Libertarian Commentary #16-07B by Nathan A Barton
Irrational actions: Grocery store chains (Krogers, Safeway/Albertsons, etc.) have long been some of the most ardent of supporters of the USDA’s welfare program for families (“food stamps,” now called SNAP. Will this change? CNS News reports that grocery stores must now expand their “healthy food choices” by having a minimum of 168 items per store, which would be required to offer “seven varieties of qualifying foods in four staple food groups for sale on a continuous basis, along with perishable foods in at least three of the four staple food groups.” The staple foods groups are dairy products; breads and cereals; meats, poultry and fish; and fruits and vegetables.
In addition, the proposal calls for retailers to stock at least six units within each variety, leading to a total of at least 168 required food items per store. Stores which do not do this (provided the proposed rule is put in place, which is highly likely) will not be able to participate, giving up vast revenues. But can they? 168 food items is a LOT in a small convenience-store setting; this very well may see many stores in rural and AmerInd communities being dropped, and even in urban areas, for example the micro-stores that you have at Safeway or King Soopers fuel outlets. Or will the stores buckle under and replace items that people want to buy (and pay their OWN money for), with these mandated items? Government money ALWAYS comes with strings, as we see once again. Continue reading
Reality is overrated.
Libertarian Commentary #16-07C By Nathan Barton
Reality is “malleable,” at least if you are a politician (or a con-man. there’s really not much difference at the root of it). If they say it long enough and loud enough, they figure that we will believe it. And they themselves might believe it, too. (And they certainly pretend to, right now.) Here are some examples.
“I continue to believe Mr. Trump will not be president,” Obama said while speaking at a press conference in Rancho Mirage, California, according to ABC News. “And the reason is because I have a lot of faith in the American people.”(Sure! A lot of faith that we will continue to be have like a bunch of suckers!} Obama told reporters he believed Americans still see the presidency as “a serious job.”{Yup! A really serious con-job.) “It’s not hosting a talk show, (Nope, just always being a GUEST on a talk show.) or a reality show. (Hmmm. The scripts may be a bit better written, but that is a matter of difference in degree and not kind.) It’s not promotion, it’s not marketing,” (That is EXACTLY what it is, not just running for President, but sitting in the Oval Office and vacationing around the world.) Obama said. “It’s hard and a lot of people count on us getting it right.”
Yup. Lying is always harder than telling the truth. Con-men work really hard. Just not for very long at a time. And all those Tranzis and puppet masters are counting on the giggles continuing. Continue reading →