our Magna Carta rights. See below for details:

UKIP and the Tory Refugee Problem

I note UKIP are continuing to gather escaped tories to its safe haven. The standad declaration goes something like:

"After having served loyally for (insert no. of years), knocked on doors, stuffed envelopes, driven old dears to the polling station etc. I realise there's no hope left. The final straw was (insert as appropriate). I haven't left the Party, so much as the Party has left me."

Many a sinner twixt stirrup and ground, as they say. This is, broadly speaking, a good thing for UKIP. They get some new members, a number of whom will come with a certain fire in their bellies, being new converts, and experience in local organisation. However, I think UKIP should be careful not to allow themselves to become nothing more than a refuge for rebellious tories. This will limit their appeal to a subset of a subset. Their goal has to be to widen their membership.

The UKIPers I know are all sound libertarians, and for long I've thought the Party's best interest would be served by consciously developing two antagonistic wings, one conservative, the other libertarian. There's no harm in factionalism per se. Indeed, the only way to escape it would be to remain so small it cannot become an issue. Even in this case, there are likely to be personality clashes and I would say it's better to clash over policy than personality.

Whereas I am happy to vote for the Party when the opportunity arises, I would not join under the present circumstances. It's not enough for Nigel to claim he's libertarian. I'll take the claim in good faith, but let the debate be heard, let the two sides within the Party acknowledge each other, acknowledge the division, and work out the common ground in an open and honest way. Then it may be possible for the Party to bolster itself with the numerous unaffiliated libertarians, who have plenty of energy and drive to contribute, and can appeal to a very different section of the population than the shire tory refugees, but will not engage as long as the prevailing message is skewed towards the latter.

Time running out for quixotic cult leader

In the wake of a massive online campaign to raise awareness, hopes are rising that an obscure and long-sought cult leader will finally be brought to justice, as agents from the elite 'Raccoon Squad' Common Purpose mercenary group close in.

Swiss Kony

The charismatic chief of the Libertarian and Swiss Constitutional Supporters Resistance Army has not been seen in years. Intelligence sources believe he has retreated into the deepest jungles of Somerset with a band of die-hard supporters, amongst whom it is held that he possesses magical powers, such as the ability to make accounting records disappear, and to enable him to exercise hypnotic control over software designers, who are then prepared to commit horrific acts of html coding, sustained only with empty promises.

Kismet

I was casting around, via a meandering path which started at 'The Battle of New Orleans', went via 'American Werewolf in London' and ended up with the above after pausing with a few numbers from Odetta. It would be overdoing it to say it was destiny ...

Here's Georgie

To aid my readers in calculating what the Budget means to them, may I present the following graphic illustration:

Key to interpretation:

Jack Nicholson - the government
Screaming woman - the average citizen
The door - what's left of your individual liberty and independent wealth

... or something

Alternatively, you could watch the video of that Malaysian kid getting robbed in the London riots. In that case, the riots signify the economic crisis, the government is represented by the scum who help the poor kid - the economy - to his feet and then rob him a second time.

The Budget in Brief

"I told you I'd be back. Now, give me whatever the fuck you got left."

The Revolution Is

Here's a recent campaign ad for the Doctor

Here's a recent speech in Seattle

Sanitizing the monetary system

Here's George Reisman, eminent economist - not least because he studied under Ludwig von Mises, speaking in 2009 on the subject of "A Pro-Free-Market Program for Economic Recovery". For the first twenty minutes he discusses what the US government and the Fed have been up to with their printing presses, namely putting in place the potential for an enormous credit expansion.

Reisman then plots a path back toward sound money, i.e., a 100% reserve, gold-backed currency. The first stage of this would be to move to a 100% paper currency. This seems like the most plausible way of sanitizing the dollar, although another way forward would be to move towards private gold-backed currencies, which is discussed by Henry Hazlitt in the final part of 'The Inflation Crisis and How to Resolve it'. This would be preferable, due to it being a free market solution, but it does have one significant drawback; the high likelihood of bringing the full force of government aggression down on your head.

With thanks to Mises Institute Media

An old argument, but a vitally important one

Over at Liberal Conspiracy (sic), one of their number is attacking Daniel Hannan for his comments on Roosevelt's New Deal. It's enough to make statues weep, to see the same ludicrous nonsense trotted out to defend the fascistic Roosevelt and his disastrous policies.

The problem is that, even if people take different views, there has to be a common area of facts, but on this issue, no matter what evidence and rational debate is presented to overthrow the fairy tale of Roosevelt's success ( and you'd think the fact it's known as 'The Great Depression' may suggest a lack of success), it is a mammoth task to cut through the wall of willful ignorance. The enemies of liberty cannot refute the evidence of Benjamin M. Anderson, Murray Rothbard etc., who have laid out the water-tight case against Roosevelt's stinking New Deal. All they can do is cover their ears with their hands and shout 'la la la'.

Anyway, here's an interesting extract from Thaddeus Russell's 'Renegade History of the United States', which draws attention to the parallels between Roosevelt's policies and those of Hitler and Mussolini, and notes many instances where these latter two and their supporters were effusive in their praise for America's Great Dictator.

Freedom in Western Civilisation

A paragraph under the above heading, by Ludwig von Mises; from an essay named 'Liberty and its Antithesis'.

The concept of freedom and its antithesis make sense only in referring to the conditions of social cooperation among men. Social cooperation, the basis of any really human and civilized existence, can be achieved by two different methods. It can be cooperation by virtue of contract and voluntary coordination on the part of all individuals, or it can be cooperation by virtue of command on the part of a Führer and compulsory subordination of the many. The latter system is authoritarian. In the libertarian system every individual is a moral person, that is, he is free to choose and to act and is responsible for his conduct. In the authoritarian system the supreme chief alone is a free agent while all the others are bondsmen subject to his discretion. Where the authoritarian system is fully established, as was for instance the case in the Incan empire of pre-Columbian America, the subjects are human merely in a zoological sense; they are virtually deprived of their specifically human faculty of choosing and acting, and are not accountable for their conduct. It was in accordance with this degradation of man’s moral dignity that the Nazi criminals declined any responsibility for their deeds by pointing out that all they did was to obey the orders of their superiors.

Western civilization is based upon the libertarian principle and all its achievements are the result of the actions of free men. Only in the frame of a free society is it meaningful to distinguish between what is good and ought to be done and what is bad and ought to be avoided. Only in such a free society has the individual the power to choose between morally commendable and morally reprehensible conduct.

Man is not a perfect being and there is no perfection in human affairs. Conditions in the free society are certainly in many regards unsatisfactory. There is still ample room for the endeavors of those who are intent upon fighting evil and raising the moral, intellectual, and material level of mankind.

Found in the the collection "Economic Freedom and Intervention", published by Liberty Fund, and viewable here at their own Online Library of Liberty.

Patent History

Fritz Machlup, writing on the development of patent laws in various countries:

Four different legal philosophies about the nature of the inventor’s right were thus expressed in the patent laws of the various countries; the French, recognizing a property right of the inventor in his invention and deriving from it his right to obtain a patent; the American, silent on the property question, but stressing the inventor's legal right to a patent; the English, recognizing the monopoly character of the patent, and regarding it in theory as a grant of royal favor, but in practice regularly allowing the inventor’s claim to receive a patent on his invention; the Austrian, insisting that the inventor has no right to protection, but may, as a matter of policy, be granted a privilege if in the public interest.

Fritz Machlup; An Economic Review of the Patent System; from the introduction, page 3

Thanks to the Mises Institute

Cameron; don't come back, you embarrassing tosser

Further to my pithy comment below, I note that Cameron has interspersed the most nauseous flattery for His Majesty, with expressing concerns over the extradition treaty his government enforces.

What a mockery. If Cameron gave more than shit, he'd take action in Parliament to throw the treaty out. That's what being a sovereign nation means. But he doesn't care in the least, that British citizens can be arrested and extradited for supposed crimes which, if they even happened, took place in Britain.

Aside from the US extradition treaty, there is of course the European Union Arrest Warrant, another glaring example of the monstrous infringement of our rights and liberties in this land due to the EU, and that this government has done a fat fucking zero to reverse the dismantling of our nation.

Note for my American Readers

Yeah, we think he's a cunt too.

Hat tip: Counting Cats

Obsessions Past

I was recently reminded of a forgotten pain in my heart. For Withnail's Uncle Monty it was that he would never play the Dane, for me it was the realisation that I would never possess Hope Sandoval, singer from Mazzy Star (sigh). Never mind, there's still the music. Here's one tune - Roseblood.

Rap News and Other Views on Kony

A few worthwhile points being made here. Many people have noticed something fishy about the sudden elevation of Kony in the World's Most Wanted list, and how it seems to play to the agenda of making Africa the new front in the Project for the New American Century. Gotta stop dem Chi Coms.

Meanwhile he's an actual Ugandan, journalist and fellow blogger Rosebell Kagumire giving her view on the Kony campaign.

Hat tip: Infowars

Of heretics and bigots

There's a very interesting - sorry did I say interesting? I meant tiresome - debate going on at the moment about gay marriage and whether the law should be changed to permit it. Didn't we settle this years ago, with civil partnerships? Apparently, the leftist lobby are sore winners!

The strongest argument in favour of the change in law seems to be: If you don't agree, you're a gay-hating bigot, who's motivated by nothing but hatred and bigotry. Bigot!

Hmm, pretty convincing, especially when liberally (sic) sprinkled with the expected sub-Dawkins 'sky-fairy' imagery and general revilement of christians, due to the fact that certain bishops have publicly disagreed.

Personally, it doesn't affect me and I don't care. It's nothing to do with me if two men want to sign a contract to each other and call it marriage. I wouldn't raise my little finger to prevent it, nor indeed to support it. I do however find it faintly ridiculous for a "marriage" to consist of two husbands or two wives. Surely you need at least one of each? This is where the astute and ever-wary Guardian reader will reach for the Bigot Hotline - "I think I've spotted one!"

I know that the government will state that this will not arise, but it will be only a matter of time before a case is taken into court of a gay couple being refused their desire to marry in a church, and a test case will be made, and it's a fair bet that the judges will rule in favour of the gay couple. The thought police will be strengthened, the windows into men's souls will be ordered open for inspection, and oppressive weight of state-imposed orthodoxy will grow heavier, and it won't be enough to not give a fuck, YOU MUST AGREE.

On top of this, I find the attempt to bludgeon any disagreement to this proposal under a hale of insults disquieting. There is no necessary connection between opposing this measure and hatred. The only hatred I have noticed is that amongst the shrill lobbyists for the law change. All this heat so that the government will change the meaning of a word! In their fantasy world, many of the proponents are fighting an heroic barricade battle against the massed ranks of theocratic power. So puffed up with their sense of moral and rational superiority, they cannot see how close they resemble the very thing they despise. Substitute the word 'heretic' for 'bigot' and the transformation is complete.

Economics and Ethics

"Economics cannot itself decide on ethical judgments. But in order for anyone to make ethical judgments rationally, he must know the consequences of his various alternative courses of ac­tion. In questions of government intervention or union action, economics supplies the knowledge of these consequences. Knowl­edge of economics is therefore necessary, though not sufficient, for making a rational ethical judgment in these fields."

Murray N. Rothbard, from Man, Economy, and State -chapter 10; labor unions

Afghanistan: the beginning of the end?

Although I possess no crystal ball, I have a feeling that the massacre of 16 civilians, including many children, in Afghanistan will mark a turning point - a 'jump the shark' moment, if I may be inappropriate. Although the deaths in their number are sadly not remarkable, the manner of their killing may well fatally undermine what's left of Nato's moral authority in their own eyes, as much as anyone else.

It is not that the Taliban ever worry too much about 'collateral damage'. Whatever their vow to avenge these 'martyrs', they've made plenty of their own. But this latest event looks like the kind of thing that will drive a permanent wedge between Nato and her allies in Afghanistan, and make the people there understand that, whatever the issues, the occupation cannot resolve them.

One of the reasons for the continuing occupation is that it is easier, from a political point of view, to stay, than to pull out - or 'cut and run' as it would be called, would make it seem that all the blood and treasure was spent in vain. So, in order to maintain face, the troops will stay on, searching for an opportunity to march out heads held high, rather than scrambling onto the Saigon chopper. Such an exit has almost invariably eluded Afghanistan's would-be conquerors, but I guess there's always a first time.

Women's Day

Here's another tune from Sinead, which I like, although it's a bit uppity(!)

Our charming allies in Iraq

The other day I commented on the people who Nato have brought to power in Libya. Now here's a lovely tale from that other success story of "liberal intervention", Iraq.

At least ninety young people abducted and stoned to death because of the way they dress - murdered by the extremist elements brought to power by the destruction of the previous regime.

According to the Mail:

Iraq's Moral Police released a statement on the interior ministry's website condemning the 'emo phenomenon' among Iraqi youth, declaring its intent to 'eliminate' the trend.

Surely this kind of crazy brutality is the stuff which gets the "liberal interventionists" all hot under the collar and ready to wage war? Or maybe it makes them pause for thought, that it was they who put these murderous nutters in power? Ah, but I realise my error: there is no pause for thought or reflection amongst the "liberal interventionists". They are too busy focusing on the next task in hand. Surveying the desolation they leave in their wake would only confuse matters.

Come out of her, my people

Judge Nap discusses the lack of difference between GOP and Democratic Party with Lew Rockwell and Jacob Hornberger of the FFF

With 'Super Tuesday' out of the way, I believe it could be time for Ron Paul to leave the GOP and take his supporters with him. Without doubt, he has done an incredible job to spread the philosophy of liberty and peace. He has done more than anyone to put sound economics and hard money on the political agenda, but surely now the future is outside the Republican Party.

"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."

Revelation 18:4

Our charming allies in Libya

The Telegraph reports on the desecration of British military graves in Libya. This is not, however, the worst that is happening in that country, as the suffering of living people must outrank such distasteful scenes.

It is no surprise that the western media cheerleaders who did such sterling work propagandising for NATO during the months of bombardment have largely lost interest in covering the aftermath of Gadaffi's overthrow. Indeed, Libya is being held up as some kind of example of how such interventions should be run, with some demanding a similar mission to deliver 'peace and democracy' to Syria.

Roger Helmer MEP: well done, sir.

Some time ago, certain pro-independence bloggers were rounding on Roger Helmer and other conservatives for staying loyally onboard the Good Ship Tory, even though Cap'n Cameron was steering it straight into captivity. To what little extent I joined in the stone-throwing, it was intended to prick the conscience of such as Roger, to put country before party.

So, I am happy to read that Roger has done the decent thing and jumped over to UKIP - something the tories could easily have avoided, had they not prevented the process whereby Roger would stand down his seat and the next-in-line would take over.

I am not a UKIPer, but what that party undoubtedly needs is a few people of Roger's standing, i.e., in the same weight category as the renowned party leader. There's only so far the party can go with only one media personage.

Hat tip: Autonomous Mind

Steve Baker on money

Steve Baker must be the soundest MP in the House when it comes to economics. Here he is giving some old time religion on monetary theory.

I'm not familiar with Positive Money, although I think I heard something of the proposals in the past. I will endeavour to check it out.