Real world problems: floods and droughts, hurricanes and blizzards, tornadoes and hail #3 Floods and hurricanes

Posted on July 16, 2025 by TPOL Nathan

Politics and political troubles, like other forms of war, distract us from real-world problems that can and do harm and even kill us. While many are man-made entirely, others are natural events. Natural? Yes, but influenced and modified (made worse) by humans.

But not necessarily all of them. Despite the screams from various groups, not every weather-related problem or disaster is the fault of humans. Or even of governments.

The recent massive number and size of tornadoes and thunderstorms in many of the States are an example of that. So are the recent massive amounts of precip in Texas and New Mexico. (And the droughts in many areas, we remind everyone.)

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Goodbye, California?

Posted on July 15, 2025 by TPOL Nathan

Newsweek, one of the pitiful remnants of the print mainstream media, just before Independence Day published an article telling us that polls show that more Californians than ever (44% of those polled) want independence from the United States.

Here at The Price of Liberty, our first thought is “good luck, have fun, goodbye.” Oh, and don’t come crawling back when your mess gets even worse.”

Who would be better off if California were to secede, or be kicked out of the Union? We argue that despite the big hole in the economies of the remaining 49 States, the other States would be the primary winners. Much better off. Especially given how many people would flee California if that were to happen. (See the observation at the end of this commentary for some thoughts on that.)

We warrant that under its current powers-that-be, California itself would be far worse off: With the core cities already approaching the economic and social conditions of some of the worst Third-World urban areas, this move would speed up the collapse of California. Led by the very “elites” who have worked so hard to create the modern situation.

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France – hope lost?

Posted on July 14, 2025 by TPOL Nathan

Today is Bastille Day. On this day, in 1789 (235 years back), a mob stormed the prison in Paris, the Bastille, to liberate a grand total of seven prisoners, none of them actually there for significant political reasons. Another “crowd” (mob) also attacked the Hotel des Invalides to get at the weapons stored there.

Today, as “le 14 jullet” and “la fete nationale” Bastille Day is the “national day” (NATO term) of the French Fifth Republic (since 1958).

The contrast between the “national days” and patriotic holidays of France and the United States is severe and educational.

We point out that both national holidays are in essence hypocritical: the ideals and conditions that led to the original events celebrated are still touted but in reality, lost in history.

But the great differences between the events so long ago (1776 in the States and 1789 in France) are reflected in not just the character and society of the two entities, but in their history and prospects for the future.

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Quotes to think about

Posted on July 11, 2025 by TPOL Nathan

As the Summer Violence Season (SVS) is apparently upon us for 2025, here are some quotes to think about. Lovers of liberty generally tend to be lovers of peace and prosperity. We want to treat others as we want to be treated; we eschew aggression, both physical, moral, and implied, against others because we don’t want to be aggressed against!

But as a certain science fiction writer once said, lovers of liberty are “small-mouthed pacificists.” We don’t start “rumbles” or “riots” but we see the need to end such things. To defend ourselves and others against aggression. And against tyranny, which can be characterized as “organized” or “official” aggression.

We also recognize that rhetoric is often more palatable than the actions of the persons making the speeches. And that it is easy to succumb to temptation to justify our own aggression (and that of others) as being defensive and moral in nature.

 “We fight not for glory, nor for riches, nor for honour, but only and alone for Freedom, which no good man lays down but with his life.” –Declaration of Arbroath, Scotland, 1320

“War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing worth a war, is worse. A man who has nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance at being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.” –British philosopher John Stuart Mill

“Whoever attentively considers the different departments of power must perceive, that, in a government in which they are separated from each other, the judiciary, from the nature of its functions, will always be the least dangerous to the political rights of the Constitution; because it will be least in a capacity to annoy or injure them.” –Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 78, 1788

“[T]he only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments.” –Benjamin Rush, On the Mode of Education Proper in a Republic, 1806

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Autocrat? Aristocrat? Authoritarian? Tyrant?

Posted on July 10, 2025 by TPOL Nathan

the The passing of the former One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) combined with the shocking claims by the DOJ and FBI regarding the infamous, deceased Jeffrey Epstein, combined with mass efforts by various parts of the judicial system, the Woke and other anti-Trumpers – and the media – have brought The Donald back into the (metaphorical) firing line.

Efforts to impeach him have gone nowhere. Although GOP types suspiciously are retiring/resigning from Congress narrowing the tiny Republican majority in the House of Representatives, so far there are not enough votes to get articles of impeachment, and Speaker Johnson both remains in power and in The Donald’s good graces. (We do wonder, now and then, at the real reasons that so many of these GOP representatives are hanging up their hats. Is it “influencers” who have replaced the old German Dritte Reich custom of shortening the lives of deputies? A “kinder and gentler” type of pressure? (At least kinder than what now seems to be the practice in today’s Russia and Ukraine. One wonders.)

As a result, various and sundry conservatives, Trumpistas, and even a few Libertarians have rallied to his defense. One of those is the popular (and assuredly hated) Victor Davis Hanson. He recently wrote this:

With all due respect, Mr. Hanson, following many of the precedents set by Obummer and Uncle Joe would definitely make The Donald an Autocrat. If not an outright authoritarian Tyrant. This isn’t much of a defense of the man.

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Five years ago – has anything changed?

Posted on July 9, 2025 by TPOL Nathan

Continuing to look at the insanity of the Pandemic Panic and the lockdown over Beer Flu (COVID-19), we ran across this cute meme from 2020.

Today, every few days we see another bait-click headline on the mainstream media news sites warning us that another “spike” of some variant of COVID-19, bird flu, swine flu, measles, etc. In Texas, in Florida, in the Central African Republic or wherever.

But what is particularly notable? The epidemic of stupidity continues to climb in numbers and impact across the nation and the world. Not just in DC, but in every State capitol. And indeed, most county seats and provincial headquarters around the world.

It is not just that the pitiful excuse for an education system and the rise of Woke insanity are causing this. No, it is because we are (as a nation and culture) cultivating idiocy. In large part by tolerating it. Especially among the so-called elite. Not just the Hollywood and Nashville and Manhattan elites, but the medical professions and the politicians. And the bureaucrats.

And the voters, even as we hear the clamor for more and more “democracy.”

Think on these things!

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What kind of leader?

Posted on July 8, 2025 by TPOL Nathan

What kind of leader uses threats to get his way?” This is a question a correspondent asked today. He is an American evangelist in Belgium, and the question was in regards to both domestic and foreign US politics and the war in Ukraine and Russia.

Here is our answer, at first from a religious point of view (as one of us here replied to his question), and then from a political philosophic point of view – of lovers of liberty. We believe them to be fully compatible.

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Beer flu saga continues

Posted on July 7, 2025 by TPOL Nathan

We here at TPOL recently looked back at some news stories and reports that interested us months and months ago. Particularly dealing with health care and health issues.

Let us share a few. They are old news, but still of interest. We will start with California

California Governor Orders Investigation Into Ultra-Processed Foods | The Epoch Times – This was reported back in January. Too bad we know that Newsom and the entire California Assembly (and government agencies) are corrupt and tyrannical – and even more than most governments. As we commented on in detail in another commentary, a recent poll (if we can trust Newsweek) claims that more Californians than ever (44%) want to secede from California. (They do not seem to realize that California would rapidly slide into a Third-World state (even more than it is already)).  And the rest of the States might benefit – provided the millions fleeing from California did not pollute the other States’ electorate.

What is interesting, looking back 6 months? The report was due in April but NOTHING has been reported: the only thing I’ve been able to find is this article about a bill in the California Assembly: Harmful ultraprocessed foods may be removed from billions of California school lunches | CNN The main gist of the article is how wonderful California is in upstaging RFKJr in this – though the bill isn’t expected to become law until August. Are we right to consider Newsom’s directive to be nothing but eyewash and a Potemkin village propaganda action at best, eh?

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We is “all gonna starve” if RFK Jr. isn’t banned

Posted on July 6, 2025 by TPOL Nathan

At least that is what the mainstream media is trying to sell us,

The latest – published in the Daily Mirror (US edition) and broadcast by MSN, has a nice scaremongering headline: 8 fast food items to disappear after RFK Jr.’s food dye ban.

The list of foods that will “disappear” is horrific! Look at this:

  • French fries
  • Chicken sandwiches (at least the “fast food” variety)
  • Burger and hot dog and sandwich buns
  • “Sugary” coffee drinks and milkshakes
  • Roast beef sandwiches (even without the buns!)
  • Tacos (but apparently not burritos or chimichangas?)
  • Macaroni and cheese and Chili cheese dogs
  • Glazed donuts and biscuits

Yes, we know that there is not a whole lot in common between, say, mac and cheese and chili cheese dogs. But that is how the highly-intelligent, public-minded, and professionally-trained writers and editors at the Daily Mirror grouped them together.

But there is more! The second paragraph of that incredibly-important and well-balanced news story has a link to what breakfast foods will also disappear. Obviously, since breakfast is “the most important meal of the day” (TM) this is even worse, though there are only seven and not eight:

  • Breakfast cereals – especially those with bright colors
  • Yogurt! Especially flavored versions
  • Pop Tarts (TM) and other toaster pastries
  • Oranges! (And here you thought that oranges were good for you!)
  • Stawberry-flavored milk
  • Baked goods (Hostess products are highlighted and have pictures to let you see what you are gonna miss!)

Although it is not one of the seven soon-to-be mourned foods for breakfast, the article ends with a warming that “some meats” apparently will go away.

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Things to ponder: the coming transition: Collapse and catastrophe? Or rebirth?

Posted on July 5, 2025 by TPOL Nathan

Cleaning up messages and files is never fun, but sometimes it triggers a fresh look at things worth sharing. Think about these things we at TPOL discussed back in early 2023.

Is the cup half-empty? Or half-full? We face such a situation, at least the way we interpret Martin Armstrong’s discussion on Addison Wiggins’ Wiggins Session for 14 December 2022:

There is simply no possible way to prevent the collapse of our Republican forms of government. But since the media always promotes one-sided leftist fake news, they will be leading us down the path of authoritarianism for the cancel culture is all about silencing any opposition.

As Sagan points out, without skepticism we are doomed. What we must start planning for is the reconstruction of a new form of government post-2032 when this one collapses like Communism from its own corruption and weight.

No revolution will be even needed.

Of course, while Armstrong (looking forward a decade) wrote of “our Republican forms of government,” we take his language in an ironic sense. We here at TPOL have never shied from stating our strong belief that the American Republic ended more than a century ago in the cataclysmic year of 1913. And that what we live under today in these States is an ever more corrupt, debased, and debauched democracy. And one which is rapidly sliding into more and more evil forms and actions of populist, regressive tyranny. (The last two+ years demonstrate this, do they not?)

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