Do we really need a POTUS?

A recent article by Paradigm writer James Altucher suggested that the US Presidency is a useless job and asks, then urges these States to abolish the position.

It is an interesting question. And James makes some excellent points.

This is not the first time we here at TPOL have pondered this question, and perhaps you have also, over the years. Right now, especially reading Jim’s recent posting?

Our considered opinion? We really do not need a president; certainly not one with powers and a full-time job.

Not just because we do not need the mandatory human government that State and Federal Constitutions have saddled us with – especially given how those founding documents have been warped and perverted.

And not just because it is an expensive conceit. And unlike the British royal family, does not currently pay for itself. (That of course ignores just how the British royals acquired that incredible wealth in the first place. It wasn’t just Christmas and Birthday gifts.

The traditional and modern American presidency has given us many of the problems that have developed into the painful circumstances we endure in 2024. We could do without those.

But we do have a question, dear readers, to ask: if we got rid of the presidency as we know it today, how quickly would someone come up with something as bad? Or worse?

That was the problem is 1787, after all. Too many people were too comfortable with having a king. They just didn’t like how that monarch was chosen. And some of the flipperies associated with him. But the Constitution gave unwise power to the man elected to that office. And didn’t even fence him in, as they tried to do (and failed) with Congress. (The judiciary is a totally different but equally disgusting situation.) Starting with the Whiskey Rebellion (if not before), even the sainted Washington succumbed to the temptations of exercising power. Power he knew to be dangerous. Even Tommy Jefferson was not entirely successful in resisting temptation.

It’s mostly been all downhill since then.

And we suffer as a result. And our suffering grows with each one elected and serving.

Worse, we know it, but we still tolerate it – and indeed, welcome it. The next one will be better. That is what we Americans tell ourselves. We should barf at the mere thought of that nonsense.

Alternatives for the Constitution-style Chief Executive require more commentary. But think about it, and suggest some possibilities? And the ups and downs of that, versus what we have now.

At this point, perhaps anything would be better. Perhaps even a truly figurehead hereditary monarchy with nothing but power of persuasion.

Let us know.

Posted in Guest commentary, Ideas for liberty, Nathan's Rants, Short Takes | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Dry and down?

The Four Corners of the American Southwest is one of the driest places in the States, and its climate is highly variable.

This has been the situation for millennia. There is significant evidence of periods of high precipitation, but most notably, periods of great drought. The abandonment of what we call cliff dwellings and the large cities and towns in Colorado and New Mexico in the 1200s is often attributed to a century-long super drought.

Today, for close to thirty years, the doomsayers have claimed that the region is again entering into a massive drought. These pronouncements of disaster took on new life in the past few weeks. Local radio stations reported that the immediate Four Corners area (Montezuma CO, San Juan UT, Apache AZ, and San Juan NM) in May 2024 received just 0.025 inches of precipitation: 2 percent of normal.

Thus this Cowpokes cartoon by Ace Reid comes home hard:

Continue reading
Posted in Commentary on the News, History of Liberty, Nathan's Rants | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bloody hands

Is there a single government – or a single federal elected official – who does not have blood on their hands? Male or female? Now in 2024 or in 1924 or in 1824?

We think the answer is no: they all have blood on their hands: they all have “blood guilt.” For various reasons, admittedly.

Continue reading
Posted in History of Liberty, Nathan's Rants | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Same old, same old on the gun control front?

I suppose we should, as one of us here at TPOL often says, not be surprised. Some people never give up. In case their cause is worthy and desirable, that is great. When they are bent on doing wrong, and when they are mentally unstable and challenged, it gets old.

In a move that has already sparked intense debate, U.S. Representative Lucy McBath (D, GA-7 – suburbs of Atlanta) has introduced a bill (HR-8600) in the US House of Representatives aiming to ban all gas-operated semi-automatic firearms. This proposal, labeled the “Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion” (GOSAFE) Act, was submitted on 3 June, ramping up discussions around gun control in the States.

Continue reading
Posted in Commentary on the News, Nathan's Rants | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Modern and Ancient Israel

“As for me and my house, we will serve…” No, not the State, but “YHWH: The LORD,” said Joshua ben Nun, the man who actually founded ancient Israel way back about 1400 BC. We know that at least some Israelites did so for the 1500 years that ancient Israel existed. Even though many – maybe most – lived up to the meaning of the name “Israel” – those who contend or struggle with God. After the three wars between the Jews and the Romans, from AD 67 to about AD 155, they were no longer a “nation” but remained a people. According to the Bible, their primary role in history had been fulfilled by that time, as a people of God. But they were still around. Their culture, their heritage, their identity survived. Unlike many ancient peoples: we have no one today claiming or providing evidence that they are ancient Etruscans, or Edomites, or Amelekites, or Hittites.

But we still have Hebrews, or Jews. And once again, many of those Hebrews have a nation. Located in their ancient homeland of Canaan.

Today there are many sincere people (and a very high number of insincere scam artists) who conflate ancient Israel with the modern 20th/21st Century State of Israel. In particular, for various reasons, many try to apply the promises and prophecies about the people of Israel to the nation-state created in 1948 and embattled since.

Continue reading
Posted in Commentary on the News, History of Liberty, Nathan's Rants | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Some animals are more equal than others because…

The Independent’s story about The Donald being banned from various and sundry countries seems almost gleeful to us here at TPOL. The list of 40 countries includes both Canada and the UK. The story writer seems convinced that the felony conviction will stand and will prevent Trump from carrying out his presidential duties. Felons can’t go there.

Now, TPOL has a number of problems with that. Hence our quote from George Orwell’s Animal Farm.

Continue reading
Posted in Commentary on the News, Nathan's Rants | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Are governments losing their wartime advantages?

Uncle Joe is reportedly fond of telling people that they don’t need their AR-16s and AK-47 for various reasons. Including the idea that if the FedGov turns tyrannical, those weapons are worthless against F-16 fighter jets and M-1 main battle tanks.

Well… dare we question Uncle Joe? The best friend Israel ever had in the White House? The man who single-handedly rescued us from the evil tyranny of The Donald? The man who sees and speaks to the dead?

Really? How much more sarcastic can we be? Rome had Nero and Caligula. We have Uncle Joe. Rome survived relatively intact in power and territory for almost 3 centuries after Little Boots went mad. How long can we survive? (Don’t hold your breath.) Anyway…

Western Journal recently reported that the very powerful, seemingly invincible M-1A1 Abrams main battle tank ain’t doing so hot in the Russo-Ukrainian War. Of the 30 sent to deal brother Zelenskyy, apparently five had (as of the end of April) been killed by Russian or Russophile insurrectionists in Ukraine.

Wow.

Continue reading
Posted in Commentary on the News, Ideas for liberty, Nathan's Rants | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The first “Felon POTUS”?

We are no great fans of The Donald here at TPOL. We haven’t shied away from saying that.

But we have even less respect and tolerance for Uncle Joe – We have been pretty clear about that, too.

And we have recently expressed our lack of any support for the degenerate libertarian just nominated by the LP.

We know nothing about Randall Terry, who is running on the Constitutional Party ticket – and most of us are not in States where they’ve made it to the ballot. It seems (as we write this) that their website has been hacked. We certainly cannot support the Greens, the Prohibition Party, or the Socialist Workers Party. (Virtually dead since the GOP and Dems alike have adopted Vlad’s platform – Vlad Lenin, not Vlad Putin.)

So NOTA (None of the Above) is going to be getting a few more votes this year.

Continue reading
Posted in Commentary on the News, Nathan's Rants | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Libertarian Party: stick a fork in it

It is obvious: there were some winners and losers at the Washington DC LP convention this week. The Party itself wasn’t a winner.

The Libertarian Party US’ latest convention shows the party not only continues to be an ever-increasing political joke: the active members and leaders are revelling in it. Their new standard bearer should have face-paint: he is heading up a clown-show.

Are we being demeaning and rude? Yes, we are – and we apologize for succumbing to the temptation to be so. But the events and results of last weekend’s election-year convention, as reported by many reputable people, is a strong provocation. The spectacle was sickening – as bad and worse than any in the last two decades or more.

Continue reading
Posted in Commentary on the News, Short Takes | 10 Comments

Apologies: missent draft yesterday

Due to an error on our part here at TPOL, the wrong version of Rob Morse’s guest editorial – which we called “Americans as lab rats” and he discussed the unhappy collision of States (and the Feds) ramming undesirable technology down our throats for political science reasons – and one State’s collapsing economy and justice system.

Please consider going back to yesterday evening’s posting, reading it, and sharing it: both Rob and we have some useful assessments to share.

And if you would, share this website with others!

Posted in Nathan's Rants | Leave a comment