Libertarian commentary on the news, #14-35C: Insanity in the news

Posted on 2014-09-03 by TPOL Nathan

by Nathan Barton

Good morning.  Insanity is a serious problem today, especially in government, education, and Islam.  Today’s news stories show what I mean. Insanity in government and more:

California’s demonstrably insane legislature has sent a plastic bag ban law to Governor Moonbeam, the first statewide ban in the US, and supported by many GOP lawmakers once they were allowed to “protect” bag manufacturers.  Who will protect the people?  Both paper and cloth bags have been demonstrated, time after time, in labs and elsewhere, to contain more bacteria and other detrimental items, cost more, cause as much or more problem with waste collection, landfills, and litter.  When you worship Gaea and other demonic “gods” in new religions like environism, you get even MORE stupid than the average legislator. Continue reading →

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Libertarian commentary on the news, #14-35B: The Blame Game

Posted on 2014-09-02 by TPOL Nathan

By Nathan Barton

Good afternoon!  Have you noticed it is always easier to pin the blame on someone else than to take responsibility for your own actions?  Today’s news has a few examples of that.

When faced with a crisis, the “good” government bureaucrat knows all the  best ways to defuse the situation, and one of the best is to demand or order an investigation that will produce a predetermined and favorable report, that (a) the problem was minor, (b) it was fixed, (c) it was someone else’s fault, and (d) it will never ever happen again. Continue reading →

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Libertarian commentary on the news, #14-35A: Collapse, chaos, and corruption.

Posted on 2014-09-02 by TPOL Nathan

By Nathan Barton

Good morning. In the UK, it appears that society is racing towards complete fragmentation and collapse.  No, not the upcoming vote on Scots independence (which seems more and more to likely be a sham),but the increasingly brutal and overt kidnapping and rape and prostitution of women by Muslim males, both in groups and individually, euphemistically called “Asian men” and said to be “grooming” (nice euphemistic term there, too), and ignored by communities and the authorities for fear of retribution and being condemned for racism and profiling.  It seems pretty well documented that thousands of girls are being turned into sex-slaves or killed/dying.  Continue reading →

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Libertarian commentary on the news, #14-34E: Military? Civilian? Does it matter?

Posted on 2014-09-01 by TPOL Nathan

By Nathan Barton

War is not fun.  It may be exhilarating, it may be fulfilling for some, but it is death and destruction on a scale that is often difficult to comprehend. War is not good, even if necessary.  It is also one of man’s most common activities, whether it is a raid on an enemy village to steal horses and count coup, or massive, mechanized invasions of hundreds of thousands of incredibly well-equipped men in either defense or offensive. Continue reading →

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Libertarian commentary on the news, #14-34D: Bad day for too many.

Posted on 2014-08-28 by TPOL Nathan

by Nathan Barton

Good morning, unless you are in most parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe.  (A short commentary today, due to appointments and travel.)

The Caliphate continues to fight and grow in Mesopotamia, it seems. USA Today reports that “Muslim leaders gathered Monday on the steps of Dearborn City Hall [Michigan] to strongly condemn the Islamic State or ISIS, saying the militant group in Iraq and Syria doesn’t represent Islam or Muslims. ISIS members are ‘crazy criminals who are abusing our religion,’ said Imam Mohammed Elahi of the Islamic House of Wisdom in Dearborn Heights. ‘You’re a bunch of gangsters … you’re not Islamic.'”   Well, I am glad to see that a few Muslims, apparently American ones, are condemning the Caliphate.  But I wonder how quickly these will be condemned by other Muslims as apostates who must die?  And it is now reported that hundreds of “Americans” are fighting for ISIS and that a second one just died. Continue reading →

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Libertarian commentary on the news, #14-34C: More stupidity and cruelty.

Posted on 2014-08-27 by TPOL Nathan

By Nathan Barton

Good morning.  We usually fail to properly consider the impact of stupidity on human events and society.  Here are some great examples.

Immigration and drought threaten California’s economy, according to an article published by NCPA.  Twelve percent of the United States population lives in California, yet, staggeringly, over 30 percent of America’s welfare recipients are located in the state.  Non-corporate recipients, at least.  But I think the article does not get to the root of the problem.  Both “excessive” immigration and drought are problems that can be dealt with by a healthy society and a sound economy, in which people can voluntarily do things together to solve problems. Continue reading →

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Libertarian commentary on the news, #14-34B: Terrorists

Posted on 2014-08-26 by TPOL Nathan

by Nathan Barton

Good afternoon.  Terrorism is in the eye of the beholder, but clearly the world is full of it, and terrorists.

When I first read the headline of this article in The Nation, “How the War on Terror created the world’s most powerful terror group,” I thought it was talking about the FedGov.  Silly me.  They are writing about the Caliphate, or ISIS.  But they are not accurate because they do not consider “legit” governments of nation-states to be terrorist organizations. Continue reading →

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Libertarian commentary on the news, #14-34A: More Missouri Misery

Posted on 2014-08-25 by TPOL Nathan

By Nathan Barton

Good morning! Some news items from last week to start the week off, so enjoy!

This story is troubling on several fronts.  Police raided a church building in relation to the protests at Ferguson. Their reason (or excuse) was that people were living (actually, sleeping) in the building and that the building was the site of meetings to plan the protests.  A heavily armed squad arrived, without a warrant, apparently and demanded entry to search, and a rector let them in and promised to evict anyone found.  Then the cops came back later, rinse, repeat. This is truly evil and insane.  No warrant , and a reason that indicates as far as the state of Missouri is concerned, there is NO religious liberty.  If churches have their building subject to any petty little zoning regulation the local thus, elected and appointed, can dream up, then every activity a religious organization does is subject to prohibition. Continue reading →

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The Denial of Due Process May Bankrupt Universities

Posted on 2014-08-24 by MamaLiberty

By Gordon E. Finley, Ph.D.

With now literally hundreds of editorials and op-eds taking positions both pro and con on California’s SB 967 – as well as the broader issue of “affirmative consent” for sexual relations — it is virtually certain that the California legislature will pass and send to Governor Brown’s desk SB 967 in the coming week.  The bill is titled: “Student safety: sexual assault.”  Continue reading →

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Libertarian commentary on the News, #14-33F: Blessings and curses

Posted on 2014-08-23 by TPOL Nathan

by Nathan Barton

Good morning.  As things seem to spiral downward both at home and abroad, it never hurts to realize that we have many blessings.  So (at risk of ticking off people who do not believe) join me in being thankful (to God) for the prosperity and liberty we still do have.  And all the other blessings, not the least of which is that most who call themselves libertarian are willing to tolerate those who believe in the Creator (or not). Continue reading →

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