Will California meet its goal of powering 60 percent of its electricity with renewable energy resources by 2030?

This question came up on a web site recently, and we here at TPOL thought it worth sharing one of our staff’s responses. Yes, we know that once again we are bashing the People’s Republic of California and the idiots in power there – and the people who put them into power and refuse to accept that the State has failed and that failure is destroying a once beautiful, wealthy, and great State.

Continue reading
Posted in Nathan's Rants, Questions answered, Short Takes | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A worldwide gang of cowards

There are dozens of countries that have very loudly and publicly announced that they support Hamas in the Gaza Strip and are opposed to Israeli military attacks and occupation of the territory. And the Hamas claim that nearly 35,000 people (largely women and children) have been killed by the evil Israelis.

There are a few nations that support Israeli operations and at least tacitly (if reluctantly) do so as they see it as self-defense on the part of the State of Israel. These nations seem to be willing to back up their words with actual support: supplies, ammo, weapons, intel. If not as much as they give to Ukraine, still a fair amount.

And some of them are actually playing both sides by delivering “humanitarian supplies” to Gaza, by air and soon by sea. Even though Hamas responded by claiming that the Great Satan (FedGov) killed more women and children by airdropping supplies.

But those nations – as far as I know every Muslim nation on the planet and many more – who condemn Israel and support Hamas, or at least the people of the Gaza Strip? What are they doing? I think that Egypt is sending some food and medical supplies. And the Houthis in Yemen are supporting Hamas by attacking ships in the Red Sea.

Both other than that? We have Arabs in Samaria and Judea (the West Bank), and Hezbollah in Lebanon attacking Israel in support of Hamas.

And… otherwise? Nada. Zip. Null.

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

Let us call a spade a spade

Let us look at some common names and terms in modern American politics, with a sneer and maybe a laugh.

In politics, as in so-called health care and military affairs and education, words are twisted and their definitions perverted. Let us look at a few examples.

As we do so, recall what H.L. Mencken once wrote: “Government is a broker in pillage, and every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods.”

How appropriate for the 2024 elections!

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

Succession of power

That is “succession” and not secession. TPOL wants to make it clear that we strongly support the right of secession, of declaring independence from a “sovereign power” – a state or government – when that entity no longer meets the needs of the people who want to leave it.

But this commentary is about “succession of power” – about who is next in line to enjoy the privileges and benefits of political, economic, or social power and control.

Readers of TPOL understand that we are opposed to mandatory human government – that is, virtually all human government. And therefore we would definitely not support any succession.

That is there should be no transfer of political power (which belongs to individuals, and not to a “government” or gang or mob or anyone else who uses force to carry out their will (other than in self-defense).

But human history is filled with a very sad fact of life: political and economic power often – even usually – is transferred from one wielder of power to another.

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

Architecture, government, and its lessons

The FedGov in DC spends literally billions of dollars each year building, maintaining, rebuilding, replacing, naming (and renaming), renting, and more to FedGov office buildings to house the millions of bureaucrats and jackbooted thugs (2.87 million at last count) that infest or occupy this beautiful land and pester our people and most of the rest of the world.

When once the only presence of the FedGov in most towns was a post office – and that often in the corner of a store – that is ancient history today. Today we not only have the generally practical offices for the Natural Resource Conservation Service and local military recruiting offices, we have grandiose federal courthouses, ubiquitous Social Security offices, and dozens more places for the parasites of the alphabet agencies to rest their weary heads after stealing and intimidating and pursuing citizens.

Consider the BATFE Washington DC headquarters building, shown below.

Even lovers of government such as the Washingtonian.com have berated the building for its “bunker-like” appearance. Gee, that might be fitting, huh?

Named for a hispanic ATF agent (Rios, as I recall) killed when a drug buy/sting operation went bad in Miami decades ago, this grandiose and cookie-cutter style bunker resembles dozens or even hundreds of other massive buildings. And houses an amazing number of bureaucrats and computer systems designed to regulate (or prevent) Americans from exercising rights which the Constitution states “shall not be infringed.” Or objects that are not even addressed (or were briefly addressed and then removed) from that document. (Beverage alcohol.)

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

State of the Union 2024? 2025?

In the recent political campaign speech (improperly labeled as a “state of the Union” address, a strangely invigorated and generally-well-spoken Uncle Joe didn’t actually specifically tell us what the state, the condition, was.

But his speech clearly implied that (1) the condition was great and improving daily, and (2) the only reason it wasn’t perfect was his predecessor. And all the bad things that guy did.

But is that true? The mere fact that the words were put into Uncle’s mouth means we have to question their veracity.

But when we look at the actual facts – the publicly available information – the Union (what is left of it) should be on life-support. And double-checking the will and last testament.

Why?

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

“In the public interest” – yet another lie from your friendly government goons

According to a short discussion in FEE, a bill has been introduced in Minnesota which would restrict sale and purchase of paints (apparently both interior and exterior house paints) and create a licensing scheme for house painters. (At least we think it is just house painters: for all we know it may include car body painters, painters of pavement, and painting of plastic models.)

Minnesota economist John Phelan said the legislation is “regulation for the sake of regulation.” Various claims are being made as to how this legislation will protect the public health and safety. And the environment. And property.

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

Severe mental disconnects, abortion and terrorism

In an interview on March 8th, a Woke and Democratic Representative (Wild of Pennsylvania) acknowledged there are people in the country who believe that abortion is “taking the life of a child, and the answer to that is, those people are not being required to have an abortion.”

I fear that I may understand this woman too well: her logic seems to be that “people believe that driving drunk may endanger and kill other people on the road, and they aren’t required to drive drunk.” Or perhaps, “some people believe that having sex with a child is child abuse, so they aren’t required to have sex with a child.” This implies that morality – committing violence against an innocent person – is all in the eye of the beholder. That it is really relative.

To put it crudely: It’s okay if you think it is wrong to rape someone. You aren’t required to rape them. But you can’t stop me from raping them just because you think it is wrong.

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

TPOL’s response to the “State of the Union” address last night

Several have asked if we had a response to the first major campaign speech of the 2024 election from the Democratic presumptive candidate (or at least his teleprompter):

We should know what to expect from Uncle Joe by now. Ditto for The Donald. And DC in general.

Posted in Commentary on the News, Image of liberty, Nathan's Rants, Short Takes | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Craziness 2 – more bizarre recent media nonsense

Ohh! The mainstream media is freaking out over Chinese police being “NEAR” Hawai’i. A mere 1300 miles away in Kiribati. Goodness! “Chinese authorities have stated their intention to reconstruct an airstrip on Kanton Island, previously used by the U.S. military during World War II to combat Japan.” Oh dear! The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, under the control of Marxist Justin Trudeau, is only about 400 miles away from us here in the Black Hills, and the Federales down in Juarez are only about 400 miles from the Four Corners! We have to start trembling in fear!

The media is also in a panic over rising Christian Nationalism – especially with The Donald closer than ever to returning to the White House. “News reports about a rising conservative think tank express concerns about its ties to the movement. A high profile documentary asks whether a new wave of believers will wash away democracy in America. And Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee, is increasingly embracing the narrative that he has been chosen by God — that only he can save America from Satan.”

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