http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Years'_War
As we near the date of the 4th of July, a day in which we celebrate our Declaration of Independence, I have started to reflect on what precipitated this bold declaration. For it's time it was indeed extremely bold. There were indeed World powers at that time. Global powers. The sphere of influence economically and political were so powerful that to challenge any of these powers I would surmise would be suicidal. Yet the colonies of North America did indeed do that. Why ?
The short version I suppose is taxation without representation. But what did that mean to those who lived on these shores in say 1765 ? The Seven Years War was known in these parts as the French and Indian Wars. It was a theatre of a larger campaign in a global conflict. There was a desire of the Native people to rid the Continent of the English Settlers. The French had allied themselves with many Native tribes, and in there desire to keep the English from gaining a strong foothold of Colonies in this part of the globe were more than happy to oblige the Native tribes of ridding this Continent of a strong English presence. What does that have to do with 1776 ?
Plenty. Wars need to be paid for. And pay the English did. It cost huge sums of money in ships, guns, powder, men, material. So much so that it became the attitude of many in the English Parliament that it was time that those receiving such benefit of such a benevolent Crown that perhaps it was time to share in the burden of cost. That is an argument espoused by some Americans today with our Military being used abroad. What the colonists begin to feel however is that if they were to share in the burden of the cost thru taxation, then they deserved representation in Parliament, this however was not an option Parliament was willing to give. Can you imagine someone from Afghanistan or Iraq demanding an equal seat in Congress today ? There would be a parallel. I believe the modern reaction would be much the same.
North America was a theatre of the entire campaign much as North Africa was to World War II. We were not the cause of, or the reason the conflict started. But the events that occurred during and after the war were the seeds that started the American revolution. Because of that war, and the events unforeseen during and afterwards was created " A World of Liberty "
For further reading on this please check out the following links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_and_Indian_War
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Roman_Empire
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Plains_of_Abraham
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Blaze or not to Blaze
http://www.talkradionews.com/news/2011/6/23/the-baz-file-bipartisan-effort-would-protect-state-rights-on.html
I am not sure exactly how I feel.......... one the one hand just the fact that there are legislators who seem to partially understand that it is not THEIR rights that I am concerned over, but rather the rights of the people at large that I am concerned with and that those legislators are recognizing it with this particular issue is somewhat heartening to me. On the other hand seeing that the cake will have frosting......... I want those legislators to apply some intelligence and apply this same principle to all legislation. I do not smoke pot, and for truth in advertising never really cared for it...........( what I did like we can save for another discussion ) I know many young people, and many older people that smoke on a regular basis. Some are family members, others are friends. but it is a surprising percentage. I do not think I am unique in this experience. There is a reason it is a multi billion dollar enterprise ( not withstanding the inflated price because of the current legal status of it's usage) at the end of the day, there are a large number of people who enjoy the use of marijuana. It is a god given right that entitles an individual to use it, it is called the pursuit of happiness ( and when most folks use it they seem rather happy I might add ) name me the right that is violated when an individual uses marijuana ...... and thus my dilemma, these same legislators are considering how to tax the product, and regulate the distribution of the product, it drives me insane to hear that spoken in what is presumed to be the " freest " nation on earth. Just because a government has a rectal cranial inversion on a matter, that does not justify passing a law restricting the use of a product or stop an activity. Dislike it if you will, I have no problem with that ( as I said I do not use the stuff or like it either ) but using the current analogies of the day religion should be stopped immediately, after all how do you tax a church ? Until that is solved religion should be abolished. Doesn't make sense does it.
And neither do the current laws that abolish the use of marijuana. uphold your right........ blaze or not to blaze .... that is the question when you live in a " World of Liberty "
for further reading on this subject check out these links:
http://www.dailytribune.com/articles/2011/06/21/news/doc4e013c427a339133142711.txt
http://www.themorningsun.com/articles/2011/06/23/news/doc4e02a09ab214e881471240.txt
http://www.fff.org/comment/com0912b.pdf
I am not sure exactly how I feel.......... one the one hand just the fact that there are legislators who seem to partially understand that it is not THEIR rights that I am concerned over, but rather the rights of the people at large that I am concerned with and that those legislators are recognizing it with this particular issue is somewhat heartening to me. On the other hand seeing that the cake will have frosting......... I want those legislators to apply some intelligence and apply this same principle to all legislation. I do not smoke pot, and for truth in advertising never really cared for it...........( what I did like we can save for another discussion ) I know many young people, and many older people that smoke on a regular basis. Some are family members, others are friends. but it is a surprising percentage. I do not think I am unique in this experience. There is a reason it is a multi billion dollar enterprise ( not withstanding the inflated price because of the current legal status of it's usage) at the end of the day, there are a large number of people who enjoy the use of marijuana. It is a god given right that entitles an individual to use it, it is called the pursuit of happiness ( and when most folks use it they seem rather happy I might add ) name me the right that is violated when an individual uses marijuana ...... and thus my dilemma, these same legislators are considering how to tax the product, and regulate the distribution of the product, it drives me insane to hear that spoken in what is presumed to be the " freest " nation on earth. Just because a government has a rectal cranial inversion on a matter, that does not justify passing a law restricting the use of a product or stop an activity. Dislike it if you will, I have no problem with that ( as I said I do not use the stuff or like it either ) but using the current analogies of the day religion should be stopped immediately, after all how do you tax a church ? Until that is solved religion should be abolished. Doesn't make sense does it.
And neither do the current laws that abolish the use of marijuana. uphold your right........ blaze or not to blaze .... that is the question when you live in a " World of Liberty "
for further reading on this subject check out these links:
http://www.dailytribune.com/articles/2011/06/21/news/doc4e013c427a339133142711.txt
http://www.themorningsun.com/articles/2011/06/23/news/doc4e02a09ab214e881471240.txt
http://www.fff.org/comment/com0912b.pdf
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
YES ! your right but.....................
http://openchannel.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/05/28/6732624-us-goes-on-offense-against-digital-piracy
Digital Piracy.......... the new scourge. Musicians cannot get paid for their music. Actors are not able to command the salaries once offered. Technicians and key grips can no longer be paid. All of this is true. So why is it that illegal downloads are so popular ? Because people can get something for free ......... you say ? Because the younger generation thinks that everything should be " just given to them " you say ?
I have deep respect for the artist who wants to be paid for their work, I fully understand why an investor would be unwilling to invest in a movie production if they cannot make a profit. The reality is, times have changed. There is no other way to look at it. Anyone in the world can upload a song, a movie, a book, a picture..... etc., name your medium, name your art, whatever it is, it can be digitized and put on the web. What is interesting to me at this juncture is the reaction of Studio's and artist to this reality. More the studio's .... a conglomeration of offices, and decisions that are far to costly in the digital age, gasping with their last breath to hold on to a model that has lasted what 70, 80 years ? The money wasted in court, on lawyers, on influencing legislatures, is money that could be spent on innovation, creation, and digital enhancement, but no. The preferred method is to sustain the old, and forget about the new. I was recently subjected to " Never Say Never " ( if you don't know don't ask..... trust me it is to YOUR benefit ) but there was something interesting about how this artist became known............. YOUTUBE ! Say what you will.... anyone can upload their talent, and it is the great equalizer...........and conversely anyone can watch it...........and that is the future......... American Idol........ minus a middleman or Judges.
In the end I am reminded of what Ludwig Von Mises wrote about and there are two things: The consumer is always........ and I mean ALWAYS in charge of the price of an item.
And it is the consumer who will determine the success or failure of anything in a Market.
These two fundamentals are axiomatic, and cannot be avoided. So my advice to anyone who is an artist of any kind is ......... get on board, or die the slow death that change can bring.
for further reading on this follow these links:
http://money.cnn.com/2011/06/09/technology/bittorrent_lawsuits/?section=money_latest
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/05/karaoke-loving-grandmother-convicted-of-illegal-downloading/239702/
http://mises.org/daily/1364
Digital Piracy.......... the new scourge. Musicians cannot get paid for their music. Actors are not able to command the salaries once offered. Technicians and key grips can no longer be paid. All of this is true. So why is it that illegal downloads are so popular ? Because people can get something for free ......... you say ? Because the younger generation thinks that everything should be " just given to them " you say ?
I have deep respect for the artist who wants to be paid for their work, I fully understand why an investor would be unwilling to invest in a movie production if they cannot make a profit. The reality is, times have changed. There is no other way to look at it. Anyone in the world can upload a song, a movie, a book, a picture..... etc., name your medium, name your art, whatever it is, it can be digitized and put on the web. What is interesting to me at this juncture is the reaction of Studio's and artist to this reality. More the studio's .... a conglomeration of offices, and decisions that are far to costly in the digital age, gasping with their last breath to hold on to a model that has lasted what 70, 80 years ? The money wasted in court, on lawyers, on influencing legislatures, is money that could be spent on innovation, creation, and digital enhancement, but no. The preferred method is to sustain the old, and forget about the new. I was recently subjected to " Never Say Never " ( if you don't know don't ask..... trust me it is to YOUR benefit ) but there was something interesting about how this artist became known............. YOUTUBE ! Say what you will.... anyone can upload their talent, and it is the great equalizer...........and conversely anyone can watch it...........and that is the future......... American Idol........ minus a middleman or Judges.
In the end I am reminded of what Ludwig Von Mises wrote about and there are two things: The consumer is always........ and I mean ALWAYS in charge of the price of an item.
And it is the consumer who will determine the success or failure of anything in a Market.
These two fundamentals are axiomatic, and cannot be avoided. So my advice to anyone who is an artist of any kind is ......... get on board, or die the slow death that change can bring.
for further reading on this follow these links:
http://money.cnn.com/2011/06/09/technology/bittorrent_lawsuits/?section=money_latest
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/05/karaoke-loving-grandmother-convicted-of-illegal-downloading/239702/
http://mises.org/daily/1364
Thursday, June 16, 2011
What Did We Win ?
I had a brief discussion about the current Pope with someone who was discussing the involvement he had as a child in the Hitler youth, which made me think of what National Socialism really was. At it's heart it was an economic order that was not Communism, nor a Free Market, rather it was indeed a planned economy, but it was a system to plan people and the economy. Why is that relevant to today in the United States ? Or rather how ?
Let's look at some Fundamental parts of the National Socialists programs:
11. Abolition of unearned (work and labour) incomes. Breaking of rent-slavery
15. We demand an expansion on a large scale of old age welfare.
20. The state is to be responsible for a fundamental reconstruction of our whole national education program,
21. The State is to care for the elevating national health by protecting the mother and child, by outlawing child-labor, by the encouragement of physical fitness, by means of the legal establishment of a gymnastic and sport obligation, by the utmost support of all organizations concerned with the physical instruction of the young
There are a total of 25 points that were presented these points listed are now common practice here in the United States, Our Social Security System was modeled after the German system, Our National Highway system was modeled after the Autobahn, the idea of relief for Single Mothers came from the Socialist System. The comparisons are endless, the point is that we have adopted a full scale system of government controls over our lives and property. If you do not think so try smoking a cigarette in a Bar in Michigan. Not only are the property rights violated of the owner of the establishment, but the Sovereign right of the individual who practices such a habit are violated. This can only happen in a society that has a system of rights " granted " by a Central Authority, rather than a decentralized system, where the government is designed to protect the rights of it's citizens.
I have often reflected on the horror that stemmed from that horrible conflict, but in retrospect we have lost our values, the values that cherish the rights of an individual, rather than subjugating those rights to a Centralized authority, which begs the question then ..... What then did we really win ?
If the United States had maintained it's values of individual Sovereignty of it's citizens and had insisted that " The Rights of Man " were the guiding factor of governance, than this country would still be the foundation of " A World of Liberty "
For further reading check out these links:
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Program_of_the_NSDAP
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Socialist_Program
http://www.fff.org/freedom/0498a.asp
Let's look at some Fundamental parts of the National Socialists programs:
11. Abolition of unearned (work and labour) incomes. Breaking of rent-slavery
15. We demand an expansion on a large scale of old age welfare.
20. The state is to be responsible for a fundamental reconstruction of our whole national education program,
21. The State is to care for the elevating national health by protecting the mother and child, by outlawing child-labor, by the encouragement of physical fitness, by means of the legal establishment of a gymnastic and sport obligation, by the utmost support of all organizations concerned with the physical instruction of the young
There are a total of 25 points that were presented these points listed are now common practice here in the United States, Our Social Security System was modeled after the German system, Our National Highway system was modeled after the Autobahn, the idea of relief for Single Mothers came from the Socialist System. The comparisons are endless, the point is that we have adopted a full scale system of government controls over our lives and property. If you do not think so try smoking a cigarette in a Bar in Michigan. Not only are the property rights violated of the owner of the establishment, but the Sovereign right of the individual who practices such a habit are violated. This can only happen in a society that has a system of rights " granted " by a Central Authority, rather than a decentralized system, where the government is designed to protect the rights of it's citizens.
I have often reflected on the horror that stemmed from that horrible conflict, but in retrospect we have lost our values, the values that cherish the rights of an individual, rather than subjugating those rights to a Centralized authority, which begs the question then ..... What then did we really win ?
If the United States had maintained it's values of individual Sovereignty of it's citizens and had insisted that " The Rights of Man " were the guiding factor of governance, than this country would still be the foundation of " A World of Liberty "
For further reading check out these links:
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Program_of_the_NSDAP
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Socialist_Program
http://www.fff.org/freedom/0498a.asp
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
It is your Fate to suffer......
http://www.freep.com/article/20110615/NEWS01/106150401/Livonia-s-ban-medical-marijuana-trial?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p
Oakland County ( Michigan ) now the city of Livonia......... ? The voters of this State overwhelmingly passed a referendum making Medical Marijuana use LEGAL ( and my guess is a referendum to make personal usage legal would pass..... but that is another story ) an honest law abiding citizen has to fight in court for what is a NATURAL GOD GIVEN RIGHT is appaling
................ I don't like the portrayl of " hippies " being used .... but I guess she's just keeping it real.......... take the statist out of our life, take the power mongers control over our personal destingy away, and we as Soverign Citizens can live ................in A World of Liberty !
Oakland County ( Michigan ) now the city of Livonia......... ? The voters of this State overwhelmingly passed a referendum making Medical Marijuana use LEGAL ( and my guess is a referendum to make personal usage legal would pass..... but that is another story ) an honest law abiding citizen has to fight in court for what is a NATURAL GOD GIVEN RIGHT is appaling
................ I don't like the portrayl of " hippies " being used .... but I guess she's just keeping it real.......... take the statist out of our life, take the power mongers control over our personal destingy away, and we as Soverign Citizens can live ................in A World of Liberty !
http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20110615-284289.html
Seems all is still not well in China........... and the planners still don't get it.............in the end............ there will be A World of Liberty
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Sic Semper Tyrannis
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h_2RJfe9OH1iAcykORfhuQMJ55Kg?docId=a6348a35fcf944a9a9de3f5e8a951629
The age old Latin phrase....... China has been embroiled in riots now for the last few years, at a time when there has been unprecedented growth in their economy. Ten percent growth, port cities that have structures that are the envy of the world, and yet there are riots involving distribution of wealth ? It has been fascinating to watch the command and control economy of China, of course it is easy to come from nothing, and build up an economy with certain Capital measures, but clearly the " People's Party " do not, and will not truly understand what makes a Liberal Capital society work. It was never the intention to understand how such a society works, rather it was about control, and more importantly how to maintain such control. Had the ruling elite of the Communist party taken a quick study of Praxeology ( as understood and written about by Ludwig Von Mises ) they would have concluded that Human Nature is not static, that the desires of individuals are in constant flux, and that a price mechanism in a society is the governing factor of the demand of those desires........ and it is PEACEFUL........coercion is not necessary, in fact it is undesirable in any society, but wealth for it's own sake was the goal of the leadership of the party, thus the predictable force, and eventually failure of the command and control Capital System of China.
Anecdotal as this may be, in the last few years I have had the occasion to meet some of the younger folks who are either studying here, or developing a business here, and what those young folks are after is the FREEDOM to pursue happiness as they individually define it...........nothing could be more American, nothing could be more promising, and nothing could be more desirable for the future of all people everywhere thru out the globe than to see such pursuit, but tyrants do not go away quietly, it is our duty to fight that tyranny in any way we can, and to encourage such young folks to find their dreams, and to pursue them at all costs, so that the next generation after them can enjoy there freedom as well.............
So that there may continue to be A WORLD OF LIBERTY.............SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS......... wherever they may be.
For further reading on this check out these links:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-fg-china-riot-pictures,0,4800764.photogallery
http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/China-riot-Guangdong-Beijing-Jasmine-pd20110614-HSTVL?OpenDocument
The age old Latin phrase....... China has been embroiled in riots now for the last few years, at a time when there has been unprecedented growth in their economy. Ten percent growth, port cities that have structures that are the envy of the world, and yet there are riots involving distribution of wealth ? It has been fascinating to watch the command and control economy of China, of course it is easy to come from nothing, and build up an economy with certain Capital measures, but clearly the " People's Party " do not, and will not truly understand what makes a Liberal Capital society work. It was never the intention to understand how such a society works, rather it was about control, and more importantly how to maintain such control. Had the ruling elite of the Communist party taken a quick study of Praxeology ( as understood and written about by Ludwig Von Mises ) they would have concluded that Human Nature is not static, that the desires of individuals are in constant flux, and that a price mechanism in a society is the governing factor of the demand of those desires........ and it is PEACEFUL........coercion is not necessary, in fact it is undesirable in any society, but wealth for it's own sake was the goal of the leadership of the party, thus the predictable force, and eventually failure of the command and control Capital System of China.
Anecdotal as this may be, in the last few years I have had the occasion to meet some of the younger folks who are either studying here, or developing a business here, and what those young folks are after is the FREEDOM to pursue happiness as they individually define it...........nothing could be more American, nothing could be more promising, and nothing could be more desirable for the future of all people everywhere thru out the globe than to see such pursuit, but tyrants do not go away quietly, it is our duty to fight that tyranny in any way we can, and to encourage such young folks to find their dreams, and to pursue them at all costs, so that the next generation after them can enjoy there freedom as well.............
So that there may continue to be A WORLD OF LIBERTY.............SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS......... wherever they may be.
For further reading on this check out these links:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-fg-china-riot-pictures,0,4800764.photogallery
http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/China-riot-Guangdong-Beijing-Jasmine-pd20110614-HSTVL?OpenDocument
Monday, June 13, 2011
Slavery is alive and Well
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/60896702-9521-11e0-a648-00144feab49a.html#axzz1P9KaV5bX
The US Congress feels it is so powerful and important that it can pass a law that mandates to foreign banks ..... and governments that they must be snitches for the IRS, The Financial Times reports this morning that there is much angst over this new law to take effect in 2013 that requires any foreign government or bank must report the income of American Citizens to the IRS..........
beware British Parlament, hold on to your shorts Banks shored in the Cayman Islands, if the Department of Education can send a SWAT team to an apartment for money owed, don't think for a second the President would hesitate to send a SEAL team to your home for violating this law............ In a world of Liberty this would be a joke, how could they enforce such a law, but this is not the world of Liberty, it is the world of the " freest nation on earth " and the only truly free people are those that make the laws.
for more on this check out these links:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/43375480
http://www.americanbanker.com/usb_issues/121_3/uncle-sam-enlists-banks-in-tax-battle-1033043-1.html
The US Congress feels it is so powerful and important that it can pass a law that mandates to foreign banks ..... and governments that they must be snitches for the IRS, The Financial Times reports this morning that there is much angst over this new law to take effect in 2013 that requires any foreign government or bank must report the income of American Citizens to the IRS..........
beware British Parlament, hold on to your shorts Banks shored in the Cayman Islands, if the Department of Education can send a SWAT team to an apartment for money owed, don't think for a second the President would hesitate to send a SEAL team to your home for violating this law............ In a world of Liberty this would be a joke, how could they enforce such a law, but this is not the world of Liberty, it is the world of the " freest nation on earth " and the only truly free people are those that make the laws.
for more on this check out these links:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/43375480
http://www.americanbanker.com/usb_issues/121_3/uncle-sam-enlists-banks-in-tax-battle-1033043-1.html
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Building Codes and what they mean
Since the inception of the Building codes ( for the history follow the link here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Building_Code ) we have adopted standards that only allow for a standardized approach to the erection of homes and buildings, thus stifling the creative process for owners to build as they desire. Materials, ventilation, forms and content of structure are now the sole domain of government. A wonderful structure such as Monticello would not exist today, it does not conform to the contemporary standards of the building inspector, it is a structure of it's owners mind, the vision being solely of the user, rather than of the local ward of building sameness, all for the sake of " public good". When Howard Roark destroyed Cortland homes he was destroying the massacre of HIS work, which was mutilated by dictates from Central planners who could care less about the creative process that goes into ones mind when designing a building, or a home. The design is private property, to be used and disposed as the OWNER See's fit, that is what liberty is about, and should always be about in a world of liberty.
For further reading on this check out these links:
http://www.fff.org/freedom/0896d.asp
http://www.fff.org/comment/com1101f.asp
http://www.fff.org/freedom/fd0610d.pdf
For further reading on this check out these links:
http://www.fff.org/freedom/0896d.asp
http://www.fff.org/comment/com1101f.asp
http://www.fff.org/freedom/fd0610d.pdf
The creation of the world of Liberty
Yes......I too have joined the 21st Century I have created a blog, politics will play a role, but history, life stories, even some humor will play a part in this blog, it will be a way for me to share opinions, and ideas my goal is too bring a personal insight into our world, and share with others something mainstream media will not do, inform and entertain, but also to share.
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