The War of 1812 and the Ravages of War – Lessons NOT Learned

Posted on 2014-09-14 by TPOL Nathan

By Nathan Barton

This year we note the 200th Anniversary of the Battles of Baltimore and Fort McHenry, and of Washington, all part of the British invasion of the States in the War of 1812.

Although there were legitimate reasons (in my opinion) to go to war, Congress decided (with significant opposition) that this was an opportunity for imperialism: to conquer and annex Canada.  The British saw it as a chance to reverse the disaster of 1783, and invaded, again in the name of imperialism.  A lot of AmerInd nations got caught in the middle, as did ordinary Americans and Canadians (who fought courageously in defense of their own homes). Continue reading →

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Libertarian commentary on the News, #14-36E: The problems with government are…

Posted on 2014-09-13 by TPOL Nathan

By Nathan Barton

…too long to list, and keep to under 1,000 words.  But good morning, anyway, and here is a few stories and quotes that attracted my attention today.

Anyway, Good morning! I haven’t commented on quotes much recently, but here are two that struck my interest.  “In framing a government, which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed, and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.”  James Madison (1751-1836), is called the Father of the Constitution for the USA, and was 4th US President. Continue reading →

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The Caliphate and the Fuehrer

Posted on 2014-09-12 by TPOL Nathan

By Nathan Barton

On Wednesday night, interfering (supposedly) with the Wednesday night Bible class or prayer meeting of millions of Americans, the Fuehrer gave a grand speech about fighting the Caliphate (which he insists on calling ISIL – which is NOT the “International Society for Individual Liberty” (I think)).  But even liberal and conservative media seemed to agree on a few things, at least, some of which are several things I think are clear: Continue reading →

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Libertarian commentary on the news, #14-36D: This and that

Posted on 2014-09-11 by TPOL Nathan

By Nathan Barton

Good morning.  Yesterday, the Fuehrer gave the orders for dealing with the Caliphate – or so it was claimed.  Frankly, for such a speech and order on the night before the anniversary of Bloody Tuesday (9-11), the message made no sense.  More on that later: here is a short commentary for this Thursday, 11 SEP 2014. Continue reading →

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Libertarian commentary on the news, #14-36C: Get Real!

Posted on 2014-09-10 by TPOL Nathan

By Nathan Barton

Good morning.  We all WISH we had a horse and ice cream (and could eat it without feeling guilty or triggering nasty things in our bodies).  But most of us are adults and realize that some things are fantasies.  But not politicians and others of their ilk.

Mama’s Note: Not sure what you mean here Nathan… I do have a horse and I eat ice cream whenever I darn well want to. 🙂 Neither the horse nor the ice cream are essential for life, naturally, but I enjoy them both very much.

Nathan:  “If wishes were horses…” and “I scream, you scream…” when we are adults we realize that sometimes things cannot be as neat as we thought when we were children:  we’ve grown up and realize that unlimited ice cream for us to eat personally is not realistic: our eyes are bigger than our stomachs and we know it.  And horses are living creatures that come with responsibilities and costs and are not something on the shelf to take down as needed… Both are things to wish for and have, but reality has “strings.” Continue reading →

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Libertarian commentary on the news, #14-36B: The economy (or lack thereof)

Posted on 2014-09-09 by TPOL Nathan

By Nathan Barton

Good morning. When it comes  to economics, the economy, and markets, government EXCELS in making stupid mistakes and then making MORE stupid mistakes to “fix” the first one(s).  After doing this for a century-plus, it is no wonder things are so badly messed up. Continue reading →

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More Practice and Plans

Posted on 2014-09-08 by MamaLiberty

By MamaLiberty

Last time, in “How Do You Practice for Self Defense,” I outlined the first of the “dry fire” exercises I recommend to all my students. When you are happy with your progress there, you will be ready to work on the next one. Remember that these exercises are cumulative, not consecutive. Continue to be aware of and practice previously honed skills as you advance to new things. Never forget that in an emergency, filled with fear and adrenalin, you will respond as you have trained. Continue reading →

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Libertarian Commentary on the News, #14-36A: We told you so.

Posted on 2014-09-08 by TPOL Nathan

By Nathan Barton

Good morning!  Interesting stories from  the  weekend and last week about messes we find ourselves in.

We told you so: From Colorado, an object lesson in tax evasion. The voters of Colorado approved a referendum two years ago legalizing recreational marijuana (medical was already legal). One of the arguments was that it would create more revenue for state government because of how legal pot would be taxed.  They even ran the numbers and projected $33.5 million in revenue during the first half of 2014. And they were right, but way off on the estimate. Continue reading →

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Politics and Engineering

Posted on 2014-09-07 by TPOL Nathan

By Nathan Barton

​I am an engineer, and I am involved, oddly enough, in politics.  This is, in both American and world history, a fairly rare situation.  Look at the rosters of Congress and of State legislatures, and you will find few engineers: lots of lawyers (of course) and medical doctors and educators and now and then a few (career) soldiers, but not many engineers.  There are only two engineers who were elected president, or so it is claimed.  In reality, Hoover was a career bureaucrat and politician, and Carter was (besides an embarrassment) an engineer in the way that a train or other operating engineer is: most Navy “nuclear” engineers are not really engineers: they service and operate the equipment; they do not design and seldom solve problems. Continue reading →

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Stop!! Or I’ll Yell STOP Again!

Posted on 2014-09-05 by MamaLiberty

‘Active Shooter’ Drills Spark Raft of Legal Complaints
Wall Street Journal on-line DENVER—When Michelle Meeker approached a strange man last October at the Colorado nursing home where she worked, the man flashed a gun and forced her into an empty room as she tearfully begged for her life, she said.

Unbeknown to Ms. Meeker, the gunman was a local police officer and the entire episode a drill, arranged by the retirement home’s management to prepare employees for an armed-intruder scenario.

A friend sent this to me this morning, asking what I thought of it. I spent a number of years participating in community emergency drills, was the emergency shelter nurse for a long time, and have spent a good part of the last ten years as a certified firearms and self defense instructor. I’ve been a professional educator for nursing a good part of my life besides, so I have a fair idea of how people learn, as well as how they respond to emergencies. Continue reading →

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