Libertarian commentary on the news, #15-05A: This and that

Posted on 2015-02-03 by TPOL Nathan

By Nathan Barton

Good morning: work and weather and travel kept me from posting anything yesterday, but here are a few stories of interest today.

In Kermit, Texas, in the Permian Basin, which used to be a nice place to live, the schools have gone as stupid and crazy as in the rest of the world.  A 9-year-old has again run afoul of the authorities and gotten a three-day suspension.  The first time was for calling a classmate “black,” although the young man WAS “black” – African-American or “Negro.”  The second time was when he took his copy of the “Big Book of Knowledge” to show his classmates the pictures of the Solar System, and the teacher saw that the BBK had a picture of a PREGNANT woman – clothed mind you, but PG!  This time he took a toy ring to school claiming it was the Ring to Rule the Rings and telling a classmate that if he wore the ring, he would become invisible. Of course, that was viewed as a terrorist threat.  Insanity is almost certainly catching: you get it from teachers.  At least teachers in government-run, theft-funded schools like the one in Kermit. Continue reading →

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Libertarian Commentary on the News, #14-04E: Decline and Collapse

Posted on 2015-01-30 by TPOL Nathan

By Nathan Barton

Good morning: the theme of many stories today is “Decline and Collapse.”  How quickly is the system, the society, the civilization collapsing?  Here are some examples.

Educational system collapse:  The schools continue to decline ever more rapidly.  Back in the 1950s and 1960s, chewing gum on the floor (and under the desks) used to be the most serious problem.  Today, 50+ years later, it seems it is students supposedly dumping poop on the floor, or at least in one Texas school, where the teachers initiated “poop inspections” to see who did it. Yes, to put it mildly, that DOES violate the privacy of students, and so no surprise that some are complaining.  People, get your children OUT of these places!  Now! Please!  (I just thought that perhaps the quality of these government-run, tax-funded schools is even worse than we thought!  This small town in Comanche County, Texas, is apparently teaching its students how to become EPA bureaucrats.  (Remember the story from EPA Region VIII in Denver about employees smearing feces on the walls and floors?)) Continue reading →

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Human Basics: Liberty in Action (was: Libertarian Commentary on the News, #15-04D)

Posted on 2015-01-29 by TPOL Nathan

By Nathan Barton

Good morning.  Let us look at two basics of human life today, to start.  Marriage and health care.

Judge Roy Moore of the Alabama Supreme Court is back in the news, telling his governor and legislature that the federal judge has NO AUTHORITY to strike down the state’s constitutional amendment defining marriage as a single man and a single woman (regardless of sexual orientation). Now, a Nazgul is a Nazgul, but still… Given the decision of the SCOTUS to take up the issue, this may have significant impact.  But this pushes to the heart of the entire issue as to whether the FedGov is a NATIONAL government or the servant of the Fifty States: whether the FedGov and a very few judges (5, to be precise) can dictate basic English definitions and moral issues to the Fifty States or to the people.  (The issue of whether ANY government can dictate such things to the people is a separate issue.)  Moore is very controversial, and was removed from office only to be reelected in 2012; he seems to be supported by 81 percent of the State of Alabama’s voters, at a minimum. And even attorneys can sometimes be right! Continue reading →

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Perfect, The Enemy Of The Good

Posted on 2015-01-28 by MamaLiberty

By MamaLiberty

Or… who in heck gets to determine the “perfect” or the “good?” I mean, for anyone else…

Ever hear gun owners, for instance, spend inordinate amounts of time and effort arguing about what gun, ammunition, accessories or practices are “best” and, all too often, sneering at any who don’t share their preferences? Sure you do… and even though the 9mm vs .45 wars are mostly funny these days, when taken to extreme this type of argument probably serves to discourage more than a few new shooters, people tempted to leap off the fence between “gun control” and freedom. When these new people visit our fora and blogs, do they get mostly courteous answers to their questions, or blistering ridicule for their questions and initial choices? You know that the latter is all too common. Continue reading →

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Libertarian Commentary on the News, #15-04C: Dumb predictions, dumber government

Posted on 2015-01-28 by TPOL Nathan

By Nathan Barton

This was the news yesterday and overnight: Northeast coast of America on unprecedented lockdown: Shutdown hits 60 million people, bringing roads, tunnels, trains, bridges and businesses to standstill, and 3′ of snow threatens country’s most densely-populated areas. There were driving bans, threats of arrest, canceled planes, closed railways and metro systems and tunnels froze giant cities in five states. People are effectively banned from going outside as states of emergency were declared. A storm threatening to dump 3′ of snow from New Jersey to Massachusetts prompted states of emergency to be declared, with metro systems in New York City and Boston shut, and threats of $500 fines for drivers on roads barred in the evening to all but emergency vehicles. A 1/5 of the population of the U.S. was advised to shelter from the storm, with driving bans forcing a large swath of New York state, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts from the roads to make room for plows, police and ambulances. Governors and mayors told people to stay for all but the most vital reasons, while panicked residents cleaned out stores in anticipation of days trapped behind huge drifts of snow before the rigorous emergency measures kick in. Continue reading →

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Libertarian Commentary on the News, #15-04B: Stupid enough to gag me

Posted on 2015-01-27 by TPOL Nathan

By Nathan Barton

I get so very sick and disgusted at the way cities and states beg Congress for more and more “aid” (read “stolen money”) for various things: especially transportation.  As with education and medical care and care for the ‘indigent,” all federal money does is mean MORE waste and MORE corruption, and in reality, the more money Congress “gives” the less useful it is, and the more problems develop.  Nevertheless, with the new Congress, all the beggars in their $1200 suits are there, hands out. Continue reading →

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Libertarian Commentary on the News, #15-04A: Bogus or real?

Posted on 2015-01-26 by TPOL Nathan

By Nathan Barton

Good morning.  I’m on the road, so a short list of comments today.

All of these have a single theme: can we really believe what we hear and read about people, and the actions they are taking? Or are the alternative media just as biased and bogus as the mainstream media?  Consider these few and decide for yourself.

Look, we know that cops are often (not always, I admit) corrupt and use their power for their own personal reasons, and that sometimes we can’t figure out what their reasons are.  I recall more than 45 years ago learning of the corruption and the way sheriff’s deputies in a rural Kansas county picked out victims to harass as a kind of game, and I recall two decades ago how small-city police officers attempted to intimidate ordinary citizens for no reason except anger and a desire to hurt. Continue reading →

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Judge Alleges “Fraud on the Court”

Posted on 2015-01-25 by MamaLiberty

From David Codrea at WarOnGuns

Mama’s Note: When even judges start to notice the stink… it makes me wonder just what all else is being swept under the rug. Actually, a rug wouldn’t begin to cover it all, especially after all this time. They must have dug a big trench. Please consider posting this to all of your favorite fora and rights blogs.

Judge alleges ‘fraud on the court’ by government attorneys in Dobyns case

“[T]he court … issued an order voiding the prior judgment based upon indications that the defendant [ATF], through its counsel, had committed fraud on the court,” Allegra wrote. “[F]raud on the court consists of conduct: 1. On the part of an officer of the court; 2. That is directed to the ‘judicial machinery’ itself; 3. That is intentionally false, willfully blind to the truth, or is in reckless disregard for the truth; 4. That is positive averment or is concealment when one is under duty to disclose; 5. That deceives the court.”

Today’s Gun Rights Examiner report provides further evidence of the corrupt arrogance that is the trademark of Eric Holder’s Justice Department, which itself has the tone set for what it thinks it can get away with by the Obama administration.

As with “Fast and Furious,” this is dangerous stuff to be involved with unless and until it can gain wider exposure, and if it does, those bringing this information out can expect to be mercilessly smeared. Still, and because of that, I’m asking everyone who considers him or herself a Bill of Rights advocate to take action by sharing this far and wide, including chiding other media to report on this, and by making investigation expectations known to Rep Chaffetz of House Oversight (@jasoninthehouse) and Sen Grassley of Senate Judiciary (@ChuckGrassley).

As “experience hath shewn,” exposure and light are the best defenses against corruption relying on staying hidden in the shadows.

[Republished with permission from David Codrea]

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“The NRA Is Facing Disaster.”

Posted on 2015-01-24 by MamaLiberty

By MamaLiberty

As reported at Sipsey Street Irregulars:

“The NRA Is Facing Disaster.” Yup, you guessed it. The ATF snitch John Brown rears his ugly head again.

Based on many other details published here, Brown appears to be little more than a stalking horse for the BATFE, allowing NFATCA to act as an independent, “civilian” organization that rubber stamps and validates regulations the ATF wishes to impose. Having him on the Board of the NRA would just give more credence to his words and very likely will undermine the effectiveness of the NRA’s work against further encroachment of our rights. These details were found in all of five minutes’ worth of internet searching on his name. How was this not found earlier? Are our nomination committee candidates not being vetted? Or do the committee members see no danger or inappropriateness in this submission? This candidacy should be withdrawn immediately or, if not, this man should not be allowed a seat on our (sic) Board.

As most readers here already know, I am no longer a member of the NRA, even though I continue as an NRA Certified instructor. The idea that they would even entertain the nomination of a sworn enemy to the board is reason to think that the NRA has finally outlived any possible use to the rational gun owning public. But I hope I’m wrong. I hope they will come to their senses and eliminate this threat, and work hard for however many years it takes to repair all of the damage they’ve done to liberty and justice, both here and previously.

In any case… spread the word. If you are still an NRA member, do what you can to make sure they get the message.

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Libertarian Commentary on the News, #15-03D: Offended religiously

Posted on 2015-01-23 by TPOL Nathan

By Nathan Barton

Good morning! Offense and religious attitudes feature in these next three articles.  A short commentary today; as am traveling.

Religious wars?  In Texas, Governor Rick Perry transferred his authority to new Governor Greg Abbott in an interesting and controversial ceremony this week, ending his time as Texas’ longest-serving governor.  Part of this included passing on a copy of a Bible which has been used by Texan governors since Texas joined the Union in 1845, and Perry underlined a passage as a “gift” to the new governor (Matthew 20:25-28: 25 But Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and the men of high position exercise power over them. 26 It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  27and whoever wants to be first among you must be your•slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life — a ransom for many.”)  This frosted any number of anti-religion groups and activists, but at the same time both Abbott and the incoming Lieutenant Governor quoted (and cited book, chapter, and verse) numerous Bible passages in their speeches, which led to widespread condemnations from various groups that want to see no religion (except humanism and its relatives: environism and evolution and atheism) in public life.  My problem with this is that the people reading and quoting these passages, especially that one in Matthew, CANNOT or WILL NOT apply that teaching to their own offices and actions and government.  Note that it is those who claim NOT to be religious that are offended here. Continue reading →

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