News and Politics

It’s been years since I last set down to write anything long form that’s remotely political, in fact 2008, if my search is correct.  In some ways, I can hardly recognize that passionately pedantic punk that felt the urge to scream into the void in the hope of persuasion by shouting (though my friends might argue about that on the occasions when I have more than a couple of gins in me).  I realized around that time that no one was really interested in what I was selling and that I could spend my life in a happier place by worrying about the things that I know I could change which is myself and to focus my time on those around me that I love. I know I’ve been better off for it. [Read More]

Generally, I avoid joining protests, but occasionally there are ideas so bad that I can’t stay away. Such is the case with the Protect IP Act (PIPA) which is coming up before the Senate next week. The goal of protecting intellectual property is certainly a laudable one, but the means to achieve that goal must not come at the expense of the 1st amendment, nor should it fundamentally weaken the technological structure of the Internet. [Read More]

If there has ever been any doubt that man is an irony making animal, then this should dispel it:

It’s amazing that people are so terrified about being offended that they run for cover the moment a single one of their convictions is challenged.  Just makes me smile.

Thanks to Jessica over at ¿Dónde está la Biblioteca?

I’m glad to see that the Courts have decided that the 4th Amendment is a geographic privilege and not an actual right. A federal appeals court in Manhattan upheld the convictions on Monday of three Al Qaeda operatives in a ruling that bolsters the government’s power to investigate terrorism by holding that a key Constitutional protection afforded to Americans does not apply overseas. The unanimous decision by a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit holds for the first time that government agents may obtain admissible evidence against United States citizens through warrantless searches abroad. [Read More]

The great find of the day from the 2008 Republican Party Platform:

We do not support government bailouts of private institutions. Government interference in the markets exacerbates problems in the marketplace and causes the free market to take longer to correct itself.

Via: Ben Smith’s Blog: McCain and the platform - Politico.com

This is certainly true this week . . .

No man’s life, liberty or property are safe while the legislature is in session.
Judge Gideon J. Tucker

Via: Judge Gideon J. Tucker Quotes - The Quotations Page

“It’s a complete disaster,” said Yaron Brook, the executive director of the center. “Its a form of national socialism of the financial markets…This is socialism 101.”

Via: What Would Ayn Rand Have Done? - TIME

Welcome to the United Socialist Republic of American States . . .

I’m not a big fan of the inclusion of Bob Barr into the ranks of Libertarians, but it will be refreshing to see some limited government responses to the upcoming debate questions. As usual, the two major political parties are shutting out all third-party candidates from this season’s presidential debates, while trying to out-compete one another for how many government goodies they can promise to voters. Only this time, we have the technology to do something about it. [Read More]

Less Poverty but More Inequality in New York

Via: City Room - Metro - New York Times Blog

Only the New York Times could come up with that headline and keep a straight face. The poverty rate declined in New York, but because the rich got richer, things are getting worse . . .