J.S.Mill - Comments On Liberty Today

What did you Expect General?

Well, I am afraid that the "statesman" has made another turn. The "former" Republican, turned Obama supporter, now is expressing concern about the size and impact of the Obama agenda. So, the General, who many believe attempted to regain his "blackness" by turning on his long time close friend, John McCain, and supported a Democrat who had little to recommend him except his rhetoric and his ethnicity.

I am certain that there are many who will now pander and accept the General as a thoughtful statesman who speaks his mind and walks a true balanced line. I do not agree. I think that he either, made a huge mistake supporting Obama, or he is truly a RHINO. Candidly, my vote is Republican in name only.

Happy Fourth

I could not let this day go by, without making a clear statement asserting that we are the greatest, free society in the world; and that we all should not just be proud of that fact...We must constantly be vigilant about preserving that freedom. 

Our founders did not create this nation with a goal to have the government be free to do what it could do. They created the nation's organization and structure to preserve our individual freedom to do what we want to do. Freedom (Liberty) is an individual and God given right; it is not the right of government to decide what liberty they will allow us to have. Worse, it is not government's responsibility to give me what I need or want; it is government's responsibility to prevent others from taking away my liberty to have what I need or want. The true value of government is to provide the support to assure the citizens that they will be free to achieve their goals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 

Our way of life is dependent on the state avoiding intrusion, not maximizing intrusion into the lives of its citizens. It is my great hope that we can find enough citizens who believe as I do, that we can fight the current dramatic and comprehensive intrusion of government into the lives of our citizens. This is the greatest threat to the core values of our society since the inception of our republic. This threat to our liberty and to the core values of our society, must be stopped before we arrive at the "point of no return."

BROKEN TAX PROMISE - Just Say NO!!!!!

So, will Barack Obama be held as accountable for his broken promise as he wants to hold his predecessor accountable for interrogations? Probably not. His promise will be broken, and he will argue that it had to take that action because Bush left him a mess. 

This "spin" must be exposed for what it is: A Lie!!!

Yes, he will say that, and the lie is obvious. He is the one spending all the money that will require the tax increases, not Bush and his economy. For now; it would be enough for Bush to ask: what was the growth rate in the economy during my two terms vs. what has been the growth rate during the Obama Term? That statement is clearly not rational either; but is is no less rational than a statement that the deficit requiring the financing through added taxes is because of Bush.

This economy, and the phenomenal deficit is an Obama condition, and the loyal opposition must put the responsibility where is belongs. Obama is creating the most disastrous economic policies since the failed policies of FDR. Yes, failed policies. FDR never fixed the economy: the war did. It is essential that Obama not be allowed to spin his way out of this mess. His spending programs are literally creating the seeds of rampant inflation and currency devaluation. These are inevitable, and once that happens, we will also probably be experiencing the Obama version of Carter's "deflation." 

These policies must be stopped and we must fire with fire. The Rules For Radical strategy that got Obama into the White House must be used to defeat him. More on that as the coming weeks and months pass. 

One thing: we must encourage the Republicans and the moderate Democrats to "just say NO!" Yes, being the party of NO is exactly where the opposition must be. It must say NO to the truly bad ideas. Incidentally, the Democrats managed to win the White House and the majority in the Congress by saying no and being obstructionists. The current minority must continue to say NO!!

CAP & TRADE

Ok, the House voted because the leadership "whip" process pulled out "all the stops" to get the votes. I am convinced that the leadership actually knows that the Senate will never pass the measure, hence all those who voted for the bill will have the cover with their constituents who want the bill, whole the rest of the Democrats who were at risk in their districts were given a pass. This tax in my mind is the most bizarre act of legislative folly I could imagine.

I am not convinced that Global warming is actually happening, but even if it were, this bill is an irrational effort, supported by radical advocates for environmental causes; not a single one of which seems to evidence any knowledge of basic economics. Further, the United States has more energy resources in the form of oil, oil shale, coal and world class nuclear technology that could, and candidly should, be used to create energy independence from the scourge of the Middle East. 

Over ten years ago, I started arguing for us to have a "Mission to the Moon" commitment to be energy independent. I know that we must make change happen in order to accomplish that, but had we actually committed to that goal ten years ago, we would be at least half the way there. As has been stated by many commentators, France currently generates over 80% of their energy needs from nuclear power. Combine nuclear, with clean coal technology that is already available, with oil shale, with further oil exploration in Anawar and off shore, plus the potential contributions of solar, wind and bio fuels, we have the opportunity to make major headway. The key: No tax, CAP & Trade, required. Just do what we already know how to do, and use existing economically viable options that are prevented by environmental fanatics. 

It is actually obvious to anybody who might care about objective thought, that this Cap & Trade Legislation is driven by the "Climate Change" protagonists and the big government advocates. Yes, Climate Change is now what they are arguing because they are now beginning to get significant scientific opposition to the warming arguments. Indeed, there is climate change, and some of it might be influenced by humans, but through the millennium, well before we created "green house gasses" the environmental impacts of life created those gasses and if they caused environmental change, few thought so. 

But I digress: This bill must be defeated when it gets to the Senate. It will not change Climate Change one iota; it will not add jobs, indeed it will kill jobs in the coal industry and will clearly drive activity oversees where the companies will not be required to pay the tax for using energy. 

Obama's Leadership Challenge

I have had a pretty strange few days. From taking time off to visit with my family to being a bit "under the weather" with some type of flu; I have had some time to reflect on the various events during the last week or so. I am actually much fascinated by what has happened in the US and world events. Indeed, I am not just fascinated, I am actually intellectual intrigued with what is happening, and believe that events are moving far too fast for the President. In the long run, I predict he will lose control. 

Admittedly, I am quite unhappy with what Barack Obama has been doing, and I have expressed those views on many occasions in this Blog. But, that said, I am also intrigued by the leadership issues that the country, and Barack Obama seem to be facing. These issues are huge, deep and broad, and they are having a significant impact on our country and on the President.

We have a President, who has come to the conclusion that winning an election gives him the mandate for "change." He promised that in his campaign, and he believes he is obligated to deliver. He is emboldened by the fact that the Democrats in Congress, who probably are not as radical as the President, but are almost as "left wing liberal" in their thinking. 

What I mean by "left wing liberal" is that they all fundamentally believe that big government is the only way that justice can be achieved in the society. They believe that they, will always have better answers than the public and the market. They are intellectual elites, who masquerade as being "of the people." They want a welfare state for two critical reasons: 1) because they believe that they can help the less fortunate, and only they can do it, and 2) because by having the welfare state, they can control the "masses" and the way the masses vote. 

President Barack Obama believes that his mandate must be achieved, or he will be at risk, and I actually agree with that. He rode to office on a wave of populism financed by wealthy "do gooders" and small contributions from the "masses" who believe that he will solve all their economic problems by "taxing the rich." Wealth transfer is what his entire program is all about. He truly does intend to "redistribute wealth" and every, yes every society that has attempted to do that has killed economic growth; stopped individual initiative, and driven wealth from the society. AND...every one of those societies has taken away most individual liberties. 

This is the leadership issue facing Obama, and facing the country. Obama will only be a second term President if he delivers on his promises to the masses who voted with their hearts. Yet, the true dilemma for him is that he is also about to create an economic nightmare, which I am convinced will lead to rampant "stagnation in growth" and inflation in prices. That was called "stagflation" and I believe it is inevitable. In addition, I am convinced that this economic scenario will also create huge monetary system problems for the US when the other countries decide that the dollar is so devalued that they do not want to "hold dollar denominated debt." Once that happens, the dominant role of the US economy will evaporate, and our leadership as an economic power will take us down the road of Europe. 

Conservatives, no liberty loving Americans, who believe in the core principles of liberty, equality, Justice and the capitalistic system, must not allow these radical, "trans-formative" progressives take us down the "Road to Serfdom." 

The Bus

Ok, so how many readers expected Barack Obama to throw Israel under the Iran bus? Not even I thought that he would be so overtly pro Muslim and anti Jew. I am not accusing him of anything but ignorance and arrogance, but the Jews have a much larger reason to suspect this man of all manner of things.

For our President to abandon the only true democracy in the Middle East is appaling. Not even the debacle in Iran's election can explain his behavior. Any real hope that the "opposition" would be materially different than the current regime is fantasy. Iran us a theocratic dictatorship, a d the secular "leader" is irrelevant, except as a "mouthpiece" for the dictators. Israel, on the other hand, must feel naked in the wind. If Iran and the Palestinians are not dancing in the streets, it us only because now they have a real chance of total domination in that region, and the real prospect of having nuclear weapons to back it up. Jews will then be looking fir a new "homeland."I know that us very pessimistic, but it is not easy to see a positive future with the Obama "sell out."

Well, I may have been wrong, but...

Tragic. I must admit, I am truly saddened by the Supreme Court decision not to take the case. I truly believe that this was a constitutional issue and represents a significant abuse of power and an abrogation of property rights. This was an opportunity for the court to look carefully at the issue and make a reasoned judgment on the merits of the arguments, not on the political winds created by a President who wants to save Chrysler. This is a "sweetheart deal" for Fiat and the unions, and they were not going to walk away before the court decided the issue.

Wow...Was I wrong!

I must admit, I was completely wrong. I predicted that Judge Ginsberg would not allow for a review of the Petition by the Indiana Pension funds to challenge the Chrysler bankruptcy petition. As you probably know, l I believe that this action by the Obama administration is a complete violation of our well founded property rights and the protection of secured creditors. I would probably have bet that she would deny a review, but for whatever reason, she agreed to allow the review. I am delighted, I just hope that the issues get a fair hearing, because I am convinced that this move is a constitutional violation by the overreaching Obama administration.

Hussein Speaks out

Yes, Mr. Hussein is speaking out today in the Middle east. Apparently he is going to remind the Muslim world that his father was a Muslim; his early youth he lived in the largest Muslim country and he has great friends in the Chicago Muslim community, and that the United States has enough Muslims to make us one of the largest Muslim Nations in the world. Yes, he is clearly rooted in the Muslim faith, so the Muslim world should not fear him, they should embrace him.

That is truly wonderful outreach. The only problem is that Hussein, is Barack Hussein Obama. Yes, the same man, who as a candidate, did not want to have his middle name used. Now, it is ok. Why?

The White House talking points say that we Americans should be happy to hear that Mr. Hussein is an American, and that he is our President. Yes, Our president is "out of the closet." He is now talking openly in public about his Muslim roots. We should all be happy, right?

No, I am not happy, and I am not willing to have my President refer to us as a Muslim Nation. That is patently absurd, and I resent it greatly. I realize that he is trying to reach out to the Muslim world to convince them that we are a nation not at war with Islam, but in my view he needs to turn that around and also say, that there is no reason for Islam radicals to be at war with us. That we are a nation of peacemakers, not war makers. We have done more than any nation in the world to protect freedom, and candidly, it is time our President defend our nation for the good that it has done; not apologize for what he thinks we have done wrong; or at least what some in the world think we have done wrong.

I am not ashamed for my country, I remain proud, and I do not need my President apologizing for me or my fellow Americans. The great irony is that just moments ago, apparently Osama, not Obama, Bin Laden released a statement that criticized the President as one with President Bush. Oh my goodness, the President's outreach just did not get to Osama. Well maybe the President will need to apologize to him for having the Twin towers in the flight path of the the airplanes his murderous goons flew into New York City. Maybe that will make Osama like us.

The National "Date"

I know that I run the risk of being considered a cold hearted, insensitive and "unloving" human being, but I am candidly enraged by the Obama date. Most of you know that I spend a great deal of my time trying to convince leaders around the world that they should "Lead with Love." Indeed, that is the name of my next book, and I am passionate about the message. Hence, for me to argue against this act of love on Obama's part must seem petty.

First, Lead with Love has nothing to do with Loving ones wife. It has everything to do about Loving our associates. Loving them as fellow humans and recognizing that they are members of the human species, and consequently they should be treated with great concern for their whole being.

Sorry for that, but I believe that message, and try to walk the talk every day. I believe President Obama has insulted the American people with this probably $100,000 trip to New York for his "date night." Sorry, I think it reflects, not his commitment to keep a promise to his wife; but rather an arrogant use of public resources to satisfy his own ego and self possessed behavior. Candidly, most PC persons will stay away from this issue, but in my mind it is clear evidence of just how self centered this President is. In my view, like it or not; as President, he needs to understand that he lives in a bubble and must get over this. " I want to be normal." He is not normal, and he certainly owes his fellow citizens in a country going through very tough times, a little respect by not using the powers and the resources to engage in a fantasy date.

The problem is; the press and the fawning public actually will end up saying, "Oh, he is working so hard, he deserves a break." Sorry, I do not agree, and I think it is a shameful display of arrogance.