tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24949672570683797922024-02-07T16:38:18.282-08:00We the People..."We the People" is a place where rational debate and discussion can be held without fear of government or institutional reprisal and without fear of intimidation.
"We the People" will be open to all; subject to the rules of civility and rational discussion...some allowance given for clever sarcasm of course.Professor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-52438075397968289902013-01-12T15:35:00.001-08:002013-01-12T15:42:07.125-08:00An Ethical Comparison: Reagan vs MarxDuring my recent sabbatical, I found myself with the time to catch up on a good deal of reading, including the recently published collection of Ronald Reagan's personal diary entries from his years in the White House. At the opposite end of the scale I also caught up on some of the writings of Karl Marx that are not commonly distributed or read.<br />
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I say "opposite" because one cannot help but compare what the writings of these two men tell us about them as human beings and how it reflects on the belief systems each espoused. And the comparison tells us not only about these men, but about those who honor them and their beliefs.<br />
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This is actually an important point to recognize about people who believe in such diametrically opposed beliefs. It's the key to comprehending what the followers of such systems will do if they are placed in positions of power...and that is vitally important when we make decisions at election time.<br />
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Of course we should study each candidate for office in a professional capacity...what does their "resume" tell us about their experience, training, competence, and work ethic? But that is not the only criteria for making a hiring decision. Heaven knows Stalin was competent and worked hard, as did Hitler, and Mussolini.<br />
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We also seek some insight into the candidate's ethics, sense of honor, and attitude toward others. This is important because there will be many a time when we have to trust that elected official to do what is in our best interest, and not what is in their own. In fact we expect them to put their interests aside completely.<br />
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I read Ronald Reagan's diary with the intent to look into historical events of the time from an insider's viewpoint, and I discovered something I hadn't intended to find. I found an insight into the man himself and who he was, and why so many people who knew him loved him. It was because, above all else, and as his daily comments tell us, that he loved others more than anything including himself.<br />
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His greatest joy came from meeting people every day. He loved it when children came to the White House. He loved meeting the representatives of organizations for the handicapped or disabled. He would always write about them in glowing terms, stating that they were the "best of us...the bravest and most inspiring." He would hug strangers, cry with parents who had suffered loss, and was unapologetic and genuine in his feelings.<br />
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He often wrote about his love for Americans, their strength and generosity. He thought the world of everyone he met. He found something good to think and say about even his most caustic political enemies. He adored his wife and missed her terribly when she was gone. He admitted his greatest weakness was that he wore his heart on his sleeve, and had a difficult time thinking ill of anyone...no matter how many times they might attack him personally.<br />
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The man who was Karl Marx also comes out clearly in his more personal writing and articles. His book on economic theory is how most people know him, but he wrote prodigiously on other subjects and matters. What "intellectuals" tell us is that Marx was a "genius" and a pioneer in economic thought...and true believers follow his words like a southern baptist preacher follows the Bible.<br />
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When one actually reads Marx, particularly if they've read economists of the time, one realizes he was basically a plagiarist who created long and rambling diatribes which were considered "academic" in the 19th century. In fact, the more long-winded and the more repetitive a writer was at that time, the more "intellectual" they were judged to be.<br />
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But when one ignores the academic blather, and stops trying to keep it all straight, one can't help but note the most important aspect of his inner self. This comes out most clearly in his personal letters and articles. That aspect was a general hatred for all people not within his tight little group of cohorts. Marx was an overt racist and anti-Semite, a believer in euthanasia of the disabled and handicapped, and firm in his belief that the vast majority of mankind was made up of idiots who were expendable.<br />
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I couldn't help but notice that hatred of others, in general, was a hallmark of socialist and progressive groups whose meetings I attended when a young man and studying those organizations. What I didn't connect at the time as clearly as I do now, was the reason they were universally so.<br />
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It boils down to the original thought process of Marx himself and is the main reason why he is still not only remembered, but why his memory has driven so many violent political movements. Marx's "genius" was not in economic thinking; it was in appealing to the basest, most negative, of human emotions and feelings; mainly greed, laziness, jealousy, envy, hatred, and fear.<br />
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He not only appealed to those emotions, he rationalized them and gave them a key role in a political "system" where they were not only justified, they were praised as the highest example of "revolutionary thinking." In fact, what we would normally think of as vile became righteous. In addition, he enforced the natural desire of every person to see themselves as intellectually superior to the masses...and in accepting his belief structure, his bigotry and hatred, his bitterness...the believer became one of a select few who could be considered modern, progressive, and revolutionary in thought.<br />
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To this day, a century and a half after Marx, every Marxist believes the masses don't follow Marx...not because he was vile and hateful or because his system has been proven a failure every time its been forced on a nation, but because the masses are intellectually inferior to the true believer. Most I know are careful never to read about opposing ideas, or engage in rational debate, because they have convinced themselves they are far above such wasteful efforts to convert the idiots who don't revel in the truth of socialist dogma. In reality, any debate or discussion immediately lays bare the self-perceived superiority they so very need to believe in.<br />
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So what is my personal response to these two men's writings? Reading the words of Ronald Reagan, I have to admit, inspires me to become a better man...a better husband and father...and to show more respect and compassion than I have for those less fortunate than I. I read this man's innermost personal thoughts and know that I am lacking and not nearly the man he was...and I wish to be better.<br />
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I read Karl Marx and feel something entirely different. I sense the darkness of history, the genocides, the mass killings, the dictatorships, and I'm sickened by the horrors this small-minded and bitter-souled philosophy has wrought on the planet. I look at the men who followed his beliefs, I mentioned three at the beginning of this article, and recall the horror they have brought on the world and how that horror fit in with Marx's personal beliefs. I am not inspired...I am repulsed. <br />
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At one time Ronald Reagan sat in the highest office of the land, and carefully considered every decision taking first into account the dignity and value of every person in this nation. Today we have self-avowed Marxists working in the same building and advising the chief executive.<br />
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It seems beyond expectation, if an actual crisis arises, and not one manufactured to aid them to grow personal power and wealth, that these believers in Marxism will somehow transform themselves and rise to the occasion...and will show their countrymen...all of their countrymen...the respect and dignity openly displayed by President Reagan. After all...this current crew has stately openly they will "punish those who oppose us."<br />
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How will this end? How will America change as a result of this 180-degree turn in the way leaders feel about those who they serve? Only time will tell us...and hopefully the loving spirit of America, the spirit so openly expressed by Ronald Reagan, will win out and remain long after the hatred and bitterness that is Marxist dogma has ceased to exist.Professor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-10731050933511832212012-03-11T12:08:00.000-07:002013-01-12T15:36:04.653-08:00Entitlement and Self-DestructionThe United States is one of the most unique cultures that has ever existed; unique in both the variety of sub-cultures that contribute to the whole, as well as the end result of that blending. Still, after all the hooplah about diversity and multi-culturalism, America has a base-line culture that is recognizable and speaks to the world.<br />
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As the wealthiest, most powerful, and most innovative nation on earth, our culture reflects not only the immense capabilities and responsibilities that rest on our people, but reflects as well the weaknesses inherent in a nation that grows to predominance.<br />
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Any such nation, and the US is certainly no exception, has a wide diversity of opinions and general sense of direction. It will always be imbued with certain trends. In the US we most notably see a general shifting from being a people of "obligation" to a people of "entitlement."<br />
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My parents generation, the WWII generation, were most definitely people of obligation. They felt, despite the desire to be isolationists and not meddle in world affairs, that there came a point when those privileged enough to be born into freedom should step up and be willing to sacrifice all to give other people's such an opportunity.<br />
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That generation grew up during the great depression. They grew up "hard scrabble"...in a society where little was given to them nor expected from others. Their parents struggled and sacrificed to a degree we don't now appreciate simply to keep their children from going hungry. They often went hungry themselves in order to spare their children such pain. Everything they did was to give the next generation the chance to rise up and create something better.<br />
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And they succeeded! Millions of their children, mainly teenagers, stepped up to the plate and many sacrificed all. They did so that their children, my generation, would have opportunities they didn't have. They created factories and foundries. They built homes and communities. They grew a nation capable of leading the people of the world to a better future.<br />
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We built on that foundation, and created an amazing new world; a world where people are interconnected instantly by hand-held devices never imagined by science fiction writers. A world where dictators and demagogues could be exposed by a child with a camera in a phone. A world where common products might be built of parts manufactured in thirty different factories in as many different countries.<br />
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But as each generation struggled to make the lives of the next generation easier and more rewarding, a sea-shift took place. It did so slowly, but surely, and human nature played the vital role in making it happen.<br />
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I recall hearing JFK's speech in which the famous line "ask not what your country can do for you" was spoken. He was fighting back at the growing sense of entitlement that was beginning to work its way into the culture of America. If he could see what was happening today he would be shocked and disgusted.<br />
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No sooner had he passed, when LBJ jumped with both feet into the world of promising "stuff" in return for votes. His "War on Poverty" was as badly planned as his war in Vietnam. He forced our military to fight a winnable conflict in an non-winnable way. He used a similarly flawed strategy in "eradicating poverty in our time."<br />
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Not only did LBJ's social programs fly in the face of JFK's ideals, they did so at full speed and with maximum effect. We were thrust, in a matter of years, into a cultural change that might have taken decades to evolve under normal circumstances.<br />
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I recall sitting in Econ classes where professors warned us how such government programs were tools to guarantee a large, dedicated, voting block of people who would be dependent on government for all of their needs...and who could be threatened to maintain politicians in office for life in order to guarantee their own survival.<br />
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Oddly enough, we seem to have a lot of folks in congress who obviously appeal to that voting block...and have been in office for four decades and more. Ever wonder why no one has been able to put forth a "term limits" law?<br />
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Our parents generated and enjoyed far greater wealth than their parents, and we did the same, as have our children. But suddenly the apple cart seems to be wobbling. I see dramatic differences in the young people I deal with. When I work with military personnel I recognize the fire-in-the-belly along with the sense that they stand on the shoulders of past generations and have a duty and obligation to their communities and nation.<br />
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But when I interview young people for the private workplace I am shocked to hear how many turn down desirable jobs because they won't get stock options, or three weeks vacation their first year, or the type of benefits they feel they "deserve." I am amazed at how many will "throw" interviews so they can remain unemployed and stay home playing video games. When they get bored with that, they join the "Occupy" movement.<br />
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I hear the self-indulgent and self-important scream about their needs, how society owes them "stuff," and how they have "a right" to other people's labor in the form of services. I see students at Ivy League schools moaning on national television because someone else won't pay all of their expenses, including the costs of entertainment and hobbies. I see people who sob in joy because they believe a politician will "pay their mortgage" or give them a new car...and they are serious in these beliefs.<br />
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I contrast these people with generations past and I am ashamed. I am ashamed because we have allowed such idiocy to become acceptable and because we have not had the courage to step up and denounce it. We vote incumbents back into office because "well...they're experienced" and it's just easier than to study the resumes of challengers. I am ashamed because the buck stops here...and unlike this ruined and worthless segment of the new generation, we should be willing to take responsibility for our actions, or lack thereof, and now step up to make things right...and so far we haven't done so.<br />
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I feel ashamed when the media attacks anyone who does step up...and we don't strike back and defend those brave souls. When someone in media challenges the idiocy, instead of being champions of provocative thought, we approve when their advertisers back away in fear. We literally endorse censorship when we do so.<br />
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I feel ashamed when we "go along" with pop culture because we don't want to offend anyone or be labeled an outsider, a denier, or a racist (I was called a racist for my stand against giving our tax money to a certain solar energy company that recently went broke).<br />
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So how do we fix this before it's too late? I'm not sure I know the answer, but we have to be honest, we have to speak out, and we have to use tough love on those we personally know who are trapped in the "culture of entitlement" that is destroying their lives as well as our culture and our future.<br />
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And if the going gets rough...we have to recall our parents and their parents and how tough the going can really be, and could be again, if we don't succeed.Professor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-3350973249390685512012-01-01T13:06:00.000-08:002012-03-11T10:32:16.083-07:00Steps to a Better New YearA new year has begun, bright and shiny and full of promise...if we make it so.<br />
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There is a lot to be learned from the past few years as we forge ahead. Let's review some of the most egregious economic errors of the recent past and what we might do as individuals to solve the problems that have arisen as a result.<br />
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Firstly: It's about time we start to demand responsibility from our elected officials...especially those who directly represent us in legislative branches of government. Our constitution set up the US Congress to be the most powerful entity in the land. Our Founders did this for a very good reason...congress was designed to be large and have many members therefore requiring a great deal of debate before creating laws and regulations. This was intended to make certain such laws would be limited in their impact and power, and balanced in their effect.<br />
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The Executive branch was meant to be the weakest of branches as that branch would be limited in size...normally the President and cabinet. The intent was to minimize the power of a small group of individuals, as throughout history the failure to restrict the power of a small cadre had always produced dictatorships.<br />
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Over the last few decades, and increasingly so in the last few years, our Congress has voluntarily handed over power, a bit at a time, to the Executive branch. In the last few years that branch has added literally thousands of new "laws" in the form of regulations mainly over the businesses which power our economy. In response the economy has been forced into reducing production and employment, all done by proxies of the Executive branch of government, most of whom are unelected, with no input from the people's representatives in the legislature.<br />
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It is past time for our congressional members to step up to their responsibilities and shut down this abuse of power. But we have to demand it or it won't be done. With House elections coming up, this issue should be a measuring stick for judging the candidates...will they shirk their duties, or step up to the plate and act as responsible adults?<br />
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Secondly: to move our economy forward we must demand truth and accountability from our elected, and unelected, officials. While hundreds of thousands of jobs are being lost each month, the federal government has been busy redefining what "jobs" are and the number of such jobs (how can jobs be "lost" if they don't exist...oddly they did exist a few years ago). This has enabled them to make vague claims of an "improving" economic picture so as to hide their incompetence. When the media talking heads tell us that losing 380,000 jobs is "good" because we might have lost 400,000 jobs...let them know we are not idiots and they shouldn't be a party to such pure nonsense. Then let your elected representatives know as well.<br />
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The above is simply one example of the communications we receive from a government trying to maintain and increase its power. Don't be afraid to openly repudiate such garbage and to demand the truth. Remember...they work for us...they are our employees.<br />
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Thirdly: we have to start thinking critically. We are inundated daily with nonsense and pure propaganda, and normally either ignore or absorb such messages without analysis. This "information" is designed to sway us in a direction that will benefit the messenger instead of society.<br />
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For example; probably the most important thing we can do at this time to put our economy on track and guarantee our future is to push for aggressive policies that will quickly increase the energy supply available to our economy...energy being the cornerstone of production and wealth creation. Uncapping sealed oil fields, building the proposed pipeline, and clearing the huge backlog of permits that the EPA has stalled for political reasons would be a start. In the past, simply threatening these actions has caused world oil prices to drop in half, or greater, and has been a huge boon to the US economy. So why has our government refused to even threaten such steps?<br />
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Our government officials are literally petrified by the environmental movement working hand-in-hand with leftist radicals and foreign oil companies. This weird lobbying and protesting block has become the most powerful political force in WA DC and they will not go down without a fight. Their tactics include creating phony environmental and economic think tanks and "research centers" which inundate us with constant propaganda.<br />
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A perfect example being a recent "finding" by an economic think tank, actually founded and paid for by a large Brazilian oil firm, "warning" US citizens that the currently proposed pipeline project would actually decrease US supply, therefore increasing the price of gas. Such strange violations of economic law is the bread and butter of foreign corporations using "front groups" to help support lobbying efforts against US business and consumer interests.<br />
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If our elected representatives learn we are aware of such shenanigans, and are willing to belittle and denounce such in public, they will begin to grow fearful of us...their employers...instead of radicals, protestors, and foreign monied interests.<br />
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But we need to make it happen. Get the email addresses of your state and federal law makers...send them polite, but firm, messages on these issues...and politely demand they work for us instead of special interests, lobbyists, and foreign corporations. If we, the people, don't control our futures...those with hidden agendas will...and it will not be a good thing for our children and generations to come.<br />
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<br />Professor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-69853005340166603142011-10-30T17:08:00.000-07:002011-10-31T09:44:08.208-07:00Global Warming...the movement explainedI recently attended a relaxed and informal meeting of learned and critical-thinking folks whom congregate now and again to discuss random subjects of interest. These gatherings are noted for their free-flowing nature, along with the disposal of a good volume of fine Bourbon which is conducive to that nature. The last meeting led the group to the topic of the Global Warming movement and why it exists.<br />
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To really understand the subject one has to get into some history...and we were fortunate to have a dabbler in "Paleo-Climatology" to help us. In this discipline, scientists have focused on the last BILLION years of the earth's history...that's a whole bunch of years. Evidence leads us to believe that climate cycles during this period lasted some 200 MILLION years each. During these climate swings, the planet would go from being a virtual ice-ball to being a semi-tropical paradise in which plants and animals thrived, and indeed evolved into giants.<br />
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The last period of tropical climate began to ebb some 70 MILLION years back during the Cenozoic period. The cooling trend that followed advanced in 3 major steps about 36 MILLION, 15 MILLION, and 3 MILLION years ago. That brings us to the last 1 MILLION years.<br />
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The vast majority of that time period found the planet locked securely in a series of small ice-ages, all subject to the overall 200 MILLION year cycle. Interestingly, global temperatures varied somewhat radically during this period. They went up...they went down...they went all around. Ice sheets receded, then advanced, then receded and advanced some more. The last major leap was about 11,600 years ago...a tiny drop in the bucket in time...and ended the worst of the last small ice-age abruptly. Planetary temperature went up better than 20 degrees F in about 50 years. It's an attribute to our egos as humans that we refer to that ice-age as the "great" ice-age...when in reality it was a minor blip within the 200 MILLION year cycle....but hey...our ancestors had to live through it so we think it significant.<br />
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The causes of all this jumping up and down in temperature are numerous and mainly theoretical. Scientists are pretty certain that plate tectonics play a major role in global climate, and as the continents have drifted, bumped, broken apart again, etc, these land masses affected not only planetary winds but ocean currents and "metamorphic degassing." In essence, there are hundreds of live volcanoes active at this time...all due to the fact that the earth's crust is flimsy and floating on the 99.9% of the plant which is still liquid rock. That thin, flaky, crust could break apart at any moment and everything on the surface would be vaporized...leaving no trace of our passing whatsoever.<br />
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Now you see why these conversations require Bourbon.<br />
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Other inputs include such juicy items of conversation as: weathering of silicates, organic carbon weathering, burial of organic carbons, and of course the cycles of solar output. Astrophysicists tend to put more emphasis on solar cycles and the earth's orbit; affected by cycles of precession, eccentricity, and obliquity. Geologists tend to emphasize plate tectonics.<br />
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Since that point some 11,600 years ago, the planet has gone through literally hundreds of mini-climate cycles. There was an overall cooling trend from about 1500 AD into the 1850's known as the "little ice age." Prior to that was a short warming trend with a high about 1000 AD. That time actually shows similar characteristics to our current climate. As a whole, scientists believe we will be emerging (hopefully) from a long cycle of ice-ages to a tropical state over the next 100 MILLION years. Obviously you shouldn't run right out and buy a new swim suit...a bit premature perhaps.<br />
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That brings us to the modern day and "the movement." Since the 1880's scientists have pondered planetary climate changes, and every decade or so one group or another has announced that the planet is either warming or cooling. The vagaries of weather, and regional climate cycles, have made it impossible to actually nail down where we are in any one particular mini-cycle...even with the technology available today.<br />
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Since the early part of the 20th Century however, climate change has become a political tool. An ironic note is that British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was the moving force behind the modern global warming movement. When she became PM one of her first moves was to create the Hadly Center for Climate Prediction in order to help create a "crisis" that would help her fight the National Union of Mineworkers as an opposing political powerhouse.<br />
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She had a number of related problems: the UK needed to have more nuclear plants in order to move forward with growing and modernizing nuclear forces. She also needed to break the union. Nuclear power was costing 4 times what coal power cost, so she needed something scary and emotional to support her push for nuclear power plants. She had the Hadly Center create a series of predictions showing climate warming, also claiming CO2 from human activity to be a major cause, and to issue a warning to start closing mines and building nuke plants.<br />
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Then the laws of unintended consequences stepped in. The potpourri of Marxist and Malthusian radicals throughout the world took note. If "global warming" could be used to fight unions and close coal mines, why couldn't it be used to bring down industry, business, and capitalism all together? No reason at all, of course.<br />
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Greenpeace jumped on board...commissioning a survey (1992) of 400 climatologists to prove that global warming was caused by industrial societies. Only 15 of the scientists even agreed there was global warming, so the study was swept aside. The movement seemed to be stuck in "park."<br />
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But governments began to make some calculations. If they could push for restrictions on US businesses, they could gain a competitive advantage in manufacturing and energy production. Thus was born an outburst of "protocols" and "treaties" meant publicly to control CO2 emissions while actually meant to handcuff the US and a handful of other industrial giants. A mass movement to fund academics who would "prove" global warming became a government tool to push the agenda. The movement took on a life of its own fueled by billions in grants. Universities made disagreement by academics punishable by firing. Government agencies sprang up to support the movement...and then to simply support their own funding.<br />
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Human beings, the psychologist in the group reminded us, have a strong penchant for controlling their lives through controlling their environment. Since the beginnings of the species, people have fallen for shamans and charlatans who promised to help them do so. Everything from throwing virgins into volcanoes (which he reminded us was a terrible waste of virgins...the Bourbon was kicking in by now) to selling us "carbon credits" could be pawned off on folks afraid of change. You just had to package the change as a "crisis." <br />
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As a result of such packaging, by numerous special interests and radical groups, the US has suspended a great number of industries and manufacturers. We have ended, or curtailed, most energy exploration and production, and spent billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars on wasteful studies and academic exercises. This orgy of "environmentalism" is largely traceable to an ongoing effort to crush the evils of modernity, take us back to the Malthusian dream of a pre-industrial society, "bring down" capitalism, and more recently to make a profit thru fear-mongering. The special interest groups pushing "Cap and Trade" and carbon credits are set up to make billions of dollars without actually doing or providing anything except paperwork...a scam of absolute brilliance.<br />
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I recounted to the group a speech given at a climate change conference. The speaker, a radical environmentalist, told the audience the best solution would be to reduce the world's population to 2 million "care takers" who would monitor and care for the planet. He received a standing ovation from half the folks in the hall...mainly college students.<br />
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These enthusiastic "idiots" obviously assumed they, and their families, would magically be among the 2 million superior humans who would be chosen to live while euthanizing the other 6 billion of us. I hated to tell them the 2 million survivors would be the best-armed, most psychotic and anti-social SOB's on the planet...and that neither they nor the speaker qualified. They also, quite obviously, weren't thinking about who would supply them with ipods and tennis shoes when productive folks were gone. It was a display of total, abject, stupidity.<br />
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So we have two histories to observe in accounting for the phenomenon known as the global warming movement; the geophysical history of the planet, and the political history of the movement and the associated movements that use it. Combined they give us a bottom line from which we can determine whether climate change is an issue we should concern ourselves with.<br />
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Things we now know:<br />
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1) The planet is constantly changing...will always change..and there is no "normal" condition.<br />
2) Humans have a tendency to panic over matters of which they are completely ignorant...and then do foolish things like wasting virgins.<br />
3) The planet could possibly warm, or cool, by a degree or two over the next hundred years. The average temperature at the south pole will remain about 70 degrees F below zero. Our great-great-great-great grandchildren will figure out how to deal with this "change" the same way we have dealt with it over the last 11,600 years.<br />
4) If you want to lose sleep over something...worry about your job...worry about being one of the 6 billion who get euthanized...worry about the crust breaking up and getting vaporized by lava.<br />
5) Good Bourbon is proof that God exists and loves us.<br />
6) The global warming movement is made up of opportunists, anti-social radicals, and absolute nut-cases, all of whom use it to advance their whacked agendas...and that is why it really exists.<br />
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That should clear it up...let's have another shot of that Bourbon.<br />
<br />Professor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-30441578368599790012011-10-10T21:56:00.000-07:002011-10-10T21:56:13.120-07:00The Joys of RedistributionWhy, some of my students have asked me, is the idea of "redistribution of wealth" looked down on by economists as a whole? Isn't "justice" and "fairness" important? What could be wrong with that?<br />
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To get them to start thinking, rather than to simply quote economic laws, I tell a story...set up a scenario so to speak...using the village model.<br />
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Imagine a village of 100 families. Years back they began to come together, perhaps around a water source, and created their community. Every family produces something of value which they can trade with their neighbors, allowing a degree of specialization and efficiency.<br />
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Some of them are farmers...one family makes shoes...some weave clothing, and some make tools and farm implements. The village is in balance as long as each family creates enough product to trade for the amount of product they need from others.<br />
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Now we come to an important concept: <b>the wealth of the village is the total of accrued production. </b>In other words; every family is making "stuff" and growing "stuff" and a year's worth of that "stuff" is the annual gross domestic product of the village. Some of that stuff is consumed over the year, such as food, but some of it lasts for years or even decades. As long as everyone is producing as much, or more, than they consume, the wealth of the village grows. This growth in wealth benefits everyone in the village...it keeps prices down, and creates surpluses which are likely to be distributed to those who fall on hard times.<br />
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Now suppose we have two families whose chosen work is to grow chickens and eggs. There is a demand for both. Eggs are more quickly and more cheaply produced, as they don't have to be fed, matured, and slaughtered to be eaten. But they don't provide as much food value as a chicken either. Therefore, both families must calculate the best balance for production...how many eggs do they allow to hatch and grow into fryers? What mix would give them optimum profit?<br />
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This is a very normal business decision made every day by business owners world wide. Let's suppose family "A" elects to buy extra chicken feed and to allow 1000 eggs each year to be hatched and grown into chickens. They are taking a risk, and spending additional funds, on the gamble that they will make profit on the chickens despite the additional costs and the loss of income from the eggs.<br />
<br />
Now let's suppose family "B" decides to concentrate on eggs and raise only 100 chickens. As it turns out, at year's end, family "A" has made the optimum decision and they are able to trade their combination of chickens and eggs for three times what family "B" is able to make on their chickens and eggs. So family "A" is suddenly more wealthy than family "B" as they have contributed more protein and more value to the village.<br />
<br />
Members of family "B" are not happy...they are in the same business as family "A" but have made one-third the income. Grumblers in the village begin to promote the idea of "redistribution"...it's unfair, they say, that family "B" has worked in the same business as "A" but made so little comparative income. Eventually the grumblers convince the majority of people in the village to call for a new rule...and they force family "A" to give up some of their income to family "B" in a gesture of "redistributive justice."<br />
<br />
So why is that wrong? It's not an ethical question...it's an economic one. Family "A" now has the same choice to make as they made the prior year. Do they spend extra money on feed...spend extra time for chickens to hatch and mature...slaughter the chickens...and take on all of that risk and expense if their profits are going to be taken from them? <br />
<br />
Here's where Marxist style theories always fall apart...at the point where human nature steps in. People do not adhere to theories written in books...they act in their own self interest. Family "A" decides the risk isn't worth it...so they elect to grow only 100 chickens the next year. The result...they will make less income, but it won't be taken away from them so they'll break even. The village will not have the 900 chickens as a food source. They will have more eggs instead, but the market proved that the chickens provided more value and protein than eggs alone.<br />
<br />
So the village is poorer...it loses wealth. An economist, or any experienced business owner, would not be surprised...but many neophytes are shocked by the news. "But why?" they ask. "The only thing that happened was some wealth was transferred from one family to another. How could that possibly result in everyone being worse off?"<br />
<br />
The simple village model explains the "why" clearly and simply. The real world is more complex of course, but human nature, and the willingness to balance risk with possible reward, will always win out...in any culture...any time...any place. That's why the rules of economics are in place. And not just models, but history, proves them to be true.Professor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-13968866268130194312011-07-26T17:56:00.000-07:002011-07-26T17:56:01.538-07:00Making Sense of "Trillions"I can remember when Presidents asked Congress to raise the national debt level by "millions of dollars"....and we all gasped, gulped, and swallowed the bitter pill. Little did we know we would look back at those times in envy.<br />
<br />
Now we have the different branches of our federal government arguing over trillions of dollars. We've become so accustomed to the new magnitude that when someone mentions cutting a few billion dollars in waste, we tend to wonder why the bother...it's only a few billion.<br />
<br />
It's all rather impossible to grasp actually, and so like frogs in a slowly warming pot we don't see disaster coming as the temperature of our debt gets hotter and hotter. To get a grasp on what all of the budget arguments actually mean let's break it all down into something we can understand and connect to...dollars per individual head of household. <br />
<br />
Based on the US Census, we can make a nice round estimate of about 100,000,000 head of household working folk in the US for the next decade. That's easy to work with....a trillion dollars means $10,000 per taxpayer. It's much easier to picture what "trillion" means when it's broken down to our individual share.<br />
<br />
Let's start by looking at current debt: long term debt first...it's the scariest...it's like your mortgage so to speak. At this time it's over 120 trillion dollars...or 1.2 million dollars for each wage earner. Of course you have an entire lifetime to pay this debt off...so what the heck. You can rest easy...unless of course you realize that this long-term debt is bound to grow. Your share is going to end up to be a lot more.<br />
<br />
Short term debt, much like a credit card debt, is now over 15 trillion dollars. Oh good...that's only about $150,000 for your share....of course that's due this year...and it's on top of your annual payment on the long-term debt. Starting to get queasy yet?<br />
<br />
Well breathe easy...the Republicans in congress are fighting for a reduction in expenses that will cut your share of the annual short-term debt...by nearly $1,000. That means your payment will only be $149,000. Oh hurrah, hurrah...<br />
<br />
But wait...the Dems are furious and want to "compromise" with their more fiscally conservative bretheren. They are reminding us their compromise also cuts expenses...but after taking into account the differences in accounting jargon...their "cuts" come to only about $100.<br />
<br />
Just so you keep this straight: your "mortgage" debt is $1,200,000....your "credit card" debt is $150,000...and congress is offering to reduce your overall debt by $100. Goodness sakes, joy almighty, and hallelujah...where do I sign up?<br />
<br />
Obviously...we'd rather have our debt cut by $1,000...but would that save your family from bankruptcy and ruin? Not hardly! Remember...these numbers are not imaginary...this is not simply an exercise to help comprehend what the national debt argument is all about. This is money you ACTUALLY OWE! Of course you can pretend it's not real....<br />
<br />
I've tried...doesn't seem to be helping.Professor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-23819982113548339732011-05-01T19:45:00.000-07:002011-07-26T17:04:14.325-07:00Ignoring the FundamentalsProduction equals Wealth....Wealth equals Production.<br />
<br />
Probably the most basic law of economics is the definition of wealth; that the combined production, investment, and savings of a nation is defined as being that nation's wealth.<br />
<br />
Production begins with taking raw materials; by drilling, mining, or harvesting; then transporting, processing, distributing, and using in manufacturing those materials until they become products for consumption. <br />
<br />
A simple example; someone pulls minerals out of the earth, someone moves them, someone extracts and purifies them, someone combines them to make a metal, then someone uses that metal to make something useful. Bingo...wealth has been created!<br />
<br />
Every worker contributes something to the overall wealth of the nation. In early times a person could create wealth by, say, raising chickens. Then they could trade eggs or chickens to someone else for shoes or some other good. When it becomes awkward to trade a cow, for example, for a basket of eggs, the concept of money comes into being. Money is simply an artificial means of representing production in a handy to carry around and easy to spend manner.<br />
<br />
As long as money represented chickens, cows, shoes, and other production...all was good. A person could earn more money by being more productive. As everyone became more productive, usually with the help of technology, more and more stuff became available and prices stabilized or dropped...with more stuff to share, everyone enjoyed growing prosperity and a higher standard of living. Such a deal!<br />
<br />
But there's always a catch. As societies grow, production becomes stalled without a proper legal system to adjudicate disputes, or a system of transportation to move goods, or organized security against outside threats. The organizing of community solutions to these issues is called "government" and at basic levels this actually increases overall production. Thus the costs of government are absorbed by the increased productivity. The people who work in government can be paid by productive workers, what we call the private sector, because the money actually represents productive capacity. Therefore, all is still in balance.<br />
<br />
This evolutionary process, however, always goes awry. Never in history has government stopped growing and leveled out at a point where added value equals increased productivity...never! It simply seems to fly in the face of human nature to stop growing government, no matter how obvious it is that it is a foolish thing to do.<br />
<br />
So what happens....the amount of "money" has to change to meet the demands of the growing number of non-producing workers who want to purchase goods. Productivity increases as technology continues to increase capacity to produce, and a growing population increases the labor pool available for production, and so begins a balancing act. As long as money supply and productivity stay in balance everything appears to be okay to most folks. But this only encourages more government growth.<br />
<br />
Eventually it all turns downhill...prices begin to go up as more purchasers with more money begin to bid for a constantly dwindling supply of goods. The people, and their leaders, have learned to ignore the fundamentals.<br />
<br />
"Well heck," says some soothsayer..."we'll just become an information economy...we don't have to produce as much as we want to consume." But pretty soon folks realize they can't eat information, wear information, or live in information. Someone has to produce food, clothing, and housing.<br />
<br />
So the next step...sell the information to some nation that will grow food and make stuff. For a short time, as long as that information has some value, this seems to work. At least it covers up the truth to those not paying attention.<br />
<br />
Then, when the value of the information drops, the nation asks productive nations to accept "notes"...in affect they buy products on credit. If acceptable to the productive nation, the one with the too large government finds itself creating and growing an ever increasing debt cycle. The issue could be resolved of course...the borrower could simply stop borrowing and begin to push production...partly through pulling out all the stops, so to speak, and getting people to stop trading in information and start producing stuff. Partly through reducing the government work force and having those people get into production. If things go well, and spending discipline holds, the nation could work its way out of debt and begin growing wealth once again.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately...this scenario hasn't happened as often as logic might lead one to believe. In fact, once nations reach a certain level of wealth some strange things begin to happen. Some of these strange happenings are universal, as documented by the historian Sir John Glubb in his paper "Fate of Empires." Whether the Greek empire, the Persian Empire, the Ancient Egyptians, or the Roman Empire...all successful civilizations eventually become self-loathing, self-absorbed, soft, spoiled, and end up committing cultural suicide. They are not brought down by invading barbarians...at least not until they have destroyed themselves from within.<br />
<br />
There are key milestones each fading nation goes through; a loss of will to commit to warfare to protect themselves being one. The population reaches a point where they delude themselves into believing they are "superior" and "intellectual" and therefore morally above the making of war and taking of lives. This delusion defies logic and historical precedent...but it continues to take place. It is reminscent of the man who refuses to have anything to do with weaponry...even though he knows full well his family could helplessly fall victim to marauding criminals. He would "morally" prefer his family be slaughtered than to take up arms...seems unimaginable, but it is quite common in decaying societies.<br />
<br />
Another delusion is the concept of cultural "guilt" for being successful. This drives populations to demand an end to productive activities...often times in the guise of protecting nature. Farm land goes fallow, mines close, oil wells are sealed...the spigot of all wealth production is turned off in a macabre acceptance of self destruction. Again, the delusion of being morally superior plays an important part.<br />
<br />
The same moral delusion forms the basis of "group benevolence"...the concept that everyone must be cared for to the full extent of a nation's wealth. This leads to people choosing to become unproductive, then the treasury of the nation is drained until no one can be taken care of, including those who produce.<br />
<br />
The end result; the people refuse to draw natural resources from around them, and refuse to produce the goods and services necessary to thrive. At the same time, they enrich politicians who promise to "share the wealth" with the people...even though there is no longer wealth to share. Eventually the people take to the streets...violence ensues...and the nation falls into tyranny. It is now inevitable that the nation will become easy pickings for an outside force.<br />
<br />
Not that we should worry here in our warm, safe homes in our cozy western countries. All of that bad stuff only happens to civilizations past; that expanded government too much, who spend themselves into debt, and whose people become enamored of movie stars, phony politicians, and pop singers in place of military heroes, economists, and business leaders.<br />
<br />
Certainly couldn't happen here...not in America! <br />
<br />
Hey...I promise to keep my eyes and ears open and let you know if it does.Professor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-91204447753729029622011-02-13T21:05:00.000-08:002011-02-13T21:09:52.552-08:00Some Scary Numbers for the New YearAn interesting collection of statistics, indicators of future inflation, have been collected and printed below; along with the sources of those statistics.<br />
<br />
Why, one may ask, are we concerned with forecasting the possibility of an inflationary cycle? There are a number of sound reasons. From a personal standpoint, we should consider how we invest our savings when inflationary or deflationary cycles are on the horizon. Inflation is simply a devaluation of currency, so normal savings, basically consisting of currency, will lose value...perhaps rapidly. On the other hand, investing in commodities, instead of currency, can pay off big.<br />
<br />
Our business institutions must be able to plan and budget for the future; inflationary pressure will force them to adjust payroll, prices, and expenses. The very survival of the business may depend on how accurately they forecast and how quickly they adjust.<br />
<br />
In extreme instances, such as what happened in Zimbabwe in recent years, currency becomes totally valueless and society returns to the barter system to survive. In more "normal" inflationary periods, the middle class simply loses its wealth slowly and steadily while lower income earners are completely crushed and forced into abject poverty. Wealth is no longer available for investment and production, so unemployment skyrockets and products become scarce, which quickly adds to the inflationary pressure (lack of goods increases price).<br />
<br />
One might then ask, viewing the statistics below, why we are not yet seeing significant inflation already? We see that commodities are becoming more expensive rapidly...so why is it not obviously reflected in the retail markets?<br />
<br />
Mainly we are currently being "saved" by businesses willing to liquidate inventory at past prices, and to hold down new pricing by laying off workers and increasing the work load of remaining workers without additional compensation. They are struggling to survive, and whether they make it or not, they end up dumping product onto the market at prices reflecting the costs of production from the past. If they do survive, however, and have to regenerate inventory at some point to keep surviving, they will discover that the price of materials is going up. No one in the supply chain can stay in business long by charging less than the cost of replacement...they have been trying to do so, but the end of such frugality is growing nigh.<br />
<br />
Along with the pressures of rising commodities prices, we can see from the chart that employment in the public sector is growing and government spending is going up. These are both highly inflationary moves, both flood the market with currency while producing no goods to balance out the increase in money. The necessary increase in taxes takes additional currency from producers, which again reduces production and again increases the number of dollars chasing after a reduced volume of goods and services. This artificial increase in money supply, and reduction in products, drives costs up the demand curve...result...inflation.<br />
<br />
So, not to sound alarmist, but all the science of economics tells us that without some dramatic changes in the market place, inflation is on the way. Take some time to consider your personal situation and plan ahead.<br />
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;">Sources:</span></b></div><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(1) U.S. Energy Information Administration; (2) Wall Street Journal; (3) Bureau of Labor Statistics; (4) Census Bureau; (5) USDA; (6) U.S. Dept. of Labor; (7) FHFA; (8) Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller; (9) RealtyTrac; (10) Heritage Foundation and WSJ; (11) The Conference Board; (12) FDIC; (13) Federal Reserve; (14) U.S. Treasury</span><br />
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<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="border-color: windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-style: solid none; border-width: 1pt medium; height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><br />
</div></td> <td style="border-color: windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-style: solid none; border-width: 1pt medium; height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><b><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">January 2009</span></b></div></td> <td style="border-color: windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-style: solid none; border-width: 1pt medium; height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><b><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">January 2010</span></b></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); border-color: windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-style: solid none; border-width: 1pt medium; height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">% chg</span></i></b></div></td> <td style="border-color: windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-style: solid none; border-width: 1pt medium; height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">Source</span></sup></b></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">Avg. retail price/gallon gas in U.S.</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">$1.83</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">$3.104</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">69.6%</span></i></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">1</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">Crude oil, European Brent (barrel)</span></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">$43.48</span></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">$99.02</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">127.7%</span></i></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">2</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">Crude oil, West TX Inter. (barrel)</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">$38.74</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">$91.38</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">135.9%</span></i></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">2</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">Gold: London (per troy oz.)</span></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">$853.25</span></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">$1,369.50</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">60.5%</span></i></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">2</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">Corn, No.2 yellow, Central IL</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">$3.56</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">$6.33</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">78.1%</span></i></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">2</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">Soybeans, No. 1 yellow, IL</span></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">$9.66</span></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">$13.75</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">42.3%</span></i></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">2</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">Sugar, cane, raw, world, lb. fob</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">$13.37</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">$35.39</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">164.7%</span></i></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">2</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">Unemployment rate, non-farm, overall</span></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">7.6%</span></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">9.4%</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">23.7%</span></i></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">3</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">Unemployment rate, blacks</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">12.6%</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">15.8%</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">25.4%</span></i></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">3</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">Number of unemployed</span></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">11,616,000</span></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">14,485,000</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">24.7%</span></i></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">3</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">Number of fed. employees, ex. military (curr = 12/10 prelim)</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">2,779,000</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">2,840,000</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">2.2%</span></i></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">3</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">Real median household income (2008 v 2009)</span></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">$50,112</span></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">$49,777</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">-0.7%</span></i></b></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">4</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">Number of food stamp recipients (curr = 10/10)</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">31,983,716</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">43,200,878</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">35.1%</span></i></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">5</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">Number of unemployment benefit recipients (curr = 12/10)</span></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">7,526,598</span></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">9,193,838</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">22.2%</span></i></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">6</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">Number of long-term unemployed</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">2,600,000</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">6,400,000</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">146.2%</span></i></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">3</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">Poverty rate, individuals (2008 v 2009)</span></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">13.2%</span></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">14.3%</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">8.3%</span></i></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">4</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">People in poverty in U.S. (2008 v 2009)</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">39,800,000</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">43,600,000</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">9.5%</span></i></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">4</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">U.S.</span><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;"> rank in Economic Freedom World Rankings</span></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">5</span></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">9</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">n/a</span></i></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">10</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">Present Situation Index (curr = 12/10)</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">29.9</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">23.5</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">-21.4%</span></i></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">11</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">Failed banks (curr = 2010 + 2011 to date)</span></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">140</span></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">164</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">17.1%</span></i></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">12</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">U.S. dollar versus Japanese yen exchange rate</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">89.76</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">82.03</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">-8.6%</span></i></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">2</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">U.S.</span><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;"> money supply, M1, in billions (curr = 12/10 prelim)</span></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">1,575.1</span></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">1,865.7</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">18.4%</span></i></div></td> <td style="height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">13</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">U.S.</span><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;"> money supply, M2, in billions (curr = 12/10 prelim)</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">8,310.9</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">8,852.3</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">6.5%</span></i></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 211, 210); height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">13</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="height: 21.75pt;"> <td style="border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color windowtext; border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1pt; height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">National debt, in trillions</span></div></td> <td style="border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color windowtext; border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1pt; height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">$10.627</span></div></td> <td style="border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color windowtext; border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1pt; height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">$14.052</span></div></td> <td style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(184, 204, 228); border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color windowtext; border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1pt; height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div align="center" class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">32.2%</span></i></div></td> <td style="border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color windowtext; border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1pt; height: 21.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;"><div class="ecxmsonormal"><sup><span style="color: #943634; font-family: Georgia;">14</span></sup></div></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>Professor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-10108322812545208932010-06-17T12:14:00.000-07:002011-02-13T20:26:39.411-08:00Where is Obviousman when you need him?I once had a favorite comic strip featuring "Obviousman" a super-hero who told off relatively stupid people when they did and said stupid things. I miss him...and we really do need such a super-hero today. We're surrounded by opportunities for him to share his wisdom.<br />
<br />
Let's list some of the more blatant current examples:<br />
<br />
1) Alvin Greene, a complete political unknown who didn't even actually run for the office, just won the democratic primary in the South Carolina senate race. The democratic party is going berserk, partially because they know he can't possibly win in the general election, but mainly because they can't understand how he won the primary. The guy answers interview questions as if in a complete daze, is facing felony charges, and has no support or financial backing.<br />
<br />
Crackpot theories range from "he is a Republican plant" to "mass hypnosis" to computer hackers "rigging the votes." The reality is far too obvious for these clowns: their voters are ignorant and don't care who they vote for as long as the letter D appears by their names.<br />
<br />
These folks were made ignorant by intent. For decades the hacks have done everything in their power to dumb down the electorate. They push massive tax bills through congress with labels like the "Childrens' Health Protection Act" or the "Economic Stimulus and Jobs Act" and get away with it thanks to their ignorant and complacent voting base. They give themselves and their friends millions of taxpayer dollars and tell the electorate the other party is the party of corruption. They destroy business and jobs so that they can become relatively more wealthy and satisfy their lust for power. Then they go to rallies and tell the mob they are "one with the working man."<br />
<br />
Why did Alvin Greene win the election? Obviousman answer to the dense politicos: your voters are stupid...just like you have encouraged and trained them to be. It's finally come back to bite you...but don't worry, most of the time it works in your favor.<br />
<br />
2) While some 80% of the population supports Arizona's right to defend its citizens by enforcing federal anti-immigration laws, the loonier groups on the left are going crazy. They will not believe that few support their view and can only imagine the public support for Arizona as "racism."<br />
<br />
In the last few weeks, drug cartel militants with soviet bloc automatic weapons have been in firefights with police officers in central Arizona. Families have been murdered or beaten by cartel thugs wanting to use their property for drug storage. Ranchers have been murdered, police officers killed or wounded, and squads of black-hooded men with fully automatic weapons are becoming common place. Captured weapons are being traced back to FARC...the communist insurgency army in Colombia...and to the ex-governments of Nicaragua and defunct communist insurgents in El Salvador.<br />
<br />
Uhhhhhh...why does anyone wonder why the citizens of Arizona are a bit on edge and want to defend themselves and their families? Does Obviousman really have to jump to the rescue here??? Well...okay!<br />
<br />
Obviousman answer: Arizona is being invaded by an army of hardcore criminals and psychotic killers. The people of Arizona have figured out this is not a desirable situation! It's embarrassing this question is even being asked.<br />
<br />
3) Pundits say the US is having an "energy crisis" and must spend trillions of dollars and put an estimated 20 million people out of work while turning the US into a third world, impoverished nation, to solve the problem. They point out that solar and wind power now generate only about the same energy as a single productive oil well...therefore we must gut the economy for the next decade or two in order to reach the point where they supply as much energy as 4 or 5 oil wells.<br />
<br />
Huh? What?<br />
<br />
The US has over 2 TRILLION barrels of oil reserves, nearly 3 times that of the middle east, which can be reached via drilling on land (no oil spills in the ocean). Our oil shale deposits could power our needs for the next 200 years. We're sitting on trillions of cubic feet of natural gas.<br />
<br />
So here's the question: how could anyone believe the pundits and government hacks who tell us we're on the brink of disaster and have to regress to the great depression in order to "save" ourselves?<br />
<br />
Obviousman answer: See question 1) above...same answer. Sorry...it simply doesn't get any more obvious.Professor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-1808824466547678152010-05-31T11:16:00.000-07:002010-05-31T11:54:32.492-07:00Another Memorial DayGrowing up in a military family, Memorial Day weekend was always a time for reflection and remembrance, for attending services and ceremonies, and not a weekend for a trip to the beach or a mini-vacation. As I've gotten older, I've settled into habits that reflect the ideals of my upbringing.<br />
<br />
Over the last few Memorial Day weekends, my habit has been to watch the exemplary Band of Brothers video set from beginning to end. This ten-hour film highlights some of the more important events in the history of E Company, 506th Regiment, of the 101st Airborne as they fought in Europe. It is a wonderful adaptation of the Stephen Ambrose history of the unit and should be watched by every American at least once.<br />
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Understanding the historical perspective of what these men went through is important, probably more so than the focus on the military history itself. They were raised during the great depression, and from childhood heard politicians drone on about the progressive wonders coming about in Europe thanks to the Fascists in Italy and the Socialists in Germany. Movie stars, celebrities, media people, and the progressive political machine in the US adored and parroted these "sophisticated and progressive" Europeans. They went so far as to identify with them with statements like "we are the American Fascists, and they are the European Progressives."<br />
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Not surprisingly, this morsel of history has been erased from our public school textbooks...and from our national memory for the great part.<br />
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In the years of training and bitter fighting, these men had become hardened to the soft psychosis of such nonsense. They had seen the truth behind the facade of populist propaganda. They understood the ugly reality. They had suffered, been wounded, watched friends die, and been forced to kill human beings all in order to save the "sophisticated and progressive" Europeans from...themselves!<br />
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Their frustration and anger changed them forever, and it changed the America they returned to. There was a moment, when the handful of men still left in Easy were on a deuce-and-a-half driving by a long column of surrendered German troops, that comes to mind. A private who had been with the company from the beginning stands and screams at a German General.<br />
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After getting the General's attention, with a list of expletives, he shouts "you son-of-a bitch...you've forced us to interrupt our lives and travel half way around the world. You ignorant, servile, scum."<br />
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He had been forced to come to grips with a great and brutally frank truth that historians often ignore, and are far too politically correct...or polite...to come right out and say. The German people were servile...they were ignorant...they did what they were told. Tens of millions openly embraced it. There were myriad reasons of course...a certain amount of brainwashing was involved...but they were susceptible to it...as were the Italian people, and the populace of Japan. Not all of them, of course. There was resistance, some questioned, but doubts and doubters were brushed aside by the popularity of the political moment.<br />
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After the destruction of their societies, some awoke with the realization they had indeed been "ignorant, servile, scum." Many of those became evangelical in their desire to make certain it never happened again. I have met some of them, and they are sincerely tortured human beings seeking redemption in their own ways. But so many never "got it" and never understood how they had been used. Some insisted they were right for the rest of their lives.<br />
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It's all about human nature. It's not a result of race or nationality...it's about what makes us tick. History is a looped track...it keeps repeating itself over and over again because human nature never changes. Socialism and Fascism are just labels. Hitler, Mussolini, and other dictators were little more than figureheads. They were evil...and their ideas were evil...but they were just points in time on the ever-repeating loop. There are more names to replace them...more labels on the same movements to lure the foolish, the greedy, and the weak.<br />
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That "greatest generation" of Americans who sacrificed so much, halted an immediate threat...but only that threat. Sadly such threats never go away...and never will. There is no "war to end all wars." There is no "lasting peace"...only constant diligence and the willingness to sacrifice again and again and again. Thank God we find, in every generation, men and women carrying greatness within them. Thank God they stand up and put on the uniform and serve.<br />
<br />
But the endless loop goes on. Today we see the mindless mob mentality supporting "causes" that are simply new faces of tyranny. We see a global movement to destroy free markets and personal freedoms in the guise of "saving the planet." The movement is headed by obvious demagogues, and yet millions believe they are worthy of worship and adoration. These same fools completely buy into the inane mindset of the global warming religion (don't remind them Hitler was a fanatical environmentalist who preached the same blather about CO2 and social engineering in Mein Kampf).<br />
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Millions more take to the streets in "sophisticated" European nations, demanding government bend to their personal wills in matters of religion, or welfare, or shorter work weeks, extravagant pensions, and other socialist inspired give-away programs. In the US the same mind set drives hordes of fools who want their way...free health care, free college, free food and housing, instant citizenship for aliens...now!...despite the destruction of prosperity and the price to be paid by the majority; who want only to be left alone to live their lives.<br />
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The same human foibles which drove the socialists to power in Germany are driving the new movements of "social justice" and "fairness" and "saving the planet" and all the other hackneyed propaganda terms now popular in the culture of the "ignorant, servile, scum" and those who wish to manipulate them.<br />
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Yep...I've said it. History tells us the truth...no matter how much the teacher's unions or the progressive media propagandists try to hide it from us. Those who riot in the streets today are really no different than those who rioted in the streets in the 20's and 30's. The only reason we don't yet use the labels the frustrated private in Easy Company used is that we haven't yet had to face the harsh reality of what these naive fools truly represent.<br />
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So we politely point out that they "simply have a different point of view" and that "everyone has a right to their opinion." True...they do. But remember what happened to those who tried to voice their opinions against such tyranny in the past. When someone screams you are a "racist" because you believe in border security, or that you are a "denier" because you prefer scientific discussion over global warming fanaticism, they are doing exactly what was done to "deniers" of "change" and "social justice" in Germany in the 1930's.<br />
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Since I too apparently have a right to my opinion...at least for the time being...I'll choose to not "go along" with the pop culture ideologies that would empower a small number of "elites" to decide the future of humanity. They had their chance...many times...in the past, and hundreds of millions suffered and died as a result. These people are evil...simply and bluntly put...and want what they want and are willing to take it by guile or by force.<br />
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That they are on the move again...and gaining strength...does not mean the sacrifices made by the men of Easy Company, and all of the heroes of our past and present, were made in vain. It simply proves that struggle is eternal, and eternal vigilance is required of free people if they wish to remain free. Today, on Memorial Day 2010, we take the time to honor those who have fought the battles of the past, and are still fighting today, and to dedicate ourselves to the belief that "government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth."<br />
<br />
By doing so, we truly honor the meaning of the day.Professor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-47353073504063952782010-05-10T17:00:00.000-07:002010-05-10T17:01:10.856-07:00When Stupid Becomes an Epidemic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveBn89oUJW_engFFacUN4eAuB3ETMzvNuy5KlpSAm4SA0W1n_zmDV6zQnPol8bEWTvSjDMMrtkEPI6R-PqvLEjw9LXawBwgbhzx2CQGZMQUN6vMlynHT74Wq3ZaBuEmLw_GSXtGuhmRri/s1600/saysitall3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveBn89oUJW_engFFacUN4eAuB3ETMzvNuy5KlpSAm4SA0W1n_zmDV6zQnPol8bEWTvSjDMMrtkEPI6R-PqvLEjw9LXawBwgbhzx2CQGZMQUN6vMlynHT74Wq3ZaBuEmLw_GSXtGuhmRri/s320/saysitall3.jpg" /></a></div>We all know a few stupid people...and I don't mean someone who simply causes frictions and arguments, or someone who is disabled or handicapped...I mean someone who is far too lazy to think, spouts off constantly, and may even rave on about how smart they are to anyone unfortunate enough to be within earshot.<br />
<br />
There will always be foolish people...but there can come a time when society itself begins to encourage, train, protect, and even import truly stupid people because someone in society benefits from their presence. Unfortunately, this happens regularly in democracies, as elected officials can benefit greatly from a voting block of people who are easily persuaded into complacence.<br />
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Politicians learn to not only depend on such folks to stay elected, they can even use them as "muscle" or to create crisis situations which call out for "martial law" or other misuses of government power. We have seen this in countries all over the globe over the last century or so. It's become standard practice for demagogues and would-be tyrants.<br />
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The process begins with the practice of alleviating risk...a degree of which is actually good for society in general, but it does slowly start to erode the ability of people to think fast, make decisions, and see the world realistically.<br />
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My most important education as a child was to live for some years in the wilderness. I had to learn, very quickly, that there was no 9-1-1 number to call...no one to help me if I screwed up...and that I could die if I made even one simple mistake. Once you come near death a couple of times...and escape by pure luck more than skill...you learn to focus rather intently on your current surroundings and situation. You learn to be realistic, to be centered, and to eliminate stupid ideas from your inventory.<br />
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Our public education system, unfortunately, has managed to erase a lot of risk from life...even to the extent of removing the risk of being a "loser" in a sporting event. Everyone's a winner after all. They reward the simple act of staying in school as an accomplishment, and stress image and self-love over substance in most every subject.<br />
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When I was young, one of my acquaintances left a candy bar in his sleeping bag with him one night...and was killed by a black bear intent on getting to it. In the wilderness you either win or lose...for real...and a teacher telling you you're special isn't going to save you from a stupid mistake.<br />
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My father, who had grown up living off the land during the depression, often times alone in the wilderness, once told me, "there is no such thing as an accident in the woods...there is only stupid, because accidents are the result of mistakes, and making mistakes is simply stupid."<br />
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There is no real excuse for perfectly normal, average, folks like myself to be stupid. Everyone makes mistakes...some dumber than others...but being stupid is on a whole different level. Politicians create laws and institutions which encourage stupidity, and discourage discourse or discussion, being the enemies of stupidity, in order to create permanent voting blocks. <br />
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To maintain these voting blocks, they must keep the people within ignorant. It also helps to keep them angry, paranoid, and desperate. The use of emotions is the bedrock of managing stupidity. <br />
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It's important to make sure people have the basic needs of life, but not too much as they would then begin to think "outside the box" of obedience. They have to be paranoid...they should believe they can't succeed outside of the box because "the man will just keep me down" or some other rationale. They remain desperate as they are constantly living from paycheck to paycheck, or welfare check to welfare check. Angry, because they are told by the politicians that "rich, white republicans/democrats are pulling the strings" and keeping you from the life "you deserve."<br />
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There's a key phrase...does any intelligent person actually believe they "deserve" anything? Or do they believe they can "earn" things? Do they demand respect, because a teacher told them they "deserve" it, or do they work hard in order to earn respect?<br />
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Obviously these strategies work...sometimes it takes decades to really bear the fruit of these stupification programs...but they do eventually create increasingly stupid blocks of voters and supporters of "causes." This is invaluable for the politician who needs to increase their political power, or to rob society of its wealth for their own benefit, or to create a support base for permanent re-election.<br />
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So when a politician says you "deserve" something...they believe you are among the stupid. When they tell you that "it won't cost you a penny as long as you don't make $250,000 a year or more"...they think you are stupid.<br />
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When a politician explains you have a "right" to other people's labor or property...such as "giving" you health care paid for by others...they are assuming you are too stupid to think about that statement before cheering. <br />
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And when you find yourself marching in protests...waving signs like the one in the photo...you can be sure the politician was right. The guy in the photo is amazingly stupid...almost beyond description stupid...but like most truly stupid people, he is incapable of knowing it. He is desperate, paranoid, and arrogantly angry at those who refuse to be stupid along with him.<br />
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The ProfessorProfessor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-85799762456225451692010-04-23T11:22:00.000-07:002010-05-10T15:05:57.100-07:00Management Styles that don't work...and why government uses them.____________________________________________<br />
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My last article exposed some of the completely unnecessary micro-management functions, by as yet non-existent government agencies, written into the health care "reform" bill. Now I'll give some insight into why such things matter.<br />
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After the many decades I've spent working with and consulting to hundreds of business firms, I have seen just about every management "style" that probably exists. One style, which is apparent in a surprising number of small firms, is something I call the Delusional/Paranoid (D/P) style.<br />
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This management style is a direct reflection of the business owner's psychological state of mind...and it comes in many degrees, from the moderate to the extreme. The key elements are based first in the delusion that the manager is simply smarter than others, and that others must be monitored constantly or they will not be able to function at an acceptable level.<br />
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This is not surprising, or shocking, as the business owner is the one who has put everything at risk in starting a business. It's natural they worry about things "going right." Most managers are concerned with quality control, what their employees are doing when at work, and other issues of work quality...but the D/P manager just takes it a bit further than most.<br />
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I have seen situations where employees are grossly underutilized. As soon as they finish a project, they have to wait for the boss to approve it before moving onto another project. They may spend 15 minutes making a part...then wait an hour for approval...then spend another 15 minutes on the next part, and the cycle continues.<br />
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There was one example, a boss unable to trust anyone else to inspect parts...even though he had a nearly 0% rejection rate, that he worked as a full-time parts inspector rather than running the business. He did that work after the plant closed every evening...literally putting in 14 to 16 hour days.<br />
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The problem was that his micro-management was a "cost item" and not a revenue item. The time he spent on the floor inspecting parts did not contribute to the value of the product, and he could not charge for it, so there was no offsetting revenue to balance the expense. In essence, he worked all day for free.<br />
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The second element is the degree of paranoia the owner has in regards to employees and others. In extreme cases, the manager is certain employees are stealing, though there is no proof, or that they are conspiring to ruin the business, to steal ideas and technology, or to break out and start a competitive firm.<br />
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Now, of course, all of those things have happened and are possible. But the D/P manager, again, takes these fears to the extreme. Once again, oversight and micro-management is the response. And again the time and effort put into this oversight is an expense not balanced by added value.<br />
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Obviously every business will expend some degree of effort on monitoring employees and managing the work place. But these functions are direct expenses, and do not directly add to the value of the product so cannot be charged against the customer. The bottom line, for a business firm to grow beyond a certain very base level managers need to learn to train, trust, and to delegate or they will simply not be able to handle more than a few employees. Those who learn these skills can grow their firms into larger firms and eventually into public corporations.<br />
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So there is a direct relationship: the more time and effort spent on micro-management, the more the costs go up without increasing product, and the more expensive the product becomes per unit. Eventually the company languishes or goes broke.<br />
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I have seen similar styles in small divisions of large firms, where a local manager overdoes management of a sales force...leading to high turnover in the ranks due to frustration and loss of profit as costs go up without contributing to value. On the other hand, I've seen award-winning sales crews where managers watch from a distance, giving sales people "permission to excel" and guidance only when asked. Those sales managers grow value instead of expense.<br />
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Here's the bottom line: all management function comes at a cost. A certain degree of management is a necessary cost, but a management heavy firm loses money and the over-abundance of management is an expense that does not contribute to production. Therefore, the product costs more...there's less of it...and the customers pay more and make do with less. Unless, of course, there is competition...then the firm closes its doors as the customers move on.<br />
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This simple rule is true for a small business, a large firm, or an entire industry. The health care "industry" in the US, for example, is actually a term for the conglomeration of hundreds of thousands of small and large firms...from huge corporations to private practices. All of these firms put out a product, for which they have to charge us, the consumer, to cover their costs. One of those costs is management.<br />
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The health care bill is absolutely flooded with new micro-management requirements...not by the owners of these firms...but by government bureaucrats who will contribute nothing to the value of the products and services being delivered. This is simply a laundry list of new expense items...and the government will not be paying them.<br />
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These new expenses will run into the trillions of dollars...literally...and they will be passed on to the consumer, until the consumer is simply unable to pay. Then, services and products will simply become scarce, prices will rise dramatically, and the consumer will learn to live without...because there will be no competition. Every health care provider will have to expense the micro-management from government...no one will be exempt, so, as in a monopoly market, the prices will skyrocket as products become scarce.<br />
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When politicians tell you that health care is "unaffordable" now...or that the bill will "make it more affordable" or "balance the budget" they are either flat out lying to you or they are incredibly foolish individuals. Anyone who has ever run a business, or done a household budget for that matter, can look at the reality of the situation and understand that.<br />
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Of course, many elected officials are Delusional/Paranoids. Looking at it from their viewpoint...we're way too stupid to figure out what's happening to us and they don't dare tell us the truth...as we couldn't handle it...and they certainly can't give us choices. That might confuse us and screw up everything.<br />
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Maybe it's time for a little turnover in employees...and guess what...we're the employers. This coming November seems a good time to start!<br />
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The ProfessorProfessor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-90584669531295122372010-04-05T17:04:00.000-07:002010-04-05T17:09:44.269-07:00Digging Into the Health Care Bill__________<br />
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I keep being told about the "details" of the "Health Care" bill, recently rammed through Congress, by folks who have never even tried to read the bill. Doesn't matter, they obstinately assure me, they know what's in it. It must be that ESP thing...I never knew so many people had that psychic skill.<br />
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As I don't have such perception...I have been reading the thing...not an easy task due to it's rambling and obfuscatory nature. I've managed to identify a few thousand reports that physicians and others in the industry will have to file with various agencies and commissions...none of which yet exist. And I'm only a third of the way through the monster.<br />
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Not surprisingly, the budget office of the congress forecast the cost of the bill based on benefits estimated will be paid out. They did no forecasting of the costs of providers having to hire admin personnel to fill out and file the millions of pieces of paper demanded by government micro-managers. The real costs of the legislation will likely run not 1.4 trillion, but in the tens of trillions. We will have to pay that. <br />
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The money, of course, doesn't exist and won't...so the system will crash and leave the industry in shambles. But enough bright and cheery talk...let's look at some items actually spelled out in the bill...such as a list of new agencies that don't yet exist. Here's a start:<br />
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1. Grant program for consumer assistance offices (Section 1002, p. 37)<br />
2. Grant program for states to monitor premium increases (Section 1003, p. 42)<br />
3. Committee to review administrative simplification standards (Section 1104, p. 71)<br />
4. Demonstration program for state wellness programs (Section 1201, p. 93)<br />
5. Grant program to establish state Exchanges (Section 1311(a), p. 130)<br />
6. State American Health Benefit Exchanges (Section 1311(b), p. 131)<br />
7. Exchange grants to establish consumer navigator programs (Section 1311(i), p. 150)<br />
8. Grant program for state cooperatives (Section 1322, p. 169)<br />
9. Advisory board for state cooperatives (Section 1322(b)(3), p. 173)<br />
10. Private purchasing council for state cooperatives (Section 1322(d), p. 177)<br />
11. State basic health plan programs (Section 1331, p. 201)<br />
12. State-based reinsurance program (Section 1341, p. 226)<br />
13. Program of risk corridors for individual and small group markets (Section 1342, p. 233)<br />
14. Program to determine eligibility for Exchange participation (Section 1411, p. 267)<br />
15. Program for advance determination of tax credit eligibility (Section 1412, p. 288)<br />
16. Grant program to implement health IT enrollment standards (Section 1561, p. 370)<br />
17 Federal Coordinated Health Care Office for dual eligible beneficiaries (Section 2602, p. 512)<br />
18. Medicaid quality measurement program (Section 2701, p. 518)<br />
19. Medicaid health home program for people with chronic conditions, and grants for planning same (Section 2703, p. 524)<br />
20 Medicaid demonstration project to evaluate bundled payments (Section 2704, p. 532)<br />
21. Medicaid demonstration project for global payment system (Section 2705, p. 536)<br />
22. Medicaid demonstration project for accountable care organizations (Section 2706, p. 538)<br />
23. Medicaid demonstration project for emergency psychiatric care (Section 2707, p. 540)<br />
24. Grant program for delivery of services to individuals with postpartum depression (Section 2952(b), p. 591)<br />
25. State allotments for grants to promote personal responsibility education programs (Section 2953, p. 596)<br />
26. Medicare value-based purchasing program (Section 3001(a), p. 613)<br />
27. Medicare value-based purchasing demonstration program for critical access hospitals (Section 3001(b), p. 637)<br />
28. Medicare value-based purchasing program for skilled nursing facilities (Section 3006(a), p. 666)<br />
29. Medicare value-based purchasing program for home health agencies Section 3006(b), p. 668)<br />
30. Interagency Working Group on Health Care Quality (Section 3012, p. 688)<br />
31. Grant program to develop health care quality measures (Section 3013, p. 693)<br />
32. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Section 3021, p. 712)<br />
33. Medicare shared savings program (Section 3022, p. 728)<br />
34. Medicare pilot program on payment bundling (Section 3023, p. 739)<br />
35. Independence at home medical practice demonstration program (Section 3024, p. 752)<br />
36. Program for use of patient safety organizations to reduce hospital readmission rates (Section 3025(b), p. 775)<br />
37. Community-based care transitions program (Section 3026, p. 776)<br />
38. Demonstration project for payment of complex diagnostic laboratory tests (Section 3113, p. 800)<br />
39. Medicare hospice concurrent care demonstration project (Section 3140, p. 850)<br />
40. Independent Payment Advisory Board (Section 3403, p. 982)<br />
41. Consumer Advisory Council for Independent Payment Advisory Board (Section 3403, p. 1027)<br />
42. Grant program for technical assistance to providers implementing health quality practices (Section 3501, p. 1043)<br />
43. Grant program to establish interdisciplinary health teams (Section 3502, p. 1048)<br />
44. Grant program to implement medication therapy management (Section 3503, p. 1055)<br />
45. Grant program to support emergency care pilot programs (Section 3504, p. 1061)<br />
46. Grant program to promote universal access to trauma services (Section 3505(b), p. 1081)<br />
47. Grant program to develop and promote shared decision-making aids (Section 3506, p. 1088)<br />
48. Grant program to support implementation of shared decision-making (Section 3506, p. 1091)<br />
49. Grant program to integrate quality improvement in clinical education (Section 3508, p. 1095)<br />
50. Health and Human Services Coordinating Committee on Women's Health (Section 3509(a), p. 1098)<br />
51. Centers for Disease Control Office of Women's Health (Section 3509(b), p. 1102)<br />
52. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Office of Women's Health (Section 3509(e), p. 1105)<br />
53. Health Resources and Services Administration Office of Women's Health (Section 3509(f), p. 1106)<br />
54. Food and Drug Administration Office of Women's Health (Section 3509(g), p. 1109)<br />
55. National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council (Section 4001, p. 1114)<br />
56. Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health (Section 4001(f), p. 1117)<br />
57. Prevention and Public Health Fund (Section 4002, p. 1121)<br />
58. Community Preventive Services Task Force (Section 4003(b), p. 1126)<br />
59. Grant program to support school-based health centers (Section 4101, p. 1135)<br />
60. Grant program to promote research-based dental caries disease management (Section 4102, p. 1147)<br />
61. Grant program for States to prevent chronic disease in Medicaid beneficiaries (Section 4108, p. 1174)<br />
62. Community transformation grants (Section 4201, p. 1182)<br />
63. Grant program to provide public health interventions (Section 4202, p 1188)<br />
64. Demonstration program of grants to improve child immunization rates (Section 4204(b), p. 1200)<br />
65. Pilot program for risk-factor assessments provided through community health centers (Section 4206, p. 1215)<br />
66. Grant program to increase epidemiology and laboratory capacity Section 4304, p. 1233)<br />
67. Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee (Section 4305, p. 1238)<br />
68. National Health Care Workforce Commission (Section 5101, p. 1256)<br />
69. Grant program to plan health care workforce development activities (Section 5102(c), p. 1275)<br />
70. Grant program to implement health care workforce development activities (Section 5102(d), p. 1279)<br />
71. Pediatric specialty loan repayment program (Section 5203, p. 1295)<br />
72. Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program (Section 5204, p. 1300)<br />
73. Allied Health Loan Forgiveness Program (Section 5205, p. 1305)<br />
74. Grant program to provide mid-career training for health professionals (Section 5206, p. 1307)<br />
75. Grant program to fund nurse-managed health clinics (Section 5208, p. 1310)<br />
76. Grant program to support primary care training programs (Section 5301, p. 1315)<br />
77. Grant program to fund training for direct care workers (Section 5302, p. 1322)<br />
78. Grant program to develop dental training programs (Section 5303, p. 1325)<br />
79. Demonstration program to increase access to dental health care in underserved communities (Section 5304, p. 1331)<br />
80. Grant program to promote geriatric education centers (Section 5305, p. 1334)<br />
81. Grant program to promote health professionals entering geriatrics Section 5305, p. 1339)<br />
82. Grant program to promote training in mental and behavioral health (Section 5306, p. 1344)<br />
83. Grant program to promote nurse retention programs (Section 5309, p. 1354)<br />
84. Student loan forgiveness for nursing school faculty (Section 5311(b), p. 1360)<br />
85. Grant program to promote positive health behaviors and outcomes (Section 5313, p. 1364)<br />
86. Public Health Sciences Track for medical students (Section 5315, p. 1372)<br />
87. Primary Care Extension Program to educate providers (Section 5405, p. 1404)<br />
88. Grant program for demonstration projects to address health workforce shortage needs (Section 5507, p. 1442)<br />
89. Grant program for demonstration projects to develop training programs for home health aides (Section 5507, p. 1447)<br />
90 Grant program to establish new primary care residency programs (Section 5508(a), p. 1458)<br />
91. Program of payments to teaching health centers that sponsor medical residency training (Section 5508(c), p. 1462)<br />
92. Graduate nurse education demonstration program (Section 5509, p. 1472)<br />
93. Grant program to establish demonstration projects for community- based mental health settings (Section 5604, p. 1486)<br />
94. Commission on Key National Indicators (Section 5605, p. 1489)<br />
95. Quality assurance and performance improvement program for skilled nursing facilities (Section 6102, p. 1554)<br />
96. Special focus facility program for skilled nursing facilities (Section 6103(a)(3), p. 1561)<br />
97. Special focus facility program for nursing facilities (Section 6103(b)(3), p. 1568)<br />
98. National independent monitor pilot program for skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities (Section 6112, p. 1589)<br />
99. Demonstration projects for nursing facilities involved in the culture change movement (Section 6114, p. 1597)<br />
100. Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (Section 6301, p. 1619)<br />
101. Standing methodology committee for Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (Section 6301, p. 1629)<br />
102. Board of Governors for Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (Section 6301, p. 1638)<br />
103. Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund (Section 6301(e), p. 1656)<br />
104. Elder Justice Coordinating Council (Section 6703, p. 1773)<br />
105. Advisory Board on Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation (Section 6703, p. 1776)<br />
106. Grant program to create elder abuse forensic centers (Section 6703, p. 1783)<br />
107. Grant program to promote continuing education for long-term care staffers (Section 6703, p. 1787)<br />
108. Grant program to improve management practices and training (Section 6703, p. 1788)109. Grant program to subsidize costs of electronic health records (Section 6703, p. 1791)<br />
110. Grant program to promote adult protective services (Section 6703, p. 1796)<br />
111. Grant program to conduct elder abuse detection and prevention (Section 6703, p. 1798)<br />
112. Grant program to support long-term care ombudsmen (Section 6703, p. 1800)<br />
113. National Training Institute for long-term care surveyors (Section 6703, p. 1806)<br />
114 Grant program to fund State surveys of long-term care residences (Section 6703, p. 1809)<br />
115. CLASS Independence Fund (Section 8002, p. 1926)<br />
116. CLASS Independence Fund Board of Trustees (Section 8002,p. 1927)<br />
117. CLASS Independence Advisory Council (Section 8002, p. 1931)<br />
118. Personal Care Attendants Workforce Advisory Panel (Section 8002(c, p. 1938)<br />
119 Multi-state health plans offered by Office of Personnel Management (Section 10104(p), p. 2086)<br />
120. Advisory board for multi-state health plans (Section 10104(p), p. 2094)<br />
121. Pregnancy Assistance Fund (Section 10212, p. 2164)<br />
122. Value-based purchasing program for ambulatory surgical centers (Section 10301, p. 2176)<br />
123. Demonstration project for payment adjustments to home health services (Section 10315, p. 2200)<br />
124. Pilot program for care of individuals in environmental emergency declaration areas (Section 10323, p. 2223)<br />
125. Grant program to screen at-risk individuals for environmental health conditions (Section 10323(b), p. 2231)<br />
126. Pilot programs to implement value-based purchasing (Section 10326, p. 2242)<br />
127. Grant program to support community-based collaborative care networks (Section 10333, p. 2265)<br />
128. Centers for Disease Control Office of Minority Health (Section 10334, p. 2272)<br />
129. Health Resources and Services Administration Office of Minority Health (Section 10334, p. 2272)<br />
130. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Office of Minority Health (Section 10334, p. 2272)<br />
131. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Office of Minority Health (Section 10334, p. 2272)<br />
132. Food and Drug Administration Office of Minority Health (Section 10334, p. 2272)<br />
133. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (Section 10334, p. 2272)<br />
134. Grant program to promote small business wellness programs (Section 10408, p 2285)<br />
135. Cures Acceleration Network (Section 10409, p. 2289)<br />
136. Cures Acceleration Network Review Board (Section 10409, p. 2291)<br />
137. Grant program for Cures Acceleration Network (Section 10409, p. 2297)<br />
138. Grant program to promote centers of excellence for depression (Section 10410, p. 2304)<br />
139. Advisory committee for young women's breast health awareness education campaign (Section 10413, p. 2322)<br />
140. Grant program to provide assistance to provide information to young women with breast cancer (Section 10413, p. 2326)<br />
141. Interagency Access to Health Care in Alaska Task Force (Section 10501, p. 2329)<br />
142. Grant program to train nurse practitioners as primary care providers (Section 10501(e), p. 2332)<br />
143. Grant program for community-based diabetes prevention (Section 10501(g), p. 2337)<br />
144. Grant program for providers who treat a high percentage of medically underserved populations (Section 10501(k), p. 2343)<br />
145. Grant program to recruit students to practice in underserved communities (Section 10501(l), p. 2344)<br />
146. Community Health Center Fund (Section 10503, p. 2355)<br />
147. Demonstration project to provide access to health care for the uninsured at reduced fees (Section 10504, p. 2357)<br />
148. Demonstration program to explore alternatives to tort litigation (Section 10607, p. 2369)<br />
149. Indian Health demonstration program for chronic shortages of health professionals (S. 1790, Section 112, p. 24)*<br />
150. Office of Indian Men's Health (S. 1790, Section 136, p. 71)*<br />
151. Indian Country modular component facilities demonstration program (S. 1790, Section 146, p. 108)*<br />
152. Indian mobile health stations demonstration program (S. 1790, Section 147, p. 111)*<br />
153. Office of Direct Service Tribes (S. 1790, Section 172, p. 151)*<br />
154. Indian Health Service mental health technician training program S. 1790, Section 181, p. 173)*<br />
155. Indian Health Service program for treatment of child sexual abuse victims (S. 1790, Section 181, p. 192)*<br />
156. Indian Health Service program for treatment of domestic violence and sexual abuse (S. 1790, Section 181, p. 194)*<br />
157. Indian youth telemental health demonstration project (S. 1790, Section 181, p. 204)*<br />
158. Indian youth life skills demonstration project (S. 1790, Section 181, p. 220)*<br />
159. Indian Health Service Director of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment (S. 1790, Section 199B, p. 258)*<br />
<br />
*Section 10221, page 2173 of H.R. 3590 deems that S. 1790 shall be deemed as passed with certain amendments.<br />
<br />
WOW! Remember this is just a start. I haven't finished the thing yet...just skimming through the big sections. Heaven knows what macabre things will come to light as lawmakers attempt to roll this obscenity out...which could take at least a decade anyway.<br />
<br />
So welcome to the new age of Hope and Change...sorry if you don't recognize it as having anything to do with Hope...but it does prove that change isn't always a good thing.Professor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-37513798588444965002010-03-30T11:44:00.000-07:002010-03-30T11:52:37.400-07:00Global Warming Alert...Planetary Emergency Redefined_______________________________________<br />
<br />
This headline news flash from the Al Gore network just in:<br />
<br />
"GLOBAL WARMING DOES NOT MEAN THE EARTH IS BECOMING WARMER"<br />
<br />
Yes my friends...Al Gore, due to public opinion polls indicating fewer than one quarter of the American voters now feel Global Warming is even an issue, has redefined the argument to more closely match the mood of the people.<br />
<br />
We refer to this as "dancing around the truth." But who are we to criticize? After all we're not "climate experts" like Al.<br />
<br />
The record breaking cold spells of this winter likely haven't helped his public relations efforts, and even some mainstream media pundits have been critical of his past prognostications.<br />
<br />
In response, Al has begun to clear up our confusion by explaining that Global Warming doesn't necessarily mean the globe is warming. He has dropped the Global Warming label in favor of the Climate Change label...a preemptive public relations strike...and is now reaching a new level of confusing rhetoric.<br />
<br />
It isn't so much warming we have to worry about, he states, the main issue is that weather will become "chaotic."<br />
<br />
HUH?<br />
<br />
Oh my God! This means the weather of our childhoods, when it was 72 degrees every day, with a light wind out of the south, and every night about 2 AM there would be half an hour of light rain (so we wouldn't have to water our lawns) is now a thing of the past.<br />
<br />
Weather will now be "chaotic"; meaning completely out of control...and different every day. Experts predict we can now expect a number of new and devastating phenomenon to occur. One of these will frequently come about in the vicinity of the equator and will be called either hurricanes or typhoons. These devastating "storms", a general term invented to put a label on new chaotic weather patterns, will be birthed over the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and make their way towards land.<br />
<br />
They will hit land with high winds, waves, and something called "heavy rains" resulting in damage to homes and buildings and possible "flooding" (a new term meaning an excess of natural water from rainfall).<br />
<br />
As if that's not bad enough; the American mid-west will be officially referred to as "Tornado Alley" in order to emphasize to residents the seriousness of another predicted phenomenon which will be called a "tornado." This is a unique, and brand new type of "storm" capable of striking quickly and without warning and destroying homes and property...focusing on trailer parks specifically...and the people in "Tornado Alley" must be prepared.<br />
<br />
Gore is advising the construction of "tornado shelters" or "storm cellars" where residents may flee and feel somewhat safe from the chaos above. The invention of the "storm cellar" may well be remembered as one of Gore's greatest contributions to society, along with his invention of the internet.<br />
<br />
In other areas we may well experience the "heavy rain" attacks which will cause the aforementioned "flooding". Experts predict these "floods" may become an annual occurrence in low-lying areas they are now referring to as "flood plains." The devastating results of these "floods" will include hours of incredibly predictable television news coverage by reporters in yellow rain-slickers.<br />
<br />
On the flip-side...regions of the globe may experience too little rainfall, resulting in an effect which will be labeled "drought" followed by "famine"...for some unexplained reason this will be particularly notable in regions ruled by tin-pot dictators and other socialist types.<br />
<br />
The only way we can circumvent this coming devastation is to give all of our money, what we have left that is, to Al Gore, in the form of "carbon credits" and to the US government, in the form of "energy" taxes. These two actions should halt the evils of capitalism and bring to an end the terrors of abundant food, shelter, clothing, and other material goods. The weather will again be brought under control of our all-seeing and ever-wise bureaucrats in Washington DC (bless them all...for they will save us).<br />
<br />
So be prepared America! Chaos is coming...and with it a burgeoning industry in "weather forecasting", thermometers, barometers, batteries, canned food, candles, Coleman stoves, and rain-gear (clothing to protect one from the new chaos). May God be with us...<br />
<br />
The Professor (from his "storm cellar")Professor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-3958215960560120372010-03-21T13:51:00.000-07:002010-03-21T13:51:08.050-07:00The Real Plan for our Health Care IndustryIt's down to the wire; that deadline set by the leaders of the Democratic party, and the truth about the health care nationalization legislation is finally coming to light. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are assuring their hard-core leftist followers that this bill is only a "foot in the door" and will be followed by "lots more bills."<br />
<br />
And of course it will pass, by hook or by crook. The "Stupak Group" of democrats in the house are playing coy, but they fully intend to cave-in after putting on a show for their constituents. On really controversial portions of the bill the president has made individual promises to use "executive orders" to annul those sections...after which he can simply reverse those orders of course. It's difficult to tell whether the congressional members are stupid enough to believe this stuff...or whether they simply think we're stupid enough to believe it.<br />
<br />
I've known since reading the original bills that health care providers all over the country would be forced out of business if the language of the bill was actually implemented. The only question remaining was "are congressional members completely unable to understand basic business and economic principles...or is their intent to put the entire health care industry into chaos and bankruptcy?"<br />
<br />
Do they really believe that increasing taxes by the trillions and creating 8,000 more federal agencies will lower the deficit? Of course not...even they are not that dumb...they simply assume we are.<br />
<br />
Those aforementioned "public servants" finally cleared it up for me. Thinking themselves safe from prying video cameras, they've recently explained to supporters that the bill is designed to crush the health care establishment. After which the populace will panic and congress can then do anything they wish to establish a government run and controlled system without private competition.<br />
<br />
This is brilliant in its own way...fascist...evil...demented...but brilliant. There are, however, a few problems which might pop up with this ambitious plan to destroy our economy, our hospitals and health care establishment, and put tens of millions out of work...<br />
<br />
The first problem; we've noticed...and we're not likely to stand still for this.<br />
<br />
Right now the voters are doing what has always worked...making phones calls and sending emails by the millions. Most of us, however, have figured out we're being blatantly and rudely ignored. The Democrats have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar; so they are pretending, for a few more days, as if we don't exist.<br />
<br />
It's obvious, to those paying attention and who know their history, that this congress has finally superseded every congress of the past to become what is likely the most corrupt in two plus centuries. <br />
<br />
Their hope is, of course, that the bill can be signed and the "giveaways" in the bill can be used to placate us...lull us to sleep...before the "takeaways" kick in. That probably won't work. They can fool some of the people all of the time...but that number is shrinking rapidly.<br />
<br />
Already tens of thousands of health care providers are rushing to complete early retirement plans. The restrictions and regulations in the bill, once implemented, will make it nearly impossible for a physician to make a profit, nevertheless a decent salary, while operating a practice. They've figured it out, and will minimize their losses by closing shop. We already have a shortage of physicians...in the next year or two the shortage will start to have a real impact on our personal lives.<br />
<br />
Already health care insurance firms are desperately attempting to increase revenues so they can hang on when the new requirements kick in. Despite the propaganda in the media, some insurance firms might have large dollar profits, but these are actually very thin percentage profits...which is what actually counts. <br />
<br />
Say your company posts a profit of a million dollars...sounds pretty darn good. But when you pay out expenses of 200 million dollars, the tiniest downturn will suck up that million very quickly and leave you bankrupt. That's exactly the plan.<br />
<br />
Within months, your health care insurer is going to be severely stressed. When that happens, stockholders will demand liquidation of the firm and closure in order to minimize their losses. The supporters of the bill hope that will not happen until the November 2010 elections are over...then they will have a shot at remaining in office. But they are already popping the champagne corks and gleefully celebrating the end of private enterprise, your privacy, and the upcoming taking of all health care businesses.<br />
<br />
By the time we lose our insurance coverage, they hope, the congress will be reseated. The people might be angry, but the people will also be desperate for some type of health care, no matter how bare bones, and for doctors to get back to work.<br />
<br />
At that time, ignorant government bureaucrats will be firmly in charge. The people, they assume, will beg to be "saved" and accept anything they are handed. The politicians will have complete and total control of all the evil doctors they despise so much...control of the pharmaceutical companies, the hospitals and clinics, and through this control they will control our very lives...guaranteeing them seats in congress for life and all the power they've ever desired.<br />
<br />
Herein lies the second problem; we, the people, are not stupid!<br />
<br />
I truly believe the supporters of this bill, and the hundreds of planned follow-up bills and amendments stripping us of our rights and property, truly believe they are intellectually superior to their employers (that's us) as we were so foolish as to put them in power in the first place...and then to trust them with it.<br />
<br />
That is a simplistic view: We lead busy lives. We have families and concerns outside the day-to-day workings of the people we hire to represent us. That we hire them, send them to Washington, then tend to forget about them, doesn't necessarily make us stupid. It does make us trusting...at least to some degree.<br />
<br />
That it turns out we can't trust them is not a slam on us...it is a slam on them. These folks shouldn't be able to look at themselves in a mirror after the lies, the innuendo, and now the intentional avoidance of our instructions. They should be deeply ashamed of themselves...and they should be very afraid of what we're going to do to them.<br />
<br />
This congress has broken every rule, every trust, every barrier that has stood in place for 2oo plus years, and has done so not only blatantly, but apparently while laughing and sneering at us. We still have the power to throw the bums out...so now comes the real test of our citizenship and our own morality...in essence will we remember eight months from now...we will be bold...and will we hold to the sacred promises made by our founders, and by us to our children and grandchildren, to preserve and protect freedom and defend our national honor?<br />
<br />
Let's hope so...I certainly believe it will be so...and I pray I'm not wrong.Professor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-54869280450060534222010-02-26T11:58:00.000-08:002010-03-19T19:43:10.661-07:00An Analysis of the Health Care SummitI managed to arrange my day so as to be able to view the entirety of the Feb. 25 Health Care Summit attended by members of the House and Senate in WA D.C.<br />
<br />
My feeling is that it was a valuable event as the Republicans were able to speak nearly 30% of the air time...more than I would have guessed they would be allowed.<br />
<br />
It was the first time the opposition was allowed to discuss the issues involved outside of floor debate, and more importantly, it was the first time any discussion was held open to the public...you and I. For once, legislation was discussed the way it should be...with an audience of employers looking over law-makers' shoulders.<br />
<br />
The discussion, however, placed a great deal of weight on a handful of "myths" that surround the issues involved. I thought that some clarity around these myths might help focus the argument and help keep our representatives on the right track. Feel free to scold any of your employees (congressional members) who use one or more of these.<br />
<br />
<b>Myth Number One:</b><br />
<br />
Like an old piece of shoe-leather, this myth has hung around for nearly a century, or longer, thanks to constant media repetition of the myth, and the sadly small number of people who actually study Economics or pay attention in class when they do. It is the myth that governments can actually "create" jobs.<br />
<br />
To bolster this myth, officials usually refer to nations during times of war. The fact that near 100% employment can be reached during wartime is due to complex issues coming together, not the least of which is that millions of citizens are suddenly "employed" at low wages to fill the trenches, and others are hired with borrowed cash to supply them with weapons and ammo. The economic "boost" of wartime is normally short-lived, as it's heavy on credit, and nations at war too long are often broken completely by economic reality even before being broken militarily. Japan and Germany were prime examples.<br />
<br />
In reality, government initially bolsters economic progress by supplying a basic infrastructure that makes a safe business climate possible. Maintaining a national defense, a legal system of laws and courts, law enforcement, and basic public safety measures ensures people can put their efforts into creating products instead of fighting off outlaw bands. All economists agree on this issue.<br />
<br />
Most all economists also agree that there is a point of negative return, where collecting money from the private sector and giving it to government begins costing more jobs than the value created. They also agree that large industrial nations such as the US long ago passed the point of negative return.<br />
<br />
The current "Stimulus" tax package, the government tells us, is "creating jobs," but the cost per job is now over $260,000. The cost of the worker employed is about one-third of that. At this time, private companies have to layoff three workers to pay for the government hiring one. This is not "creating" jobs...it is a net loss of jobs.<br />
<br />
Of course, some of the excess monies are actually paying current government workers...that is the argument...but they were already being paid by other tax revenues so that argument doesn't make much sense. The "black hole" into which money seems to disappear and never return is said to be due to "bureaucratic friction." Whatever one calls it...there has never been an instance in history when taxation of the private sector has resulted in a net job gain. Never! In the long run taxation reduces employment and production...it's simple math.<br />
<br />
Part of the reason this myth survives is you can always find an economist, somewhere, who disagrees with the basic premise. You may have to look long and hard, but believe me, government folks have found those few and have put them on the payroll in economic development agencies and in academia. That handful of "rebels" against historical reality will always find a voice on media talk shows and in academic conferences. The 99% of economists who hold to reality are back stage and will rarely get to the podium.<br />
<br />
Relation to the Health Care Debate:<br />
<br />
Those who keep telling us that the "reform" bill will increase health care coverage are ignoring that coverage is a service and is performed by professionals. This bill greatly taxes those professionals, and those who support them, and will inevitably reduce the numbers who will remain working. This has happened elsewhere and is a proven fact. With health care provider numbers down, you cannot increase services...kind of a "duh" statement I know, but a reality being ignored for convenience sake. The bill is a massive tax bill...and could cost millions of jobs lost before it's over.<br />
<br />
<b>Myth Number Two:</b><br />
<br />
The Canadian system has worked just fine...look how "happy" Canadians are with their socialized health care.<br />
<br />
First of all...only some Canadians are happy with their system, and tens of thousands come to the US each year for care. Oddly, US citizens are not flooding north for the same. The population of Canada is about 12% of the US population, and they use fees from extractive resources to help pay for government services. The US can't do that...and copying the Canadian model would break the US in short order. A similar situation exists in small countries like Norway and Sweden. The US has more illegal immigrants expecting free health care than the entire populations of most of those nations.<br />
<br />
Secondly...the massive bill in the congress doesn't reflect the Canadian system at all. What is envisioned in the bill would make Canada's health care system look amazingly "free market" and incredibly efficient in comparison. Pointing to Canada and trying to relate the two systems is both absurd and dishonest. <br />
<br />
Relation to the Health Care Debate:<br />
<br />
This argument should be trashed immediately if a real discussion is to be held.<br />
<br />
<b>Myth Number Three:</b><br />
<br />
This one was repeated constantly at the Summit: The health care legislation will reduce the budget deficit.<br />
<br />
This is probably the most astounding myth of all...it's not really a myth yet as it simply hasn't reached the point of being repeated often enough to become "myth" in the public mind. But they're trying.<br />
<br />
There are only three ways to reduce a budget deficit...you stop spending money and reduce your spending while maintaining revenue income...or you increase revenue income more than you are currently spending.<br />
<br />
The third way is the ultimate crime against the populace: you increase spending, but increase revenue (taxes) even faster than you increase spending. This is the method outlined in the health care bill. Spending will increase by trillions, but trillions more are slated to be collected in taxes...voila...deficit reduction!<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, this third method has gotten us into the fix we're into economically and is not going to repair it. The hard reality is that we can only reduce the deficit by reducing spending. History has shown us that tax reductions can also reduce deficits as normally revenue collections go up when tax reductions increase production and employment overall (creating a larger tax base). Sometimes this can happen even when spending is going up...but won't happen for long. <br />
<br />
(Note that this is what ended up creating a problem during the Bush presidency...Congress did cut tax rates, and revenues grew significantly, but then they insisted on spending that money and borrowing more. Whoops!)<br />
<br />
Relation to the Health Care Debate:<br />
<br />
Higher spending and higher taxes always damage the economy. Employment will suffer, therefor the tax base will be decreased, so taxes will have to be raised again, resulting in more unemployment. The vicious cycle continues until something breaks. The higher you raise taxes to "pay down the deficit" the less revenue will be generated in the long run and the greater will grow the deficit...until you dramatically decrease spending. In this case, by bankrupting something in the system...such as health care. Instead of quality health care for all...you end up with mediocre, or worse, health care for all...fair, but not at all desirable.<br />
<br />
There were other myths spoken and alluded to at the Summit. But these were among the more important. Remind your elected officials that these myths are simply not fact...and when they quote them, if they quote them, feel free to correct them immediately. We are not children...and we no longer believe in bedtime stories and fairytales. Don't be afraid to let them know those days are over.Professor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-25281875141668492822010-02-25T14:06:00.000-08:002010-02-25T14:15:11.137-08:00Great Orators of the Democratic PartyIn the Past:<br />
<br />
One man with courage makes a majority.<br />
-Andrew Jackson<br />
<br />
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.<br />
-Franklin Roosevelt<br />
<br />
The buck stops here.<br />
-Harry Truman<br />
<br />
Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.<br />
-John Kennedy<br />
<br />
And Today:<br />
<br />
It depends what your definition of "is" is.<br />
-Bill Clinton<br />
<br />
That Obama...I'd like to cut his nuts off.<br />
-Jesse Jackson<br />
<br />
Those rumors are false...I believe in the sanctity of marriage.<br />
-John Edwards<br />
<br />
I invented the Internet.<br />
-Al Gore<br />
<br />
The next person that tells me I'm not religious, I'm going to shove my rosary beads up their ass.<br />
-Joe Biden<br />
<br />
America is..is no longer, uh, what it...it, uh, could be, uh, what it once was...uh, and I say to myself, uh, I don't want that future, uh, uh, for my children...<br />
-Barrack Obama<br />
<br />
I have campaigned in all 57 states.<br />
-Barrack Obama<br />
<br />
You don't need God anymore, you have us Democrats.<br />
-Nancy Pelosi<br />
<br />
Every month we don't pass this stimulus bill, 500 million more Americans lose their jobs.<br />
-Nancy Pelosi<br />
<br />
In 1929 when the stock market crashed President Roosevelt got right on the television.<br />
-Joe BidenProfessor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-51038548332937165432010-02-01T09:39:00.000-08:002010-02-01T09:39:02.689-08:00Multiple Choice QuizAfter managing to stay awake through the last State of the Union address...which was anything but...I simply didn't have the energy to write a column. Therefore...I am...for your enjoyment playing the "Are You Smarter than a College Student" game and am reprinting one of my multiple choice tests.<br />
<br />
The answer key appears after the exam...have fun and see how you stack up against the modern college attendee:<br />
<br />
Professorofliberty's Multiple Choice History Exam:<br />
<br />
1) In 1968 Robert Kennedy was shot and killed by:<br />
a. Superman<br />
b. Jay Leno<br />
c. Harry Potter<br />
d. A Muslim male extremist between the ages of 17 and 40<br />
<br />
2) During the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by:<br />
a. Olga Corbett<br />
b. The Hardy Boys<br />
c. Nancy Drew<br />
d. Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40<br />
<br />
3) In 1979, the US embassy in Iran was taken over by:<br />
a. the Smith family Robinson<br />
b. the Keebler elves<br />
c. a tour bus full of elderly Rotarians<br />
d. Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40<br />
<br />
4) During the 1980's a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon by:<br />
a. John Lennon<br />
b. The King of Sweden<br />
c. The Pope<br />
d. Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40<br />
<br />
5) In 1983, the US Marine barracks in Beirut was bombed and destroyed by:<br />
a. a Pizza Hut delivery driver<br />
b. Pee Wee Herman<br />
c. a pack of cub scouts<br />
d. A Muslim male extremist between the ages of 17 and 40<br />
<br />
6) In 1985, the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and 70 year old Leon Klinghoffer, a wheel chair bound American citizen, was murdered and thrown overboard by:<br />
a. Teenage Ninja Turtles<br />
b. The Smurfs<br />
c. Teletubbies<br />
d. Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40<br />
<br />
7) In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked and American Robert Stidham was murdered by:<br />
a. The Little Mermaid<br />
b. Charles Lindberg<br />
c. Mother Teresa<br />
d. Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40<br />
<br />
8) In 1988, Pan Am flight 103 was bombed by:<br />
a. Scooby Doo<br />
b. The Tooth Fairy<br />
c. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid<br />
d. Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40<br />
<br />
9) In 1993 the World Trade Center in New York was bombed by:<br />
a. Richard Simmons<br />
b. Grandma Moses<br />
c. Mickey Mouse<br />
d. Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40<br />
<br />
10) In 1998, the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by:<br />
a. Johnny Quest<br />
b. Bugs Bunny<br />
c. The WWF<br />
d. Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40<br />
<br />
11) On 9/11/2001, four airliners were hijacked, the crews brutally murdered, and then the aircraft used to attack civilian targets and the Pentagon. These coordinated attacks were made by:<br />
a. Wiley Coyote and the Acme Company<br />
b. A preschool class in Delaware<br />
c. Nascar<br />
d. Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40<br />
<br />
12) In 2002 the US began fighting in Afghanistan against:<br />
a. My Little Pony<br />
b. The Lutheran Church<br />
c. The NFL<br />
d. Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40<br />
<br />
13) In 2002 reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered on video tape by;<br />
a. Captain Kangaroo and JP Patches<br />
b. Mutt and Jeff<br />
c. Abbott and Costello<br />
d. Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40<br />
<br />
Answer Key: d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d<br />
<br />
If you were right 13 times...congratulations...you are a normal person with common sense<br />
If you were right 8 to 12 times...you need to catch up on the news a bit<br />
If you were right 3 to 7 times...you are probably under 6 years of age<br />
If you were right 2 times or less...my condolences...you are probably a graduate of UC Berkeley.<br />
<br />
The ProfessorProfessor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-69591291644133922672010-01-06T16:39:00.000-08:002010-01-31T19:34:06.844-08:00Letter from Dr. Geoffrey Hunt<i>Dr. Hunt is a social and cultural anthropologist and a Senior Research Scientist of the Institute for Scientific Analysis.</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Another Failed Presidency</span><br />
<br />
Barack Obama is on track to have the most spectacularly failed presidency since Woodrow Wilson. In the modern era, we've seen several failed presidencies...led by Jimmy Carter and LBJ. Failed presidents have one strong common trait...they are repudiated, in the vernacular...spat out.<br />
<br />
Of course, LBJ wisely took the exit ramp early, avoiding a shove into oncoming traffic by his own party. Richard Nixon resigned in disgrace, yet his reputation as a statesman has been partially restored by his triumphant overture to China.<br />
<br />
But Barack Obama is failing...failing big...failing fast. And failing everywhere: foreign policy, domestic initiatives, and most importantly, in forging connections with the American people. The incomparable Dorothy Rabinowitz in the Wall Street Journal put her finger on it: He is failing because he has no understanding of the American people, and may indeed loathe them.<br />
<br />
Fred Barnes of the Weekly Standard says he is failing because he has lost control of his message and is overexposed. Clarice Feldman of American Thinker produced a dispositive commentary showing that Obama is failing because fundamentally he is neither smart nor articulate; his intellectual dishonesty is conspicuous by its audacity and lack of shame.<br />
<br />
But there is something more seriously wrong: How could a new president riding in on a wave of unprecedented promise and goodwill have forfeited his tenure and become a lame duck in mere months? His poll ratings are in free fall. In generic balloting the Republicans have now seized a five point advantage. This is truly unbelievable. What's going on?<br />
<br />
Obama doesn't have a narrative...no, not a narrative about himself. He has a self-narrative, much of if fabricated, cleverly disguised, or written by someone else. But this self-narrative is isolated and doesn't connect with us. He doesn't have an American narrative that draws upon the rest of us. All successful presidents have a narrative about the American character that intersects with their own where they display a command of history and reveal an authenticity at the core of their personality that resonates in a positive endearing way with the majority of Americans. We admire those presidents whose narratives not only touch our own, but who seem stronger, wiser, and smarter than we are. Presidents we admire are aspirational peers, even those whose politics don't align eactly with our own: Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, Harry Truman, Ike, and Reagan.<br />
<br />
But not this president. It's not so much that he's a phony, knows nothing about economics, and is historically illiterate and woefully small minded for the size of the task...all contributory of course. It's that he's not one of us. And whatever he is, his profile is fuzzy and devoid of content...like a cardboard cutout made from delaminated corrugated paper.<br />
<br />
Moreover, he doesn't command our respect and is unable to appeal to our own common sense. His notions of right and wrong and how things work just don't add up. They are not existential. his descriptions of the world we live in don't make sense and don't correspond with our experience.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, while we've been struggling to take a measurement of this man, he's dissed just about every one of us...financiers, energy producers, bankers, insurance executives, police officers, doctors, nurses, hospital administrators, post office workers, and anybody else who has a non-green job. Expect Obama to lament at his last press conference in 2012:<br />
<br />
"For those of you I offended, I apologize. For those of you who were not offended, you just didn't give me enough time; if only I'd had a second term, I could have offended you too."<br />
<br />
Mercifully, the Founders at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 devised a useful remedy for such a desperate state...staggered terms for both houses of the legislature and the executive. An equally abominable Congress can get voted out next year. With a new Congress, there's always hope of legislative gridlock until we vote for president again two short years after that.<br />
<br />
Yes, small presidents do fail, Barack Obama among them. The coyotes howl but the wagon train keeps rolling along.<br />
<br />
Dr. Geoffrey P. HuntProfessor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-1223515937065853022009-12-22T11:56:00.000-08:002010-01-06T15:35:48.931-08:00A World We Never Want to SeeI recently spent the better part of a day observing a memorial service for four murdered Police Officers from the city of Lakewood, Washington. A few days after that ceremony, two more officers were shot just a few miles away from the first ambush, and one died of his wounds. Only a few weeks before these events, two Seattle officers were ambushed, and one killed, at a stop light.<br />
<br />
Perhaps it's because of my background in the history of totalitarian states that I see the attacks on these eight officers as just the beginning of a conflict that may soon confront our entire law enforcement community.<br />
<br />
In the 1920's and 1930's Germany was a constitutional republic, like the US, struggling through economic hard times. Like the US today, the German people were divided into a conservative camp...who wished to make their constitution work and to weather the economic storm...and those on the left, who wished to bring about a radical new form of government with little or no resemblance to the old order. They slathered at the idea of "redistributive justice" much as similar types do today.<br />
<br />
Though they only received some 30% plus of the national vote, The Socialist Workers Party (the N.A.Z.I.) managed to manipulate their candidate, Adolf Hitler, into the number one seat in the administration. From that position, he was able to eradicate democratic institutions and eventually take total control of the government.<br />
<br />
One of the stories of that struggle, largely untold, was that of German police officers and what happened to them.<br />
<br />
Like our law enforcement community today, those officers were protectors of their constitution, generally conservative and law-abiding, and sworn to uphold the constitutionally elected government. This created a problem for Herr Hitler and his minions as much of what they needed to do was unconstitutional and even entailed a good deal of violence and murder.<br />
<br />
A struggle ensued between these forces...the conservatives in the citizenry, protected largely by the police forces, and those wanting revolution and pushing for the totalitarian control which they felt would empower them personally. That group was in opposition to constitutional law enforcement.<br />
<br />
Hitler's followers were the displaced, the less fortunate, criminals of all stripes, malcontents, sadists, and psycopaths. Politicians who use the tactics of class conflict have always taken advantage of such people to create anarchy, to put together street organizations, and to carry out the dirty, but necessary, acts of violence and sedition necessary to create a crisis situation. Such a crisis would give the government the needed excuse to declare martial law, or create new and more powerful law enforcement agencies manned by their lackeys, or even to cancel or suspend elections.<br />
<br />
But first, they would have to deal with the old law enforcement community...made up of loyal citizens who would, in the end, refuse to do things like search homes for firearms, or kidnap political targets, or sack and burn blocks of stores and businesses. In fact, these police professionals would try and stop such activities, and in the end they tried to stand firm despite orders from above.<br />
<br />
Hitler knew he had to deal with the law enforcement community in Germany...and he did so. He used them against the German people as long as he could, but when officers finally rebelled he had to bring out the thugs. First, of course, he set the stage by denigrating police officers with insults and snide insinuations (recall Obama's remarks about police officers "being stupid"). He appointed staff members with criminal backgrounds, or radicals who shared a dislike for law enforcement personnel.<br />
<br />
Knowing what happened then...seeing how today there are groups hailing killers of police officers as heroes while attempting to protect and hide them...when coupled with current political winds makes me wonder about what is to come.<br />
<br />
A shocking number of appointees who make up the new administration in WA DC come from criminal backgrounds, even having served prison terms, or "academic" backgrounds where they openly celebrated their hatred of law enforcement personnel. The criminal community has taken notice...and they appear to be emboldened. Many of them, when arrested, smirkingly announce they will not be in prison for long. They threaten the arresting officers, prosecutors, judges, and jury members. They act arrogantly and state confidently that "the tables are turning" and soon they will be in charge and that people in the community will pay.<br />
<br />
I recall a photo montage I saw, during the last election cycle, of one hundred mug shots of recently arrested criminals in Chicago...each wearing an Obama t-shirt. A weird coincidence...just like the weird coincidence that recently bills were introduced in Congress giving prison inmates the right to vote? Just like the 9th circuit court in San Francisco overturning state laws barring felons from voting?<br />
<br />
The 9th circuit opinion will likely be overturned...a large percentage of that whackey trio's opinions are...but the fact such a off the wall case was even heard at that level is disturbing to citizens and energizing to criminals.<br />
<br />
Officers I know well tell me there is a new attitude on the street...a dangerous attitude. And they tell me of rumors of layoffs in their departments, as well as actual salary reductions and increased micro-management by political hacks. A number of states are preparing to start early release programs from prisons, for budgetary reasons of course, and bills are in committee which would give amnesty to all illegal immigrants along with immediate voting rights...and a shocking percentage of those folks are gang or cartel members.<br />
<br />
All of this may sound pretty alarmist, after all this is the United States of America, where the vast majority of citizens are solidly behind our law enforcement personnel and for the constitution. But those same conditions existed in Germany in the 1920's! <br />
<br />
Law abiding citizens are being bypassed on a number of issues...being ignored on health care and cap and trade...and the millions of phone calls and emails don't seem to slow down the more demagogic members of congress. Will they eventually take the same "ignore the will of the people" stance on maintaining our police departments, or keeping felons in prison, or the issues of giving the vote to illegals and criminals? And will these actions by the most corrupt congress in a century be the gateway to an assault on law enforcement personnel?<br />
<br />
To get to us...tyrants have to first get through the "thin blue line" of police officers who protect and serve their communities. I don't believe tyrants can do it. For one thing, our officers don't stand alone. If the time comes I truly believe the American people will rise up and back-up their police. The officers I talk to believe that as well...and they actually represent us more truly than many of our elected officials. If the time comes...I believe it will be the politicos who will back down and leave the field. For that matter...I don't think many of them will be in office after the 2010 elections to make the attempt.<br />
<br />
I'm all for easing them all into retirement...before we lose any more of our gallant officers and any more of our constitution.<br />
<br />
The ProfessorProfessor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-53680820673821388212009-12-10T16:29:00.000-08:002009-12-10T16:29:53.621-08:00When Agendas Run AmockImagine you are forced into the witness protection program in order to keep your family safe and alive.<br />
<br />
You have to change your name. All of your family have to change their names. Literally overnight you are packed off to a new town...you never again can call or see your parents, your siblings, your friends...they're not even allowed to know what happened to you. You can't even receive news of them.<br />
<br />
When your parents get old and need your help...you can't be there. You won't even know about it. The slightest security leak, or slip-up, can get you killed. Your entire world is gone and you can never get it back.<br />
<br />
That's what it can be like if you serve as a juror on a trial against a well-connected crime figure. The only way you can be an impartial juror, is to have you and your family's safety guaranteed beyond doubt. Otherwise...someone out of the twelve members of that jury will refuse to convict out of fear they or a family member will pay the ultimate price.<br />
<br />
Now imagine you are on the jury trying five terrorists who were involved in the 9/11 attacks. If they are convicted, an entire international terrorist organization will dedicate itself to killing you, your immediate family, your extended family, your friends and co-workers, and anyone they might consider whose death would give you pain.<br />
<br />
Remember they have millions of fanatical members...people willing to strap on suicide vests and jump on school busses. People willing to fly airplanes into buildings. Can you imagine any way your entire sphere of family and friends can be protected...not just for a few months, or years, but for the next few decades. Because these fanatics will target all of them for as long as it takes. They will never quit.<br />
<br />
Now let's be brutally realistic! The defense attornies will "leak" your name and your address to the press within a matter of days. They will do so knowing full well it would destroy any chance the prosecution has of getting a conviction. Within hours of that leak reporters and bloggers will spill that information across the world wide net. You're sitting on the jury...you know what will happen if the terrorists are convicted...what do you do?<br />
<br />
Be real honest! Do you truly believe that all twelve of you, no matter how strong the evidence, will convict? Won't there be at least one hold out? Someone so terrified they simply will not budge...and won't the remainder eventually see that the only way out of a hung jury is to go with a not-guilty verdict?<br />
<br />
The same issue was raised half a century ago when Nazi war criminals were put on trial. That is why military tribunals were used to dispense justice...and why members of our government have been trying to start the same process for the 9/11 terrorists being held today by the US Military. For years now they have been blocked from moving forward by organizations like the ACLU.<br />
<br />
So why did the Obama administration kowtow to such organizations and go an entirely different route? This last week they announced these terrorists would be tried as civilians...and given the full protection of the US Constitution as if they were US citizens. It means they would have to be convicted by a jury of twelve Americans.<br />
<br />
There is obviously zero logic at work here...so we have to ask "what are the reasons for this rather radical turn of events and this decision?"<br />
<br />
There are a number of possible answers; all of which may be a part of why this move was made. Let's get started by painting the scene:<br />
<br />
Everyone understands that the Obama crew has a deeply rooted hatred for Bush and his administration, the military and military people, the CIA, all and any wars, and the entire concept of the war against terror. These terrorists were captured on the battlefield...not properly "arrested"...and were sent to Gitmo instead of a civilian prison where they could have been protected from "abuse" and "torture."<br />
<br />
There is nothing more this group of malcontents wants more than to sling mud at all the institutions and persons they hate so deeply. A public trial of these "victims of torture" whereby the terrorists can have a forum to lie and make claims against the US, the military, and US citizens is just too much an opportunity for these whiners in the White House to pass up.<br />
<br />
Worse; there is a very real possibility of acquittal on a technicality...such as their not being read their rights when captured on the battlefield...or a hung jury. The failure to find them guilty will be tossed back at the Bush administration...it's all their fault...they should have morandized the prisoners in Afghanistan...they should have built a forensic case on site...created a chain of evidence...etcetera ad nauseam. US citizens will be outraged...and a certain number will put the blame on Bush and his people rather than where it rests.<br />
<br />
It's almost as if this was the goal of the ACLU and friends from the first...and perhaps it was. Unfortunately for them, we the people are not quite the fools they take us to be. They spend so much time with the easily manipulated that they fail to see the groundswell of anger already building among normal folks.<br />
<br />
Polls show the vast majority of Americans want these war criminals tried in a military tribunal. If Obama's people turn this into a circus, which they will without a doubt, and fail to get convictions and harsh sentences (such as death), this will turn on them...and will probably turn hard.<br />
<br />
We may be beginning to see how vengeful idealogues can out-maneuver themselves...I believe they are finally doing so on the health care take-over issue...and how they may just be their own worst enemies. Let's watch what happens... and be ready to remind our friends and acquaintances that "we told you so."<br />
<br />
The ProfessorProfessor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-88878306458335320152009-12-09T13:21:00.000-08:002009-12-09T13:21:01.060-08:00Warning Letter from a Law InstructorI felt this warning from Michael Connelly, a retired attorney and constitutional law instructor, deserved reprinting. Keep in mind this is his review of HR 3200...which was about half as long and convoluted as the current Senate health care bill. We must be emailing and calling our senators during this vital moment in history and urging them to vote down this travesty.<br />
<br />
The Warning:<br />
Well, I have done it! I have read the entire text of proposed House Bill 3200: The Affordable Health Care Choices Act of 2009. I studied it with particular emphasis from my area of expertise, constitutional law. I was frankly concerned that parts of the proposed law that were being discussed might be unconstitutional. What I found was far worse than what I had heard or expected.<br />
<br />
To begin with, much of what has been said about the law and its implications is in fact true, despite what the Democrats and the media are saying. The law does provide for rationing of health care, particularly where senior citizens and other classes of citizens are involved, free health care for illegal immigrants, free abortion services, and probably forced participation in abortions by members of the medical profession.<br />
<br />
The Bill will also eventually force private insurance companies out of business and put everyone into a government run system. All decisions about personal health care will ultimately be made by federal bureaucrats and most of them will not be health care professionals. Hospital admissions, payments to physicians, and allocations of necessary medical devices will be strictly controlled.<br />
<br />
However, as scary as all of that it, it just scratches the surface. In fact, I have concluded that this legislation really has no intention of providing affordable health care choices. Instead it is a convenient cover for the most massive transfer of power to the Executive Branch of government that has ever occurred, or even been contemplated. If this law or a similar one is adopted, major portions of the Constitution of the United States will effectively have been destroyed.<br />
<br />
The first thing to go will be the masterfully crafted balance of power between the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of the U.S. Government. The Congress will be transferring to the Obama Administration authority in a number of different areas over the lives of the American people and the businesses they own. The irony is that the Congress doesn't have any authority to legislate in most of those areas to begin with. I defy anyone to read the text of the U.S. Constitution and find any authority granted to the members of Congress to regulate health care.<br />
<br />
This legislation also provides for access by the appointees of the Obama administration to all of your personal healthcare information, your personal financial information, and the information of your employer, physician, and hospital. All of this is a direct violation of the specific provisions of the 4th Amendment to the Constitution protecting against unreasonable searches and seizures. You can also forget about the right to privacy. That will have been legislated into oblivion regardless of what the 3rd and 4th Amendments may provide.<br />
<br />
If you decide not to have healthcare insurance or if you have private insurance that is not deemed “acceptable" to the "Health Choices Administrator" appointed by Obama there will be a tax imposed on you. It is called a "tax" instead of a fine because of the intent to avoid application of the due process clause of the 5th Amendment.<br />
<br />
However, that doesn't work because since there is nothing in the law that allows you to contest or appeal the imposition of the tax, it is definitely depriving someone of property without the "due process of law.”<br />
<br />
So, there are three of those pesky amendments that the far left hate so much out the original ten in the Bill of Rights that are effectively nullified by this law. It doesn't stop there though. The 9th Amendment that provides: "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people;" The 10th Amendment states: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are preserved to the States respectively, or to the people." Under the provisions of this piece of Congressional handiwork neither the people nor the states are going to have any rights or powers at all in many areas that once were theirs to control.<br />
<br />
I could write many more pages about this legislation, but I think you get the idea. This is not about health care; it is about seizing power and limiting rights. Article 6 of the Constitution requires the members of both houses of Congress to "be bound by oath or affirmation" to support the Constitution. If I was a member of Congress I would not be able to vote for this legislation or anything like it without feeling I was violating that sacred oath or affirmation. If I voted for it anyway I would hope the American people would hold me accountable.<br />
<br />
For those who might doubt the nature of this threat I suggest they consult the source. Here is a link to the Constitution:<br />
<br />
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html<br />
<br />
And another to the Bill of Rights:<br />
<br />
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html<br />
<br />
There you can see exactly what we are about to have taken from us.<br />
<br />
Michael Connelly<br />
Retired attorney,<br />
Constitutional Law Instructor<br />
Carrollton , TexasProfessor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-25992157739024251072009-11-14T19:35:00.000-08:002009-11-15T13:09:06.057-08:00Johnson...McNamara...Obama: the ConvergenceThroughout history; nations, city states, and tribes which chose to fight a conflict by use of a defensive strategy (versus defensive tactics, which are used commonly) inevitably failed in their endeavor and often ceased to exist.<br />
<br />
Only rarely has the US elected to try and break the historical deadlock. After early setbacks with the Continental Army, some members of the new Congress urged Washington to take a strictly defensive posture, pulling the army into the wilderness and spending what might have been decades waiting for the British to uproot him.<br />
<br />
Washington was far too wise to consider this option, instead he learned from earlier tactical mistakes and doggedly built an army which could go head-to-head against British regulars. He understood far too well the historical precedent...the Brits would simply grow stronger while drying up Washington's base of supply, while his force would lose public support and personnel; eventually becoming little more than a band of renegades.<br />
<br />
In the Korean conflict, US forces, after great initial successes and the near collapse of North Korea, were forced into a bloody stalemated war of attrition. Afraid to further provoke the Chinese or the Soviets, the US used enough force to hold the line, but not to bring abut decisive victory. That conflict has never been resolved and still destabilizes the region.<br />
<br />
In the Vietnam war, the US administration in the persons of Lyndon Johnson and Robert McNamara made a decision to fight a protracted war of defense as a test of will against the Soviet Union's proxy state, North Vietnam. McNamara was a firm adherent of what is called War Management Theory. Most military professionals adhere to War Fighting Theory...the two are very different schools of thought.<br />
<br />
I recall an analysis of the war that included two photos side-by-side. The first was a famous photo of President Lincoln during the Civil War. In the photo, Lincoln is seated at the rear of the room, his tophat on his lap, listening intently as his generals work over a large table covered with maps. He was the observer...doing the people's business by monitoring the experts in warfighting and being there to make final decisions based on their recommendations.<br />
<br />
The other photo was of Johnson and McNamara with the chiefs of staff...the top generals in all the armed forces of the nation. In this photo, Johnson and McNamara were leaning over a large map table while the generals sat disgusted and ignored in the background. They had learned not to speak up, as one of the two politicians would normally fly into a rage and ignore what advice the officer wished to convey.<br />
<br />
These men's egoes were more important to them than the lives of the men and women serving on the battlefields. Johnson often remarked that generals could not be trusted in issues of war and that he was smarter than the lot of them. McNamara was known to share those feelings...but in his own regard.<br />
<br />
Lincoln was by far the more intelligent man. He was wise enough to know his limitations, and though he got testy with his generals from time to time, and replaced those who failed to produce, he bowed to their judgement on matters not political in nature. <br />
<br />
Not only was Johnson very different than Lincoln, conceited and bull headed, but he disliked military people and he had bigger fish to fry. He was pushing his Great Society agenda to congress and the people and felt the war would simply get in the way. So McNamara's war management theories seemed to fit his needs at the moment.<br />
<br />
Those theories called for a defensive strategy; whereby the goal was not to win the conflict, but to keep from losing. In other words, apply enough force to keep the Communists from completely overrunning the struggling democrary in the south, but not enough to dissuade them from trying. The key, McNamara assured Johnson, was that the Communists would get the hint and give up the idea of conquest after a few years.<br />
<br />
This would also signal the Soviets that we were willing to slug it out in Europe as well if that became necessary. It actually convinced the Soviets of very different things of course, but that's another story.<br />
<br />
McNamara's theories called for building an innaccessible wall of protection around the south...which to anyone who can read a map seemed like one of the most ludicrous ideas in history...one that the Communists would be unable to efficiently cross. This worked so badly, of course, that Johnson finally bowed to a minimal amount of "active defense" in the form of going after military production in the north through use of airpower.<br />
<br />
It went no further than that however. Military leaders were already stretching the limit of McNamara's vision, and the war was getting way too much publicity for Johnson's taste. His big social agenda was going down the tubes thanks to anger over his handling of the war.<br />
<br />
Of course we're all aware of how that conflict ended, and of the sacrifices made not only by US personnel but South Vietnamese troops by the millions as well as allied forces from all over the Pacific. Their courage could not save a democracy condemned to extermination by fools in Washington D.C.<br />
<br />
Now there is a new photo being passed around. President Obama, VP Biden, and a dozen other civilians sitting around a large table procrastinating over how to proceed in Afghanistan. The media refers to this group as his "war council."<br />
<br />
Note that the chiefs of staff are now completely missing; as are the generals on the ground who have been pushing for a decision for half a year. To make matters worse, the professionals in-country have delivered four carefully prepared strategic plans to carry on and eventually win the war...and all have now been rejected by the "war council."<br />
<br />
Does Obama want the generals to revise their plans and come back? No...he has announced his council will write his strategic plan for the war.<br />
<br />
Now...we'll take a moment to allow you to slam your fist through a wall...or simply sit in front of your computer in stunned silence. Some of you may want to beat your head against your desk or cry...it's up to you...all four might be called for at this point.<br />
<br />
Try to look at the bright side...Obama and his people have finally, irrefutably, proven their egomania, their narcissim, and their lack of intelligence beyond any question. No one with the slightest semblance of sense could disagree this may be the most incredibly stupid single decision these people have made to date. Now there can be no doubt of their incompetence.<br />
<br />
But there are other issues in play: recall Obama's speech on TV when he broke into regular programming to announce the mass shootings at Fort Hood. For two minutes he spoke about social issues, then inserted some lines about the murders on the base, then finished up with more social issues.<br />
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What does this short interlude tell us? One...like Johnson, he has a social agenda that overrides the lives of our men and women who serve in the military. This social agenda is so important that it will eclipse our national security and cut the very foundations of support for our troops before this administration is finished. They have a messianic need to complete this agenda despite what it does to our nation and our people.<br />
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We see the results of that agenda being played out in the dithering over strategy in Afghanistan. The war council is not concerned with winning...they are concerned with image and getting out if necessary to save their social plan. If this wasn't true, the President would have simply chosen one of the four options and told our generals to "make it so."<br />
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Two...like most failed leaders throughout history...Obama won't learn from history. He wants to take the reins of a general, but doesn't have any interest in knowing anything about the art, history, and science of leading men in battle. Like wanting to run giant corporations, running a war is simply beyond his grasp in the slightest degree...but that doesn't prevent an extreme narcissist from truly believing he will be successful.<br />
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Now one might suggest that I'm offbase...that Obama will simply reword one of the Generals' plans in order to take credit for it. That's unlikely...it's the move a publicity hungry, but dogmatic, politician might make. I believe Obama is such a narcissist that he truly believes he and his friends are able to come up with superior plans. This despite their total lack of training, knowledge, or experience in these complex matters...similar to their approach to the world of business.<br />
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Whatever move they now make, this administration has set the framework for failure and it will be difficult to break out of that model. Liberals will always find some consolation in such failure...the media can always label it success of course...and if that fails they can still go back to blaming Bush. The long arm of George Bush reaches out constantly, you know,...and it is the one strategy they can use with some level of actual understanding of what they're doing.<br />
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The ProfessorProfessor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-23819981930494032232009-11-02T11:41:00.000-08:002009-11-02T11:41:00.598-08:00Patriotic Resistance: A Letter by Thomas SowellWe've all heard the screechings from the left that boil down to "we should all support the President...after all, he was elected, time to shut up...unite behind him and move forward blah, blah, blah." It's time to absorb his view of the world and abandon our own.<br />
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Kind of like the left united behind George Bush and our troops? You might notice we're still behind our troops...it doesn't matter to us who is in the presidency...we don't change our stripes according to what administration is in office.<br />
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The reality is: the day an election is over, the next cycle begins. The elected official is our employee, and it's our duty to review and critique everything our employee does. We are not only free to criticize and attempt to correct his course of action...we are honor bound to do so. I'm re-printing a recent letter by Thomas Sowell, well known and respected Economist and public figure, as he expresses his version of this reality.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHH0N9e9iYovIIFUcKKez9Uq-SzyywnXwM-JpGWvMKWakVrQo0XExX4FgbJILXWOEvYXM7EBzdhNMOHF4Y-zR4aclSede9em-N6upHosJANywwLswKAlzZyQU4E-gE_OznqGl2fQWrV1iy/s1600-h/Thomas+Sowell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHH0N9e9iYovIIFUcKKez9Uq-SzyywnXwM-JpGWvMKWakVrQo0XExX4FgbJILXWOEvYXM7EBzdhNMOHF4Y-zR4aclSede9em-N6upHosJANywwLswKAlzZyQU4E-gE_OznqGl2fQWrV1iy/s320/Thomas+Sowell.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have noted that many elected officials, both Democrats and Republicans, called upon America to unite behind Obama. <br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Well, I want to make it clear to all who will listen that I "AM NOT" uniting behind Obama. However, I promise to give our country the devoted loyalty of a patriot. <br />
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I will respect the Office he holds, and I will acknowledge his abilities as an orator and wordsmith and pray for him, BUT that is it. <br />
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I have begun today to see what I can do to make sure he is a one-term President! <br />
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Why am I doing this? It is because I do not share Obama's vision or value system for America; <br />
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I do not share his Abortion beliefs; <br />
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I do not share his radical Marxist's concept of re-distributing wealth; <br />
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I do not share his stated views on raising taxes on those who make $150,000+ (the ceiling has been changed three times since August); <br />
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I do not share his view that America is arrogant; <br />
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I do not share his view that America is not a Christian Nation; <br />
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I do not share his view that the military should be reduced by 25%; <br />
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I do not share his view of amnesty and giving more to illegals than American Citizens who need help; <br />
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I do not share his views on homosexuality and his definition of marriage; <br />
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I do not share his views that Radical Islam is our friend and Israel is our enemy who should give up any land; <br />
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I do not share his spiritual beliefs (at least the ones he has made public); <br />
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I do not share his beliefs on how to re-work the healthcare system in America ; <br />
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I do not share his Strategic views of the Middle East, and certainly do not share his plan to sit down with terrorist regimes such as Iran . <br />
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Bottom line, my America is vastly different from Obama's, and I have a higher obligation to my Country and my God to do what is right! <br />
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For eight (8) years, the Liberals in our Society, led by numerous entertainers who would have no platform and no real credibility, but for their celebrity status, have attacked President Bush, his family, and his spiritual beliefs! <br />
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They have not moved toward the center in their beliefs and their philosophies, and they never came together nor compromised their personal beliefs for the betterment of our Country! They have portrayed my America as a land where everything is tolerated except being intolerant! <br />
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They have been a vocal and irreverent minority for years; <br />
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They have mocked and attacked the very core values so important to the founding and growth of our Country; <br />
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They have made every effort to remove the name of God or Jesus Christ from our Society; <br />
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They have challenged capital punishment, the right to bear firearms, and the most basic principles of our criminal code; <br />
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They have attacked one of the most fundamental of all Freedoms, the right of free speech! <br />
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Unite behind Obama? Never! <br />
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I am sure many of you who read this think that I am going overboard, but I refuse to retreat one more inch in favor of those whom I believe are the embodiment of Evil! <br />
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PRESIDENT BUSH made many mistakes during his Presidency, and I am not sure how history will judge him. However, I believe he weighed his decisions in light of the long established Judeo-Christian principles of our Founding Fathers!!! <br />
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Majority rules in America , and I will honor the concept; however, I will fight with all of my power to be a voice in opposition to Obama and "his goals for America ." <br />
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I am going to be a thorn in the side of those who, if left unchecked, will destroy our country! Any more compromise is more defeat! <br />
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I pray that the results of this election will wake up many who have sat on the sidelines and allowed the Socialist-Marxist anti-God crowd to slowly change so much of what has been good in America ! <br />
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"Error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it." (Thomas Jefferson) <br />
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God bless you and God bless our Country!!!Professor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2494967257068379792.post-3268532502467495732009-11-02T11:03:00.000-08:002009-11-10T11:29:47.218-08:00Some Clarification on "Profits" PostingA good friend and colleague suggested the post preceeding this one might be somewhat confusing to anyone who has not had to deal with cash flow in a business; versus cash flow at home or in one's personal life. He is right, of course...and I felt it necessary to explore the idea in more clarity.<br />
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To remind; I was explaining how a business's cash flow, in different stages of the operating cycle, could distort short-term tax returns in a way that would falsely indicate the business had benefitted from a sudden increase in profit. I brought up the issue due to a government agency that made a public announcement that profits were up across the business sector. They contended that the recession must be over as a result.<br />
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Quarterly tax returns tend to show the ups-and-downs of cash flow more dramatically than a yearly tax return, and most businesses have to file quarterly. The longer time period of a full year simply "smooths" out the fluctuations in cash flow and gives a more accurate picture of what the firm is doing. The agency was speaking about quarterly tax returns. <br />
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Here is a good visualization of the "operating cycle."<br />
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Imagine a circle graphic with a box at 12 o'clock labeled "Cash." There is another box at 3 o'clock labeled "Raw materials", a box at 6 o'clock labeled "Inventory", and one at 9 o'clock labeled "Accounts Receivables." We will go around this circle in a clock-wise direction.<br />
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What this graphic represents is the assets the company has at different points of the "operating cycle."<br />
At the beginning of the cycle the company has cash, it might be their own or from a loan, or a combination of both. The company begins by paying out money in the first stage of the cycle to purchase materials. Money going out of the firm would also be for payroll costs and other needs. <br />
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A cash flow statement at this point shows the purchase funds coming in, from prior sales and/or as cash from a loan, and then going out, to purchase raw materials. On the tax return, however, we simply see the cost of raw materials as an expense. Loans are not income...anymore than the use of a personal credit card to purchase something for your home is a source of income. <br />
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(Admittedly some folks use their credit cards as "income" and that does get them into a whole world of hurt in the long run.)<br />
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At this point, we show no income as the company has nothing to sell. In the next stage we see the raw materials being worked into finished goods and the goods being stored as inventory. Again, our tax return will show no income, but will show expenses as we pay for labor. The assets are now all in inventory.<br />
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Now imagine this firm's operating cycle is one year in length...perhaps they make toys for the Christmas season. Our quarterly tax returns show large losses in quarters one and two: the first quarter mainly for materials, and the second mainly for labor. This corresponds to the first two stages of the operating cycle.<br />
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In the third quarter, or third stage of the cycle, the sales process takes place. We may well be receiving some income now, as some customers will pay cash up front to obtain price breaks, but most of our actual revenue will come back in the fourth stage, the collection cycle. Most of our assets have now been converted to Accounts Receivables...or money owed by purchasers to the firm. This takes place in the third stage of the cycle.<br />
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Hopefully, the firm receives its money in the fourth stage of the cycle. In our annual model, that is the fourth quarter.<br />
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In a strong economy, we might already be buying more materials and paying for labor in the third and fourth quarters, so the income coming in would be offset by those expenses. We would also have the expense, in the fourth quarter, of the company paying back the loan that began the process. Therefore, we might be showing a profit in those quarters, but it would be largely offset by the new expenses of replacing inventory and the repayment of the loan.<br />
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But in a recession, we would be laying off workers in the third and fourth quarters as demand for future product falls off. We would also be purchasing less materials for future production. As a result, expenses are suddenly less than they have been for years. <br />
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The result: almost all the annual income comes in during quarters three and four, yet expenses are now reduced. Income minus expenses equals profit...and the profit number will be higher than in the previous year, or operating cycle, as we have reduced expenses. The profit figure will also be far higher than in quarters one and two. To the uninitiated, the quarterly tax returns make it look like this business is suddenly "booming" with cash...so they must be "profitable."<br />
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Here's the rub: the firm is producing less product than the prior year...so what do you think will happen during the next sales and collection cycles? If you guessed that sales and profits would go way down...you are right. The "booming" profits in cycles three and four are simply a fluke...and actually foreshadow what will be a dramatic reduction in revenue and profit. <br />
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It's like a last, dying gasp. The patient raises his head...speaks one more time...then collapses and is gone.<br />
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Which is exactly what could happen to this company and others like it. Almost all companies have some sort of operating cycle...and many are keyed to the holiday season as being the sales and collection parts of the cycle. Even those that are not tied to end of the year sales will show sudden spurts of profit during a recession as they reach the third and fourth stages of their cycles.<br />
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So in one respect, the government folks are correct...the quarterly returns show profit. But when the year-end returns come in they will tell a very different story, because all four stages of the cycle will be reflected.<br />
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The truest measure of the end of a recession is when employment figures begin to go up...instead of down. There is a dark side to recovery however, that may well be the death knell of many firms. As an economy begins to recover, and demand is forecast for finished goods, firms need to begin buying raw materials and hiring people once again.<br />
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Some of them simply won't have the cash to do so without help from a lending institution. Unfortunately, with a tough year behind the borrower, lenders may well decline to offer funding. As other firms get product on the shelves, these less fortunate ones will end up losing their market share and will be forced to shut down...even as a recovery is well under way.<br />
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Of course not every business has a long operating cycle...a restaurant brings in fresh foodstuffs in the morning and by evening they convert this material into meals and have collected their money. But the greater part of our economy, and the part that supplies a significant portion of wages that translate to consumer spending, is made up of manufacturing, wholesaling, and distribution firms. All of these are subject to these long operating cycles.<br />
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I hope this makes it a bit clearer to those who have asked for such clarification. Though not as scintillating as some of our conversations, it is an eye opener to the true current situation and the lack of business expertise in Washington DC at this time.<br />
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Hopefully...they will seek out and find experience and advice before much longer. Heaven knows we need help in the business sector, where jobs are actually produced, a lot more than we need more excuses for even more taxation. <br />
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Now that you understand the operating cycle...you can understand how increased taxes simply drain money out of the operating cycle and require the business to make less product and lay off more workers. I don't think our elected officials have figure that one out yet...especially when taxes are so often levied against phantom profits.<br />
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The ProfessorProfessor of Libertyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17808312991380224150noreply@blogger.com