Monday, August 31, 2009
Quote of the Day: Strong Drink
Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors... and miss. - Robert Heinlein
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Quote of the Day: Giving Thanks
Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for. - Will Rogers
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Why I'm Not a Conservative, Part III
This week is the 54th anniversary of the murder of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old black boy who was tortured, mutilated and then killed by white men after he allegedly whistled at a white woman in Mississippi. Two men, who later admitted to the killing, were acquitted by an all-white jury.
There's a discussion of this over at FreeRepublic.com. Most there seem to think he had it coming.
There's a discussion of this over at FreeRepublic.com. Most there seem to think he had it coming.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Happy Birthday, Jack Kirby
Brian Doherty reminds us today would have been the King's 92nd birthday and points us to some great collections of his work.
Competition and Health Care
Quote of the Day: Sex
Don't have sex, man. It leads to kissing and pretty soon you have to start talking to them. - Steve Martin
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Quote of the Day: Democracy
Democracy is also a form of worship. It is the worship of Jackals by Jackasses. - H.L. Mencken
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Ted Kennedy and Airline Deregulation
David Henderson recalls what maybe Kennedy's only positive contribution to America.
Jessica Biel Is the Web's Most Dangerous Search
Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie and Tom Brady also make the list. Tom Brady?
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Quote of the Day: Government Benefits
Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others. - Ayn Rand
Monday, August 24, 2009
Health Care vs. Health Insurance
Economist Don Bourdreaux explains why we shouldn't confuse one with the other.
Quote of the Day: Feeling Good
Feeling good about government is like looking on the bright side of any catastrophe. When you quit looking on the bright side, the catastrophe is still there. P.J. O'Rourke
Sunday, August 23, 2009
As Japan Sails Into the Sunset
Fabius Maximus has a roundup of recent articles on the Japanese economy and other matters.
70 Years Ago Today
Ilya Somin and Robert Higgs look back at the Nazi-Soviet Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
The Fed Didn't Save the U.S. Economy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution talks to George Selgin, one of my former grad school professors.
Quote of the Day: Power
Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. - Milton Friedman
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Why I'm Not a Conservative, Part II
According to this story police are investigating the videotaped beating of a mentally man by a karate student.
The video was posted several days ago on YouTube and quickly made its way to a number of martial arts and sports message boards as well as some military discussion boards (the student and his instructor are both reportedly former Marines).
The discussion on almost every board I've seen has been pretty much unanimous on these points:
1. It was a criminal assualt on a delusional but harmless man who clearly stated he did not want to fight and tried to stop the fight several times.
2. The stomps to the head delivered by the instructor after the man was knocked unconcious would, as the police chief said the the story, have left him with severe brain damage if he survived them at all.
3. Taping and posting, years later, the beating made it even more sick.
Well, there was one board where the discussion followed a different path.
The folks at Freerepublic.com seem to believe
1. The beating wasn't that bad.
2. They guy deserved it.
3. That's the way things are on the street.
What universe do modern conservatives live in?
You can find the video pretty easily on the Web if you want to.
The video was posted several days ago on YouTube and quickly made its way to a number of martial arts and sports message boards as well as some military discussion boards (the student and his instructor are both reportedly former Marines).
The discussion on almost every board I've seen has been pretty much unanimous on these points:
1. It was a criminal assualt on a delusional but harmless man who clearly stated he did not want to fight and tried to stop the fight several times.
2. The stomps to the head delivered by the instructor after the man was knocked unconcious would, as the police chief said the the story, have left him with severe brain damage if he survived them at all.
3. Taping and posting, years later, the beating made it even more sick.
Well, there was one board where the discussion followed a different path.
The folks at Freerepublic.com seem to believe
1. The beating wasn't that bad.
2. They guy deserved it.
3. That's the way things are on the street.
What universe do modern conservatives live in?
You can find the video pretty easily on the Web if you want to.
Cap and Tax
Robert Bradley explains why many environmentalists are unhappy with the Democrats' climate control bill.
Quote of the Day: The Enemy
As Americans we must always remember that we all have a common enemy, an enemy that is dangerous, powerful, and relentless. I refer, of course, to the federal government. - Dave Barry
Here's a story about that quote.
Here's a story about that quote.
Obama Admits Critics Were Right
After lowballing their deficit projectsions for months, the administration finally concedes their spending plans will cause a deficit of more than $9 trillion.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Robert Novak: The Right-Wing Hunter S. Thompson?
I always thought Thompson was the right-wing Hunter S. Thompson. Still, this is a fine tribute to Novak from a man of the left.
Immigrants and Violence
Former police officer and sociologist Peter Moskos points to the latest issue of the journal Homicide, where a number of studies indicate that places with lots of immigrants actually have less violence than those with fewer immigrants.
Quote of the Day: War
The State thrives on war - unless, of course, it is defeated and crushed - expands on it, glories in it. - Murray Rothbard
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Human Action
Ludwig von Mises' great work was published 60 years ago. The Freeman has an appreciation.
Executing Innoncent Men Is Cool
I expected this from Antonin Scalia. But I expected better from Clarence Thomas.
The UFC and Fedor
Good column from Slate which raises the question Is what is in the best interest of a sport necessarily in the best interest of the individual athletes and vice versa?
Quote of the Day: Civilization
Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of his tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men. - Ayn Rand
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The Feds Can't Even Waste Money Efficiently
Dealers have been paid for just 2% of the cash for clunkers cars they have accepted.
Quote of the Day: Extremism
I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue. - Barry Goldwater
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
RIP Rose Friedman
Milton Friedman's wife and writing partner passed away at the age of 98. Their book "Free to Choose" remains one of the best introductions to the economic way of thinking out there.
Quote of the Day: Liberals and Conservatives
The conservatives see man as a body freely roaming the earth, building sand piles or factories—with an electronic computer inside his skull, controlled from Washington. The liberals see man as a soul freewheeling to the farthest reaches of the universe—but wearing chains from nose to toes when he crosses the street to buy a loaf of bread. - Ayn Rand
Monday, August 17, 2009
Time to Leave Iraq
Doug Bandow writes:
The original neoconservative plan for Iraq–as an advanced military post for Washington to use in imposing its will throughout the Middle East–always was a fantasy. Whether Iraq can create a reasonably peaceful, stable, and democratic society remains very much up in the air. But its success will depend on its own efforts. It is time for the U.S. military to depart.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Quote of the Day: Foreign Policy
America does not go abroad in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She well knows that by enlisting under other banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign independence, she would involve herself beyond the power of extrication in all the wars of interest and intrigue, of individual avarice, envy and ambition, which assume the colors and usurp the standards of freedom. – John Quincy Adams
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Neocon Urges No Surge for Afghanistan
Wow, for eight years Diana West has been one of the most bellicose and bloodthirsty columnists around. But it appears even she has had enough of not only Iraq but Afghanistan.
Quote of the Day: Government
Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. – George Washington
Friday, August 14, 2009
It Turns Out We ar the Inscrutable Ones
Research shows that Westerners read faces better than East Asians That seems to be because East Asians focus on the eyes while Westerners take in the entire face.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
For IBD: Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
Investor's Business Daily justly earned ridicule on two continents when it claimed that physicist Stephen Hawking would not survive under the United Kingdom's National Health Service. In fact, Hawking has survived more than 30 years of ALS as a British resident, including the first several years when he was did not enjoy the fame or acclaim he does today.
So how did the newspaper correct the error? Basically, it didn't.
Ezra Klein justly laughs at their latest efforts.
So how did the newspaper correct the error? Basically, it didn't.
Ezra Klein justly laughs at their latest efforts.
Quote for the Day: Public vs. Private
The 'private sector' of the economy is, in fact, the voluntary sector; and the 'public sector' is, in fact, the coercive sector. - Henry Hazlitt.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
I Figured There Are Maybe a Few Hundred Talk Show Hosts Out There
At most, I thought there might be a thousand. Who knew they are a a large segment of America.
Alinsky
Conservatives claim to be reading the works of community organizing guru Saul Alinsky. Rick Casey says they may be reading Alinsky but they don't really understand him.
Jesse Walker says the same is true of Democrats.
Jesse Walker says the same is true of Democrats.
Quote of the Day: Politics
Politics itself is nothing but an attempt to achieve power and prestige without merit. - P.J. O'Rourke
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Did Investors Business Daily Really Say That?
Yes, an IBD editorial really said Stephen Hawking "wouldn't have a chance" under the the United Kingdom's government health service.
Hawking is a lifelong resident of the United Kingdom and one of the longest-lived ALS patients on record. What sort of idiot picks him out to demonstrate the failures of British health care?
Hawking is a lifelong resident of the United Kingdom and one of the longest-lived ALS patients on record. What sort of idiot picks him out to demonstrate the failures of British health care?
Hispanic Assimilation
Fascinating essay from National Review that contains ammo for both sides in the immigration debate.
Quote of the Day: Sacrifice
It only stands to reason that where there's sacrifice, there's someone collecting the sacrificial offerings. Where there's service, there is someone being served. The man who speaks to you of sacrifice is speaking of slaves and masters, and intends to be the master. - Ayn Rand
If Health Care Reform Passes, Protests Will Increase
Peter Suderman looks at France's health care system, and notes that as more health decisions are made by the political process, the greater the amount of protests.
Hell Ride
In finally caught this "Quentin Tarantino Presents" movies over the weekend. If ever a film tries so hard to be cool that is isn't, this one is it. Still, this tale of outlaw bikers seeking revenge does feature some of the most attractive women I've seen in any one film in a long time.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Give Malkin Credit
i'm not a big fan of Michelle Malkin's work, to put it mildly. But I think she scores some hits with this piece on "astroturf" protests.
Quote of the Day: Economics
The art of economics consists in looking not merely at the immediate but at the longer effects of any act or policy; it consists in tracing the consequences of that policy not merely for one group but for all groups. - Henry Hazlitt.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Quote of the Day: The State
The state is the great fiction by which everybody seeks to live at the expense of everybody else. - Frederic Bastiat
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Childhood Mortality
Bryan Caplan looks at the numbers and finds its much safer to be a child in the United States today than it was in 1950.
Afghanistan: This Is the Best They've Got
Several days ago, Col. Andrew Bacevich called for the United States to leave Afghanistan. Abu Muqawama points to this as the best rebuttal to Bacevich.
Atticus Finch and the Limits of Southern Liberalism
Malcolm Gladwell's latest article has been getting a lot of buzz. The again, it seems that everything he writes generates a lot of discussion.
The part that focuses on "To Kill a Mockingbird" and Southern rape trials is very interesting and makes some telling points. But one could almost read this as confirmation of the old Southern apologist line that things were getting better in the South until those evil civil rights activists and Yankees got involved, which I'm sure Gladwell doesn't mean to argue.
The part that focuses on "To Kill a Mockingbird" and Southern rape trials is very interesting and makes some telling points. But one could almost read this as confirmation of the old Southern apologist line that things were getting better in the South until those evil civil rights activists and Yankees got involved, which I'm sure Gladwell doesn't mean to argue.
Quote of the Day: Big Business and Libertarians
Our quote of the day comes from Murray Rothbard:
HT: Rod Long
For some time I have come to the conclusion that the grave deficiency in the current output and thinking of our libertarians and “classical liberals” is an enormous blind spot when it comes to big business. There is a tendency to worship Big Business per se … and a corollary tendency to fail to realize that while big business would indeed merit praise if they won that bigness on the purely free market, that in the contemporary world of total neo-mercantilism and what is essentially a neo-fascist “corporate state,” bigness is a priori highly suspect, because Big Business most likely got that way through an intricate and decisive network of subsidies, privileges, and direct and indirect grants of monopoly protection.
HT: Rod Long
Friday, August 7, 2009
Only a Democrat Could Say Today's Jobs Report Was Good News
And only a very dense or very partisan one at that. Yet some are crowing about the fact that the jobless rate dropped by a tenth of a percent, largey because many people are no longer looking for a job.
More on how bad the numbers were fro the Washington Post, and more on how bad other economic numbers look from Mishs's Global Economic Analysis and tim Cavanaugh.
More on how bad the numbers were fro the Washington Post, and more on how bad other economic numbers look from Mishs's Global Economic Analysis and tim Cavanaugh.
Quote of the Day: The Nature of Government
I made some changes to the blog, including adding at the top some remarks from H.L> Mencken that will serve as our first quote of the day:
The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
When Is It OK to Escape from a Totalitarian Country?
Bryan Capaln looks at the economics of The Wall.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Good Thing We Brought Democracy to Iraq
The parliament adopts more censorship.
Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry has started censoring foreign books.
And in the Kurdish parts of Iran, Jalal Talabani is using lawsuis to squash the only newspaper in the region critical of him.
Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry has started censoring foreign books.
And in the Kurdish parts of Iran, Jalal Talabani is using lawsuis to squash the only newspaper in the region critical of him.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
More Transparency from Obama
The administration is withholding data on the cash for clunkers program.
Monday, August 3, 2009
So Did Cash for Clunkers Really Work?
No, it just compressed the normal level of sales into a shorter period.
Sheriff Joe Is at It Again
An investigation shows how he is using state funds for his jail on trips to Las Vegas and other vacation cities.
The Associated Press Claims Copyright to Thomas Jefferson's Words
The full story on how the AP wants to charges you to use a quote from Jefferson is here.
The American Conservative on the Birthers
Daniel McCarthy and Daniel Larison have a couple of good posts on those (such as Rush Limbaugh) who refuse to accept that Barack Obama was born in the United States. As Larison notes, polls show the birthers are very few in the rest of the county but they are majority in the South.
McCarthy writes
McCarthy writes
[P]seudo-conservatives already know, without the need for any birth certificate, that Obama isn’t a true American. For them, being an American is not only about being a legal citizen, but about a subscribing to certain beliefs. Knowing that Obama is a de facto un-American, it might make sense (for a paranoiac) to suspect that he’s not a de jure American either.
For the movement Right, being an American means 1.) that you support U.S. military actions, no matter how questionable their strategic, moral, or constitutional grounds; 2.) you support capitalism — that is, corporate capitalism as it exists in the U.S. (if you don’t endorse this kind of economics, you must be a socialist or Communist); and 3.) you’re suspicious of Mexicans, Muslims, and non-British Europeans, especially the French, who are socialists and military weaklings. There might be a fourth item on the list: you ought to drive the most fuel-inefficient vehicle possible.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
AMC to Remake "The Prisoner"
I'm not sure this needed to be done but I'll probably keep an eye out for it.
BB&T Wants Liberty, Not a Bailout
The New York Times profiles the company's former CEO John Allison.
An Author Without Borders
The New York Times writes about William Vollman and his new book on the Imperial Valley.
Sam Anderson's review of the book has gotten some buzz in the blogosphere.
Sam Anderson's review of the book has gotten some buzz in the blogosphere.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Out of Iraq By Next Year
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